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Published at 1:48pm
Published on 7/24/08
Video
SUITS
You wouldn’t know it by his punk-meets-hip-hop duds, but Josh Madden is a vintage-wear aficionado. The stylist and cofounder of the clothing label DCMA Collective (along with his brothers Joel and Benji of the band Good Charlotte) recently shared his top spots for the dope suits of yesteryear.
“Vintage OP and Hobie T-shirts are my favorite things to hunt for right now.”
—Josh Madden, stylist, cofounder of DCMA Collective
Eleven
This Soho boutique with a country & western aesthetic appeals to Madden mostly because it carries genuine vintage fare, rather than clothing that’s merely a few years old. He believes that “old stuff is just generally made much better” and demonstrates how simple it is to put together a sharp outfit consisting of an Arrow button-down shirt ($98), a narrow tie ($38), herringbone slacks ($198) and perfectly aged saddle shoes ($228).
15 Prince St at Elizabeth St (212-334-5334, misterblistershop.com)
Fisch for the Hip
“I’ve found some great pieces for [photo] shoots here,” Madden says. One doesn’t come here for cheap or old-timey threads—the store doesn’t carry anything from more than five years ago (and suits generally go for around $400)—but the far-reaching assortment, which spans women’s and men’s clothing and posh accessories, is a godsend for label whores.
153 W 18th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-633-9053)
Tokio 7
“This place is rad,” effuses Madden as he riffles through discounted designer garb, some of which dates back to the ’70s. “It’s excellent for guys like you and me, who like nice stuff but are engaged in the struggle,” he says, pointing in my shabbily dressed direction.
64 E 7th St between First and Second Aves (212-353-8443)
EVENING WEAR
Yearning for a Valentino gown but limited to an H&M budget? We tapped Felix Mercado—NYC celebrity stylist, fashion commentator and founder of image-consulting service Say It with Style (sayitwith-style.com)—for suggestions of where to score elegant, affordable evening wear.
“If you have a good eye, you never have to pay full price.”
—Felix Mercado, celebrity stylist, founder of Say It with Style
Zachary’s Smile
“I’m all about the accessories,” Mercado says, while demonstrating how a metallic belt from this boutique’s carefully chosen collection can add alluring shimmer to a drab dress. Another tip for rescuing less-than-pristine gowns: Strategically place brooches to cover discolored areas.
9 Greenwich Ave between Christopher and W 10th Sts (212-924-0604, zacharyssmile.com)
Housing Works
At this superaffordable secondhand source, Mercado examines hems (“If the ends are tattered, make it shorter,” he says), stains (“Circles under the arms last forever”) and shape (“More than two sizes too big? Don’t even consider it”).
245 W 10th St between Bleecker and Hudson Sts (212-352-1618, housingworksauctions.com)
Tahir
Mercado makes a beeline for this LES storefront for well-preserved threads. “Their stuff is cherry-picked,” he says, pointing out a double-dyed lace shift from the ’60s that shop owner Arianna Adele unearthed in Detroit. If you don’t want to schlep to your tailor, Tahir also offers minor alterations in-house.
75 Orchard St between Broome and Grand Sts (212-253-2121)
