Geminola
41 Perry St., between Seventh Avenue South and West Fourth Street; (212) 675-1994.
The trend among boutique owners of selling both new and vintage clothing under one roof isn’t going away any time soon.
The success of stores like Foley & Corinna – an East Village joint that sells its namesake brand alongside high-end secondhand finds – means that New York can expect to see even more blended boutiques.
One such shop is Geminola, which opened in mid-September on one of the most-charming streets in Greenwich Village.
That’s fitting, as owner Lorraine Kirke’s hand-dyed dresses, blouses and skirts (prices start at about $150 and go up) is among the most charming line of recycled vintage clothes I’ve seen in years. (The fact that she gives her clothes old-fashioned names like Hannah or Tallulah only makes them seem more enchanting.)
Kirke doesn’t skimp when it comes to dye: Her colors – more than a rainbow’s worth – are super-saturated to dazzling effect. In fact, it’s kind of blinding to stare for too long at the rack of dyed clothes that hang together along one side of the slim boutique, which looks a bit like the dim boudoir of someone’s eccentric great-aunt.
Kirke’s handiwork, which includes linens ($425 will get you a silk sheet set with two pillowcases) isn’t all that’s sold at Geminola.
In the back of the store, there’s a rack of pristine-quality vintage clothes which range from just over $100 for a dress to $1,400 for a ostrich feather-trimmed coat. She also sells La Voleuse ballet flats in a rainbow of colors with pop culture-savvy sayings written across the toes, groovy C&C T-shirts and hyper-trendy Rogan jeans.

