When quaint East Village restaurant, 9th St. Market, said goodbye this winter (taking its in-demand brunch with it), we were prepared for some kind of eatery du jour (a frozen yoghurt chain, banh mi joint or sleek vegan bakery). Instead, sisters Wendy and Larae Kangas opened Duo, which carries not only carefully sourced vintage pieces but collections from local designers as well. The result proposes what it might be like if we were to ransack the most stylish East Villager's closet. (Read: bliss.)
Lines currently available at Duo include Keller, Dusen, and Lewis as well as vintage staples that are ubiquitous on the Bowery: woven leather oxfords, leather ankle boots and Mickey and Minnie Mouse-adorned T-shirts.
Wendy let us in on the fact that not only are shoes the hardest pieces to keep in stock these days, but the 1940s cotton swimsuits have been christened a summer must. Despite the absence of pristine beaches along Manhattan's shore line, customers are actually sporting these as body suits or (bravely!) donning them as rompers.
Duo is located at 337 East 9th St. between 1st and 2nd Avenues
