When I was in San Diego I shopped at a place called Encore, a fabulous boutique store that carried gently worn designer clothing and accessories. The selection was incredible: hundreds of pairs of shoes, handbags, suits, dresses, etc, all in truly excellent worn condition with labels by Jimmy Choo, Vera Wang, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Hermes, Armani, and all the rest...Is there anything like this in New York?

Actually, there's a Encore in NYC too but there are dozens of thrift and resale stores. There are some listed here
http://nymag.com/guides/cheap/clothing/

Here's an older thread so double check accuracy.
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...n-new-york.cfm

Great lists, both of them! I especially like the first link. Do you recommend any of these as personal favorites? I will probably only have time to hit one or two at most, so I will have to be selective. I don't have anything specific in mind as far as a garment or item I am looking for, just a fun shirt, accessory or any great find would make my trip more fun! However, I wouldn't really want to buy something I can just as easily buy at home, so I'd be more apt to go to a store with better high-end label selection, or one where I can get more "bang for the buck" than one with less selection or close-to-new-retail prices.

I'm told that Beacon's Closet in Brooklyn is terrific but I've never been. The good stuff in the stores in Manhattan is pricey but maybe with the economy they'll negotiate. Ina in Soho is small but has some great things.

mclaurie,

I was there this past weekend and had time for two stores--La Boutique Resale and Tatiana's, both on Lexington around 61st-ish St. For future reference I highly recommend Tatiana's! Great prices, beautiful inventory.

I've been to Tatiana's a while ago and thought their prices were high. What did you buy?

I bought a Judith Ripka bracelet--very pretty--she easily negotiated on the price for it. Did not have time to try on a lot of clothes but saw several skirts and shirts I would have snatched up in a heartbeat had I more time to try on. Most items were on sale at 50% so I guess that was one reason I thought the prices were so good--most in the $40-60 range for great name brands.

This economy has changed everything. Thanks for posting.

Beacon's Closet is not good for designer, I would not bother.

Housing Works and the other charity thrift shops are good (not goodwill)

Ina is good, supposedly they have a ton of stuff right now, both men's and women's with the economy being as such, people are consigning their clothes.

I think you are so right about the economy. Things are so different now.

I have gotten great deals from here:

http://www.designerresaleconsignment.com/

There are stores that sell firsthand designer clothing for 1/2 price sprinkled throughout the city. They aren't exactly well marked. Keep your eye out and you'll see them.