The best NYC flea market...

....is without a doubt the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market (HKFM). I have had lots of luck from this market: two pretty girly dresses each for $5; many silk scarves and OOoooh the furniture. The market is great for conversation pieces - the ones guaranteed to get you a "Where did you buy THAT??" or depending on how adventurous you are, a "What is THAT??"

The sellers are friendly and there are bargains to be found. My boyfriend bought a cashmere camel coat here last winter (the market is on all year but as it is outdoors it is a little weather dependent) which was $40 and in mint condition. Errrrr we may have been blinded by the bargain because the coat does make him look like Tony Soprano....!

On Saturdays and Sundays in the HKFM you can find hipsters, antique geeks, models, vintage lovers and fans of all things bizarre, rummaging elbow to elbow for:

- vintage and thrift clothing (his and hers). One great stall is the Store with no walls.
- kitschy home decorations

- silk scarves and bling
- heels and boots
- funky vintage furniture

- records
- bodyless doll heads/disco balls/collectibles/weird and wonderful things you wouldn't find anywhere else

Point in case - Can you believe that on sale was a metal stretcher??? And also one of those huge candle holders you find in churches - see behind the stretcher. You have to love this place!

Plan your trip to the HKFM around getting some brunch at HK around the corner (39th street and 9th). The Bloody Mary's are good and you can people spot - throw in the flea market, and how best to spend a weekend morning in New York?

For the love of thrift rating (from 1 to 10):

Market location: 7 (not the nicest part of town - to put it kindly)

Presentation: 9

Bargain factor (ie pricing): 8

Stall variety: 10

Approx number of stalls: about 40

Summer in the city

It is August and it is boiling hot in Manhattan. I rather be at the beach or on an island (I know Manhattan is technically an island but I mean an island with palm trees, beach bars and hammocks). Ho hum. Here is some summer thrift inspiration via lookbook:

I love this holiday chic look all the way from Australia. Knickerbockers were thrifted, or as the ozzies say - bought in an op-shop.

Here is the same girl in thrifted dress and shoes (she clearly knows her stuff). The perfect city summer look.

A New York summer look with a dress thrifted in Brooklyn.

Gimme a thrift lunch break

Imagine my delight earlier this year when I discovered a thrift store was opening right around the corner from where I work! This means I can get a fix of eye candy whilst on my lunch break. And who knows maybe even pick up the odd thing (ok, ok, several things...)

The new store, Housing works Soho, is right next door to the Housing works thrift bookstore on Crosby Street, in the heart of Soho. Just one block away is Broadway, a hustle and bustle shopping destination with Prada, Uniqlo, Topshop, Bloomingdales etc. This thrift store is still a little bit of a secret as it is on a quiet block. Shhhhhhh, let's keep it that way.

As you serious thrifters know, it pays to have your regular thrift haunts- so you can snap up any goodies as soon as they hit the shop. I tend to go to Housing Works Soho once or twice a week. And oooooooohhhhh this place is good. I have been particularly lucky in the shoe front - the first pair I bought there were a leopard print Steve Maddens - brand new - for $10. Many a sandal soon followed, see this post.

I particularly like the fact that they always have some special discount going on and often have a deal with the thrift bookstore next door - if you buy an item in one of the stores you get 30% off at the other place; one month they had a 30% discount at the store if you donated books next door.

For the love of thrift rating (from 1 to 10):

Selection: 8

Presentation: 9

Niceness of staff: 9

Bargain factor (ie pricing): 8

Thrift turnover: 9

Housing works Soho is on Crosby Street and Houston. The clothes are arranged by colour and there are womens as well as men's clothes (quite a large mens selection). There is a small furniture selection, and a housewares selection. They also have jewellery