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Welcome to Drunk Shopping, our feature celebrating the time-honored tradition of getting totally wasted while the sun's still shining before buying a bunch of debatably useful stuff that the sober you would be too timid or too restrained to take home. Each Friday we'll cobble together a new itinerary starting you off with a boozy Saturday or Sunday brunch before meandering through a few neighboring retailers and happy hours notable for seasonal specials, limited time availability, fantastic deals, recent openings, or new shipments.
Oh, Lower East Side, we can never keep away from you for too long. You're just this mecca of booze and consumerism; this perfect beacon of every indulgent, materialistic whim we aspire to when embarking on a Drunk Shopping excursion. And this weekend? Oh—holy hell—this weekend two of New York's finest shops, Project No. 8 and No. 8b, are having their annual sample sales. We hear there are pairs of Margiela shoes for $100—wild horses couldn't keep us out of the neighborhood.
Ya gotta eat, though, right? Well, Brown is right across the street from Project No. 8—that's the womenswear shop—so it's as good a place as any to grab brunch. Actually, it's very good, and very cute. All rough-hewn benches and seasonal, organic edibles. Order one of their delicious brunch platters featuring freshly baked items alongside bits of caper or smoked fish or seasonal fruit or infused honey. Wash it down with their Aristocrat's Punch—fresh fruit muddled with sparkling wine and $17 for a carafe. Yum. You know what else is yum? Shopping—let's go.
So, trek on across to Project No. 8. We're talking $900 Macintosh raincoats for $250, a glut of Boudicca dresses, Bless accessories from $30, plus 40 to 90% off names like A Détacher, Sunshine and Shadow, VPL and Zero + Maria Cornejo. Don't feel too left out, boys—No. 8b is next! Kostas Murkudis suits start at $300, from up to $3,000, and don't forget the aforementioned Macintosh coats and Margiela shoes alongside massive discounts on the likes of Siki Im and Thom Browne. Our heart is aflutter.
Down the street duck into Gargyle—they too are having a pretty impressive sale. We're talking up to 80% off spring and summer clearance items from Velour, A.P.C., YMC, Fred Perry and Vena Cava. Ladies and gents at one locations—how do you like that? Also on Orchard Street, also on sale: Pop into Still Life. Yes, it's a hat shop, but right now the space is offering a glut of vintage eyewear and it's 50% off. You can basically go home with a whole new wardrobe.
But not without drinking more! Wind down at Painkiller. Recently opened on Essex Street, this ultra-retro tiki spot is kitschy-hilarious and serves some serious drinks that will seriously kick your ass (even if they pretty much taste like Jamba Juice). They're a little pricey compared to our usual Drunk Shopping haunts—but they're big, and strong, and someone has to pay for the extra-long strongs and bamboo umbrellas.
Enjoy! And please do share your Drunk Shopping tips, tales, and war stories in the comments!
· Dealfeed: Project No. 8 and No. 8b [Racked NY]
· Dealfeed: Gargyle [Racked NY]
· Dealfeed: Still Life [Racked NY]
· Drunk Shopping [Racked NY]