Eschewing the indistinguishable mordern aesthetics of a drugstore – including the word “drugstore” – Bigelow Chemists makes shopping for toothpaste or a hairbrush a complete joy, especially for the modern girl. It’s a real live old-timey apothecary, carrying modern products in a vintage space. You’ll feel you’ve stepped into a black-and-white 40′s movie as the elegant woman with tortoiseshell hair combs. Indeed, Bigelow Chemists is the oldest drugstore in the United States, harkening all the way back to 1838.

Bigelow carries their own brand of beauty items, including the ever-popular lip glosses, facial creams, masks, hair products, and hand and foot care. They peddle a host of other lovely toiletry lines, including Bumble & Bumble, Bliss, Frederic Fekkai, and many others. Try some new brand-name makeup at the stands around the counter.

And they do sell those tortoiseshell hair combs, along with barrettes and other hair accessories, Mason Pearson hairbrushes, cosmetic boxes, toothbrushes, and umbrellas. You can find Diptyque candles, homeopathic remedies, and novelty scarves. And if it’s something simple you’re after, there are rows ands shelves of modern drugstore brands and over-the-counter medications. Bigelow also has a full-service pharmacy in the back.

So go ahead. Pamper yourself a little. And enjoy the old-time New York feel.

C.O. Bigelow Chemists
414 Sixth Avenue, at West 9th Street
A/B/C/D/E/F/V to West 4th Street
Monday-Friday 7:30am – 9:00 pm
Saturday 8:30 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
212-473-7324

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I know I should love thrifting, but after a childhood spent pawing through smelly or weirdly-colored clothes at various Salvation Army stores in the suburbs, the very idea of thrift stores sends a little shiver up my spine. Happily, there’s Beacon’s Closet.

Well-known to Brooklynites, Beacon’s Closet has outposts in the two Brooklyn neighborhoods of Park Slope and Williamsburg. This isn’t your grandmother’s thrift store. Beacon’s Closet caters to the hipster crowd, carrying only clothes that are vintage enough to be “cool” or are new enough to be in style. I have picked up shirts and dresses that I saw last season on the racks at Anthropologie or Urban Outfitters – for about fifteen dollars.

And if you’re interested in getting rid of old duds to make room for new ones, Beacon’s Closet can help, too. Bring your old clothes, neatly folded and in bags or boxes, and leave them with the staff. They will sort through to see what they can use and buy it from you. You can receive a percentage of the selling price of the clothes, either in cash or store credit. But be forewarned – they’re picky.

Beacon’s Closet carries both men’s and women’s clothes, accessories, shoes, outerwear, jewelry, and even some music. And they’re a store with a conscience; they donate a portion of their profits to shelters and relief organizations, as well as giving old clothing to groups who distribute the garments to the needy. So, you can be stylish for less, and you can make a difference.

Beacon’s Closet
Weedays, 12:00 – 9:00 pm
Weekends, 11:00 am – 8:00 pm

88 N. 11th Street, Williamsburg (between Berry & Wythe)
718.486.0816
L to Bedford Ave

220 Fifth Ave, Park Slope (between President & Union)
718.230.1630
M/R to Union Street

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I don’t really know what makes a wine good or bad. I usually wander around the store, trying to look like I know what I’m doing, and once I’m confused enough, I pick the bottle with the prettiest label. Not the most sophisticated method, and never too successful.

At Red, White, & Bubbly, however, I’m in good hands. Darrin Siegfried, the operating partner, selects the wines carefully and describes them in witty layman’s terms on the tags. The staff is accommodating and refreshingly unpretentious; if you know what you want, they can help you find it, and if you don’t know what you want, they can help you figure it out. And there’s more to this store than wine – they have an excellent selection of liquors, champagnes, and all the accoutrements, all at affordable prices.

For me, Red, White, & Bubbly’s most exciting offering is Darrin’s monthly “best buy 4 pack”. Four wines (generally two red and two white) are selected and boxed and priced at 10% off, and each four-pack is about $32. The store also carries larger hand-selected sets of wines from around the world, and quantities are discounted 10-15%.

In keeping with their “fine wines, great spirits, no attitude” motto, Red, White, & Bubbly holds wine tastings on Fridays and Saturdays, with good snacks and lots of great information. It’s well worth the trip to Brooklyn.

Red, White, & Bubbly
211 5th Ave between Union St & President St
Brooklyn, NY
718-636-9463
Subway: R, M to Union Street

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The Biography Bookshop is my favorite kind of bookstore. The best stores in New York are usually tucked away into unobtrusive corners, and I found Biography while I was wandering back from an afternoon soaking up the sun by the Hudson River. Nestled onto the corner of Bleecker Street and 11th Street, the store is like a mini-Strand, without the crowds and traffic and with better air conditioning.

And like the Strand, the sidewalk tables are loaded with discounted books – but these aren’t obscure books that nobody wanted. On the contrary, I’ve found beautifully bound modern classics and volumes of poetry, all new copies, on these tables. Last spring, one could pick up the entire Narnia series in paperback for substantially less than list price.

Inside on its hardwood shelves and built-in bookcases, Biography carries much more than biographies, and all at 20% off list price. The selection includes such goodies as a comprehensive section on New York City history, travel, pets, crafts, fashion, and more. The fiction section is one of the best and most comprehensive I’ve ever seen, with carefully selected editions, and I lost my fiancé to the poetry, theater, and film shelves, hearing only his periodic coos of joy.

The store invites browsing and paging through books, and it’s open late for night owls. Hungry bibliophiles, take note – the Magnolia Bakery is just across the street, so you can enjoy your new book while munching on a confection. That’s my idea of heaven.

Biography Bookshop
400 Bleecker Street at West 11th Street
New York, NY
(212) 807-8655
Subway: 1 or A/C/E to 14th Street

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Ladies, I confess – I am addicted to chic, well-tailored clothing. Cigarette pants, a car coat, and daring red ballet flats? I’m seduced. For over twenty-five years, Agnes B, a French designer who must be channeling Audrey Hepburn as a muse for her elegant but not conventional fashions, has charmed her way into our closets.

The designer is inspired by everyday life, and is convinced that clothes are truly an expression of one’s character. And upon entering their lovely and spare Union Square location, Miss B is right on the mark. The style is distinctly classic with a twist – a pleated skirt with a bullfight silkscreen, a fitted collar shirt with daring green stripes, a simple black cardigan with white polka dots decorating the lapel – the clothes are fun, wearable and not overly self-conscious. The palate is simple: blacks, whites, browns and navys. The coats are camel-haired and single-breasted black wool – all made with the finest quality materials, all flattering.

The store atmosphere is subdued and you won’t find aggressive salespeople making a hard-sell in the dressing room. Instead you’ll be greeted by jazz, French rap, and an eclectic mix of international books, cds, and tasteful, Parisian-style clothing.

Agnes B
13 E 16th St
New York, NY 10003
(212) 741-2585
Subways: N/R, 4/5/6 to Union Square

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Where to go for the obscure designer handbags, cigarette pants, and Jackie O glasses, but you’re seriously short on cash and living on box pasta to prove it? Don’t fret, New Yorkers have been flocking to Tokyo 7, an East Village staple for years. This hip, popular vintage clothing store resells some of the hottest designers around – including Gucci, Miu Miu, Chanel, Alexander McQueen, Heatherette, and others for a fraction of their original price. Regulars know the store is a hit or miss – some days I’ve scored a Cynthia Rowley cashmere sweater for $30, along with Dolce jeweled slides for a mere $80, but you’ve got to dig and be patient amongst the swarm of downtown hipsters rapidly sifting through the racks.

New goodies arrive daily, and unlike the other sleek, upscale consignment shops that dot the west village and uptown, replete with fashion editors cast-offs and model hand-me-downs, Tokyo 7 caters to the more street smart, avant-garde scenester. Think Chloe Sevingy, think Imitation of Christ. Think undeniably hip. Think deconstructed blazers, leather pants and studded handbags – BEFORE studs were all the runway rage.

And who can possibly resist Paul & Joe pants for $40!!

Tokyo 7
64 E 7th St (btwn 1st/2nd)
Manhattan, NY 10003
(212) 353-8443
Subway: 6 to Astor Place

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Walking through Soho is a perpetual blur of upscale shops featuring the most prominent designers opening up their expansive showrooms to the public. From Jonathan Adler to Rachel Ashwell, from sparse modernism to Shabby Chic, from antiques to Eames, you’ll find a little something for your home palate. Yet, meticulously decorated showrooms exuding too many options with tastes too defined, often gives me vertigo for I’ve never quite ascribed to one particular aesthetic for my home. I have some Shabby Chic, some splashes of vibrant color, some mahogany, a little sprinkling around the living space. So it was serendipitous to find Clio, a tucked away jewel of a shop on quiet Thompson Street, which offers up a stylish and eclectic mix of tabletop items and home furnishings from Brooklyn to Tokyo. Inside, it’s obvious that owners, (and former marketing and PR execs) Michelle and Daniel Lehman, have my artistic eye in mind. Farmhouse tables display colorful soup bowls with Asian design, French country style cheese sets, glass vases that could have been smuggled out of 19th Century barnhouses – all products marked by impeccable taste, panache, and enduring quality. A home decor of sampling and dipping – I couldn’t help myself around the Marseilles cheese plates and dinner napkins with a hint of Kyoto flavor.

And with a small, inviting space, you don’t get the factory feel, rather you feel as if you’ve stumbled into someone’s warm home (complete with exposed brick walls and wood floors) filled to the brim with exquisite treasures. And did I neglect to mention that Clio offers a bridal and gift registry — think birthday, anniversary, new home or any other special occasion. And with easy, convenient online shopping, how could you resist the coolest store on the block?

Clio
92 Thompson Street
New York, NY 10012
212-966-8991
Subway: A/C/E to Spring, N/R to Prince

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Sigerson Morrison shoes elicit fanatical responses from me: shrieks of glee over the new season’s styles, panic attacks when my coveted shoe isn’t in my size and sighs of comfort when I enter this sparse, minimalist space in the Nolita location. In short, Sigerson Morrison are downtown shoes with retro, yet elegant flavor. Pointy toed kitten heels, creamy velvet loafers, tall pony stiletto boots that all look so coquettishly inviting, quite honestly, why would you shoe shop anywhere else? Although I’m not a shoe addict (gasp!), I do believe in investing in high quality footwear that will last a long time. So every few years, I make the pilgrimage to a few different shops (including Sigerson) and purchase 2-3 pairs of sensible, but fashionable shoes that will last me well over five years, and Sigerson Morrison is a staple in my wardrobe. Always classic with an edge, the designer’s impressive craftsmanship and attention to detail (stiching, bows, two-toned leather) is so paramount, making me a satisfied, repeat customer.

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When it comes to hunting for world’s most coveted bags, the Kelly and the Birkin (in snakeskin and burgundy leather, if you please), Fisch for the Hip is the real deal. Recently, Hermes announced a three-year plus backlog for these prestigious, and outrageously costly handbags and they’re not quite sure when this season’s production will commence. Before the tears are shed and the clicking to Ebay ensues, check out this small, yet smart consignment shop in Chelsea, where they offer the most classic designer pieces for the savvy, fashionista (or gals like us who just want to look like one). Housing an extensive collection of Hermes accessories, you can also snag great Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Prada, and Dior bags and shoes, in mint condition, for upwards of 60% off retail. Their merchandise hails from celebrities, fashion editors and hard-core fashion addicts. And with the precise and careful selection, the proprietors are picky, which reflects on the high quality, chic merchandise offered.

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Face it, you covet that Marni jacket, distressed Prada hobo and the fall Manolo boots, but you’re sensible, you have looming credit card debt, and quite simply, that Marc Jacobs handbag could break your proverbial bank. You want Sienna Miller or Gwenyth Paltrow’s style without all the cost. Trust me, there is an answer, and it’s INA: the very stylish, the uber fashion-forward consignment shop and before you think that this is your local thrift store with shoddy castoffs, think again, for INA stocks the serious goods straight off the runaway and out of the fashionistas and celebrities’ Hermes-ridden closets. Conde Nast editors routinely drop off bags of bounty (think Tuleh, Comme de Garcon) at this trendy resale shop, which is a downtown fixture and my secret obsession for the past four years.

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