O Mistress Mine

This store is wonderful, I’ve been going here since the late ’70’s, when I was a teenager (when they were in the West Village). I still have the things I have bought here (from so many years ago!), and the owner is so lovely and nice to talk to, and she is always helpful if you want to figure out the history of an item.
There is hardly any good vintage left in the city, and when you do find something, it’s an absolute fortune, and it’s usually in bad condition. I think her prices are really fair, for what she has, she has a great eye.
There are other «vintage stores» around, but most of them are «last season’s luxury items,» and they are completely unoriginal (plus very expensive). At least here, you know you are getting something wonderful, which no one else has, which has some history and some beautiful design details (instead of just following the herd, and getting something because of a label).
This is a small space, so I try to go back often, she gets lovely things in, but of course, since it’s vintage, you sometimes find something and it won’t fit. Still, I have found a lot there.
Plus she has GREAT hats and purses and really fun jewelry as well (I’m an accessories queen, so I love vintage accessories).
I am so glad this place was able to survive all of these years, there are not many stores in NYC like this anymore.