It’s the first perfect spring day in New York and my sister-in-law Agi and I decide to do a major shopping stint—confined to only 4 blocks of Lexington Avenue between 70th and 74th streets. Everyone is outside, and everyone is happy and we are, too—so our first stop is perfect.
When we step into Roberta Freymann’s boutique at 153 East 70th we become awash in an Indian pink-orange glow. Roberta Freymann opened her NYC boutique in 2000 to showcase the must-have styles that she creates with artisans from Bangkok to Mumbai. Six years later, she added an outpost in East Hampton (where she spent summers growing up) and also the Roberta Roller Rabbit store [home & fashion] at 1019 Lexington at 73rd. Roberta has perfected the Indian print cotton that we’ve all loved since the 60s/70s. No one does it better. Her collection of fresh, colorful block prints include everything from kurtas, caftans, dresses, scarves, Indian jewelry, and sophisticated embroidered bags to carry it all.
various kurta, caftans, and an embroidered clutch
Roberta travels abroad six months out of the year but it’s not rare to find her in the store selling away. The Roberta Roller Rabbit [the name comes from a British children’s story] store has mostly textiles for home—yummy quilts and duvets, napkins, tablecloths, pillows, and upholstery textiles that are priced in 5-yard bolts. You can also find tunics, pareos, and block-printed pajamas at this location.
Indian print quilts and fabricIn April, Roberta made Californians even happier by opening a pop-up store in the Brentwood Country Mart—my sister-in-law’s absolute favorite place [she’s from LA]. Roberta Freymann does not yet sell online [but soon] so you must stop on either coast to experience an oasis of pure shopping bliss with a delightful staff to boot. For more information: Roberta Freymann
Next stop, the perfectly edited Mecox Gardens full of one-of-a-kind antiques, re-editions, art, and contemporary accessories for home & garden. The flagship store opened in Southampton, New York in the spring of 1996, originally as a flower and garden store. Presently, a Mecox Gardens store can be found in Southampton, East Hampton, Palm Beach, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston [new], and here at 962 Lexington Avenue between 70-71st.
Mecox shops are a daily scout-out for decorators because as Dallas store manager Tyler Sweatman says, “it’s a society of instant gratification… you can shop right-off the floor." And, it’s true that you can furnish a house in an entire afternoon from one of the larger Mecox emporiums, right down to home fragrance. The store will carry everything from Bunny William’s new BeeLine Home collection. Bunny selected Mecox Gardens because she feels that they approach designing spaces in much the same way... "it's all about the mix and the more unexpected, the better." She also "feels inspired every time she walks in the door of a Mecox store." Not in a Mecox-mecca? You can browse a vast collection from all eight locations on the Mecox website [updated daily]. While you’re there, check out The Dogs of Mecox Gardens… you have to love a shop that loves our dogs so much [you can post your pet pix and favorite pet charity to the site]. Mecox's founders have four beloved Golden Retrievers and like us, consider their dogs to be equal members of the family. Five wags of the tail for Mecox Gardens.
Next stop, San Francisco Clothing at 975 Lexington Avenue. At a time when authenticity is required, this shop has it all. Open for 35 years, the owner named his boutique after a city he loves – a city that shares the shop's aesthetic of originality and quality. And, the selection is divinely original with clothing from Saint James of Normandy [the original French nautical], Hunter and Barbour [original rugged English attire] and authentic Loden coats from Austria.
Sprinkled-in with this classical mix are updated pieces like this season’s perfect shirtwaist in black or white and the cargo capri pant by Barbara Lesser Fibers. San Francisco Clothing creates private label products and has a wonderful line of classic, crisp cotton shirts. The prices are extremely reasonable for these sturdy, time-honored clothes. This old-world emporium also has a selection of men and children’s wear as well. San Francisco Clothing is a must-stop for quality, style, durability, evolving classics, and yes… authenticity. San Francisco Clothing
We continue a few doors up Lex and stop to look at the old-world ephemera in the window of York Barber Shop at 981 Lexington Avenue. Established in 1928, this is a first-rate dandy of a barbershop, and reminds us of the New York City that John Cheever once wrote…"was still filled with a river light, when you heard the Benny Goodman quartets from a radio in the corner stationery store, and when almost everybody wore a hat."
York Barber Shop is so warm and welcoming that we pop in for a quick break and watch the five full-time cutters in action. York offers haircuts, shaves, barber’s massages, manicures, and men’s facials. The place is full of autographed photos but they are discreet about their famous clientele of actors, politicians, and athletes. Looking for the perfect Don Draper Mad Men haircut? York Barber is your answer.
Our next stop is perfect for weary feet. The French Sole flagship store at 985 Lex is the store for the ballet flat lover with over 300 styles from animal cork to quilted patent leather. French Sole combines sophisticated styling with cozy comfort in American, French, and European sizes [let the shop do the conversions for the proper fit]. A shopper’s icon since the 1980s, French Sole is listed in New York Magazine’s Best Stores, and is favored editorially by Vogue, In Style, Elle, and more. The most popular styles are the Sloop and the Passport w/Rubber Sole.
cork and embroidered ballet flats
French Sole serves up ballet flats to such luminaries as Cindy Crawford, Ali MacGraw, and The Duchess of York. The staff is friendly and smart about fit. Secret: Across the street at 976 is the outlet-store that is packed with bargains and girls in a mad flat-frenzy. PS… they have a great tagline, too: “your sole search is over.” French Sole
When we come out of French Sole and I’m busy taking the store “awning shot” we experience a Woody Allen sighting. He walks right by with Soon-Yi and one of their daughters but my camera is slow to capture the scene – so, here they are from the back. O.K., we are guilty of gawking but on this perfect New York City spring day, seeing Woody Allen is the icing on the cake. Hmmm speaking of cake, we are getting a bit hungry but we venture on to a few more shops before stopping.
We decide to stroll north one block and then head west on 75th Street over to Park Avenue to hail a taxi. It’s been a long day but we are still feeling happy and inspired by the superb afternoon sunlight shining through the trees as we turn the corner. We gaze at many beautiful New York townhouses as we mosey along. Suddenly we see a beautiful New York couple sitting with their dog on their front steps.
We smile and chat and they agree to pose for an afternoon photo. It is here that we end our four block shopping stint on a beautiful street full of beautiful buildings and two beautiful New Yorkers with their delightful little Yorkie. Her name… of course, is Bella.
Roberta Freymann - 153 East 70th street
Roberta Roller Rabbit - 1019 Lexington
Mecox Gardens - 962 Lexington
San Francisco Clothing - 975 Lexington
York Barber Shop - 981 Lexington
French Sole - 985 Lexington
Il Papiro - 1021 Lexington
Jacqueline Chorney - 1043A Lexington
Payard Patisserie & Bistro - 1032 Lexington
Please note these other great shopping stops along Lexington Avenue between 70th - 74th:
Cove Landing Antiques at No. 995
Nina Griscom at No. 958
Lexington Gardens at No. 1011
Treillage at No. 1015
Museum Pick: The Whitney Museum of American Art at Madison & 75th
Park Avenue tulips and cherry tree
