“Shop” listings
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Little King Ltd.
At this no-frills, custom jewelry shop the design process alone can take six weeks, but each carefully planned piece of jewelry is worth the wait. The store’s metal casters use recycled gold, and the owners are proud to offer Kalahari Diamonds from a mine that promotes gender equality in Africa. (09/2011)
319 E 9 St
212-260-6140
littlekingjewelry.com -
Toys ‘R’ Us
This Times Square location of the national chain, boasting a 60-foot indoor Ferris wheel and a roaring T-rex, is more than just a toy store. It sells all kinds of goodies from ice cream to cookies, and even has a section for Willy Wonka’s special chocolates and candies. (09/2011)
1514 Broadway
646-366-8800
toysrusinc....timessquare -
Angel Street Thrift
Thrift isn't synonymous with cheap at this hip Chelsea clothier, but with a carefully curated selection of brands like Prada, Burberry and Diesel, you won’t mind. The spacious interior layout, attentive staff and stunning window displays mimic those of an upscale boutique. Best of all, proceeds benefit families affected by HIV/AIDS and mental illness. (07/2011)
118 West 17th St
212-229-0546
angelstreetthrift.org -
Jane’s Exchange
This East Village resale and consignment shop for moms and kids is a true community effort. Longtime shoppers and consigners designed the colorful walls, and the train set in the new children’s play area was donated by a neighborhood boy. You can find an entire Barney’s New York outfit for your toddler for $14, while a girls Gucci jacket goes for around $8. (06/2011)
191 E Third St
212-677-0380
janesexchangenyc.com -
Brooklyn Free Store
The Big Apple has a way of making your wallet drastically lighter—reason enough to take a short subway ride to this Clinton Hill shop where you won't need it. Packed with donated books, electronics, clothing, housewares and other assorted treasures, it's an indoor-outdoor market where, yes, everything is free. (04/2011)
222 Walworth St, Brooklyn
bkfreestore.tumblr.com -
Assembly New York
This luxury men's and women's boutique has one thing most similar shops don't: custom terrariums. When it moved to its current location, owner Greg Armas sketched some funky, geometric interior layouts that, in the end, didn't fit the building. But they made cool designs for glassenclosed mini deserts, and a friend of his now produces them for the shop. (03/2011)
170 Ludlow St
212-253-5393
assemblynewyork.com -
Alessi
This Italian design company has been elevating home décor to high art for 75 years. Pick up a Michael Graves-designed stainless-steel pitcher ($276), a mahogany-accented tea kettle by Frank Gehry ($450) or a squirrel-shaped nut cracker by Andrea Branzi ($120). Nothing's cheap, but you'll be the envy of dinner party guests for years. (03/2011)
30 E 60th St
212-317-9880
alessi.com -
Aloha Rag
This crisp white boutique in far west SoHo started as a small, vintage-only shop on surfer-rich Oahu. The carefully curated high-fashion collection includes pieces from 3.1 Phillip Lim to Tom Ford, as well as the store brand, Aloha Rag, which debuted in the fall. (02/2011)
505 Greenwich St
212-925-0882
aloharag.com -
CALLALILAI
Belt it, scrunch it, cinch it and tie it. The staff will offer a whirlwind of fashion advice, with the goal of helping you create more than a dozen looks from one of designer Aoyama Itchome’s garments. Find antique Pakistani coin belts, leather bags, vintage Vietnamese fabric “Latifa” skirts and handcrafted jewelry. (01/2011)
518 Broadway
212-219-2646
callalilai.com -
COMME DES GARÇONS
The aluminum tunnel entrance to this Chelsea boutique warps you from grungy city street to a crisp, white shop that sells everything from dresses and suits to perfumes. You can’t ignore the popular T-shirts and cardigans that are branded with the brand’s eerie logo—an asymmetrical red heart with piercing eyes. (01/2011)
520 W 22nd St
212-604-9200 -
ENRIQUE MUTHUAN JEWELRY
“Enrique” yourself with layers of multi-metal chains, charms and Swarovski crystals to pull off an effortless, sophisticated look. Each piece is a limited, handmade original creation by Muthuan, so you’ll never see the same bling on anyone else. (01/2011)
214 Grand St, Ste 3L, Brooklyn
718-916-1487
enriquemuthuan.com -
THE DRESSING ROOM
Creativity and sociability are the two hallmarks of this fully integrated clothing exchange, boutique and bar. You’ll find pieces by upand- coming designers, ranging from flirty cocktail dresses for women to graphic tees for men. Thursdays through Saturdays, it stays open until 2am, so you can shop amid DJs, art exhibits, film screenings and spirits. Please shop responsibly. (12/2010)
75A Orchard St
212-966-7330
thedressingroomnyc.com
