Though the mall at 75 E. Broadway looks like a relic gathering dust, inside, a thrifter’s wonderland of vintage looks awaits. For fashion enthusiasts tired of doomscrolling through online resale websites, this Chinatown mall offers the rare chance to browse and try on designer pieces in person.
If a rainbow threw up in a store — in the best way possible — it would look like James Veloria. Upon entering, you are welcomed by a giant heart-shaped portal that transports you into a velvety room with racks on all sides, a purple hand-shaped chair in the dressing room and a checkout counter that belongs in “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” Beyond the store’s aesthetic decor, its racks hold the treasures; vintage Junya Watanabe and Comme Des Garçons pieces hang side by side — true treasures for those interested in collecting Japanese archive clothing.
If you are looking for Juicy Couture and retro Gap clothes, this is the place for you. The store mirrors the clothing it sells: pink walls decorated with photographs of the owner herself, Jeffrey Campbell studded boots stood in the corner alongside other iconic 2000s shoes and leather jackets hung from a rack next to neon semi-corseted looks close to the entrance of the store. Bloda’s Choice is a utopic Y2K dreamland for anyone who still defends colorful tracksuits.
As soon as you enter SMURK, you’ll notice a sword hanging menacingly on the back wall, tip pointed at the racks. The room has gothic hues of dark black, red and brown, and the clothes crammed up in the store room speak to the punk vibe SMURK emits. SMURK has both the Kris Van Assche and Hedi Slimane eras of Dior on the same rack, and right next to it, classic Alexander McQueen skull-printed scarves. All the pieces here scream like a rockstar, so if you want to dress like Pete Doherty of The Libertines or Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, SMURK carries their entire wardrobe.
Reservations Only Vintage
For those living the “Fancy Nancy” life, or mentally stuck in the ’50s to ’70s, Reservations Only Vintage is the destination for you. Walk in and you are immediately greeted by cheetah-printed walls, a stoplight lamp at the cashier and Willow, the store’s adorable French bulldog. The room embodies the vibe of “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper — what more could you want out of a vintage fantasy? And on top of that, the store carries real vintage pieces from the ’70s to the 2000s, including Moschino, Miu Miu and more. If cutesy vintage outfits curated towards the ’70s tickles your fancy, Reservations Only Vintage should be your first stop.
Eckhaus Latta
Unlike the other stores, Eckhause Latta isn’t vintage — it’s a flagship store that centers the future of fashion in its own design language. From leather belt-buckle bags to sunburst-patterned mesh tops, this store covers large ground in its sartorial style, while conveying a message of both fashionable practicality and transgression. The clothing of Eckhaus Latta is a perfect harmony of stylistic elements that would not immediately fit on the same spectrum upon first glance, but when styled together, creates a larger stylistic statement of fashion freedom. If you are interested in broadening your wardrobe, such as pairing neon knit tops with handkerchief-shaped tarp skirts, this is the place where you can push fashion boundaries.
Contact Yuuki Lubin at [email protected].