Use Your Head ... Shop for a Cause
by Wendy Lerman
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| “Use Your Head ... Shop for a Cause” is a brand new vintage and designer shop at 262 Mott Street ... where 100 percent of proceeds go towards the SoHo Parnership. |
| We keep reading about retailers going out of business. When I hear about a new shop “opening soon,” I wonder how long they will last or if they will even open their doors at all. “Use Your Head ... Shop for a Cause” is different. It’s recession-proof and dare I say, even recession-friendly. The brand new vintage and designer shop that opened up at 262 Mott Street two weeks ago is the brainchild of Henry Buhl, founder of SoHo Partnership. The incredibly cute store features fabulous vintage as well as current pieces at discounted prices. What makes this store so special is that 100 percent of proceeds go towards the SoHo Parnership.
It’s a great cause. So as you shop, you are actually doing something good for the community. You can’t argue with that. But even better, designers like Rachel Roy, Nicole Miller, Prada, and Marc Jacobs want to help their community too ... so they are donating unused clothes from their current collections. Henry Buhl’s social connections along with the shops unique mission, to both help the homeless and offer shoppers the opportunity to purchase high end vintage and designer pieces for affordable prices, has been attracting some really interesting donors from around the country. For example, a beautiful beaded gown in the shop was originally custom-made for Winston Churchill’s daughter. Exquisite and rare vintage pieces from Oscar de la Renta, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, Ferragamo from the 60s-90s came in from one donor’s personal collection after she rejected the design houses requests for archival of those pieces. |
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| The store is highly edited, Use Your Head only showcases incredible and wearable pieces. |
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| Shoppers and potential donors take note: the store is highly edited so unlike “thrift shops,” Use Your Head only showcases incredible and wearable pieces. So, no sifting through racks of junk just to find one good piece here. I asked about donations that don’t make the cut and was informed that every single piece brought into the store will find a good home. Unsellable clothes will be offered to the homeless men and women of SoHo Partnership to help make it easier for them to re-enter the workforce. I thought that was a Valentino I spotted while riding the subway ... |
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| L. to r.: Bolero jacket ... Vintage Christian Lacroix suit. |
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| L. to r.: Tommy Hilfiger model Amy Lemmons, shopping at the store ... Michael Shaw modeling a colorful Nicole Miller dress. |
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| Prada 2008 bag. |
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| L. to r.: Marc Jacobs bag ... Animal print clutch. |
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| Michael Shaw tries on a red sequin dress custom-made for Winston Churchill's daughter. |
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| Nine West shoes. |
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| L. to r.: Green short evening dress from Nicole Miller (front and back), $225 ... White short sleeve dress, $85. |
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| Ferragamo Jacket, $300. |
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| Red heels for the Dorothy type. |
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| L. to r.: Vintage ballerina skirt ... Yves Saint Laurent gold skirt from the 70s, $350. |
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| Jennifer Joyce trying on an Oscar De La Renta ensemble. |
| To shop or to donate, please contact the store at 212.334.6755, visit their website at www.useyourheadnyc.org or stop by the shop at 262 Mott Street New York, NY 10012. |
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