Alice + Olivia's Stacey Bendet on Her Secret Vintage Showroom

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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 of the city's shopping and fashion gurus to provide their hidden retail gems—those unique stores around our fantastic island (and beyond) that we might not all know about. Cue The Beatles: We're about to get a little help from our friends.

Today's subject is Alice + Olivia founder Stacey Bendet, who goes by the nickname "Staceypants." In 2002, Alice + Olivia debuted at Barneys New York as a line of women's pants, which became an overnight success. Two years later, her collection expanded beyond bottoms and is now a full line of seasonal collections, with stores in New York and LA. Her bi-coastal reach might explain her secret store pick: The Hell's Kitchen outpost of an LA vintage store.

Bendet writes: "The Way We Wore's new New York store/showroom is beyond a gem. It's my secret spot for inspiration, dress up, and all my blast-from-the past style." The shop, which has been around since September, is open by appointment only for members of the design industry. You might recognize some of their wares, though; most recently, they provided the 1950s ball gown for Nicki Minaj's fairy godmother in the "Moment 4 Life" video.—Yale Breslin
· alice+olivia [Official Site]
· The Way We Wore [Official Site]