Hamlet himself in Hamlet's Vintage on Bleecker St.
Walking into Hamlet’s Vintage in the West Village, you’ll be greeted immediately by the alluring smell of old leather, a host of eager thrift-seekers, and a spunky dog named Travis. “He works here too!” joked Hamlet Tallaj, owner of Hamlet’s Vintage, located at 162 Bleecker Street (between Thompson and Sullivan). When I dropped in on Hamlet to view his collection the other day, I was immediately struck by the European feel of his tightly packed shop and was reminded of several vintage stores I had frequented while living in Italy.
Boots of all shapes and sizes kicked it on the floors and stretched up to out-of-reach shelves near the ceiling in styles ranging from slouch to ankle to equestrian. Coupled with the white wooden table register stationed casually in the middle of the showroom and an assortment of colorful biker jackets, I felt as though I had stumbled upon a shop tucked away in the streets of Rome, which put me in the mood to search for deals.
And were there ever deals to be found! Fifteen dollars off boots over $65, $10 off dresses marked $60 or higher, and $15 vintage t-shirts on display in front of the entrance. I was thrilled to find trendy granny boots for as low as $45 - most stores sell them for at least $100 - and authentic Italian army jackets for just $40. For the vintage lover who also digs the occasional dash of contemporary, Hamlet also keeps a select rack of underground designer samples that you can slip into for the very first time.
As Travis nuzzled my leg, Hamlet gave me the inside scoop: The store opened in June of 2008 and has been à la mode ever since. He’s got vintage ranging from the 1940’s to the 1980’s and boasts the mantra ‘something for everyone’. Hamlet prides himself on avoiding pieces that are ‘too costumey’ and affirmed my suspicion that Hamlet’s Vintage is known for its tremendous boot collection. But before you start wishing that this endless winter we’ve been having in NYC would stick around for your new pair of Beatles Boots, don’t buckle! Hamlet’s preparing for a fresh arrival of sandals next week with prices beginning at $35. Now that’s something to say “Grazie” for.
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