STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I just got back from NYC and wanted to post about my shopping excursion.  I had a few hours to kill while my bf practiced with his band so I took the train into manhattan, armed with my Lucky shopping guide.  I decided on the meatpacking district because i'd been to soho before and didn't want to go too far uptown, plus it was easily accessible on the L train.  I sort of wandered around, had to go backwards for a few shops, but they were all really close so it wasn't a big deal.  I hit up 5 of the shops listed, as well as Jeffrey, the Barney's co-op warehouse sale, Find outlet, and the Intermix warehouse sale.

Calypso Christiane Celle- I liked this store and it had a really cool line I liked- on thursday it was directly to the left of the door- but it was too pricey- like $500-1000 for a piece??  They had a belt I liked, it was metallic with an angel wing on it- $145.  I liked this store, but not many options in the under $200 range and I would only spend $200 on something that was FABULOUS.  Some people have too much money- though I would spend much more if I had it on something great- but a lot of things really are just overpriced.  Airy, pretty, color-coded layout, sales people smiled but didn't really talk to me at all. 

Girlshop-  the sales girl was nice enough- I mentioned that I was familiar with the website and she told me that 80% of the merchandise can be found online.  Unfortunately, 80% of whats on the website was not in the store.  Its a pretty small assortment, and I wasn't very impressed.  I'm sure there was a piece here and there that I could like, but not for those prices.  I saw lines I was familiar with, but nothing wonderful.  The website has a much better assortment, though if you live in nyc, it may be worth calling the boutique ahead of time to see if they have it so that you can try it on.  Most likely they won't have it though.

Destination-  MY FAVORITE!!  I loved this store.  I went because I really loved the beaded blue bag that is pictured next to the store description in the Lucky shopping guide.  I saw it there but it is TINY in person.  So small.  Also, $600, but 40% off.  A lot of really cool lines were 40% off or more- the whole store was basically on sale until Friday I think.  Not sure why, or what is still on sale.  Well, the bag is Jamin Puech, a line I will look out for now, and I may have paid $600 minus 40% if the bag was big, since it reminded me of my beloved miu miu flats that I missed out on.  But it was wallet-sized.  Very pretty though, and sooo many cool things.  The sales people were AWESOME.  The guy was wearing short-shorts and knee high lace up riding boots.  One of the girls was wearing this awesome skirt that she designed herself.  They had really cool espadrilles (army green, flat, with lime detailing) for like $56 but only a size 36 =(  A lot of really cool pieces, but so expensive.  The store was on sale though, which was cool.  I learned that the owner was Japanese, and the buyer worked out of Paris, so everything is very imaginative, well-designed, and carefully picked.

Dernier Cri- My second favorite store- maybe only because I bought something from the store.  My only purchase- a $50 tshirt.  Overpriced but i wanted it.  Sigh.  There was a Lucky breaks in the back of the mag for 20% off something in the store but i didnt see it til hours later.  Oops.  This store was small, but I liked a lot of things in it.  Pretty jewelry, big snakeskin cuffs, gold starfish/stone/shell jewelry, a huge beaded necklace that I loved but for $175, I might just make it myself, or try to.  They had Sass and Bide jeans, a brown silk halter top with multi-colored hearts on it- $200 some dollars.  I thought it was a well-edited selection, and I would definitely go back to here or Destination in a heartbeat.  The t-shirt I bought was M. Carter- yellow with elbow length short sleeves and a longer length.  It has brown necklaces printed on it- one has an owl on it, one has a palm-tree on it.  I don't normally like faux necklace shirts, but this one was kitschy and I liked the fit, plus it looks cool when worn with a real necklace. 

ETA: I found the shirt online, hehe.

here is the designers website: http://www.miltoncarter.com/tshirt.php

Scoop- Walked past but didn't step in.  I've never liked this store.  Too trendy for me- everything is a trend.  But the meatpacking district location has a few in a row it seems, or its just really big that it goes for several storefronts.

Ten Thousand Things- Gorgeous jewelry- I found several pieces that I would have become obsessed with if they were even near under $300.  But they weren't.  The necklace I liked was $1200.  Great inspiration though, but the less-unique pieces are definitely overpriced.  I'd pay for the nice ones (gold coral shaped branch jewelry, for example) when I get rich.  Save this one for when you are rich.

Jeffrey New York- my friend raves about this shop and the sales guy told me he sees celebrities every day, but I wasn't that impressed.  It was like Neimans or Barneys or any of those other stores to me, but smaller.  Plus, too many salespeople- I was stuck talking to one guy for like 20 mins.  I DID get a chance to see an Ann Demeulmeester (sp?) coat in person (gorgeous, but not as smooth of a wool as I was expecting) and the Balenciaga toggle coat in person (I THINK I read the price tag as $5990, doh)  I liked the wool of the balenciaga coat but it was a little too stiff for me.  The design of the Ann Demeulmeester coat was great, but I didn't love the wool.  I saw some beautiful Miu Miu and Marni pieces as well.  They had some nice fall accessories in as well as some Marc Jacobs sunglasses that intrigued me.  I didn't think the store was pretty or imaginative or anything- the items made the store pretty- not the layout.  I think they could have worked on that, considering you are paying $6000 for a coat.

Find Outlet- I didn't find anything I wanted but saw some labels- a cute Development top- velvet but still expensive at $111, lots of sweatshirt material LaRok, Prairie New York, two Twinkle by Wenlan skirts that were ill-fitting- nothing fabulous, though some great prices.  This might be the kind of store you have to go to often though- not sure.  I wasn't overly impressed.

Barney's Co-op Warehouse sale- I thought this was wretched- no offense!! First of all, it was a madhouse (first day of sale?), and there were millions of security guards.  Stuff everywhere, people trying things on everywhere, and the prices weren't that great!!  Nothing I couldn't find better on eBay or end of year sales, and not have to avoid the hassle of not being able to properly try something on!  I saw a Lanvin dress I liked $800 from $5000- I guess thats' good but you can't try it on!  Not that I wanted to spend that or needed that frankly.  Lots of Barneys Co-op brand.  Some DVF, Marc Jacobs, a lot of the same pieces they had a lot of.  Nothing that stood out- maybe there were some great finds but there were just TOO many people there to really be able to look, and I was very focused.

Intermix- better organized than the Barneys sale- didn't feel like I was walking in as a criminal, and it was more airy.  There might have been some finds, but after the Barneys experience, didn't feel like dealing with it.  Plus- a lot of it was just really summery clothes at not-too-great prices again, and I feel like the best things had already been sold (Stella wedges- lucky!)  

Ok- I hope that helps/amuses someone!  I can't believe I typed all that.  I missed some stores because of fatigue- next time I want to go to the west village, nolita, and east village.  I loved Dernier Cri and Destination though, and would def. stop in those again!