Contributed by Lindsay Shugerman, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

With the stores on 5th Avenue and else where in New York brimming with fabulous new merchandise from around the world, it might seem odd to look to this city for the fashions of years, decades or even centuries past.

But New York is a great place for vintage shopping. Maybe the best.

There are hundreds of amazing vintage shops in the New York City area. But if you’re new to vintage, or are just visiting New York, here are a few of the best to get you started.

Cheap Jack’s

From the 1920’s until (almost!) today!

If your taste in vintage runs to the dramatic, head to 303 Fifth Ave (at 31st St) in Midtown. Some see Cheap Jack’s as a bit too “costume-y” for everyday wear, but hey, this is New York!

If looking too obviously vintage feels like a bit much, try using bits and pieces from Cheap Jacks with less out-there vintage or modern clothing to tone it down a bit. The best thing about this store is that they are NOT stuck in the 1970’s! Their vintage is the real thing. Call (212) 777-9564 for hours.

Black Bear Vintage and Handmade

Vintage we can all afford!

Great vintage plus affordable makes Black Bear a great place to start your vintage shopping trip. Located at 469 16th St (at Prospect Park West) Windsor Terrace in Brooklyn, this is a place where you can go in with $100 and come out vintaged from head to toe!

In addition to their wonderful clothes, this is a good place to look for vintage accessories for your apartment. Have some vintage to sell? Black Bear buys, too. Just give them a call (718-768-0250) before you head over with an armful…they are picky which is what keeps their shop so great.

Beacon’s Closet

This is a thrift store???

Yes, Beacon’s Closet is technically a thrift store. But the resemblance between this collection of vintage treasure and the dusty, dim racks of cast-offs I associate with “thrift stores” is just about zero.

Sure you have a dig a bit more than in the self-labeled “vintage shops.” But the finds you can make are well worth the effort. Rated as “Best of…” by the Village Voice, their 10 years plus in the business have earned them their place on my list, too. Find the original store at 88 North 11th Street in Williamsburg, or head to one of their two other locations…one in Park Slope and one in Manhattan.

If you have some great vintage to sell or trade, they do that too. Give them a call at 718.486.0816 or check their website for more information.

The Family Jewels

Rub elbows with celebrity vintage fans

One of the grand dames of NY vintage, this shop has been serving up vintage goodies and estate jewelry for over 30 years. Now the favorite haunt of local and visiting celebs who love all things vintage, this is the one place to go for a classic 1940’s tux, a fringed flapper dress from the 1920’s (no tacky reproductions here..these dresses saw the insides of real speak-easies!) or a bit of retro fabric for an art or decor project.

New York Vintage

The vintage store most of us wish we could call our own

Make no mistake…this is the real deal. Every stitch and trinket in this decidedly upscale vintage shop is authentic. That makes New York Vintage the destination of choice for movie, TV and stage costumers, celebrities looking for the best old-new-thing, and international visitors looking for the best in timeless fashions and jewelry.

Located at 117 West 25th Street, this vintage mecca belongs on every fashionista and vintage lover’s must-see list.