Critical Shopping

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Times writer Mike Albo visits Jean Shop on West 14th Street in the Meatpacking District this week, and discovers a true haven for denim lovers. Albo is so captivated by the store, and its glamorous, friendly owners, that he ends up buying a pair of high-priced, too-tight jeans on their behest: "The salesclerks listened to my concerns with full attention. They both assured me that after a week, the fabric would give. Then they gave me a shot of Herradura tequila. Their names are Peter Brandewein and Sierra Hines-Owens, and they are my new favorite people. I bought a size 28 Medium Rocker Fit for a fresh $240...It’s the next day, and I am writing this while they dig into my waist, as I wait for them to mold to my frame. I may have spent a wad of money and permanently disfigured my lower intestinal region, but eventually these jeans are going to fit really well and last me through the recession, even if it lasts for the next 25 years." [NY Times]