Where Dov Charney's Right-Hand Woman Shops on the LES

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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 Obscure Alternatives

Joey Ng is a strategist for American Apparel, where she works directly with CEO Dov Charney on forecasting, analysis, marketing, and other special projects. Currently living the bi-coastal lifestyle, she spits her time between the Lower East Side in NY and Silver Lake in LA. She enjoys hotel parties, platters of Eggs Benedict, and, when she's strolling down Essex Street, stopping at fourth-floor shop Occulter.

Occulter is a little shop of dark curiosities. Spend a few minutes here and you'll find something to covet no matter the budget. Blow thousands on a gold gilded skull ashtray, hundreds on a monochromatic Jeremy Dyer print, or a couple bucks on black New-York–made honey. It's the perfect place to buy a thoughtful, or rather, thought-provoking gift.

I most recently bought my man's keep-at-my-place toothbrush here. It cost me $6 for a black Japanese Binchotan charcoal bristled one. You'll find plenty of Lower East Side residents, restaurateurs, and regulars stopping by to chat about sacred geometry, alchemy, and gothic mythology over a cup of Occulter Wake tea (brewed with coffee beans, dark tea leaves, and chocolate!). They make you feel welcome to the dark side.

· Occulter [Official Site]
· Joey Ng [Official Site]
· All Shopping Confidential Posts [Racked NY]

Occulter

131 Essex Street New York NY 10002