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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 Vintage (8)

Sunday
10Jan2010

Change of Season

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Location - 341 E 9th St (between 2nd & 1st Ave)

This cozy boutique is decorated to perfection, emulating European hotel luxury with beautiful details including a vintage drink cart, stacks of luggage, plush carpets, and even a fireplace, all surrounded in rich green and gold details. Change of Season was created to bring high-end European indie designer fashions from previous seasons to NYC at prices accessible to everyone.

With new pieces arriving weekly, Change of Season boasts an impressive list of hard-to-find designers and fashion giants, including Dries Van Noten, Balenciaga, Marni, Alessandroo Dell'Acqua, Parosh, Lanvin, Chloe, Vivienne Westwood, Boudicca, Chalayan, Giles, and Galliano.  Everything from dresses, jackets, shorts, pants, skirts, belts, sweaters, hats, scarves, bags, shoes, fragrance, and jewelry fill the space with vivid patterns and beautiful fabrics. Interesting pieces can be found from Rome-based designer Caterina Gatta who re-works vintage Givenchy and Versace fabrics into modern pieces, and a collection of Italian bracelets are intricately designed from oil paintings. The prices range from a high-end Vivienne Westwood coat for $600 to flowing tops as low as $45, with most pieces ranging between $125-$300, including structured ruffled jackets and silk dresses.  Jewelry and small accessories are neatly displayed so you can easily try on everything.  Handcrafted cuffs ($185), semi-precious stone necklaces ($65), silver western boots ($175), and scarves ($125), are all beautiful pieces.

Since new pieces and designers are added frequently, it's definitely a boutique to visit reguarly. The staff is warm and friendly and are happy to help style you and let you know about the newest arrivals. They also have good sales on their (already) reduced pieces, in addition they frequently have a rack full of newly-acquired articles from a featured designer.

DateSunday, January 10, 2010 at 6:36PM | Comment2 Comments |
Wednesday
09Dec2009

Darling

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Location - 1 Horatio Street (at 8th Ave)

Darling is a boutique that lives up to its name, with window displays full of breezy dresses and an interior stocked to the ceiling with a mix of trendy pieces and vintage must-haves, you are sure to find something for every season. Piles of accessories fill every nook and make you feel you've stepped into a closet begging to play dress-up in. Hats, scarves and purses hang off mirrors, with colorful casual wear and trendy evening wear framing a table toppling with jewelry and accessories.

Great pieces for all body types can be found by Tulle, Luna, Autumn Cashmere, BB Dakota, Velvet, Kensie, Susanna Monaco, Max and Cleo, and Heartloom.  Dresses ranging from trendy minis to draping jersey can be found from $50-$300+ and tops from bohemian to tailored range from $30-$200.  In the winter months, they have a huge assortment of coats and jackets with everything from jewel-toned peacoats to fur-lined bombers ($70-$350).  Despite Darling's large stock of clothes, they out-do themselves with their abundance of accessories.  Scarves can be found piled and draped during all months of the year ($30-$150), as well as headbands, hats and purses, including rows of colorful clutches (around $80).  Jewelry in both gold and silver vintage and plastic trendy costume can be found hanging from decorative branches next to classic lingerie with feminine ruffles and lace.

The staff is friendly and energetic and happy to help fill any wardrobe hole.  Don't miss heading downstairs to the basement where there are more dressing rooms, a rack dedicated to vintage finds from the 1950s-1980s, as well as a full wall of sale items that are constantly updated and reduced.  Darling also hosts many events where pieces such as the Little Black Dress are celebrated with promotions and cocktails.

DateWednesday, December 9, 2009 at 10:53PM | Comment1 Comment |
Tuesday
11Aug2009

Callalilai

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Location -  43 Spring Street (near Mulberry St), also located at 827 Broadway (Union Square) and 296 Atlantic Avenue (Brooklyn)

This cozy boutique is an exciting blend of comfort and bold bohemian.  Despite the large store size compared to other Nolita boutiques, Callalilai wraps you up in its charm and makes you feel you're shopping at an exclusive exotic retreat with their exotic bright patterns and handmade accessories.

Take time to enjoy going through their AOYAMA ITCHOME collection where whimsical, airy fabrics in dyes, patterns, and laces are both beautiful and easy to wear.  Dresses range from $75-$200 and come in multiple cuts and styles within similar color palettes so you can easily find the right shape in the perfect pattern.  Tops range from $40-$115 and their renowned bright-colored vintage skirts for $89 are pleated for the just-right amount of volume that sways when you walk.

Their wide array of accessories is unique and eye-catching with vintage and handmade pieces scattered throughout the store.  With international designers including some featured from Peru, Morrocco, Columbia, and Japan, the pieces are cultural and made with care.  Callalilai's famous feather earrings range from $15-$40, necklaces for $20-$200, pristine alligator cuffs $109, leather and intricately stitched fabric belts for $40-$120, and wire-cuff bracelets for $40. There is also a small selection of children's clothes ranging from $50-$75 and a good selection of sale items are 30% off.

DateTuesday, August 11, 2009 at 2:25PM | CommentPost a Comment |
Monday
15Jun2009

Some Odd Rubies

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Location - 151 Ludlow Street (between Stanton & Rivington)

 

You don't want to miss this small boutique in the Lower East Side - take one step from the urban grit of Ludlow Street and enter into a comforting atmosphere of re-worked vintage clothes and brick walls.  Named after three chic fashionistas, Summer Phoenix, Odessa Whitmire and Ruby Canner, who wanted to share their love for vintage style, which is evident in every flowing piece.

With mainly dresses and a few tops and skirts, the collection is a little pricey from $150-$450+, but the reconstructed vintage pieces and fabrics made into approachable modern cuts are worth the cost. Everything from a plaid drop-waist dress to a floral corset-style strap-less top can be found, and the inventory is changed frequently.  The dresses are so easy to wear that they are a definite must-see in season-specific color palettes in various shapes in sizes.  This is the place to go when you want that staple dress in a hard-to-find pattern that always looks amazing on you (and guarantees constant compliments!).

Even though its hard to look past the racks of eye-candy clothes, Some Odd Rubies has a vintage and vintage-inspired jewelry from $25-$150.  You can even find unique vintage shoes and belts to add to your new-found effortless style.

DateMonday, June 15, 2009 at 7:35PM | CommentPost a Comment |
Friday
12Jun2009

Pippin Vintage Jewelry

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

 Pippin JewelryPippin JewelryPippin Jewelry

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 |
Wednesday
10Jun2009

Albertine

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Location - 13 Christopher Street (between Gay Street & Greenwich Ave)

 

A beautiful tree-lined classic West Village street is home to an equally wonderful boutique.  Albertine is one of those quiet gems of a store that has an exciting, unique collection and perfect staff.  On a more personal note, I visited Albertine three times before deciding to feature it on The Boutique of the Week, not because I was wary of the selection, but the price is higher than my norm.  However, Albertine truly is too good to pass up and is the perfect place to splurge and treat yourself to an amazing piece (or two, or three...).

The jewelry is the best feature of Albertine and will have you coming back just to drool over it.  The exquisitely edited collection is priced from $100 to a steep $1,000+.  The beautiful vintage pieces are displayed in glass cases, but touching and dressing up is encouraged.  Delicate necklaces share a wall with leather cuffs, and pendants of owls and horns share a case with a silver snake ring and jade earrings. Prices can only be found out from a large binder where handwritten notes and photos document the inventory.

The womenswear boasts up-and-coming designers and custom-made pieces that are feminine and vintage-inspired ranging from $150-600+.  Flowy fabrics in all colors can be found in floor-length silk gowns and highly-structured bomber jackets.  The cozy store normally only has one or two sizes displayed, but the staff is happy to find you the perfect fit in the back. 

A Victorian couch faces a large mirror for ample viewing, and you can even sometimes find the owner's dog napping as the eclectically chic staff offers spot-on critiques and styling tips.

DateWednesday, June 10, 2009 at 11:36PM | CommentPost a Comment |
Sunday
31May2009

Amarcord

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Location - 252 Lafayette Street (between Prince & Spring) also at 223 Bedford Ave (Williamsburg)

Amarcord boutiqueAmarcord boutique

Amarcord boutique

Vivid, funky, and eclectic wrap up this vintage fashion boutique.  Amarcord's selection consists of pieces from the 1940s to 1980s, with most pieces from European designers.  The lacquered white walls and shelves of their SoHo location frame vibrant pieces arranged by color with jewelry in the center and handbags and shoes at the ends.

The clothing is surprisingly affordable for having designers such as Dior and Lacoste, with pieces ranging from $30-300+.  The best thing about Amarcord is you don't feel like you're buying pre-worn clothes, the quality of selection is superb and makes you wonder how 1950s cardigans and 1980s colored denim ever went out of style.  The collection isn't entirely season-specific, with some coats and sweaters available year-round, in addition to having fun, floral 1970s tops in the summer.

The accessories are the most fun to play dress-up with.  The great costume and vintage jewelry ranges from $70-250+, with some fantastic necklaces, including a gold and colorful rope-wrapped $140 choker.  The bags, shoes, hats, belts, and gloves are in great condition and are easy to accessorize with modern looks.

DateSunday, May 31, 2009 at 6:58PM | Comment1 Comment |
Monday
25May2009

Cockpit USA

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Location - 652 Broadway (between Bleecker & Bond)

Cockpit USACockpit USA

The funniest thing about Cockpit USA is what it has displayed inside - you enter off the bustling liveliness of Broadway Ave and are instantly greeted by a huge (you guessed it) cockpit.  Before turning around and writing off the store entirely, maneuver passed the arced desk and take a lay of the land.  The store is affiliated with the American Airpower Museum, hence the decor.  Yes, there are airplanes hanging from the ceiling and Howard Hughes-esque memorabilia tucked into every corner, but the actual wearable clothing selection is surprisingly interesting.

The menswear collection is larger, but the well-edited selection of womenswear includes vintage-inspired pieces from Tulle, bright-colored basics from Bobi, and denim from WESC.  Their spring collection has vintage-inspired cropped striped cardigans, pleated color-block skirts, and jersey pocket dresses, all from $30-150.  Unless leather flying jackets are your style, bypass them towards the dressing rooms that are fittingly draped in coarse plaid fabric and leather hoops.

The second floor "Yard Sale" section has racks and heaps of vintage finds at cheap prices.  They have a good selection of casual, comfy shoes by Tretorn (more for men than women).  If you have the time, definitely dress up in the patched-up flight jackets and the personable staff will definitely weigh in with their opinion.

At the very least, if the decor and older men dancing to the blasting music of Queen disturb you, a display case of fabulous aviator glasses can be found within the first ten feet of the entrance.

DateMonday, May 25, 2009 at 6:01PM | CommentPost a Comment |