GOOD VIBRATIONS
SEXY lingerie stores on the tony Upper East Side are nothing new – after all, it is the home of La Perla and BraSmyth.
But it’s the high-end sex toys being peddled by the new luxury shop Myla – which arrived earlier this month – that’s causing such an uproar.
In addition to its pricey, lacy underthings, the store at 69th Street and Madison Avenue also sells three types of vibrators, which are designed to look like perfectly innocent, beautiful pieces of art.
And judging by the impressive sales of these collectibles, Upper East Side women seem to be happy about their new neighbor.
But further downtown, there’s already an abundance of sex shops, ranging from the down-and-dirty to the sensual and sophisticated.
Here’s how the new kid in town compares to the rest of the pack.
MYLA: 20 E. 69th St.; [212] 327-2676; myla.com
THE DEAL: High-concept sex toys and elaborate lingerie for the woman who has everything
AMBIANCE: Tiny, exclusive boutique
SPECIALIZES IN: Vibrators that don’t look like vibrators
HOT NEW ITEM: Everything in the store
BEST SELLER: The Pebble, a $190 round, smooth stonelike vibrator – sold out when we visited
BIG-TICKET ITEM: Silk nightie with silver flecks and Swarovski crystals, $480
VERDICT: Sophisticated but too uptight [ 1/2]
EVE’S GARDEN: 119 W. 57th St.; [212] 757-8651; evesgarden.com
THE DEAL: Discreet but well-stocked shop on the 12th floor of an office building
AMBIANCE: Your friendly neighborhood vibrator vendor
SPECIALIZES IN: Homeopathic lubricants, custom-made toys, discreet plain-paper bags
HOT NEW ITEM: Topical stimulant for women
BEST SELLER: The Rabbit (as seen on “Sex and the City”)
BIG-TICKET ITEM: Pleasure Swing, $150
VERDICT: The best-kept secret in Manhattan [ ]
FANTASY PARTIES: 333 Sixth Ave., at Cornelia Street; [646] 230-0047; fantasypartyny.com
THE DEAL: This gaudy Sixth Avenue store is the epitome of neon-lit West Village camp
AMBIANCE: Porn warehouse meets gay disco
SPECIALIZES IN: Gag gifts, XXX-rated flicks
HOT NEW ITEM: Little Red Riding Hood costume
BEST SELLER: Vinyl high heels in very large sizes
BIG-TICKET ITEM: Love Doll, $299
VERDICT: Only for the thick-skinned [ ]
THE PLEASURE CHEST: 156 Seventh Ave., at Charles Street; [212] 242-2158; pleasurechesttoys.com
THE DEAL: Not sleazy enough to be intimidating to women; not high-end enough to break the bank
AMBIANCE: Clean, well-lit S&M dungeon
SPECIALIZES IN: Bondage gear, safe and hygienic sex aids
HOT NEW ITEM: Exotic warming massage lotion
BEST SELLER: The Rabbit
BIG-TICKET ITEM: Leather face masks, $100 and up
VERDICT: As pleasurable to visit as it promises its toys to be [ ]
AGENT PROVOCATEUR: 133 Mercer St.; [212] 965-0229; agentprovocateur.com
THE DEAL: Saucy British knickers and faux-naughty accessories
AMBIANCE: 1920s French bordello
SPECIALIZES IN: Retro-sexy lingerie
HOT NEW ITEM: Black and pink slip
BEST SELLER: Agent Provocateur fragrance
BIG-TICKET ITEM: Vintage-style, sparkly corset, $608
VERDICT: If you’re going to splurge on lingerie, this is the place [ ]
TOYS IN BABELAND: 94 Rivington St.; [212] 375-1701. 43 Mercer St.; [212] 966-2120; babeland.com
THE DEAL: Seattle’s first woman-friendly sex shop found a similar niche on the Lower East Side and now, in SoHo, too
AMBIANCE: Cozy living room of a very horny hipster
SPECIALIZES IN: Female-positive porn, staf-ftested and approved toys
HOT NEW ITEM: Platinum vibrator
BEST SELLER: The Rabbit
BIG-TICKET ITEM: Male chastity belt, $98
VERDICT: Come for the toys, stay for the racy sex-ed classes [ ]

