Workin' it at ANNA in the East Village

Hi all.  Realized I hadn't posted one thing all year, and well, this year is almost over. Good Riddance!

Anyway, this Guerilla Shopper doesn't shop as much as she did "back in the day." Retail has changed tremendously since I started this blog, with online shopping taking over and so many off-price stores declining in quality or going out of business entirely. I was particularly sad when Loehmann's shut down, as I had recently moved to the Upper West Side and found it to be a great go-to spot for many of my needs. Apparently it still exists online, which I just only found out when I looked up the URL!

Now I primarily shop at three stores...and I even help out at one of them from time to time!  ANNA, 330 E. 11th St., East Village, NYC; meg, with locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn (I go to the ones in the East Village or the newest location in the West Village); and Lingo, 257 W. 19th St., Chelsea, NYC.

So why do I still shop like it's 1999?
I rarely shop online, especially if it's for clothing and shoes, because even the thought of having to ship stuff back and forth annoys me. I spend HOURS trying stuff on in stores, there's little chance something I pick from a web site is going to fit or look like I want it to the first, second or nineteenth time. Additionally, the environmental impact of packing and shipping seems (is) massively wasteful.

But the real reason I have honed in on these three stores is definitely something the Internet cannot provide: a community of LIVE HUMANS that I interact with IN PERSON. I realize this is an old fashioned notion, but I suspect it will be making a comeback.  It HAS to.

I can't tell you the number of awesome women I have met and interacted with at these stores - employees and customers alike. Comedians, authors, filmmakers, musicians -- one woman I talked to a few months ago I soon noticed is on NY1 every other week with Neil Rosen talking about films (I KNEW she looked familiar!). It inspires creativity, discussion, hope, happiness. Better than a book club; better than Starbucks!

And yes, granted, I spend more money than I might if I shopped at H&M or hunted down every last online discount.  'Cuz I'm Worth It.  Aren't you?

xoxo GS

ANNA Moves on Up...Still on the East Side

Storefront

Store left

Store right

Store counter

ANNA Store window: ALL RIGHT!!

My favorite store in all the land has relocated 8 blocks north and 1.26 blocks west.  I visited last week and bought a great dress while visiting with Heather who assured me that I didn't look as "Rubenesque" as I thought I appeared in the mirror (I do, but thank you for being nice).

But I digress...With double the dressing room space, you and your alter ego can try on everything in the store in half the time!  There's also more floor space covered by a freshly lacquered wood floor that will come in handy when you need to check out how the dress you're trying on will look while you are dancing - preferably BREAK dancing, although you should probably buy the dress before you go and do that. 

With the finishing touches almost complete, the apparel is as fresh as always! (Although there is no expiration date on ANNA-gear).

And if that doesn't convince you to visit: the neighbors are not unworthy either: Pas de Deux and Veniero's, in particular.

ANNA
330 E. 11th St.
www.annanyc.com
http://twitter.com/annastorenyc

LEATHAAAA at ANNAAAA

A first at Anna!  Leather skirts - knee length ($375) and mini (pictured, $345).  Great, high-qual leather in a straightforward, classic shape, allowing you to be cool when it gets cool.

Summer Sales Start Today at My 2 Favorite Stores

Summer Markdowns have begun:
LINGO
257 W. 19TH STREET
212-929-4676
TUES-SAT 1-8 PM
SUNDAY 1-7 PM
CLOSED MONDAYS
Say hi to Shin, she owns the joint!

30% off (today thru Sun.):
Anna
150 E. 3rd St. b/t Aves. A&B
212.358.0195
Open, like, all the time.  Except in the morning.  GOD NOT IN THE MORNING!

While you're waiting...

...for me to post something one of these days, you can follow me on Twitter at @GuerillaShops!

I haven't been shopping that much, really...but I did buy a great "watermelon" colored dress at ANNA (my favorite store) yesterday....

Wow! An EastVillage boutique that’s carried its owners’ pieces (and only her pieces! no one else’s!) for 15 years | Paper and String

Just wanted to update y'all on where the GSNYC is popping up these days...(oh, and a cool new site you might want to check out called Paper and String)

Wow! An #EastVillage boutique that’s carried its owners’ pieces (and only her pieces! no one else’s!) for 15 years Paper and String

Anna Invaded My Dreams

Happy Memorial Day TO ME.  I stepped inside Anna today and instantly fell in love with this top.  It's made out of the coolest fabric that looks like some kind of netting, and comes in black and green.  I bought the green.  I swear I am certain that it existed in the recesses of my brain as some sort of 80s fantasy - it is reminisent of old school Betsey Johnson or Norma Kamali but with modern styling and improved materials.  And I also bought this atomic dog necklace.  RRHAAHRR!

ANNA: The Beetle Dress & the Excellent Jacket

I loved the groovy beetle print dress at ANNA but felt like I needed to ensure that it could be worn any day or night...how to make it day-job appropriate? Well, I figured it out! By putting this short dark navy jacket on over it and tying the belt loosely around its collar I managed to create a bit of a retro office outfit, but with bugs! Funny when people see you from a distance and then change their expressions when they get a closer look at the dress pattern. This is how I entertain myself on the job.

Then I also snagged myself the fab tweed jacket, which is form-fitting in a Ducati leather motorcycle jacket kind of way. It rocks, looks good with anything, anywhere, anytime...and also comes in a red and black pattern (although they are so fantastico that I wouldn't be surprised if they are almost all gone!). Oh, and the big collar can be worn up and closed with a little secret hook-and-eye for those windy fall days.

Barneys & Bergdorf's: A Shoepacalypse

There was discussion among the downtown set at Anna the other day that the shoes at high-end department stores were crazy, ugly and/or unwearable. I thought that sounded plausible, but wanted to do some real investigation (while looking for some new boots) myself, so I headed to two meccas: Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman.

Um, yeah, holy tacky cheese fest. There were easily 8,000 pairs of shoes and boots between the two stores, and I liked about 4 of them. I'm not even going to get into the absurd cost factor, but it seems to me that these retail shrines have turned to pandering to the lowest common denominator of style. Think Sopranos. And beyond style, who can actually wear these 9" heels?

Speaking of which, as I walked in the door of Bergdorf's Furio from the Sopranos was walking out. And no I am not kidding.

My quest continues. It's possible that this year in shoes is a wash. Or it may be time to refurbish ye olde boots in the closet. Either way, I shall continue to seek on all of our behalves.

p.s. Just say NO to over-the-knee boots. Especially if you are not 5'8" or taller!

Half Priced PANTS at Anna

I have a secret. A secret tale of PANTS ON SALE! These pictured pants are half off, or about $70 at Anna. Navy with very light brown pinstripes make them perfect for work. And the way they fit? Well that makes them perfect for anytime! And unlike some other very much more expensive brand of well known pants - they are LINED to just above the knee! So we are talking high quality trou.

OK, warning: they run about two sizes smaller than you probably normally wear, so for all you evil size 4's, welcome to 8 country. However! They fit so well that the first day I wore them to work someone immediately asked me if I had lost weight. So get over the size number obsession and adorn yourself.

ANNA: The Lady In Red...

So wedding season is upon us, and as per usual, I am invited to one. So I trotted down to the store I can't seem to get away from these days (ANNA) and tried on about 12 dresses. Narrowed it down to 5. Bought 3. Will be debuting this red number, which is much more saucy and sophisticated when it is on an actual human. I just need to hunt down the right slip like the ladies did back in the day. Yes, it's going to be THAT kind of outfit. Mizz Kemp says that more of these numbers in some additional colors will be making their way into the store in the coming weeks.

Anna & PA: My Early Season Purchases

I was so happy when I awoke this past Saturday to discover that it was finally nice outside! So I took advantage of my great good fortune and practically ran down to Momofuku noodle bar to prepare myself for an afternoon of shopping. Yum, by the way.

So after meandering around I was sucked in by the tractor beam at Anna on E. 3rd St., where I scored the striped turtleneckish tunic* for half price and the short-sleeved top* with elastic on the sleeves and a drawstring around the waist for 20% off.

Then Sunday arrived, and while it was a little bit rainy, it was still warm enough to continue on my downtown death march. I travelled through Chelsea, the West Village, Soho, the Lower East Side and then, surprise!, back to the East Village. Specifically, pa (personal affairs) on E. 7th St. After spending a couple of hours here, I emerged with the interestingly embellished black jacket* you see above for half price. And although I feel like their website does not depict the relaxed-but-sophisticated vibe of the store or the nature of its unique apparel (hint: revise it!!), I found a special-offer coupon for first time customers: here.

*Photographs do not sufficiently depict each unique work of apparel very well. In fact, they are terrible. Blame the photographer (me), not the subjects!

Bara de Cabrol's Jewelry at Anna: March 5

ANNA: 20-50% Off Sale, Feb. 12-22

The sale at ANNA starts TODAY. Get down there girls and buy things! (150 E. 3rd St. near Ave. A.)

Jan 29: ANNA Party Feat. Heather Nicosia Jewelry

DAMN! I wish I could make this party, but I think I will be elsewhere. So YOU be my proxy and report back.

annanyc.com
http://www.threeturtledoves.com/Welcome.html

viv&ingrid stuff

I just lost one of my favorite earrings ever. I got them at Anna on E. 3rd. St. and in less than a week, POOF! Gone. Shit.

Well I found out that it was a viv&ingrid earring and that they still sell the lost earrings online! Yay! In three sizes! Yay! In silver and gold! Yay! For at least twice what I paid for them at Anna. BOO! These aren't even a photo of them, but I thought they were cool looking too.

And did you know that Paul Smith just opened a discount store in Williamsburg where prices are reduced by 30 percent. @80 Grand Street near Havermayer. Closed Monday.

Recession Shopping

So unless you live under a rock, you are painfully aware that the world is trying to endure the worst economic turmoil since the great depression (that's a really long time ago for you yoots). So while large chain stores like the wretched Steve & Barry's, The Gap, etc. continue to close stores or report negative growth, it seems that some of our friendly neighborhood shops are thriving. I have been told by a few of my NYC boutique friends, such as Les Nanas and Anna, that this past summer was their most lucrative ever. Shocking, isn't it? Is it because they are having sales? Better merchandise? Better customer interaction? More European (or at least non-U.S.) capital flowing to specialty shops? What could it be? I still don't have my answer, and probably never will, but I am happy that in some sectors of the economy, those who deserve to be making good money are doing just that.

Oh, and for some so-called recession busting sales, check out the Chloe ruffle blouse on Gilt - on sale for $198 (usually $695, which is completely mental and proves the world is screaming for an "adjustment.")

I Went Back to Anna

I was going out last night and couldn't figure out what to wear, so with my trusty cell phone rebate at the ready, I traversed the cityscape until I landed at my new favorite downtown shopping destination: Anna, where I met Kathy Kemp herself (a.k.a. Anna) and spent a couple of hours trying on this, that and the other. I ended up with the pictured dress, which is the same as the navy blue dress I purchased a couple of weeks ago. When you find something that works, go with it! I also got the "kimono" shirt, which was a 50%-off sale bin SCORE as well as the earrings you see above. Now, if anything is going to encourage me to beat my ice cream addiction, this store may be it - I can't bear to envision a world in which I can't fit into at least some of her clothing!

New fall items are anticipated in two weeks.

Anna: Call Me Late to the Party, But Please Call!

I'm not exactly sure how I missed out on this store all these years, but located on E. 3rd St. in the 10009, Anna is the front runner to become my new favorite store.

Upon entry, I spent about 15 minutes rummaging through the sale bin. I found the coolest pair of blue cords that had a 'sailor'-button up front and a naughty little lace-up in the back. I have not bought them (yet), for a reason (of my own doing) that I will get into later.

After emerging from the bin-pile, I began surveying the rest of the apparel hanging along the perimeter of the store. At first glance I almost decided that it was merely another one of those little dime-a-dozen stores full of delicate pretty little dresses for delicate pretty little girls. I was quickly derailed from that notion by the saleswoman who swooped in and really made the apparel come to life with her styling expertise. I realized that this is no lightweight outfit (pun intended).

In fact, I was suddenly trying on a suit, tops, dresses and the like that I thought would never ever fit or look good on me and my solid - nay - "athletic" frame. So while I did have to try on the largest sizes available (which was why I haven't yet bought the naughty cords, which were a smallish size 8), everything I tried on somehow fit perfectly, or hid my mid-section flaws, or accented my best features. I'm not really sure how these clothes achieved this illusion, but they did. I was torn between the pants, suit and four dresses that magically transformed me into a hot chick.

So since I am on a mission to dress like a respectable grown-up whenever possible, I went with the grey pinstriped suit, which was on major sale for $181, and a dress that was form-fitting but not in a cheap or too young kind of way (see photos, pizza not included). I am on the verge of purchasing at least one of the other dresses - but perhaps only if it's made in a different color or pattern - only because I have so many black/grey colored dresses that I want my new fab dress to stand out. Perhaps a burgundy or even an off-white?

So my only concern is that if I gain another ounce and a half, I shall be sized right out of these exquisite clothes. But I suppose that is my problem, not Anna's. Maybe I'll jog downtown to the East Village as part of my new dual exercise/shopping regimen.