Having made it through Black Friday, it’s smooth shopping from here until Christmas Eve, folks. Forget the mall madness, and let Rye’s gifted retailers help you check everyone off your list.
By Jon Craig and Robin Jovanovich
Having made it through Black Friday, it’s smooth shopping from here until Christmas Eve, folks. Forget the mall madness, and let Rye’s gifted retailers help you check everyone off your list.
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Whether you’re looking for something divine or just a way to say you’re thinking about someone, you need not travel far to find the perfect something.
If she’s the tops, what better place to begin than jewelry, shining new or tastefully estate.
At Joan Sansone Antiques and Estate Jewelry, you’ll find two wide scarab bracelets worn by Elaine, the late owner of the eponymous and famous restaurant on the Upper East Side. Don’t leave the store without asking to see the one-of-a-kind pair of Seaman Schepps bracelets. They are a unique blending of antique snuff bottles with precious stones, set in gold.
The cabochon pieces from Roberto Coin at Woodrow Jewelers are star attractions. Among our top picks were the ones with mother of pearl, amethyst, and blue topaz. Another stunning collection from the Italian designer is made of champagne diamonds. While you’re there, men, don’t overlook a little something for yourself, the Le Mans Porsche design watch. (There are only 911 of this limited edition titanium model.)
Hanni Ackerman of Hanni Fine Jewelry says, “Diamond studs, eternity bands, bracelets and necklaces are every woman’s dream.” But her strands of champagne beads with South Sea Baroque pearls and Pavé set with orange sapphires will work wonders, too. This year, she is also offering a new collection of stylish silver pieces for everyday wear.
Some of the most beautiful finds are at Royal Jewels of Rye. Owner John Givelkian designs with the best of them. Among our favorites is a magnificent ring: a natural, untreated sapphire surrounded by diamonds and set in platinum. If you’re a lover of stylish 1950s design, ask to see his 18-karat yellow leaf gold and pearl earrings. If Cartier slips off your tongue, take a look at the classic (previously owned) tri-colored bangle.
Fashionable women are in luck in our little downtown. At Walin & Wolff, the latest arrival, you can wrap her neck in fur, keep her stunningly organized with snake-embossed leather bags, or help her walk in comfort and color in Hunter footwear. And there’s always that little black bag.
For the woman who travels well, think Parkers. Catherine Parker has been a purveyor of timeless Barbour jackets for years, but this year she is carrying their striped wool explorer bag and stylish accessories. All are assured to get the woman in your life going.
Great Stuff lives up to its name. They have an exciting assortment of Ramy Brook silk tops, Majestic tops, Rye’s signature tee, in all sizes and colors, and party dresses in velvet and lace to enliven the holiday outlook.
For seriously sequined cocktail dresses, stop at Angela’s. Ask to see the 3.1 Phillip Lim line. Have a seat on one of the lounges. You’ll be there awhile. They make shopping for clothes women love to wear easy. Every woman needs a Glamourpuss fur collar — the peacock is our favorite — to keep her fashionably warm.
Helen Alexander, a sales associate at Bubble & Tweet, said sequins are popular on just about all children’s clothing this holiday season. “Especially this season,’’ Alexander said. “It seems to be a fun look.”
Tops with sequins can be worn at a formal event, but can look good with a pair of jeans as well, Alexander said. The most popular clothing lines at Bubble & Tweet this season include Milly, Trina Turk, and Susanna Monaco.
Handbags, old mink wraps, and all kinds of jewelry are selling fast at Rhythm In Rye, Too.
Sales associate Katelin Natale said Chanel, Prada, and Louis Vuitton bags fly out the door. Natale said Hurricane Sandy and a delayed Halloween also delayed holiday shopping, but sales began to pick up on Black Friday. “Really, really sparkling jewelry is in,’’ she added.
Everything at Rhythm In Rye is marked down an extra 30 percent going into December.
For different sorts of treasures, Gallery 52 has antique photo frames, sterling silver vintage gifts, and scenes by local artists. Commission a portrait of your home, pet, favorite location. Owner Beverly Sansone, who’s in between spaces on Purchase Street, is accepting art for framing at her sister Joan’s, 55½ Purchase Street. She’ll be setting up shop next to Frankie & Johnnies starting in January.
The best spot for browsing is Twig Antiques. Their vintage pieces are in a class by themselves. Visit soon if you’re in the market for a handsome 1850s mahogany sideboard. And their classic barware will appeal to more than just “mad men.”
With just 24 days left to shop, there are plenty of gadgets and gimmicks in Rye-area stores to surprise loved ones.
At Sportech in the Rye Ridge Shopping Center, GPS watches are more high-tech than ever, according to store manager Sung Kim. In addition to knowing exactly where you are running or walking, the newest watches also log speed and distance, Kim said.
Perennial favorites are heart rate monitors and platform tennis racquets, he added.
Sportech’s most popular items work for both the elite athlete and the couch potato. Everyone can look stylish wearing Nike Elite basketball socks, said Mel Siegel, the store’s co-owner.
Siegel said teenagers like tossed low-cut style socks and prefer the Elite socks worn by pros and college hoops stars. The socks are striped and ride the leg about halfway up to the knee.
The iPhone5 is the fastest-selling Verizon store item in Rye — and nationwide.
Efrain Rosario, manager of Verizon’s Purchase Street store, said the iPhone5 makes up about 75 percent of all sales locally and throughout the United States. The stores other most popular holiday items have been the iPad Mini, a wide assortment of protective covers for cellphones, headphones, and phones that can be used in showers and underwater.
“People want to text from everywhere nowadays including in the shower,’’ Rosario said.
The newest model phones also can take photos underwater, so there are ideal for vacations or pools, he said.
Rob Porto at Rye Camera Shop said, “We make the connection between your gadgets and success. Even if you didn’t buy the camera here, we’ll still help you. We’re the missing link, if you will.”
Rye Camera offers a number of services, including getting your camera and other electronic gadgets interacting properly with computers and Internet photo and design programs.
Whether you’re a Canon, Nikon, or Leica family, Anya, Rob, or Pedro can point you in the right direction this season.
A different kind of “toy story” is going on at Learning Express. LEGO, a perennial favorite, is so popular this year that variations blanket one wall of the Rye shop. There are LEGO spacecraft, LEGO kites, and LEGO friends sold in purple boxes. The “friends” version has sold out in Rye and most area stores due to their popularity among girls. The Danish company’s “friends” toys include five female characters and sets that include horse-riding stables, a beauty shop, and a bakery. Mia, Stephanie, Olivia, Emma, and Andrea wear pastel colors and enjoy dressing-up games. The toy manufacturer attributed a 35 percent jump in its first-half year profits to the version catering to girls, describing sales as “astonishing.”
If you’re looking for a friendly addition to your home, try Dream Lites, stuffed characters that cast soothing images on a child’s ceiling or wall. Also at Learning Express.
Let your pet do the toy and treat shopping at All Paws. There’s a visible spring in our dog’s step when we walk into the Purchase Street shop. Claudia Baker stocks everything your pet needs (aside from quality time with you and playtime with his or her peers) for a healthy and happy life. And nearly everything Baker carries is made in the U.S.A.
Now, that’s a nice holiday story.