Shopping

A guide to vintage shopping in Bushwick for trendy souls with empty wallets

Ruthie Darling Vintage Clothing
We are living in a vintage world, ladies. Photo by Ruthie Darling/Brokelyn at Risk

Vintage shopping has long been the perfect way for millennials to stay chic and save money. As a part-time fashion blogger myself, I love to create new outfits, but being a financially challenged freelancer, I have to find clothing on a seriously low budget. I’ve been hitting up some Brooklyn neighborhoods in search of the coolest vintage at the cheapest prices. This week I’m in Bushwick, and here is what I found.

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Ruthie Darling Vintage Clothing
Photo by Ruthie Darling

This jacket was $8 from an L Train Vintage outpost called Urban Jungle on 118 Knickerbocker Ave. This location is the company’s largest retail store in Brooklyn and is packed with uber-cheap vintage and thrift finds. It Is also worth noting that this store has a large menswear department, which is not always the case with vintage. Definitely worth a look, especially for their denim and leather jacket selection and 1980s high tops.

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Ruthie Darling Vintage Clothing
Photo by Ruthie Darling

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Chess and The Sphinx is a vintage boutique located on the south side of Maria Hernandez Park at 252 Knickerbocker Ave. Pieces in their collection range from 1950s Persian lamb coats to ’90s bodycon dresses. This store has clearly been carefully curated. The selection is smaller than other area vintage shops, but each piece feels special. I picked up this handmade blue 1960s suit for $75 and the beautiful heavy red wool coat below for $85!

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Ruthie Darling Vintage Clothing
Photo by Ruthie Darling

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Ruthie Darling Vintage Clothing
Photo by Ruthie Darling

The red dress (that I like to refer to as my “slutty orphan Annie look”) was a vintage Brooks Brother’s piece for $45. If you don’t enjoy wading through racks of clothes and want a more handpicked experience, then Chess and The Sphinx is a great option. Wallet-friendly too!

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Ruthie Darling Vintage Clothing
Photo by Ruthie Darling

Collections is a tiny shop which one could almost walk right past, but once you find it you realize that it’s a serious hidden gem. Owned by a North Carolina native named LucyAnn, this store is stocked with pieces from all over the country. There is a $12 rack out front each day, with the selection changing constantly. I picked up this floral dress there for $9 in a sale. LucyAnn also stocks lots of designer pieces, in case you feel like a splurge. Find Collections at 16 Wilson Ave.

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Ruthie Darling Vintage Clothing
Photo by Ruthie Darling

Risk Gallery is a combination art gallery and vintage store. Everything in the store is unapologetically pink, fluffy and sparkly. The vintage ranges in price, but bargains can definitely be found. The owner, Lindsay Risk, also offers packages for brides-to-be and birthday girls. You can play dress-up, drink champagne and eat Roberta’s pizza while you shop, what could be better than that? Find Risk Gallery at 232 Varet St. This adorable bag was a gift from Lindsay after I bought a T-shirt there, how freaking cute?

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Ruthie Darling Vintage Clothing
Photo by Ruthie Darling

Friends NYC combines vintage and modern pieces in a mini fashion department store. Right by the Morgan L on 56 Bogart St., Friends is the kind of store you dreamed of as a teenager watching Clueless over and over again. The flavor is decidedly 90’s and the vintage section is always reasonably priced, plus they usually have a sale going on. Go for the vintage, stay for the novelty socks and Sriracha bottle-shaped earrings.

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Ruthie Darling Vintage Clothing
Photo by Ruthie Darling

Worship is a bi-coastal vintage shop located at 117 Wilson Ave. This vintage store not only offers seriously cheap and fabulous vintage but also supports local artists by hosting pop-up events and concerts. Check out this gorgeous 1980’s dress I picked up for $40. You can also sell your unwanted vintage here for store credit.

If you have any vintage stores you would like to suggest make the list let us know in the comments.

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