A Coveted Guide to New York's Lower East Side
Desk Note 20: a zillennial's curated list of places to browse, shop, and inspire in one of the city's most eclectic neighborhoods
I now interrupt your overload of Spotify Wrapped insta stories and Substack holiday gift guides to bring you what we’ve all been waiting for.
No, it's not the rebirth of Alexa Chung’s YouTube account (still waiting on it).
However, it is the next best thing. She’s the Alexa to my Derek and together my dear friend Olivia Jia and I are here to give you big-city readers a zillennial’s guide to shopping on New York City’s Lower East Side.
For a while now I’ve been on the hunt for a vintage leather jacket. It’s not something I want to rush into purchasing, and that is exactly the appeal. Delayed gratification. A journey in and around shops meeting owners, browsing archives, and imagining stories behind the clothing, until one lucky day when I’ll come across the right one and know it. Olivia’s been my go-to girl when I want to browse vintage shops for le leather jacket on a rainy Sunday, croissants in hand; so, I thought it’d be the perfect time to share with you all her well-curated LES list.
Regardless if you’re looking for a leather jacket or a set of Japanese knives, there’s something on this list for you, from off-runway to vintage and everything in between.
Editor’s note: I told her she had to pick no more than 10 from her list of over 70! Enjoy the guide and Olivia’s commentary below.
Currently Coveting: Olivia’s 10 Favorite Stores on NYC’s Lower East Side
Assembly New York | 170 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002
Inside you’ll find all the cool clothes you’ve envisioned yourself wearing as a chic, 30-something professional in a creative industry with a fixer-upper weekend home in Kingston. I can’t talk about this place too much more because it’ll make me sad. They sell men’s and women’s clothing and sometimes the sales are decent..!
Beverly’s NYC | 27 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Super cute homeware store on Orchard (one of, if not the best shopping street in NYC). Bev – who just opened this permanent location after a few years of doing pop-ups/online – sells things like really nice Japanese knives, sleek woks with hand-carved handles, beautiful silverware, and cute throw pillows sewn from antique patchwork textiles.
colbo | 51 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Love love love. This is technically a menswear store, but their items are fairly unisex + occasionally they have a women’s rack. colbo sells a rotating roster of independent, small designers and always has pop-ups going on. There is also a coffee bar in the store if you like that kind of thing, they’re always spinning an interesting record, and they have cool art on the wall.
Coming Soon | 53 Canal St, New York, NY 10002
This is a LES Gen Z girly staple (read: deck out your studio apartment with all the psychedelic/ombre/wavy patterns/pastel home decor of your dreams). This kind of style is definitely super… specific? But I actually think there is something for everyone here, and the prices vary from say a $20 candlestick holder to a $100 bath towel, lol.
COUNTRY OF | 13 Essex St, New York, NY 10002
If there are any straight men reading this letter (are there?) then this one's for you. CO has your standard, cool guy vintage sweatshirts and jerseys. It’s fun to look around if you’re into things like sports, fishing (in an ironic way), skate culture, hip-hop, novelty aughts memorabilia, etc.
Dana Foley | 174 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002
Listen, we all know Miss Foley. This is another LES holy ground and it’s worth the trip (plus, it’s right next to Assembly, so you can check them both out). The items here are all super fun and very divine feminine-coded, but average $200-$500. Think ethereal tulle dresses, slip dresses with beautiful embroidery, corsets with pristine tailoring… you know the drill ladies, take out your wallets.
Lara Koleji | 70 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
This teeny tiny vintage boutique has some amazingly well-curated pieces and you might not necessarily break the bank depending on what you’re looking for. There are a lot of 90s-2000s era Prada, Helmut Lang, Issey Miyake lovely things, but then even some Jones New York thrown in the mix. The jewelry collection is also on point. This is a pretty *chef’s kiss* boutique.
November 19 Shop | 37 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Maybe my favorite store in NYC. I love a trinket/bauble scenario and this is an adorable homeware and gift shop with fairly reasonable price points. N19 sells beautiful glassware and ceramics, cool-looking incense holders, organic soaps, insane quilted Japanese jackets and kimonos, food-shaped candles, and of course, aforementioned trinkets and baubles. I copped some edamame shaped chopstick holders here recently. You know, just essential, everyday items :)
The Hunt NYC | 27 Canal St, New York, NY 10002
Extremely cool, predominantly silver, and a little spooky jewelry store. What’s not to like? I’m saving up for any/all: a gnarly looking pair of asymmetric heart earrings with rubies, a giant moonstone ring, or a cameo of an ouroboros. Prices feel reasonable for the artistry and materials used (~$200).
TUMBAO | 20 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Rounding out this list is one of its strongest contenders. TUMBAO is a pop-up concept (that hopefully is around for much longer) that sells gorgeous clothing from emerging Latin American designers. The vibe is kind of Frieze girl meets rave girl meets vacationing in a quaint seaside town girl. You can do it all, ladies (and gents)!
Have you been to any of these shops before? Have more places you’d add to the list? Want to make the rounds with us one afternoon on the LES? Continue the conversation in the comments below or on Instagram @ethan_floyd
See you down at the corner of Grand & Orchard soon!
Written by: Olivia Jia & Ethan Floyd
Edited by: Ethan Floyd
That’s my champagne taste girlie!