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New York City has more stores than anyone could physically tackle, but somehow we always keep returning to the usual suspects. To break out of the rut, we've asked some local shopping and fashion gurus to provide their hidden retail gems—those unique stores around our fantastic city that we might not all know about. Cue the Beatles: We're about to get a little help from our friends.
Image via Google Street View
Beau Sam is the associate fashion editor at Vogue, producing covers and shoots as well as assisting long-term fashion director Tonne Goodman. When he wants to shop, he checks out Vintage Loft, a pre-loved emporium near the Brooklyn Navy Yard. If you'd like to check it out, go soon—the store will be closing at the end of August and relocated to an as-yet-unnamed location.
I first discovered Vintage Loft as an intern picking up clothes for a shoot. Ever since, I have been in love with the store and its owner Mary Catalina. Vintage Loft is identified by a discreet purple question mark painted on the front door. However, all style questions are answered once inside the door.
Room after room, rack upon rack, shelf after shelf of men's and women's clothing, accessories, patterns, and odds and ends like buttons and thread flood the store in a cohesive messiness that goes appreciated by anyone with a love for exceptional items. The real treasures are Catalina's stories about each item, from its provenance to where the materials came from.
Some recent finds include Helmut Lang jackets, an Eames silver paperweight in the shape of a hand, bespoke Rhodes & Brousse striped shirts. Alaïa, Perry Ellis circa Marc Jacobs, Comme des Garcons—anything you thought you could never find again is most likely at Vintage Loft.· Vogue [Official Site]
· Vintage Loft [Official Site]
· All Shopping Confidential Posts [Racked NY]
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