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Here's Your Guide to Vintage Fashion and Thrifty Finds in Brooklyn

By DNAinfo Staff | June 16, 2016 11:55am | Updated on January 6, 2017 3:07pm

 No Relation Vintage, located at 654 Sackett St. in Gowanus.
No Relation Vintage, located at 654 Sackett St. in Gowanus.
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DNAinfo/Nikhita Venugopal

The best things might be found in unexpected places, but if you're an experienced shopper in New York, there's nothing unexpected about coming across treasures at the city's many vintage and thrift shops. DNAinfo's Brooklyn reporters have picked out 23 boutiques and stores throughout the borough for all your shopping needs, from women's fashion, menswear, jewelry and accessories to antique furniture, home decor, books and more.

DUMBO, DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN AND BROOKLYN HEIGHTS

► Front General Store, 143 Front St., DUMBO

Find an eclectic mix of Americana-inspired vintage clothing, accessories, books and home goods at this rustic vintage store by the Manhattan Bridge Archway. Rifle through a mix of vintage tees, leather jackets, handcrafted jewelry, sunglasses, custom terrariums, military paraphernalia and more at this homey consignment shop. Prices vary, but some items can land on the moderate to more expensive end.

► My Unique408 Fulton St., Downtown Brooklyn

This sizable chain store carries everything from vintage and modern clothing to used wrapping paper and toiletries. Get ready to spend some time digging through the extensive inventory at this alternative to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.

► Underground Thrift Store, 75 Hicks St., Brooklyn Heights

Thrift for a cause at the Underground Thrift Store at Plymouth Church. The store donates 25 percent of its net profits to groups that fight human trafficking. Underground Thrift stocks brand names like Michael, The Gap, Banana Republic, Express and H&M. It’s open for service on Sundays, from 12:30 to 4 p.m.

► Housing Works122 Montague St., Brooklyn Heights

Another thrift shop with a mission, this nonprofit organization uses its proceeds to provide a range of medical and social services to low-income New Yorkers living with HIV and AIDS. Housing Works sells clothing, accessories, artwork, furniture, books and more. The organization’s second Brooklyn thrift shop in Park Slope also sells children’s clothing and goods.

BEDFORD-STUYVESANT

► Akichi Flea Market, 1181 Fulton St.

Check out vintage wares and more at this flea market, where vendors are selling goods from outdoor spots or from inside vintage Airstream trailers. The market is open on weekends, and you can browse old records, motorcycle jackets, knickknacks and more.

► Harold and Maude Vintage592 Lafayette Ave.

This vintage store takes its name after the 1971 cult classic with pre-1990s fashion for sale, collected from nearby cities like Boston and Philadelphia, as well as the owner’s hometown of Osaka, Japan.

► The Meat Market Brooklyn380 Tompkins Ave.

Swap your clothes or trade them for cash at The Meat Market, where you can pick up brand-new items or find designer pieces, fur, boutique brands, local designers and more. Items average around $13, and the space hosts a variety of fashion, film and art events.

► Miss Master’s Closet1070 Bedford Ave.

Pieces at this Bedford Avenue shop are hand-picked by owner Jessica Master, according to the store’s website, and each item features a personalized tag with its own care instructions and history.

► Installation Brooklyn433 Nostrand Ave.

You’ll find furniture, gifts, jewelry, clothes and more at Installation Brooklyn, where customers have raved about the owner’s knowledge and carefully curated items.

► Shirley + Alice, 434 Marcus Garvey Blvd.

This vintage and “indie designer” boutique started as a pop-up shop from owner Khalilah Beavers at a local art gallery and gradually grew into a showroom and space for trunk shows. The spot is named after Beavers’ grandmothers and has a range of items with everything from shoes and accessories to menswear.

CROWN HEIGHTS AND PROSPECT HEIGHTS

 Marche Rue Dix1453 Bedford Ave., Crown Heights

This boutique opened nearby its sister company, the French Senegalese eatery Rue Dix, in 2014 and curates a combination of new, used and vintage clothing for men and women, accessories and home goods.

► Jackmili Thrift Store, 239 Kingston Ave., Crown Heights

Come to this Kingston Avenue “variety gallery” (as the sign says) if you’re looking for decorations, furniture and knick-knacks, but stay home if you’re looking for a new wardrobe. Though they have clothes, the place is more antique shop than vintage spot. This old-fashioned thrift store is where you’ll find that really one-of-a-kind thing — if you have the patience to look.

► 1 of a Find Vintage619 and 633 Vanderbilt Ave., Prospect Heights

Find funky clothing or vintage home goods at 1 of a Find’s two locations on Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights. Dig through their “sale trunk” section for deals under $50 or paw through their home goods for awesome drink sets, oddball picture frames or a fancy old umbrella.

PARK SLOPE, GOWANUS AND CARROLL GARDENS

► Vice Versa Vintage550 Fifth Ave., Park Slope

This spacious South Slope outpost of the L Train Vintage family opened in 2012 and specializes in a large selection of items including dresses, cut-off jean shorts and sneakers. Merchandise starts at just $5.

► No Relation Vintage, 654 Sackett St., Gowanus

Part of the L Train Vintage mini chain, this sprawling store bills itself as the city’s largest vintage shop. Energetic shoppers with the patience to dig through the merchandise will find plenty of shoes, hip T-shirts, military jackets and more.

► Black Bear Vintage & Handmade469 16th St., Windsor Terrace

Named one of the city’s best vintage shops by Racked in 2012, cozy Black Bear Vintage & Handmade stocks a carefully selected array of print dresses from the ‘50s and ‘70s, as well as new products including handmade jewelry and scented soy candles.

Olive’s Very Vintage & Olaf’s Vintage, 434 Court St., Carroll Gardens

This vintage clothing boutique primarily focuses on women’s fashion — from the Victorian era to the '90s — but also carries a sizable collection of menswear as well as jewelry, accessories, gloves and hats. The shop has been a part of the neighborhood since 2001.

► Yesterday’s News, 428 Court St., Carroll Gardens

You’ll often find wares from Yesterday’s News spilling out onto the sidewalk, particularly pieces of vintage furniture like lamps, end tables and chairs. But there’s plenty more to be found inside, including knick-knacks, magazines and books. Check on the shop’s Instagram page here.

► Buffalo Exchange, 109 Boerum Place, Boerum Hill

Buffalo Exchange has dozens of locations across the country, including one in Boerum Hill. The shop specializes in new and recycled clothing for men and women.

NORTH BROOKLYN

► Beacon’s Closet, 74 Guernsey St., Greenpoint

Famed chain of vintage stores, Beacon’s Closet has an extensive collection in Greenpoint, with a sprawling array of one-of-a-kind finds. You can sell your used items here as well.

► Urban Jungle, 120 Knickerbocker Ave., East Williamsburg

Enjoy an extensive and reasonably-priced supply of Hawaiian shirts, velvet tops, high-waisted jeans, leather bomber jackets and other gear tailored to its hipster clientele.

 L Train Vintage,  1377 Dekalb Ave., Bushwick

The Bushwick outpost of L train vintage offers reasonably priced on two large floors of used shirts, jackets and shoes.

 Le Point Value Thrift Store, 1081 Flushing Ave., East Williamsburg

Le Point Value offers more competitive prices than Urban Jungle just around the corner, though their assemblage is less carefully curated. They boast a broad array of staple items goods if you need to stock up.

This list was compiled by DNAinfo's Brooklyn reporters Leslie Albrecht, Camille Bautista, Gwynne Hogan, Rachel Holliday Smith, Alexandra Leon and Nikhita Venugopal.