East Village, New York Shopping; East Village, New York Stores

Academy LPs

New York City rents don't really allow for those everything-under-the-sun record shops with hundred of thousands of records stacked every which way--and thank God for that. Instead there are shops like Academy Records, a more refined record shop making up in depth what it may lack in breadth. Academy's different locations specialize in...

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Argosy

Pseudo-vintage shirts (and perhaps the people who wear them) need to go the way of the wooly mammoth. If you are going to wear a vintage shirt, THEN FOR GOD SAKES WEAR A REAL VINTAGE SHIRT. And in case you haven't guessed by now Argosy has some nice vintage T-shirts, two long racks of them in fact. All are worn but still wearable shirts...

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Atomic Passion

The storefront of Atomic Passion kind of looks a super funky post nuclear winter garden. So if you expect to find some funky vintage clothing inside than you won't be disappointed. The place is packed tight with vintage dresses, pants, shirts and accessories. But the vintage shoe department is where the store shines. You'll find...

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Azaleas

There was a time when if you wanted anything more intricate than cotton briefs you'd have to look across the Big Pond. Azalea is testament to how times have changed. High-brow (and high-priced) lingerie are passed over in favor of super-cute bras, panties and loungewear designed by up-and-coming American, South American and OK even a few...

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Dave's Quality Meat

If Dave's Quality Meat was actually a butcher, it'd be one that only sold filet mignon and rack of lamb. The store is stocked fresh weekly with the finest examples of sneakers money can buy. Like any good butcher shop the selection is plentiful--row upon row of shoes are on display, the latest from Nike, Adidas and friends. Some are...

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Etherea

In Etherea music is mostly independent, electronic and often both. The smallish record shop keeps its allegiances clear with its deep, focused selection. New and used CDs along with some vinyl read like a who's who of indie and electronic artists, with a particular emphasis on New York indie labels. Aimee Mann, MF Doom, Shelby Lynn, At...

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Fabulous Fanny's

With sunglass and eyeglass frame prices reaching new heights every year, Fabulous Fanny's is an invaluable resource of unique, hip glasses at reasonable prices. Packed in endless drawers, cases and displays are thousands upon thousands of vintage and deadstock frames from the early 20th century on up. The frames are organized (using the...

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Giant Robot

If Giant Robot the magazine began as an ode to Asian pop culture, then Giant Robot the store is now a mecca for the same. Alongside copies of the latest issue of GR you'll find all sorts of pop-y Asian items (and some American stuff that is just cool enough to be sold in Japan). Comic and design books, funky accessories, stickers and...

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Good Records

Good Records pretty well sums its up. There seem two be to approaches to vinyl shops: the records, records everywhere approach that requires patient digging or the filtered, hand-picked approach. Good Records stocks sought after, well taken care of vinyl from a variety of genres (hip-hop, soul, reggae, punk). While some of these records could...

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John Derian

Decoupage and stylish are two words you're not likely to see together very often. The craft of using paper cutouts and varnish to decorate is more often featured in Midwestern farms than New York studios, but John Derian has made decoupage quite style indeed. The store sells decoupage pieces handmade in their small studio.Most are...

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Live It Up

Live it Up seems to exist to show people that they don't need much money or space to have fun with their domiciles. The small shop is full of fun, functional, small and affordable items for kitchen, bath, table and living space alike.

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Meg

Featuring the designs of Meghan Kinney, Meg offers a complete, fun and completely fun wardrobe for women. There everything from impeccably cut slacks to lacy tops, tweed suits to a multitude of fun dresses. Yet every item, whether it be a summer dress or a all-business suit has a bit of fun and whimsy to it. The stores, which are simple and...

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Min K

While it may seem that all roads to Asian fashion go through Tokyo, Min-K makes a strong case for Seoul. The women's clothing shop combines separates and dresses from Korea's finest designers with designs from its own line. Dresses come in vintage silhouettes and happy prints, skirts are short and pleated, halter and tube tops come in...

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MyOptics

The selection at eyewear at Myoptics is not the most cutting-edge we've seen, but the quality of the overall experience is second to none. The staff is friendly and helpful. The frames are plentiful and focus on sharp, minimal frames rather than odd shapes or crazy colors. And the space (we visited the SoHo location) is airy, well-lit and...

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Odin

For the type of man that's not content to wear whatever T-shirt and jean that's around, the type that wants every aspect of their wardrobe to be distinctive without appearing like they're trying too hard, Odin is a must-stop. Clothing is casual and edgy. Button-down shirts come in interesting fabric blends, hip cuts, or elegant...

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Other Music

Frankly we don't have time to sort through the thousands of records released every week and find stuff that we'll like. For our indie/eclectic tastes, Other Music's focused selection as well as their weekly review of new music is the perfect remedy. The music-obsessed staff of Other Music brings the same value to their shop as a...

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Pas de Deux

Reader Suggested: An extension of Odin it's neighbor, Pas de Deux provides ready to wear one of a kind fashions for women. One of my favorite stores to date: Sells many edgy designers such as Alexander Wang, Rag & Bone, Vena Cava, and Repetto. The SA's are also extremely friendly and will not push you on a purchase. If you...

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St. Mark's Bookshop

If you put a general bookstore in the hands of an artist, St. Mark's Bookshop is what you would get. Among the black shelving and exposed ducting are a nice selection of new fiction and nonfiction with a strong emphasis on design, art, and architecture books. There is also a comprehensive selection of foreign and domestic newspapers and...

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The New World Order

Reader Suggested: As a designer, this is the best place to source designer vintage clothing and accessories. Highly recommended.

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Tiny Living

Think about just about any indispensable item for the home and Tiny Living has a version that performs the same function while taking up less space. Sometimes it's by clever arrangement: ottomans that slide cleverly under a special sofa or a spice rack that can be mounted underneath a cabinet. Sometimes it's by combining functions:...

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Tokio7

Despite alluded to affiliations, Tokio7 actually does a fine job of bringing together clothing from all the world's fashion centers. From Europe come luxury standards like Prada, Gucci and friends. From America come stylish standards from Theory and Chaiken. And, of course, from Tokyo come the avant-garde designs of Yohji, Comme des...

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Toy Tokyo

Toy Tokyo is not snobbish--they don't claim that Japanese toys are superior and refuse to bring in anything else. The store embraces cool toys of all origins and gives each an area in the store. Display case after display case holds cool toys from Japan, North America and Europe. From America are cool small-run urban vinyl toys from the...

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Tribal Soundz

We first heard of Tribal Soundz when we actually heard some crazy beats and followed the sound to the store (where they were having some sort of precussion workshop). The store specializes in tribal instruments: djembees and digeridoos, dumbeks and pandieros. Dozens upon dozens of instruments are available, along with a selection of world music...

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Underdog East

Even among independently owned boutiques, there are those that do multi-million dollar buildouts in SoHo and then there are shops like Underdog East which lease a small space on a quiet block and do what they do away from the bright lights. What Underdog East does is put together tiny New York and Brooklyn talents with internationally...

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White Trash

White Trash certainly isn't the largest mid-century modern furniture store we've ever seen. And while size does matter in shops such as these the shop so do service, taste and turnover. White Trash's collection is more on the fun, quirky side than the serious and industrial and includes a surprising variety of wood, metal,...

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Academy LPs

Argosy

Atomic Passion

Azaleas

Dave's Quality Meat

Etherea

Fabulous Fanny's

Giant Robot

Good Records

John Derian

Live It Up

Meg

Min K

MyOptics

Odin

Other Music

Pas de Deux

St. Mark's Bookshop

The New World Order

Tiny Living

Tokio7

Toy Tokyo

Tribal Soundz

Underdog East

White Trash

Elsewhere

Sites

Blogs