6 Dope NYC Stores to Shop on Small Business Saturday
Not every discount is worth the deal on Black Friday. Instead of spending your hard-earned cash on the big box corporate stores, skip your Saturday brunch and support Small Business Saturday by shopping at your favorite local stores.
Created in 2010, Small Business Saturday is meant for local retailers (i.e. brick and mortar) to boost their sales the day after Black Friday. Not only can you score a dope deal on Small Business Saturday, you are also giving back to your good old-fashioned neighborhood spot. Trust us, this is super guilt-free and worth the money. Here are some of our favorite NYC stores where you can splurge that ka-ching ka-ching. Plus, you won’t have to worry about looking like every other girl who went to mall chain stores on Black Friday.
1. Dusty Rose Vintage
Kesha once said that she went dumpster diving just to find the cutest clothes. And we all know that Sophia Amoruso started Nasty Gal doing the same shit. If you think that going through the trash for clothes is crazy, think again. Dusty Rose is set in a warehouse and huge piles of clothes are put in bins (minus the broken glass, leftover food and dead bugs). Trust us, this is the closest thing you can get to dumpster diving without actually dumpster diving.
Look out for lingerie, vintage jeans, men’s satin jackets, and sexy dress bins. Have some patience, sift through each bin, and you may just snag a treasure. The prices are also extremely student-friendly. After all, you’re kind of working for your purchases.
2. American Two Shot
If it’s been a long week and you need an espresso, look no further than this gem. Both a store and a coffee shop, it’s the perfect yin-yang dynamic that keeps you grinding through the day. Here, you’ll find UNIF slip dresses, Lazy Oaf faux fur leopard print gloves, and Miista ankle boots. Look out for some local superstars like Big Bang Jewelry and Samantha Pleet too. Trust me, shopping local and supporting your favorite local designers has never felt better.
3. Planet X
Set in a small studio space in Bushwick, Planet X is the galaxy where you can find a mix of vintage designer clothes, kawaii kitsch jewelry, novelty bags, and anything from Hood by Air. Founded by mega babe Venus X, her store is extremely intimate. She will chat with you like she’s your favorite fashion-savvy cousin and will tell you everything about where she found her items. Teyana Taylor wore a choker full of Jesus heads for the Soul Train awards, which you can only find here. Simply put, Planet X is neither for the minimalists nor the shy. It’s the only place where you can snag one of a kind ‘grammable treasures!
4. Trash and Vaudeville
The ‘70s are dead, but punk rock lives on. This St. Mark’s institution is the go-to store for editors, rockers, and average Janes like us who want to stand out. Divided into two stores, you will find a whole lotta glitter, plaid, leopard, brocade, and PVC. While the aesthetic is very similar to Search & Destroy, it is not. Instead, you will find extremely neat racks filled with Tripp NYC lace-up skirts, biker jackets, and skinny jeans. The pieces sell out really fast, so if you see something you like, get it while you can.
5. Verameat
Dying to get yourself adorned for the season? This cute jewelry store is more than willing to turn you into your own Christmas tree. Filled with charm necklaces, duster rings and earrings, Verameat is all about making a statement in small doses. Although their pieces are very delicate, don’t overlook the details. And don’t sleep on the discounts! If you are a student, you can get some pretty good deals.
6. The Vintage Twin
You’ve seen Cara and Bella out and about wearing varsity jackets and tailored vintage jeans. If you were wondering where they got their stuff, look no further than The Vintage Twin. Although this store has an online shop, you cannot miss out on their pop-up stores. Over there, you can find vintage patches, reworked vintage denim chokers, racks of Levis and velvet turtleneck dresses. It’s on trend, on point and very “now.” They’ve also got their own JEANius bar, where you can snag reworked vintage denim.
