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Ten Indie Boutiques to Shop on a Day Trip to New York

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Photo by William Chan

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There are no shortage of chain behemoths or mega-department stores in New York City, but the real pride and joy of the city's retail scene is its indie boutiques—the places where you can shop small-name jewelry designers alongside heavy-hitter contemporary brands, and in some cases, enjoy a cup of coffee while flipping through obscure fashion magazines.

After the jump, Racked NY Editors Tiffany Yannetta and Nicola Fumo suggest ten stores that are definitely worth the trip in Manhattan and Brooklyn, including Williamsburg favorite Bird, Howard Street staple Opening Ceremony, and a cool bookstore to relax afterward.


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· NYC's 38 Essential Stores [Racked NY]
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The cobblestoned streets of the Meatpacking District have a plethora of designer and chain shops to peruse, but Owen on Washington Street arguably has one of the best collections if you're looking for hip, young designers. Fun fact: the walls and ceiling are composed of 25,000 paper bags.

Ina Soho

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Skip the crowds at Beacons' Closet and Buffalo Exchange, and instead, try your second-time-around luck at INA in Soho. The consignment boutique shops like an actual store, so there's no digging through massive piles required. Plus, they carry Céline, Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, and more.

MiN New York

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Sephora might be your go-to spot for fragrance shopping, but if you're looking for something beyond Flower Bomb, head to MiN on Crosby Street. The store specializes in niche, unusual, and often hard-to-find perfumes, and the process begins with creating a personal scent profile with one of the shop's employees.

McNally Jackson Books

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You might be able to find miles and miles of books at the Strand, but McNally Jackson offers something a little bit better: a cool, relaxing place to hang out and read a magazine, enjoy a scone from Balthazar, or warm up/cool down with a Stumptown coffee. Plus, it's in close proximity to Nolita's best stores.

Dagny + Barstow

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This Bowery boutique is the incarnation of your hippest friend's closet. Everything from neoprene dresses to printed denim hang on the racks, and on the accessories tables, you'll find bags by Reece Hudson, spiky earcuffs by Annelise Michelson, and a great collection of sunglasses.

American Two Shot

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For arguably the ultimate indie shopping experience in New York City, make your way to American Two Shot on Grand Street, which lies in close proximity to likeminded neighbor Opening Ceremony. The store sells an assortment of new and vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories, and can also provide you with a great cup of coffee from the cafe located in the front.

Opening Ceremony

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A trip downtown wouldn't be complete without Opening Ceremony, where merchandise skews a little out-there and the price tags run high. See how the other half lives (the other half here being deep-pocketed hipster types) at this Howard Street staple.

Pixie Market

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The best thing about this Lower East Side shop—in addition to a rotating collection of cute finds—is that mostly everything is priced at under $100. Store owners Gaelle Drevet and Magda Pietrobelli have a knack for choosing an eclectic mix of merchandise that's always on trend, but never in an offensive, overbearing type of way.

Brooklyn Flea Williamsburg

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When it opens on April 7th, the Brooklyn Flea in its new Williamsburg location will be the easiest way to kill an afternoon in city. Shop everything from handmade jewelry to artisanal mayonnaise, while chowing down at the various stands at the Smorgasburg.
Recently, the New York Times dubbed Jen Mankins, the owner of Bird, the definer of "Brooklyn's look." Her first outpost opened in Park Slope back in 1999, and ten years later, the Grand Street store (the company's largest) arrived. It's well-stocked with indie classics like Rachel Comey, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Isabel Marant, and Girl by Band of Outsiders.

Owen

The cobblestoned streets of the Meatpacking District have a plethora of designer and chain shops to peruse, but Owen on Washington Street arguably has one of the best collections if you're looking for hip, young designers. Fun fact: the walls and ceiling are composed of 25,000 paper bags.

Ina Soho

Skip the crowds at Beacons' Closet and Buffalo Exchange, and instead, try your second-time-around luck at INA in Soho. The consignment boutique shops like an actual store, so there's no digging through massive piles required. Plus, they carry Céline, Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, and more.

MiN New York

Sephora might be your go-to spot for fragrance shopping, but if you're looking for something beyond Flower Bomb, head to MiN on Crosby Street. The store specializes in niche, unusual, and often hard-to-find perfumes, and the process begins with creating a personal scent profile with one of the shop's employees.

McNally Jackson Books

You might be able to find miles and miles of books at the Strand, but McNally Jackson offers something a little bit better: a cool, relaxing place to hang out and read a magazine, enjoy a scone from Balthazar, or warm up/cool down with a Stumptown coffee. Plus, it's in close proximity to Nolita's best stores.

Dagny + Barstow

This Bowery boutique is the incarnation of your hippest friend's closet. Everything from neoprene dresses to printed denim hang on the racks, and on the accessories tables, you'll find bags by Reece Hudson, spiky earcuffs by Annelise Michelson, and a great collection of sunglasses.

American Two Shot

For arguably the ultimate indie shopping experience in New York City, make your way to American Two Shot on Grand Street, which lies in close proximity to likeminded neighbor Opening Ceremony. The store sells an assortment of new and vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories, and can also provide you with a great cup of coffee from the cafe located in the front.

Opening Ceremony

A trip downtown wouldn't be complete without Opening Ceremony, where merchandise skews a little out-there and the price tags run high. See how the other half lives (the other half here being deep-pocketed hipster types) at this Howard Street staple.

Pixie Market

The best thing about this Lower East Side shop—in addition to a rotating collection of cute finds—is that mostly everything is priced at under $100. Store owners Gaelle Drevet and Magda Pietrobelli have a knack for choosing an eclectic mix of merchandise that's always on trend, but never in an offensive, overbearing type of way.

Brooklyn Flea Williamsburg

When it opens on April 7th, the Brooklyn Flea in its new Williamsburg location will be the easiest way to kill an afternoon in city. Shop everything from handmade jewelry to artisanal mayonnaise, while chowing down at the various stands at the Smorgasburg.

Bird

Recently, the New York Times dubbed Jen Mankins, the owner of Bird, the definer of "Brooklyn's look." Her first outpost opened in Park Slope back in 1999, and ten years later, the Grand Street store (the company's largest) arrived. It's well-stocked with indie classics like Rachel Comey, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Isabel Marant, and Girl by Band of Outsiders.