East End Long Island
Known more for its high-end boutiques and antiques shops, the East End also possesses some vintage-shopping gems. For those who don’t mind sifting, Out of the Closet in Bridgehampton (631-537-2470) is a rambling house filled with fifties prom dresses, rhinestone jewelry, perfectly worn T-shirts, and designer gowns. Across the street, Barbara Trujillo’s section within Bridgehampton Antiques (631-537-3838) has an extensive collection of vintage turquoise belt buckles and Lucite and Bakelite jewelry. Open only in the spring and summer, newcomer Nikki Eve (631-728-6516) in Sag Harbor specializes in seventies glam designers like Mary Quant, Ossie Clark, and Zandra Rhodes. Consigner Collette (colletteconsignment.com) has multiple shops throughout the Hamptons selling barely worn Chanel bags and last season’s Prada.
Greenwich, Connecticut
Even the recession-resistant residents of Greenwich have had a rough time of things the last few years—a steady boon for the area’s consignment stores. Hidden in a parking lot, Consigned Couture (203-869-7795) has a room dedicated to furs and racks of Chanel, Dior, and YSL. Local socialites and designers donate their gently used items to the Greenwich Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop (203-863-3933), where the bargains draw huge crowds at the semi-annual sale. In-the-know locals spin by Second Time Around (203-422-2808) for Lilly Pulitzer dresses and Ralph Lauren cashmere sweaters. Mint (203-532-0200) in nearby Byram has party dresses for children, teens, and grown-ups in a pretty, boutiquelike space.
New Hope, Pennsylvania
Don’t be fooled by all the tie-dye and wind chimes—the residents of sister towns New Hope, Pennsylvania, and Lambertville, New Jersey, are trained assassins when it comes to hunting down antiques. Subterranean shop Night Bird (215-862-1902) keeps the bohemian vibe alive with bell-bottoms and dashikis, but it also has a solid selection of vintage Levi’s and T-shirts. Aspiring and professional designers find inspiration at Mill Crest Vintage (603-397-4700), where you can buy a prom or wedding dress from the twenties to the nineties. Three days a week, rain or shine, flea addicts gather along the Delaware River to rummage around the Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market (609-397-0811) for accessories such as walking sticks, top hats, and costume jewelry. Sundays have the best selection—bring cash!