Chelsea's getting even straighter: Wedding gown mega-chain David's Bridal is moving to 735 Sixth Avenue between West 24th and West 25th Streets. David's already owns the wedding market everywhere else in the country, and even has outposts in Queens and Westchester, but this marks its first foray into the Manhattan market. As one retail consultant told Crain's, "Manhattan has Kleinfeld's and Vera Wang and all of these other high-end bridal resources, but you don't have anything mid-tier, and that's where David's Bridal is."
·Bridal chain walks aisle to Manhattan [Crain's]
Today is your last chance to drool over and/or shop the Billion Dollar Babes' Vivienne Westwood Anglomania sale going on in far West Chelsea at 544 West 27th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues. Being that they aren't called the "Billion Dollar" Babes for no reason, the prices here are steep but well worth it considering the usual retail prices (easily double) and the general rarity of Vivienne Westwood on sale. Expect between $200-$300 for Anglomania dresses, skirts and tops, $300-$400 for jackets and overcoats, and upwards of $500 for the singularly standout pieces like a truly Vivienne faux fur cheetah-print coat. We saw this, this and ooooo yes this beauty.
Another retailer has left the Chelsea Hotel. "Chelsea Healing, the acupuncture shop in the eastern most storefront of the hotel follows Capitol Fishing Tackle and Balabanis Tailor in being the latest casualty in the minority shareholders plan to remake the Chelsea Hotel in their own sickily image." You know, no hard feelings or anything. The shop will relocate to 321 West 24th Street. [Blog Chelsea]
Announced via these simple flyers in their 118 West 17th Street windows, the city's only Angel Street Thrift Shop will be launching a branch across the East River in Greenpoint. Just a 10-minute walk from the Bedford L Stop, the new location opens next Saturday, July 12 at 11am, and we're predicting that it will soon get its very own line of regulars like that which is normally seen daily on West 17th Street at both Angel Street and Housing Works.
In addition to giving some really outré things a good home, your secondhand purchases at Angel Street make a difference by benefiting "individuals and families affected by substance abuse, HIV, AIDS and mental illness."
· Angel Street Thrift Shop [Official Site]
· In the Window: Tote Bonanza at Angel Street Thrift [Racked]
This is what happens when McDonald's releases new sandwiches based on pairing crispy chicken with butter. Jenny Craig has opened their doors at the corner of Chelsea and the Village at 545 Sixth Avenue and 14th Street, bearing gifts of free consultations and um, balloons.
The space, better known as the old shuttered food store awning underneath which the homeless would catch naps in between turns panhandling at McDonald's, was miraculously turned out this week.
Come summer, you see retailers around the city leaving the doors of their stores propped wide open in the hopes of enticing shoppers in with blasts of frigid air conditioning. In protest of this decidedly carbon-non-neutral trend we bring you, This Store Blows, highlighting the city's worst offenders. Want to join forces with us? Contributions, accompanied by a photo, are always accepted.
Store: Levi's, 25 West 14th Street Date: 6/29/08. Time: Right after the Pride Parade ended. Why This Store Blows: Writes a tipster, "It was muggy and a bit hot, but after walking past the door I felt a blast of cold air that cooled me down considerably." Preying on sweaty parade attendees, Levi's? Clever.
· This Store Blows Archives [Racked]
Because walking down any street right now yields surprise sales galore, we checked in on the 40% off goods at one of the city's many Brooklyn Industries. Inside their Chelsea location at 161 Eighth Avenue, we found their entire back room full of a healthy selection of wintery clothing, summer-ready bags and for once, a better selection for men than women.
Everything seemed to be between $38-$58, a good $30 off most regular prices for cute dresses with vintage prints and laptop messengers in several sizes to snuggle up to your laptop. Our picks: the CMYK cassette-striped zipper hoodie popped among the muted tones of everything else, but the men's button-down with a quaint bird print could be disguised as a summer item and worn straight through to fall (with periodic washings, of course).
· Brooklyn Industries [Official Site]
Label:Vivienne Westwood's Anglomania Deal:Up to 70% off the designer's colorful pieces; RSVP here When/Where:Monday, June 30th through Thursday, July 3rd. Daily 10am—8pm. Mon, Tue VIP only; Wed, Thu open to the public. 544 W 27th St between Tenth and Eleventh Aves, sixth floor (no phone).
Label:Miguel Ases Deal:70% off delicate jewelry; additional 10% off if you're paying with cash When/Where:Monday, June 23rd through Friday, June 27th. Daily 10am—6pm. 150 W 25th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves, suite 601 (212-337-9646).
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