Aiko's Designer Finds Rare Alaïa at this Consignment Shop

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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.

Led by creative director Cynthia Mittweg, Aiko is a line of clothing centered around the concept of reinventing the classic sweatshirt. It launched in the spring of 2010, and since then has expanded to include both dresses and relaxed yet luxurious pants. Mittweg tells us that when she strays from her go-to neutral color palette, she heads to a UWS Soho establishment where color doesn't fade. Allan & Suzi, Cynthia's hidden gem, feels like a throwback to the dressing rooms of a 1950's variety show, including quirky accessories, unique designer one-offs, and, if you're lucky, last season's Valentino. Let the hunt begin.

Allan and Suzi are quirky characters. This store is such hidden treasure because there is nothing else like it out there. I love it because it has such a wide range and eclectic mix of clothing from costume to vintage to off-the-runway (I love their selection of Alaia). The store itself is on the small side, but I can spend hours there just digging through literally everything, because I always end up finding something. They also have a main warehouse in New Jersey, which is where they stock most of their goods, so if you get a chance visit their New Jersey location as well.

Update: Seems we were led astray by the shop's website. Allan & Suzi recently moved from the Upper West Side to 237 Centre Street in Soho. Apologies.
· Allan & Suzi [Official Site]
· AIKO [Official Site]