City Opera Thrift Shop’s name might bring to mind visions of raiding the costumes from Carmen and The Magic Flute. If that appeals to you… well, dream on. But shopping at this Gramercy boutique in New York City might be just as ovation-inspiring. Friends of the City Opera (see: rich people) donate their used (see: worn once to a performance of Don Giovanni decades ago) clothes, shoes, accessories, and housewares, and the proceeds benefit new productions at the Opera.
Though the furniture and objets d’art can be hit-or-miss, don’t miss the designer-heavy selection of shoes and boots, with names like Ferragamo, Valentino, and Dior starring on the bill. The store features two levels of cast-offs from the luxe life, and the upscale selection is arranged according to color. This is no Goodwill, however – the prices, although nowhere near the originals, reflect the quality.
Luckily they have frequent sale events, meaning you don’t have to be able to afford season tickets to the opera to look like you do. If you’ve been here before, an encore visit is necessary this Wednesday, February 17th from 10 AM – 4 PM and 5 – 7 PM, when they’ll completely re-stock their selection for this Spring Preview event. And if you can’t shake those dreams of dressing up like a primadonna, keep your eyes on this place. City Opera Thrift has been known to occasionally dust off capes, corsets, and codpieces, offering the public a rare opportunity to buy vintage pieces from their costume warehouse.
