New York Shopping Guide
Our list of the most undeniably unmissable spots.
The Top 100 Boutiques in New York
In God We Trust
What started as a small operation in 2005 has quickly grown into a mini boutique empire. While the house clothing label used to be available in a wealth of stores across the country, these three spots are now the only sources for snapping up the line's smartly turned-out jackets and Peter Pan-collared blouses. They also sell choices from labels like Eskell. 265 Lafayette St. SOHO 212-966-9010; 153 Ludlow St. LES 212-228‑1055; 135 Wythe Ave. WILLIAMSBURG 718‑388-2012,ingodwetrustnyc.com
Inventory
This warehouse-size outlet carries a constantly rotating cast of designers at steeply discounted prices. At last check, there were ample picks from Cheap Monday, Quail, and
Devotte, though the stock is switched up weekly.237 Lafayette St. SOHO
212-226-5292, inventorynyc.com
New York Adorned
Part tattoo parlor, part jewelry boutique, this East Village stalwart—which just unveiled a new outpost in Brooklyn—is where fashion-industry insiders get inked or at the very least snag exotically worked necklaces. Turn here for intricate hammered
gold earrings by owner Lori Leven and rough-cut gems set into gaping claws
by Elizabeth Thompson. 47 Second Ave. EAST VILLAGE 212-473-0007; 376 Bedford Ave. WILLIAMSBURG 718-782-0007
Bird
Jennifer Mankins, who started her career at Barneys before becoming the head buyer for Steven Alan, opened her first Bird in 1999, and over the last decade she has steadily established three of Brooklyn’s most compelling boutiques. Mankins has a visionary eye for mixing offbeat fabrics and textiles, positioning exuberantly patterned Tsumori Chisato blouses alongside madras skirts from A.P.C. and printed dresses from Jackson, Johnston & Roe. 220 Smith St. COBBLE HILL 718-797-3774; 316 Fifth Ave
PARK SLOPE 718-768-4940; 203 Grand St. WILLIAMSBURG, 718-388-1655
Blueberi
Occupying a refurbished industrial space, the globally infused Blueberi offers an eccentric array of items you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere—or at least hard-pressed
to find sold together in one store. There are Karen Walker tunics painted with images of roosters, trade beads from Africa, bright patent belts, and Victorian-era hats. 143 Front St. DUMBO 718-422-7724
Dear Fieldbinder
Dear Fieldbinder specializes in effortlessly chic, beautifully modern pieces like tailored Lauren Moffatt blouses and chunky Twinkle by Wenlan sweaters: the type of items that will quickly become favorites. 198 Smith St. COBBLE HILL 718-852-3620, dearfieldbinder.com
Dear Rivington
Shopping at this newly relocated spot feels akin to visiting the closet of an avant-garde Miss Havisham: It's washed with white paint, and a giant Victorian birdcage sits in
the front, overflowing with yards of frothy tulle. There's a mix of vintage, plus
the house line of interestingly cut ivory-hued vests and slouchy dresses. A slick second level hosts an array of home pieces, like lighting fixtures and stationery. 95 Rivington St. Les 212-673-3494
Début
Set up like an art gallery on an overlooked stretch of Mulberry Street, Début gives each item its own placard, detailing its designer and materials. As the name suggests, the year-old emporium specializes in the sort of emerging talent that can't be found elsewhere. 298 Mulberry St. NoHo 212-343-2717, debutnewyork.com
Erie Basin
Russell Whitmore's gallery/boutique holds all the gorgeous treasures he turns up from tirelessly shopping East Coast estate sales. It's a stunning and well-priced array of jewelry—thanks to his eye for the curious and unusual, there's really nothing else like it—which makes Erie Basin a major destination, despite its location in far-flung Red Hook. Victorian memento mori rings and necklaces made from discarded filigree watch bits are standouts. 388 Van Brunt St. RED HOOK
718-554-6147, eriebasin.com
Eva
Eva's exciting re-emergence on the Bowery this March (it shuttered its Mulberry Street location last year) brings a much-needed shopping infusion to the underserved East Village. Filling a sliver of a space, the selection reflects a slick, indomitably progressive aesthetic, as evidenced by brands such as Henrik Vibskov, Staerk, and Samantha Pleet. 355 Bowery EAST VILLAGE 212-925-3890
