Picks byJo Rosenthal
Jo Rosenthal is an artist, writer & lover based in Brooklyn. In her spare time, she enjoys going for aimless walks, reading books, and trying to be the funniest person in every room she walks into.
Quality Mending is probably my favorite store in NYC. I've shopped here since I moved to New York and they had their location in Williamsburg (RIP.) The owner Oliver is one of the most genuine people I have ever met- sometimes I like to go to the store just to hang out with him. They specialize in mostly men's vintage and if you love the 70s like I do, you'll love everything here. Every one of my favorite shirts is from there, including my Circle Jerks shirt and this amazing Max Headroom shirt. I get compliments every time I wear something from here. Every single thing I've acquired from Quality Mending is something that has made my closet more special.
Duo NYC is great for 90s vintage and if you're going for the minimal but fashionable Sade look. They have a lot of oversized suiting and button-up shirts and I got my Mom a vintage Dior bathrobe for Christmas. If you ask me, I think Duo is the perfect store. They have a wonderful selection of home goods and candles amongst so many gems. This is one of my go-to spots for presents. I almost forgot to mention that they have the most incredible selection of vintage Levis and they are so patient if you're like me and need to try 45 pairs on. The owners' Wendy and LaRae are some of the coolest sisters I know!
I got my absolute favorite pair of pants here – this gorgeous pair of beige cargos that go with every single thing I own. If I had a million dollars, I'd buy every single thing in the store. The owner Mary is also such a cool person and her curation is like no other store I've seen. They always have the best music playing and their selection of 40s-70s is carefully selected and makes me think a lot about the history of clothes and how they change the way we feel about ourselves for the better.
If you ask me, I think this is where all the cool kids get their clothes. LOL! The fact that they have two shops next to each other makes it even better. Whether you're looking for a slip dress or a deadstock pair of pants, it's impossible not to find at least 10 things you like. My best friend Ethan just got the perfect top from here and I'll never forget about the time I followed a random girl around the store to see if she was going to buy this dress and when she put it down I snatched it and it makes my closet better.
Emma Rogue (the owner and founder) is one of the coolest girls in NYC, and I feel lucky to call her my friend. She's incredibly hard-working and it shows because this store is exactly what it would look like if you entered someone's closet in the early aughts. Emma also makes her own pieces and every weekend they have drops with designers that you should know about before they blow up. On a perfect sunny day, I could spend all day here because it's the perfect hang-out spot and there are so many cool things to try on. It's hard to leave Rogue empty-handed.