Sales & Shopping

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• March 8, 2006
• Shops We Love

Shops We Love: Suzette Sundae

by Andi Teran

Sure, it's cold outside, but we suggest you bundle up and head east to Alphabet City because Suzette Sundae really is all that with a cherry on top. After successfully running her eponymous boutique in Boston, Suzette Sundae closed up shop and brought it all to New York. Blending cheeky-sexy custom clothing, accessories, and altered vintage (read: slinky wrap dresses, brocade boleros, and a necklace emblazoned with the word "vodka"), the '70s boudoir aesthetic rounds out any of-the-moment wardrobe with a fairly astounding selection of vintage shoes and bags. "Metaphorically speaking, I feel a boutique should be an exciting little treasure chest, overflowing with one-of-a-kind gems," she says. "Perhaps this notion perpetuates my rather obsessive endeavor to add new items daily."

Drawing inspiration from journeys abroad, found vintage clothing, wardrobe in movies, and record album art (with a strong nod toward Wendy O. Williams of legendary punk band The Plasmatics), Suzette aims to adorn her "shoppeurs" with the unique and unpredictable. "Though our clientele varies wildly, my favorites are the lasses whose distinctive tastes steer them toward eclectic pieces, which they incorporate into very smart wardrobes," she says.

Among the sweet picks for late winter and spring are the silk-charmeuse Lillian dress ("named for my Nana!"), the Twila jacket fashioned with a dramatic Victorian-esque sleeve, as well as the limited-edition Pop-Art Romper dress, which Suzette hand-painted with "a washy, vintage paperback novel-looking woman's face." Add to this the much-loved skinny jean, Bambi-inspired jewelry from Karen Silverman, and vibrant espadrilles and flats to flatter any ensemble.

Suzette Sundae, 182 Avenue B, 212-777-7870, www.suzettesundae.com.

With equal parts vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces complete with handpicked accessories, Suzette Sundae keeps East Villagers as well as other stylish locals well ahead of the trends.