Jessie Loves: My Favorite NYC Shops
Hint: most of them are interior design shops
In honor of our newest Loeffler Randall store that opened this month in the West Village (!) I thought I would put together a little list of my favorite places to shop in the city (and by city, I mean downtown and Brooklyn since I rarely make it uptown unless I have a doctor’s appointment).
As I was compiling this list, I was reminded of how many of my absolute favorites have closed over the years (RIP Gallagher’s, Purl Soho, Tender Buttons, etc). The city has become overrun with boring, uninspired mega stores which is such a shame. Luckily, there are still some true gems left. A few of my favs below:
WEST VILLAGE
Felix: I first discovered this cute store because they used to have a location in Miami next to Mrs. Mandolin. Amazing linen basics including the cutest men’s shorts that are meant to be worn as a bathing suit you can swim in then wear out to a fancy lunch. Genius!
Big Night: The perfect spot to pick up a hostess gift, founded by
. I love the bold colors in this shop and all the whimsical design details and products. I especially love the cake server and bottle opener from Sabre and the adorable tumblers with glass puppies inside!
Way Forward: Speaking of puppies, this adorable shop right across from ours has hand embroidered dachshunds on hats, sweatshirts and tees. I’m obsessed.
Via Carota: Another emporium for picking up chic grocery items and hostess gifts. I love the Underwater Weaving baskets they sell.
Greenwich Letterpress: Notecards, stickers and cute custom stationery. A fun spot for all kind of doodads.
Bleecker Trading: My son loves to go here for trading cards and collectibles. Always packed.
The Old Yew: Adorable plant store where I get trees for my house and office. They also are the perfect place to get a plant to send to a friend. The shop has the loveliest selection of planters and pots. This one is my fav.
Loeffler Randall: Our newest jewel box store with our most fun assortment. I love the way the striped curtains turned out, as well as the zellige counter and the vintage chairs we had upholstered with little striped skirts.
West Village Restaurants: Saint Theo’s (across from our shop!), Morandi, St. Jardim, Cafe Cluny, and the cutest bar ever, Bar Pisellino
Honorable mention: my salon Snip N Sip
EAST VILLAGE AND SOHO
Nickey Kehoe: This is probably my favorite shop in the whole city. Downstairs are all the utility and decor items the brand sells and upstairs in this townhouse the full Nickey Kehoe vision is on display. Just like at our shops, the staff here is very friendly and helpful (they happily volunteered the paint color on their cabinetry when I admired it) which scores big points with me! My fav items from Nickey Kehoe are these sconces, this bath mat, these planters and these gorgeous pewter frames.
John Derian: A beautiful destination with the prettiest things. I also hear from friends that John is one of the nicest people ever which makes me love this shop even more. Make sure to stop next door to the other location and see the animatronic stuffed animals and the Hugo Guinness artworks I love.
Il Buco Vita: The best place to pick up plates, vessels, serving platters and more. Plus the adorable mini sardine oil painting I have in my kitchen.
RW Guild: Another mecca of chic interior items including the lovely scalloped plates I own. Bonus is you can have lunch in the super chic La Mercerie restaurant inside the store when you’re too tired from shopping. One of the prettiest dining rooms in the city.
Clic Gallery: I adore this shop for Maison de Vacances pillows, all manner of straw baskets and a nice assortment of small furniture.
Goods For The Study: The ultimate pen and paper goods store from the owners of McNally Jackson.
McNally Jackson: Best bookshop plus the only decent place to buy cards in all of Soho.
Oroboro Store: Understated assortment of indie wares.
Makie Clothier: My go-to spot for baby gifts. The cutest, chicest, most adorable kids and baby clothes and the most elegant gift wrapping.
Loeffler Randall: Our beautiful first store on Prince Street showcasing the full breadth of our collection plus the full range of our bridal and event styles. You can even book a dedicated bridal appointment.
Plantshed: Pretty flower shop right near our store.
East Village and Soho Restaurants: La Mercerie, Jack’s Wife Freda, Sant Ambroeus, Cafe Gitane, Olive’s (for a pick up lunch), Ruby’s, From Lucie (for the most delicious mini cakes), Altro Paradiso and The Crosby Bar for a drink or brunch. I haven’t tried Manuela but it looks gorgeous.
BROOKLYN
Note: I’m focusing mostly on Cobble Hill area with one Dumbo spot. Williamsburg also has a lot of shopping but I don’t make it there that often and it’s also become a bit like a suburban mall over there. Yikes!
Layla: One of the prettiest stores in all of NYC. Owner Alayne used to be a stylist for Vogue back in the day. She sources and develops the most gorgeous towels, blankets, sheets, pillows, jewelry and artwork from India. I think her store is mostly by appointment these days but definitely book one, you won’t regret it! (She also wraps gifts and purchases so elegantly).
Michele Varian: Nice homewares shop.
Porta NYC: A supremely lovely shop for hostess gifts and homewares. I love their table cloths.
GRDN: This is one of my favorite places to pick up flowers in the city. You can make your own bouquet here and they have such pretty and interesting blooms to choose from. They also sell candles, gardening supplies and plants.
The Primary Essentials: Minimalist and lovely interiors shop. Beautiful pillows, candles, tea towels and books.
The Six Bells: This sweet country store based on “a tiny shop located in the fictional village of Barrow’s Green,” is the brainchild of Audrey Gelman who is so smart and hilarious. I adore her! She also opened an inn of the same name upstate. I can’t wait to visit. In the meantime, head to The Six Bells shop for a scalloped cutting board, a lily embroidered pillow and Sharland England side tables (hi
!).Front Street General: The best spot for dead-stock tees, casual basics and especially men’s vintage. They have a second shop nearby with tons more vintage pieces. They also sell homewares. One of my absolute favorite stores in Brooklyn, located in Dumbo.
Brooklyn restaurants: Frankie’s Spuntino, Nabila’s, Cafe Spaghetti, Rucola, L’Appartement 4F and Poppy’s (for take away).
Any favorite spots I missed? Please share!
5 Things I’m Loving This Week:
1. We hosted the most fun party with
to celebrate the opening of our West Village store. After a huge rain storm in the morning the weather turned gorgeous right before it started, and we were able to spill out on Bleecker street. So many people I love and admire were there. We had Jack’s Wife Freda snacks and lemonade and of course, the sweetest craft. Very grateful and so excited for this store! Loved the shoes I wore too.
We made a list of every piece our lovely guests wore here.
2. The insane bounty of beautiful flowers I was able to get from my garden. I literally teared up when I went out to visit my peonies.
3. Our boat shoes! These seriously might be the most comfy shoes we have ever produced.
4. This ginormous striped scrunchie by Colours of Arley. Pants are ours!
5. This gorgeous vase gifted to me and made by my friend Maya of Jack’s Wife Freda at my store opening. Will treasure it always.
And One Thing I Hate:
This is seriously so random but….that Simparica Trio ad which makes me almost vomit every time I see it (and which plays incessantly during every show I watch). A dog doing an agility course through giant worms and parasites?!? I can’t. My dogs actually take this medication and I almost want to swap it just out of protest.
Oh wow the boat shoes! You make SUCH good shoes
I love Fishes Eddy for funny mugs and other homeware. Despite hating pigeons, I love their pigeon collection.