Where this MTV Writer Finds Sunnies in Chelsea

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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 Uomo Style

NYC writer Sam Lansky runs a weekly column for MTV Buzzworthy called Pop Think where he analyzes the day's pop culture, among other things. He recommends Parke & Ronen, a colorful summer-inspired shop that provided him with all the beachwear he needs to take a vacation—even if he never leaves the island.

I only ever knew Parke & Ronen for their colorful swimwear sold at Barney's and Saks, but my last apartment, in Chelsea, was perilously close to their boutique on Ninth Avenue just south of 21st Street. Walking around the neighborhood to grab a green juice from One Lucky Duck (or, on deadline days, a latte from Stone Street), I was frequently sucked in by the bright, breezy window displays at Parke & Ronen. It's one of only two retail shops of theirs (the other is on Melrose in Los Angeles) which carries their Boutique Label, tailored sportswear-like dress shirts in vibrantly patterned prints, which I'm a sucker for.

More than that, though, I'm consistently impressed by the well-curated selection of other lines like irresistibly whimsical socks from Swedish label Happy Socks (my favorite!) and J.Fold wallets. Even if I rarely (i.e. never) take an actual vacation, picking up a new pair of paisley trunks and some sunnies from Parke & Ronen is an easy and relatively affordable way to transport myself from a dreary New York winter.

· Parke & Ronen [Official Site]
· Sam Lansky [Official Site]
· All Shopping Confidential Posts [Racked NY]

Parke & Ronen

176 9th Avenue New York NY 10011