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What is the Boutique of the Week?

With a belief that everyone can use a little retail therapy, The Boutique of the Week helps guide you away from the New York City chains and expensive designers and directly to the most unique and affordable boutiques in the city. 

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Entries in Clutches (6)

Tuesday
02Mar2010

Catbird

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Location - 219 Bedford Ave (near N 5th), Williamsburg

Catbird is a quiet refuge on bustling Bedford Ave, filled with pretty, delicate, and cheeky items.  This airy space is filled to the brim with funky home goods and beautiful jewelry begging to be picked up and tried on.

Display cases house Catbird's famous collection of jewelry, boasting pieces from over 20 brands, ranging from cheeky silver rings in the shape of electric plugs to dainty 18K gold origami crane earrings. There's something for all budgets, with prices ranging from $10-$350+, and the friendly staff is happy to assist you with jewelry sizing and styling tips. Great pieces include delicate rose gold heart bracelets from Bittersweets NY ($325), oversized Spanish Galleon ring from Flotsam & Jetsam ($160), Pade Vavra's shimmering drusy studs ($176), and little thin rings from Occa are only $12. Catbird also has their own line, including stackable alphabet rings ($88) and cute New Jersey and New York state necklaces in gold or silver ($112-$185).

Catbird's selection of oddities, accessories, and home goods makes it the perfect gift-finding destination. Aromatic candles from Kobo are $34, Saipua soaps are $5-$8, and Love & Victory's his and hers decanter set is $88. Some favorite pieces include hanging glass-enclosed feather ornaments ($9-$19), Good Luck horseshoes ($8), and pom-pom scarves ($65).

DateTuesday, March 2, 2010 at 11:36PM | CommentPost a Comment |
Monday
25Jan2010

Christopher 19

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Location - 19 Christopher St (between Gay St & Grove St)

Christopher 19 is an airy, bright boutique filled with a wide selection of jewelry and accessories of all styles and prices.  Everything from carat gold to sterling silver can be found with prices ranging from a friendly $40 to thousands, with the heart of their collections averaging between $100-$300.  Upon entering, it takes a moment for your eyes to take it all in, so take time to enjoy all the displays filled with earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets.

With over 35 designers displayed under one roof, there is much to try on, with bright costume jewelry, chunky wooden bangles, glimmering rose gold hoops and multi-colored beaded necklaces.  Christopher 19 displays their own jewelry, Christopher Roca, which is a gorgeous contemporary line of mixed metals, crystals, glass, and various stones.  There is definitely something for everyone, with giant cocktail rings, delicate gold chains, and shimmering chandelier earrings.  They have local and international designers and are constantly looking for talent to add.

In addition to jewelry, great accessories including scarves, hats, purses, clutches, pillows, and belts can be found.  Velvet burnout scarves and handmade hats are around $200, in addition to bright bags and clutches from $90-$150. The owners are cheerful and happy to help you find your own style and let you know the history of each collection.

DateMonday, January 25, 2010 at 9:00AM | CommentPost a Comment |
Sunday
21Jun2009

NY Artificial

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Location - 13 Eighth Ave (near West 12th Street)

Be ready to re-define yourself - and your style - after entering NY Artificial.  With local designers, eco-friendly materials, and trendy designs topped of with an amazingly attentive owner, you'll not only walk out with a great find, but a boost in self-esteem.  In addition to the warm welcome, you'll get thoughtful suggestions and helpful tidbits of information based on what pieces you stop to inspect further.  With prices ranging from $75-$400+, you'll get to model all types of bags from oversized totes to small metallic clutches.  Many styles come in ranges of colors and are mainly made in Manhattan.

Jewelry and other accessories, including hats and scarves are scattered throughout the store.  Inexpensive bangles to locally designed precious metal necklaces and earrings are so easy to wear and enhance the new handbag you're sure to purchase.  Be sure to check out the sister store next door that has apparel and more accessories.

If the handbags and accessories aren't enough, the hidden gem found at the back of the store is the makeup made by the owner, Aaron Bond. Already used by New York 1 and featured on the Red Carpet at the Tony Awards, this all-natural makeup line is hands-down amazing. Aaron, a former model, is so knowledgeable and attentive to skin needs that his line feels like freshness on the face. He will educate you on how to apply and transform you face into a natural, beautiful you. Though a little pricey, it's definitely worth the extra bucks to know you're only putting natural ingredients on your face, and it will last forever. I would recommend the amazing concealer ($28) and the lip satin hydrator ($19).

DateSunday, June 21, 2009 at 8:03PM | Comment1 Comment |
Wednesday
17Jun2009

Saada

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Location - 1159 Second Ave (corner of 61st Street)

 

After walking past the higher-end stores on 3rd Avenue and watching the staff and security guards fending off boredom from a lack of shoppers, Saada only one block away was a fun surprise, with a filled store of laughing customers dressing up in trendy, fresh affordable clothes that could fulfill any need for a fun weekend outfit.  The large store keeps a contemporary collection of inexpensive pieces that are a good enough quality to last a few seasons.

Adorable dresses, tops and skirts can be found ranging from $25-$200 with brands such as Trinity, Esley and BB Dakota.  Styling individual pieces with one another is easy with their basic knitwear and current trendy items (they actually have jumpsuits!). Jewelry from $15-$40 is delicate and simple, but one of their stacks of bangles is a great accessory.  They also have good accessories with soft scarves, colorful bags and belts.  They even have a whole rack in the back devoted to sale items with a variety of sizes for everyone.

One of the best features of Saada is how attentive the staff is, not only to you and your purchases, but to the actual store itself.  Everything is perfectly displayed and well organized, which makes the whole atmosphere that much more enjoyable.

DateWednesday, June 17, 2009 at 9:41PM | Comment1 Comment |
Friday
12Jun2009

Pippin Vintage Jewelry

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Location - 112 West 17th Street (between 6th & 7th Ave)

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Pippin Vintage Jewelry is like entering a flea market without the haggling patrons and piles of junk.  With vintage pieces discovered mainly on the East Coast, this boutique offers a variety of affordable items from pearl strands, brass watches, turqoise rings and even clip-on earrings.  Their eclectic collection spans from the pre-1900s to the 1980s, but they also have some re-worked pieces like Victorian jacket buttons made into rings (around $40).  Their prices are affordable and not typical of Manhattan, with the range from $1-$200+.  You can find a great necklace or ring for $25, and the higher-end diamonds and rubies are displayed inside the glass case.

Pippin has enough eccentric pieces that you can make your own creation, like antique keys that could be added to a long layering necklace, or pins that could double as barrettes.  When looking through the packed store, make sure to take some time and open the shallow drawers filled with random extras that cost less than $5 and make you feel like you you've discovered a treasure at the bottom of the bargain bin (without the actual rummaging).

Jewelry is not their only specialty, they also have a wide variety of accessories including vintage bags, clutches, belts, scarves, gloves, hats, and more, such as a cosmetic carved mirror from a 1920s Norwegian cruise ship ($30).  Also check out their vintage home goods store next door, where you can find Bauhaus vases, 1950s Coca-Cola crates, and even obscure black-and-white photos for $1.

DateFriday, June 12, 2009 at 2:25PM | Comment1 Comment |
Sunday
17May2009

Blue Bag

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Location - 266 Elizabeth Street (near Houston)

 

Elizabeth Street is known for its charm - the beautiful pre-war buildings housing not only artists and cafes, but shops that can interest any personality.  The hard part is not the viewing, it's the choosing.

Blue Bag is one of those stores that makes it easy to enter.  With huge windows showcasing the entire store, the vibrancy of colors and openness of floor plan invite any passerby in.  The brick walls and wood floors create a cozy, lived-in feel, which contrasts pleasingly with the vivid colors of the bags.  Handbags, shoulder bags, clutches, wallets, and totes lure you to touch and leave you wishing you were bold enough to wear a purple-sequined cross-body.  No color of the rainbow is left unclaimed and are visualized in all textures.  Rich, go-to leather neutrals share a wall with bright, lemon-yellow extravagance.  

Clutches and wallets range from $75-200, whereas bags can be found from $125-500, with more on the less expensive end.  The prices were shocking (in a good way) to say the least, based on the prime Nolita location, and a spot that has neighbors such as Hayden-Harnett and Tory Burch, Blue Bag's range in both quality of merchandise and price make you feel like you've found a gem.

As Blue Bag boasts, they change out their entire stock every month to open up the ability for everyone to "have an addiction here," leaving room for both days of needed essentials and daring sequins.

 

DateSunday, May 17, 2009 at 9:07PM | CommentPost a Comment |