The show is a gold mine for vintage clothing buffs.

The aficionados at a rare vintage clothing sale put a lot of thought, care and flair into their outfits. The elite collector invited to attend the opening-night cocktails for the Sturbridge Show in New York City on Thursday evening think about clothes the way many people think about food, consuming for sustenance as much as for pleasure. The vintage hounds were ready to pounce after the doors opened at 5 p.m. The show usually happens on the Monday before the Brimfield Antique Flea Market, but this year it is happening tonight in Manhattan. He said he wanted to have a show that was focused on design and inspiration, as well as being a place where fashion-design professionals could find old items that could be used for new ideas.