Where This PR Director Gets Horizontal (Stripes, That Is)

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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 The District Domestic

Michael Krueger, who spends his days as one of the directors at PR firm HL Group, has a thing for the multi-colored throw pillows at a French fabric shop located in Chelsea. Les Toiles du Soleil (meaning "canvas of the sun") has an in-store seamstress who creates all your rainbow-inspired custom treatments, from Krueger's pillows to duvet covers to tablecloths. If you're in Michael's inner circle, you probably know all about it—perhaps he's even given you one of their multi-colored horizontal striped aprons.

Les Toiles du Soleil is an excellent French fabric store across the street from my apartment in Chelsea and it's become a fail-safe destination to buy special gifts for special people in my life. I've probably gifted four or five aprons over the last two years, and I always seem to pick up an iPod case, a notebook cover, or a throw pillow for myself every time I pay a visit. Still holding out for an excuse to buy a great pair of espadrilles (they've got super sweet women's versions, some handsome pairs for guys, too), and if ever I have a summer getaway to call my own, I'll upholster any and all furniture and cushions with the bold and happy bolts of fabric found inside.

· Les Toiles du Soleil [Official Site]
· All Shopping Confidential Posts [Racked NY]

Les Toiles du Soleil

261 W. 19th Street, New York NY 10011