26th street Flea Market:

This is one of my favorite places-you never know what you're going to find-from couches to couture! An added bonus is that the prices are generally very reasonable, not to mention negotiable. Only opened Saturdays and Sundays, it is almost impossible to walk away without picking up at least something! Many of the dealers can be found at the same spot each weekend, and in my frequent trips, I have been consistently impressed with three dealers who show their wares at the Annex (located between 25-26street and 6th avenue on the west side of the street) These three women each claim Anna Sui (a Sunday flea market regular) and Donna Karan as customers.

Rose Schwarz (her photo is at left) has great vintage furs, jackets, coats, ponchos and scarves, bags, etc. and her prices are really fair (furs for under $100, coats for $50-$75). (p)(p)(p)

Pat Haber (p) used to sell to vintage stores like Screaming Mimis. Her eclectic and large stall is always packed with furs, scarves, shawls, jackets, (p) and coats (p). Though her prices are slightly 'higher' than some of the other dealers, they seem 'justified' by her selection of often 'hard to find' items like monkey fur (p), and graphic skunk ($220) (p). Pat's loyal customers have included Katayone Adeli, John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Nanette Lepore

Bette Marchek is a jewelry designer (On the Rocks) who appears each weekend at the Annex. On display in her booth recently, I spotted a 60's Geoffrey Beene (p) dress for $100, a Laura Biagiotti color block cashmere shawl, an ermine ribbed 'sweater', and a jeweled 'bra'. She also had Chanel, and Herbert Levine lame pumps ($20).