Menswear at I [Heart] Manhattan Vintage
- Z. G. Burnett
- Feb 21
- 2 min read
On January 31, I used my press pass to attend I [Heart] Manhattan Vintage (MVS) with my friend and local bodega cat, Nick Andry. It was my first time attending the show, but not so being at the Metropolitan Pavilion. How they fit so many dealers and shoppers into one space safely I’m not sure. If you don’t enjoy chaotic, overcrowded settings then perhaps skip it, especially on opening day.
What brought me there was the endless hunt for that one perfect piece that you can’t leave behind, no matter how much you don’t need it. That, and when I used to participate in vintage shows with womenswear dealers, there was a market lack of interest in menswear. That is, if you didn’t sell clothes like a sweatshirt that looked like it had been buried in a paddock for 50 years, dug up again, and sold for $1,500.
Luckily that wasn’t the case at MVS, mostly. Dealers like Trust Luck Vintage (Raleigh, NC/Red Hook, Brooklyn) brought excellent country wear, knits, accessories, and a generous selection of denim. Vichini Santage (NY) was the go-to booth for outwear of all silhouettes and materials, and Baltimore City Vintage (@trashxcloset on Instagram) had a little bit of everything including wearable tees and streetwear. Field Illinois offered the most classic American menswear, so of course it was my favorite even though none of the odd jackets were small enough for me.
For myself, I almost found the perfect fit: a matching kilt and cape set from Messy Jessy (NYC). The cape was just a little too large for my tiny shoulder span, and as I was just about to turn 33 at the time, I’m trying to avoid dowdy-ness. Of course now I regret this decision, and might contact the dealer to ask if they still have it. Rookie move on my part– if you love something at a vintage show, just buy it. Life’s too short.
Nick Andry measuring a thermal shirt for chest size at Trust Luck Vintage (Raleigh, NC/Red Hook, Brooklyn).
Baltimore City Vintage (@trashxcloset on Instagram).
Vichini Santage (NY).
Field Illinois; not pictured, me pouting that the teal cords in the back were too big.
Did I make a mistake leaving this behind? (Messy Jessy Vintage, NYC)
Z.G. Burnett is a New England-based writer who specializes in history, fashion, and material culture. She is a contributing editor for Antiques and the Arts Weekly, and her work has appeared in Ivy Style and The Vintage Woman Magazine. Burnett is currently editing her first book, The Preppy Witch Primer. Find more at www.zgburnett.com
Image credit: Annie Minicuci Photography.
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