So-Chic Bleecker Street

Bleecker Street used to be synonymous with folk music and record stores. Then it became known as an unlikely site for big-name fashion designers. Today, after a few fallow years, it is home to both well-known designers and retailers such as Intermix, James Perse, Paul Smith, and Scotch & Soda and myriad independent and up-and-coming apparel merchants. Below is a chic sampling.

 

Monsieur Brunold

77 Bleecker Street (between Broadway and Mercer Street)

Image: Monsieur Brunold

 

Even men who loathe shopping will look forward to visiting Monsieur Brunold, not least because of the elegance of what proprietors Charles and Chloé Brunold dub their showroom: a handsome atelier that speaks to their French background. Suits, shirts, coats, and formalwear are made to measure from fabrics imported from renowned European mills including Cerruti and Dormeuil, and you can customize details such as lining and buttons.

 

Descendant of Thieves

203 Bleecker Street (between Sullivan and MacDougal Streets)

 

Another menswear shop with a lavish interior, Descendant of Thieves manufactures limited editions of designs by Dres Ladro, which arrive in the shop every Friday at noon. Among the more outré recent arrivals were a slim-cut suit in an army camouflage pattern with a faux-fur collar and cotton button-downs in patterns that can best be described as “groovy.” Jacquard sweaters with cuffs made to be flipped to show off a contrasting pattern, well-cut twill trousers, and relaxed-fit T-shirts would suit the less daring.

 

mo:vint

318 Bleecker Street (between Grove and Christopher Streets)

 

“Mo:vint” stands for “modern vintage,” and vintage-inspired silhouettes and contemporary fabrics and detailing are the aesthetic of this womenswear brand. The label’s Greenwich Village shop is only one of three; the others are in Los Angeles and Pasadena, CA. Flowing dresses that fall inches below the knee provide a comfortable, wonderfully wearable counterpoint to the near-ubiquitous body-con minis of other retailers, and details such as gathered waists and flouncy cuffs ensure that the look is far from old-fashioned. Plaid trousers and checked sweater vests will delight those who favor granny chic, while the silky snake-print cropped shirts will bring out anyone’s wild side.

 

Zuri

363 Bleecker Street (between West 10th and Charles Streets)

 

Zuri sells dresses and shirts ethically made in Kenya by women who not only gain a livelihood but also access to resources enabling them to establish their own businesses. The silhouettes are relatively simple; what distinguishes these pieces are the boldly patterned fabrics inspired by traditional African motifs and made by East African manufacturers.

 

Prabal Gurung 

367 Bleecker Street (between Charles and Perry Streets)

 

Since launching his first collection in 2009, Prabal Gurung has seen his unabashedly feminine designs worn by Michelle Obama, Helen Mirren, and the Duchess of Cambridge. Yet he only opened his first shop in 2018, here in the Village. (Fun fact: The vast majority of his apparel is made here in New York City.) True to form, his resort and spring 2020 designs include plenty of luscious floral prints, puffed sleeves, and flowing skirts, complemented by the occasional zebra print and slim-cut smoking suit.

 

Lingua Franca

382 Bleecker Street (between Charles and Perry Streets)

 

Lingua Franca specializes in cashmere sweaters for men and women hand-sewn here in New York City and hand-embroidered with pithy slogans. Not only is the embroidery stitched to order, but you can also request your own slogan or design, for a sweater unlike anyone else’s.

 

Naadam

392 Bleecker Street (between Perry and West 11th Streets)

 

Just a block from Lingua Franca, Naadam also specializes in cashmere, with an emphasis on animal welfare and eco-friendliness. Its products, for men and women, range from socks to hoodies, dresses to shorts, turtlenecks to tank tops. If softness and sustainability are priorities, this is the shop for you.

 

Thakoon

397 Bleecker Street (between Perry and West 11th Streets)

 

You might not expect a designer who counts Anna Wintour and Sarah Jessica Parker among his fans to produce apparel as wearable and accessible as that found in Thakoon, the sole brick-and-mortar shop of Thakoon Panichgul. What you will find in his store, however, are simple but beautifully cut dresses, trousers, sweaters, blouses, and jackets in a tightly edited assortment of solids. These are pieces that transcend trends and demographics, made to flatter just about every woman for years.

 

So-Chic Bleecker Street