New York City

“It’s the Met Gala for vintage,” exclaims designer and vintage connoisseur Cassidy Donaho.  Her statement is spot on, but the unparalleled essence the Manhattan Vintage Show’s magic?  Glamorous, historic, and one-of-a-kind fashions are begging to be taken home to your eager closet. It’s all the romance of nostalgia without the yearning, revitalizing pre-loved pieces with a new and continuing life.

Jazzmint Dash models IMJM Vintage Couture’s Christian Lacroix Brooch

Featuring 90+ dealers of vintage, upcycled, and designer fashions, the Manhattan Vintage Show is a sensory spectacle of carefully curated beauty.  I was lucky enough to attend the show for the second time accompanied by my dear friend Jazzmint Dash.  After we enjoyed an impromptu breakfast of her homemade savory waffles, we entered the venue and were generously greeted with gift bags, two drink tickets, and $150 in market bucks each to spend as we wished.  As two drag performers with modest day jobs to keep our lights on, we were overjoyed, completely surprised, and knew we had to devise a game plan for how best to spend our unexpected cash.

Before we could even begin our shopping spree, the fabulous show photographer Gigi Stoll whisked us back into the street for an improvised photoshoot, which was a delight.  Jazz and I have both lived in the city for a decade, earning our “honorary New Yorker badge,” and have become well accustomed to both the brouhaha and banality that long-term NYC living brings.  However, this warm welcome felt like one of those special moments that had enticed us to the city in the first place. Once we got the shot, narrowly avoiding certain death by yellow cab, we burst into the Manhattan Vintage Show’s world of color, texture, detail, and sparkling, smiling faces.

Lexie and I pose for a photo at her fabulous booth

Shop Extraordinary Enterprises’ acquisition has elevated the 20-year-old showcase, which now features onsite tailoring from Alternew, plentiful private and group fitting rooms, and refreshments courtesy of Elevate Cater NYC, yet the heart and soul of the event blessedly remains unchanged. Jazz and I marvel at the scale and spectacle within each uniquely styled booth, each one containing special squeal-worthy pieces.  We decided we needed to go macro before micro and traverse all 90+ dealers before narrowing our focus and delving into the booths that called to us.

This butterfly dreamy dress was love at first sight for Jazzmint

The conversation and connections made at The Manhattan Vintage Show are as excellent as the offerings.  We met Cassidy Donaho near the end of the third day and she likened this quadrennial event to a family reunion.  Jazz and I heartily agreed.  From the moment we stepped inside, we were enveloped in the easy and heartfelt atmosphere. Every seller is so clearly passionate about their collection and their lifelong commitment to preserving and celebrating vintage is infectious.  This perennial compassion transforms their selection into a direct and moving reflection of their perspective and taste, cultivating an utterly singular and exhilarating shopping experience.  Jazz and I were admittedly overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the event, but we couldn’t help feeling subconsciously summoned into the booths that mirrored our sensibilities.

Exquisite Christian Lacroix brooches featured at IMJM Vintage Couture

Some favorite dealers include IMJM Vintage Couture which immediately intoxicated us with showstopping Christian LaCroix brooches amongst their spectacular assortment of jewelry.  Another standout was Lexie Butterfly Vintage, who perfectly matched her playful collection with her oversized clown shoes and infectious personality.  One of her missions is to bring inclusivity to vintage shopping, which is all too often inaccessible due to being saturated with small sizes.  She upcycles completely original pieces geared to plus-size customers by combining vintage fabrics and singular pieces.  This creativity and thoughtfulness highlight the exciting and sustainable hybridization that the Manhattan Vintage Show values.

Boston-based Lexie of Lexie Butterfly Vintage created a whimsical paradise at the Manhattan Vintage Show

Texas-based designer Mr. Naggers has a similar approach. He creates streetwear that stands out by Frankenstein-ing several sports jerseys and denim pieces into collaged tops or pants. Each piece was more exciting than the last, and I couldn’t help but fall in love and wish I had a trust fund.  I spotted a genderbending top sent from beyond my wildest dreams: a yellow soccer jersey with a purple lace lingerie bodysuit stitched to the front, its ribbon straps draping down the back, and finished with a minty ruffle that trailed up the front and down the back to frame the piece. And once I discovered that it fit me perfectly, it was over.  Here’s a look at the shirt I adopted and other standouts from his collection:

Mr. Naggers strikes a beautiful balance with his coquettish and tough collars

Showstopping pants crafted by Mr. Naggers out of old sports jerseys

Jazz and I still had some cash to burn and Oubliette Vintage’s jewelry came to our aid.  It was the Minneapolis-based dealer’s first time showing at the Manhattan Vintage Show and we were struck by such a unique assortment of brutalist and abstract rings.  I laid eyes on a 1920s/1930s ring featuring a large sterling orb encased by abstract silver vines and it was love at first sight.  Oubliette’s owner, Ian, told me this ring was also functional and was designed to scoop up a small bit of solid perfume and apply directly on one’s neck. I was sold!  Ian surprised Jazz with a silver Pegasus ring after noticing her unicorn ring, which she never leaves home without, and after careful consideration, Jazz realized it was too good to pass up.

Brklyn Bish features a vast array of funky and fun charms that together make a personalized charm bracelet

I stopped in my tracks once I spotted the “make your own Italian Charm Bracelet” station at Brklyn Bish’s booth.  My Mother gave me an Italian charm bracelet when I was young and gifted me a new charm each year as I grew up. It was such a meaningful gift that evolved with me as I came into my personhood and seeing all the charms electrified me. I still have my charm bracelet and recently lamented to a friend that because I’d outgrown it, it was doomed to sit in my jewelry box, unworn, watching me grow older and further from the kid I was when I last wore it.  After splurging on my new shirt and ring, my market bucks were spent, but there was no question that I was going to spend a bit of my own money to bring my childhood bracelet back to life.

This booth exemplified the magic of the Manhattan Vintage Show and vintage fashion for me.  I was so overcome with emotion and possibility and new gratitude to my loving Mother for such a special, enduring gift. And yes, I did happen upon this booth right after trading my drink ticket in for whiskey ginger at roughly 2:48 pm on a Sunday, but nevertheless!  As I contemplated which charms were best to preserve and enhance a cherished childhood keepsake, I found myself simultaneously jettisoned back in time and watching a new future materialize before me.

Browsing racks of ineffable vintage treasures will never get old.  It illuminates a shared cultural history and the expert handiwork of days gone by, of course, but it forces nostalgia into the present in an undeniable way.  A previous life honored but expanded upon and given a new future. Manhattan Vintage Show’s tagline says it best: “The future of fashion is vintage” and I look forward to making new memories and remembering forgotten ones in the racks at the next show in October.

My childhood charm bracelet laid out above the new charms awaiting their placement