Pushcart chic: New York's Best kept Fashion Secret

Sure, we have Barney’s. We have Macy’s. We have Bloomies, and Neiman’s and L&T and Bonwits – and dozens and dozens of specialty boutiques from Soho to Fifth Avenue.

And …we have pushcarts, that wild and wacky “New Yawk” phenomenon that colors our street corners and have been known to turn every other Manhattan block into a bargain paradise.

But if you’re under the impression it’s mostly hot pretzels and flavaki for sale, guess again! Indeed, from brightly colored leather purses to hot  fashion earrings, from tank tops in summer to furry hats in winter to umbrellas when it’s raining, if it’s a fashion accessory you want, chances are you can find it on a pushcart!

Now before you turn up that cute little urban nose and say “Not a pushcart girl!”  it’s important to point out that most of these street vendors (as they like to be called) are legitmate, licensed and highly reputable merchants, many of them making a living quite possibly better than most store clerks.

What you also might not know: Those who are registered  with the City can actually stake a claim on a particular location. That’s important because if you like what you see – or you have a problem with what you purchased -  it’s nice to know you can go back to the same location and find the same merchant there again. Just like on Madison Avenue!

And the realyl important point to remember is that most street vendors are honest, hardworking folks who will help you out should something go wrong with your purchase!  Remember, it was  pushcart heros Lance Orton (great T shirts) and Duane Jackson ( fabulous handbags!) who called out the car bomb terrorist in midtown, saving dozens if not hundreds of lives!

At the same time, it’s fair to say that New York also has its share of push cart charlatans -  fly-by-night, unlicensed street corner vendors selling questionable goods, many of them counterfeit or stolen,  and some just plan junk that falls apart before you're even half-way home.

So, how do you know where to buy – what to buy – and from whom to buy in the world of New York's pushcart chic?   Here are six tips to help you get the real bargains for your dollar !

The pushcart fashion buy rules

1.     Don’t buy from a vendor you see for the first time.  If you like what a street vendor is selling,  examine the merchandise and then come back anywhere from a few days to a week later and see if they’re still there. If they are, chances are it’s a legit, and registered vendor who is going to give you a pretty good deal.

2.     If the deal seems too good to be true – pass it up.  If you’re being offered a Coach bag for  twenty bucks or a Prada for 30 bucks, chances are it’s either stolen merchandise or, more than likely, a fake.  You don’t want to support either industry, so pass it up.

3.     Don’t expect fashion advice or answers about quality or materials. While most street vendors are probably a lot nicer than many of the snooty sales folks you run into on Madison or Fifth,  they usually know little about the merchandise they sell – so examine the goods carefully and use your own fashion savvy to tell if it’s really cashmere or just plain polyester.

4.     Pay in cash.  While that’s the rule of thumb for most street vendors,  the digital age has hit the pushcart industry, and some  now have portable , electronic, smart-phone credit card terminals they can use for sales.  Again, while most are honest, you might want to think twice about giving over your credit card info on  the street – where bystanders might have access to what you’re passing along.    So hit up the ATM and get the cash you need before making the purchase.

5.     You can bargain!  Another reason to pay in cash: Most pushcart vendors are flexible on price and will knock off from  10 to 20 percent if you ask (nicely)!  Moreover, many will offer an even larger discount if you purchase multiple items – but again, using cash is your ticket to getting the best price possible.

6.     Know what you’re getting.  While you can pick up some great, cheap chic bargains at almost any pushcart vendor – and some offer pretty good deals on even label merchandise –  recognize that some do mix in  “seconds” that could have slight defects which might not be apparent until you get the item home.  So do look over the merchandise carefully – paying attention to the seams, the size,  the evenness of color, and if it’s an item that contains moveable parts, such as a bracelet or earrings, check the clasps and closings.

The best locations for pushcart bargains in New York City:  SoHo, the lower east side,  Greenwich Village, Midtown, and 1st and 2nd Avenue from the 30’s the the 60’s.  Also keep an eye out for street fairs which offer some great fashion bargains! Visit http://www.nycstreetfairs.com/sched.html for a  calendar of local NYC street fairs - including when and where they take place! Happy Shopping!

Colette Bouchez is the designer director of CountryDutchess.co

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