A Day in Dumbo

Last Friday despite the downpour I decided to take advantage of my lone day off and finally make a trip to Gargyle, the physical showroom and location of the beloved wares ogled daily on their online shop. With the intention of scooping up a Karen Walker beret and scoping out the sale items, I hopped on the C train and made my way down to Dumbo.

In classic Mauri fashion I neglected to write the building number down, but thanks to my photographic memory and their contact page remembered it was on Front Street between Jay and Pearl. Surfacing from the subway I located Front, headed North towards my prescribed destination, and of course managed to duck into a few new boutiques along the way.

Loopy Mango was the first. While the name is slightly bizarre (crazy fruit?) and totally lost on me, the boutique is quite cute and definitely stocks a few gems if you’ve got an affection for sparkles and silks. The racks are strewn with bigger and bolder names such as Badgley Mischka and Alexander Wang, and then alternately smaller American and European designers Mischen, Morphine Generation, and Ulla Johnson. I scored this crazy cat dress by Manoush (the one pictured) at 70% off. It’s definitely one of those pieces that can either be really awesome or really awful; needless to say I’m determined to make it the former. Something about it says to me 'cupcakes and champagne!'.

Moving on and out of Loopy Mango, I made it a few more blocks before sidetracking (it was pouring after all) my way into Blueberi. Evidently there’s a fruit theme I was previously unaware of... Anywho, they’ve got a terrific selection of accessories from little leather driving gloves, to 40’s inspired feathered headbands, and loads of handmade jewelry by local designers. I eyed Vena Cava’s latest collection (including the navy silk dress comprised of tiny heart cut outs, sigh) and a trench coat by the sister design duo Stretsis before settling up with 3 pair of tights.

Back onto the street my unwieldy umbrella and I gave the hunt for Garglye one more go. I wandered around the five block radius one more time, ducked into the used bookstore (much to the owner’s dismay) to dial 411 for their info, and with the number and location unlisted (and my shopping bags scattered about my feet) decided perhaps Gargyle could stand to wait another day.