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60 Toy Group
Ranging from mildly quirky to never-before-heard of, these toys are imported from all over Asia (particularly Hong Kong and Japan) by owner Jakuan. Figurine collectors will be happy to find the odd-ball character Michael Lau, rain-hat-wearing Bathing Apes, robotic Bounty Hunters, and abstract creations from Jakuan's Rock Hard clothing line.
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8 Hester
Owner Denise Williamson stocks this boutique with her favorite designers - Ulla Johnson, Kristen Lee, Sass & Bide, Rag & Bone and Franck and features cotton separates made by Ms Williamson herself.
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A Cheng
Delicate clothes that fall on just the right side of dainty swing on the racks at Cheng's relaxed East Village shop - a simple but welcoming place that perfectly showcases her practical and pretty designs.
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Alphabets
A good place to pick up an offbeat souvenir, Alphabets is split down the middle: tees, toys and postcards on one side, and more expensive items like designer tea kettles, Precidio nesting bowls and some odds and ends in menswear.
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American Apparel
Pick up American classics made with a conscience - no sweatshop labor goes into the making of these clothes. Everything is done with above-board in-house production. Sweats, hoodies, underwear and other apparel available in a range of colors.
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An Earnest Cut & Sew
Ok, so you found the perfect pair of jeans...but they're two inches too long. No worries - at Earnest Cut & Sew, custom alterations are done on the spot. Custom-sewn jeans can also be had too, for (ahem) a price. This industrial-themed shop clings to the frontier aesthetic of denim, liking it to look rough and ready to work, but in a nod to the modern taste, insists it fit like a glove.
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Anna Sui
Frilly, flimsy and free-flowing, Anna Sui's dresses are a must-have for soigné New York women who like to look sexy but not obvious. The store's a purple-walled curiosity in its own right.
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B Oyama Homme
Bernard Oyama is the 'Haberdasher of Harlem,' and one look at his wing-tipped shoes, two-tone suits and sleek fedoras and you'll get an urge to shoot your cuffs, too. His boutique sells tailor-cut suits, an assortment of shirts, and items like ties, pocket squares, gloves, cuff links, and suspenders.
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B8 Couture
Lots of looks and styles, mostly big name European designers with some token Americans, are featured here. The magic is in how you mix collections - a girlish skirt from McFadden with a top from Gaultier.
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Balenciaga
Come and graze at this cool, grey, Zen-like space. It's the gallery-district's showcase, appropriately enough, for the artistic, post-apocalypse avant-garde styles of this French fashion house. Expect strange lines, goth patterns and pants for very skinny (and deep-pocketed) gals.
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Barney's Co-Op
The edgier, younger, more affordable version of Barneys has (relatively) affordable deals. At this expansive, loft-like space, with a spare, very selective inventory of clothing for men and women, plus shoes and cosmetics, the biannual warehouse sale (February and August) packs the place, both with endless merchandise and mobs of customers.
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Brooklyn Industries
Its stores are all over Williamsburg, and this brand of urban chic has cracked Manhattan. Started by two artists who turned their love of fashion into a million-dollar business, these hip clothes, with their catchy Brooklyn skyline label, are comfy, casual and fun.
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Buckler
Producing cult menswear that blends 'roguish American icons with British edge,' Buckler's famous for brash and boyish denim designs. If you like the way Lenny Kravitz and Iggy Pop dress, you've found the perfect store.
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Carlos Miele
A bright store for bold shoppers, the design of Miele's flagship boutique is almost as eye-catching as his sexy, sultry, Carnaval-inspired Brazilian dresses. Great for glamorous gowns that leave you room to dance.
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Catherine Malandrino
Fun, refreshing looks that make the most of curves are the watchword at Malandrino's two stores - one in the Meatpacking District and the other in Soho. Her breezy blouses and feminine spaghetti-strap sundresses are must-have items for a summer in the city.
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Dear Fieldbinder
Located on big-name Smith St, this white-walled store more than holds its own with some big name designers - A Cheng, for one - while making sure to showcase some raw talent too (Wendy Hil, Para Gabia, Tom K Nguyen). The clothes are eclectic, but classically feminine.
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Foley + Corinna
This vintage store with a few of its own unique designs is pure girly romance. Delicate dresses, tees, tanks and blouses matched with flirty skirts are the signature style, along with Corinna's unique shoe and jewelry designs.
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Ghostown
A used and gently worn clothing store that also doubles as a club on certain nights of the week, Ghostown carries men's and women's streetwear from local designers and brands. The parties come and go; check in with the owners while you're in town.
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Issey Miyake
Gorgeous skirts, pretty pleats and tons of snazzy, silky shirts line the racks at Issey Miyake's downtown store. The merchandise fits in perfectly with the neighborhood, but the prices are more uptown than downtown.
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Jeffrey New York
Come to the store that started it all - Jeffrey's was one of the first major design emporiums to brave the Meatpacking District's cobblestone streets, and it stays on top of trends to this day. Valencia, Prada and more sold here, with some cosmetics.
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Jimmy Choo
To understand the appeal of Jimmy Choo's, you've got to like high heels (as in sky-high heels - even the sandals have stilettos). You can find thick leather boots, closed-toe pumps, and ethereal, flirty sling backs in satin or leather at this uptown store.
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Liberty House
A 1960s grassroots cooperative designed to promote the work of American artisans and farmers, Liberty House retains its eco-friendly mission even in today's global economy. Women and children can pick up organic, natural fiber clothes (no sweatshop labor here, thank you very much!) and its imported goods are bought directly from artists and artisan collectives who use only recycled or non-endangered woods and materials.
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Loopy Mango
The brainchild of crochet designer Waejong Kim and artist Anna Pulvermakher, Loopy Mango features Waejong's one-of-a-kind crochet clothes and accessories, and Anna's series of woodcuts and crochet jewelry and accessories. The two women, both artists, opened a second DUMBO store on Front St; they carry other designers like Cynthia Rowley and Vera Wang.
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Love Saves the Day
In a city awash with gentrification, it's nice when some things stay the same, like this store's campy polyester clothes, fake fur coats, glam-rock spiked boots, Star Wars '77 figurines and other dolls and vintage toys. Not much has changed since Rosanna Arquette bought Madonna's pyramid jacket here in Desperately Seeking Susan .
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Luca Luca
Italian designer Orlandi Luca achieves what so few can: sultry, sensual clothes that can be worn by women of all ages. Famous for glittery, flowing evening gowns that cling in all the right places, Luca Luca also has a stellar line of separates for day.
