New York Vintage

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This New York stalwart of vintage clothing has made it onto the red carpet and to the White House, dressing the likes of the Sex and the City cast, Michelle Obama, and Rihanna. Owner Shannon Hoey and her husband have a collection of gems spanning 100 years (not to mention a couple vintage motorcycles) that includes Chanel bags, Bes-Ben hats, and a dress that belonged to Ulysses S. Grant’s wife. The first floor of the 5,000-square-foot behemoth houses all the retail items, with dresses separated by era and jewelry crowding the shelves. The second floor is reserved specifically for fittings, where celebrities and red-carpet-gracing personalities can try on classics like Yves Saint Laurent’s Mondrian dress or Lady Gaga�esque rhinestone brassieres (Gaga herself, as well as Katy Perry, have worn brassieres from this very store). And while prices are steep, the first floor’s mod dresses and flapper outfits, not to mention the wall of celebrity autographs, photos, and vintage fashion spreads, are worth a sightseeing trip alone. — Jessica Chou