A Guide to Shopping NYC

A few months ago I had a realization: I hated my clothes. Too often while getting dressed, I’d stare blankly at the sea of black fabric and say to myself, ironically and yet somehow completely accurately, “I have nothing to wear.”

So I decided the only solution was to go through all of my clothes (...and shoes…and outerwear). As I scrutinized my wardrobe, it dawned on me that many of the pieces were practical. They were fine. They served a purpose, but few of them excited me. Some even upset me. I reasoned, “Sure, these pants may cause me to experience a feeling of intense existential dread every time I get a glimpse of my ass, but they’re so work appropriate!”

I started thinking about all of the fabulous clothes I had just seen on my trip to France that I wanted but did not buy. Some of them were within my budget, so why didn’t I buy them? Why don’t I flinch at spending $200 on basics from Old Navy, but I question spending that same amount on a single item that really excites me?

Growing up, my clothes shopping was dictated by coupons and sales sections. How could I build an entire back to school wardrobe using Super Cash? While I’m thankful for how this thrifty shopping motivated my creative approach to style–always unafraid to cobble together unique outfits unbound from trends, especially using secondhand and handmade items–it also resulted in a deep-seated fear about spending too much on clothes. I relegated much of my favorite fashion as something to study and admire from afar. I’ve classified some stores as for shopping and some stores as for looking.

Teenage me wearing a mix of clothing from thrift stores and sale sections

I’m a perpetual window shopper. When I go into a small boutique or vintage store, I treat it like a museum. Look at all of these beautiful objects! I love the French term for window shopping lèche-vitrine which literally translates to “window licking.” While there’s a certain level of self-mockery in this saliva-drenched image, I also like how visceral and fun it is. Isn’t it exciting to just have a little taste?

But after a whole lotta licking, I’m hungry. I’d like to take a bite of the fashion that excites me (...within budgetary realities, of course). Especially when considering the horrifying externalities of mass-produced fashion, I’m eager to find a deeper engagement with the clothes I put on my body by shopping from smaller brands and designers. I’m also growing critical of my commitment to thriftiness and sales sections as it relates to overconsumption–bang for your buck isn’t very banging if you end up with a bunch of stuff you don’t love.

Part of my hesitancy when it comes to visiting cool clothing stores is that I’m not especially skinny. I’m a short size-medium with big va-va-vooms (i.e. tits and ass). It’s not surprising that independent designers often have limited size ranges due to limited production capabilities. And then, of course, there are the usual beauty biases towards thinness in the fashion world. In my mind's eye, I’m draped in delicate silks that flow down my flat chest and body like water. There’s no fear of fabric pulling at my hips or tiny straps revealing my big-ass bra straps. In reality, I’m afraid that fashion is for mannequins—universal bodies that don’t ask questions. And let’s just say my body is as inquisitive as I am!

But I put my fears aside and began the process of satiating my hunger for fashion by spending a day touring New York, one cool shop at a time. I crafted a list of intriguing stores, mostly using The Locavore Guide to Shopping NYC, which led me on a journey through trendy streets, Hasidic neighborhoods, industrial buildings, and a Chinatown mall.

A Few Shopping Tips:

As I work through my shopping hangups, I’ve devised a few tips:

A list of wardrobe holes I wrote in my journal

The Delicious Stores:

Venus in Tokyo

This store is not in The Locavore Guide, but it’s one I’ve been wanting to go to for a while, especially after seeing Karly Hartzman of the band Wednesday sing their praises on her blog. They just celebrated their one year anniversary in January. If you’re like me and wear almost exclusively black, white, and gray, you may be intimated by how pink this store looks at first glance, but fear not! If anything, the overly pink interior is a perfect visual cue that you are entering a realm of indulgence. I was hypnotized by a gorgeous collection of experimental, handmade, and slow fashion. While the eclectic mix of clothing ranges from super cutesy to super grungy, the curation of the store feels very cohesive. As the name implies, there’s certainly a lot of inspiration from J-fashion, but with independent labels and artists from all over the world, it would be a disservice to describe Venus in Tokyo as anything less than its own unique world dreamt up by its owners. Co-owner Jordan Figueroa was an amazing guide through the store, eagerly telling us about the designers and artists they work with.

I was so glad this was the first stop of the day because it was a very uplifting experience. The clothes were exciting and fun, Jordan was exceptionally knowledgeable and kind, and shockingly, everything I tried on fit! Many of the clothing items are one of a kind with ambiguous sizing, so I tried not to stress too much about the sizing and just grabbed things I liked. I felt amazing in everything I tried on. I was living out my version of a rom-com dressing room montage. Luckily, in this version, I wasn’t trying on boring cocktail dresses, but outfits that kind of made me look like fashion icon Pennywise. I was in heaven!

My sister is at the far end of straight sizes and beginning of plus sizes, so we weren’t sure if they’d have anything for her. Although they didn’t have a huge selection, they did have a few things for her to try on. She especially loved this matching set, which looks like something straight from her Pinterest.

It was nearly impossible for me to choose what to purchase in the end, but I decided on a hairclip made out of a piece of computer keyboard by New York-based artist Lily Jade, a skirt made up of pieces of repurposed fabric and lingerie by Melbourne-based designer Faeble, and an insanely gorgeous shirt by London-based designer Gloria Jane Royer.

Plus BKLN

My sister had been wanting to go here for a long time, and we finally made it! This is like the plus-size version of Beacon’s Closet, with a mix of used clothes from vintage to contemporary. I feel like they really prioritized FUN items over specific brands. My sister scored a pair of velvet burgundy pants.

Berriez

View from Berriez of the Manhattan skyline

Yes, Berriez is only open for walk-ins on the weekends and by appointment during the week. Yes, you need to wander through the concrete maze of an industrial building in Bed-Stuy in order to get to it. But trust me, once you arrive, you won’t feel intimated at all. Berriez specializes in size-inclusive vintage “curated for curves.” While the store is focused on plus-size clothing, they do have sizes small through large as well. My sister and I are both curvy ladies and loved how easy it was to shop here. We experienced a Sisterhood-of–the-Traveling-Pants-esque magic where everything we tried on fit, except it wasn’t really magic but a thoughtful sizing system based on actual measurements. Every single piece at Berriez is clearly selected with such care; every item felt fabulous and unique and like it just had some special sauce. I ended up getting a Talbots skirt with vertical velvet stripes.

Edith Machinist

This store has the most calming ambience and a very thoughtful selection of vintage pieces that just work! I noticed they had a copy of The Locavore Guide, so I showed the owner Edie that I had the book with me and was using it as a guide to go shopping. It turns out she’s friends with the author and was thrilled to see the book being used that way!

Assembly

This store is a lamp and the It Girls are moths swarming to it! Me included! It was crowded on a Saturday, which was kind of a blessing because I could remain anonymous, be in my own head, and browse. They’ve got all the trendy crap—Sandy Liang, Collina Strada, Vaquera, etc. Definitely a convenient way to see pieces from these various designers all at once. All of the sizes out on the floor were quite small, but I didn’t speak to any of the employees about pulling additional sizes from the back, which I noted they were happy to do for other shoppers.

Tamara Malas

Silly goofy prints and big collars and beautifully confusing wads of lace and fun vintage and size-inclusivity!!! I was intrigued by a pair of fingerless gloves with dental photos printed on them. Everything we tried on was almost right but not quite, including some bloomers my sister and I both tried on in different colors. I’d definitely like to go back to see whatever new goodies they get in.

Café Forgot

I have been dying to go to this store for so long, but when I would look in and see the tiny, hallway-sized storefront with a single rack of clothing, the idea of walking in there made me feel like I had a big sign above my head that said “SIZE 8.” Anyway, it turns out that the rack actually rotates using a big button on the wall, which feels like something out of a getting ready sequence in a Y2K teen movie. At first I was amused by this, but ultimately I found it difficult to connect with the store due to the limited selection of clothing available on the rotating rack.

I’ve long admired Café Forgot from afar as a vital hub of NYC fashion, not just as an important supporter of up-and-coming designers, but also as a site of cultural events such as their Polyester zine launch party. I think this is the kind of store that is probably best experienced through a more personal connection–maybe it’s attending an event, or popping in regularly to see what’s available, or perhaps just exploring the store with the help of the staff.

As we were shopping, they were playing NTS Radio, and when the DJ started playing “Dallas” by Silver Jews, I felt a little more at home and bought some cute stickers by Tokyo-based artist Ibuki Sakai.

Eckhaus Latta

If you want to wear the coolest version of a t-shirt and jeans then this is the store for you! I know I do!

James Veloria

In the same Chinatown mall as Eckhaus Latta, you can’t miss this colorful, checkered vintage store. The selection is fantastic, with beautiful designer items at fair prices. The ambiance is so fun and everything is out for you to easily flip through and try on, so it all felt very accessible. A Courrèges bag here, Vivienne Westwood stockings there, a Margiela top there—what’s not to love?

Arete Studios

Our final stop on the tour was not from The Locavore Guide, but it piqued my interest because I saw they carried clothing from the intriguing Colombian store Ciento Cinco Lunares. Arete focuses on up-and-coming designers from all over the world. The woman working there was very kind and helpful and clearly passionate about the designers they showcase.

As I was about to leave, I noticed a display full of Rabies Dog jewelry. I couldn’t believe my luck and how full circle the day was–I was hoping to purchase Rabies Dog jewelry at the first stop of the day, Venus in Tokyo, but didn’t find exactly what I was looking for. Rabies Dog is based in New York and makes jewelry inspired by the idea of “cute aggression,” which is the urge to squeeze something unbearably cute. The woman in the store told me the designer behind Rabies Dog comes in often to check in and bring new pieces. I purchased a perfect pair of chainmail earrings and wore them out of the store!

Looking fabulous after styling some of my new pieces!