Neighborhood Store — Beacon’s Closet

beacons-closet

When I moved into my senior dorm at NYU, I was pleasantly surprised to see a clothing boutique on my block. Now I have walked past a lot of  boutiques in New York, but I got super excited about this one because it was affordable. Beacon’s Closet is a consignment store with a focus on designer labels and unique vintage items. Yes their mascot is a hipster baby (or a hipster old man), yes there are a lot of quirky things in there, but they truly have something for everyone. The small, high-ceilinged room was absolutely packed with inventory, with sections for long dresses, clothing by color, shoes, jewelry, hats, glasses, scarves, belts, and handbags.  Because there are so many things to choose from, if you put in the time you can find plenty of pieces that complement your personal style. For me, that means feminine and sophisticated. I spent five hours there on my last trip, and this is what I found:

 1. Maje top                                                              2. Tibi skirt

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                                                                 Forever 21 earrings

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Vintage velvet purse; bracelet from Croatia, from my father

3. Ella Moss dress                                                       4. Lazarus hat

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Vera Bradley purse;  poster from my mother; Forever 21 stackable rings

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Style & Co. shoes

5. Elizabeth and James dress                                 6. L.K. Bennett penny loafers

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Vintage lariat necklace

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H&M earrings; Forever 21 bracelet; Forever 21 ring

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Chanel handbag

7. Cynthia Rowley blouse                                          8. Kors Michael Kors shoes

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Forever 21 skirt; custom poster by Sir Shadow, from the 2015 Harlem Fine Arts Show

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Vintage clip-on earrings

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Xhilaration bracelets; Harajuku Lovers ring; vintage purse

9. Yumi Kim top

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Bebe reversible skirt; Jennifer Moore purse

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Anna Belen headband; Xhilaration espadrilles; poster from the NYU Bookstore

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Bracelet I have had since I was little, of unknown origin; Lady Gaga concert ring; Hello Kitty ring, found on the floor at Forever 21

10. Halston Heritage dress

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Van Eli shoes; Charter Club handbag   20161024_221410

Narmi watch

11. Sportmax dress

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    Vintage purse with abalone shells and wooden handle

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This dress is comfortable and convenient — it zips in the front and has spacious pockets!

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Earrings from Iran, from a friend

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Bracelets from my mother; Forever 21 ring; Sbicca espadrilles

12. Nonoo dress                                                     13. Marc Jacobs flats

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Purse from my great-aunt; clock from Indonesia, from a friend

My wardrobe has always been a mix of fast fashion, vintage, and gifts from family and friends, so I am very happy to have found Beacon’s Closet. They have four stores in NYC, and a website for everyone else! Happy shopping.

 

Cat Lady

My cat Belle and I worked on this post together…seriously! (She sat on my lap.) Everyone knows that kitties are adorable, far superior to dogs, and a rich source of inspiration in the world of fashion and art. Here is some feline-themed clothing that is as fun to wear as it is to pet a cat!

Rotita  Unique Vintage  Storyland

Palm Beach   Miss Sweety   Grumpy Cat for Prada

    Brian Lichtenberg

rolling cat   Karl Lagerfeld  Noir Jewelry

Orla Kiely  Burberry  Anna Sui

Dolce & Gabbana 2 (2)  computer bed   Charlotte Olympia 7

Eugenia Kim  Au Jour Le Jour  True Facet  Judith Leiber  The Aristocats

1. Rotita earrings, $6

2. Unique Vintage leggings, $10

3. Storyland top, $24

4. Palm Beach ring, $28

5. Miss Sweety handbag, $31

6. Olivia Pratt watch, $50

7. Bling Jewelry brooch, $60

8. Brian Lichtenberg beanie, $65

9. Karl Lagerfeld tee, $115

10. Noir Jewelry bracelet, $135

11. Orla Kiely cardigan, $150

12. Burberry Prorsum scarf, $220

13. Anna Sui skirt, $245

14. Dolce & Gabbana wristlet, $289

15. Charlotte Olympia shoes, $705

16. Eugenia Kim headband, $1,270

17. Au Jour Le Jour dress, $1,274

18. Chopard necklace, $1,620

19. Judith Leiber minaudiere, $5,595