Eye Candy

Kind of an odd store. Is feels like a thrift store’s accessories-​only selection with pretty hefty prices. Organized nicely, but stuff was either way too glamorous or too plastic for me. Maybe I didn’t appreciate all the curation that goes into this store, but I did a courtesy walk and then walked out.

When this store was on Bleecker Street, I eye-​raped DAILY. And then one day they were gone — replaced I think by a coffee shop. Alas.
Lo and behold. I passed the iconic red flag last week after I left the gym, and had to stop in.
FYI: this is less «thrift shop» (better for making impulsive bargain purchases) and more a «real-​life etsy» shop — a carefully curated vintage shop where you search for specific things, and ponder before purchasing. Price point is also more «etsy» and less «buffalo exchange.»
– Eclectic & Chelsea-​appropriate. Both the 20-​yr old FIT student & the 70-​year old neon-​fur-​and-​docmarten-​wearing granny would appreciate a subtle but tasteful skull earring (SO GORGEOUS) or minimalist bead bracelet. For the vintage partier, glittery clutches or fur anything. Recommended for the red-​lipstick type or artist.

Great store! Fabulous vintage sunglasses with a big selection and very good prices. Very cute hats as well. Store owner nice and helpful. Will go back when spring comes and get sunglasses!

What a fun store! The sparkling vintage jewelry is bewitching. There’s also a nice array of glasses from various decades, cuff links, hats, purses, etc.
There’s also a great collection of new jewelry-​both commercial (La Vie) and designer.
Ron, the owner, was helpful and knowledgeable. This store has just been added to my list of go-​to stores when visiting Manhattan.

What a great store!!! Across the street from Chelsea Hotel — Landmark/​Legend!!!
Owner is a great guy with an eye for eclectic treasures!!! Eye Candy Store is the real deal and the bossman is authentic from the way way back and currently. You might even learn something from this New York treasure chest… if you’re smart enough to ask… hipster alert!!!
Ardyce Hart

My advice to those looking for vintage finds here is to have time, be patient, ask questions, and take it all in. Also, if you see something you like DON’T WAIT. I have missed out on several great items that way.
I’ve been coming to this store since it opened here in Chelsea. What a gem! I just picked up a fabulous purple hat for the winter. Eye Candy is my go to place for unusual and QUALITY vintage items (Pucci purse, Lilly Rubin outfit, leopard pattern coat, Italian sunglasses etc etc). Many vintage stores offer items that are broken or tattered but my experience has been that the items in this place are in excellent condition and in many cases unused which is rare in the vintage world.
What I really appreciate is the owner’s (?) knowledge about the merchandise and vintage fashion in general. He is always very helpful and easy to work with. And despite what some of the reviews mentioned, the prices are great. I’ve picked up great pieces for under $ 50. Again, it takes time and patience!
I even saw pieces there by some of the vintage jewelry designers featured in the Barbara Berger exhibit at the MAD museum (of course these pieces were more modest than those in the exhibit but still).
As for the no standing sign, not sure why it is a big deal? I actually feel uneasy when people are loitering in front of a place I want to go in or come out of.

No standing in front of the store, the shop owner?/old man with glasses will point a sign and ask you to leave the front of his ugly store. What a rude shop.
I was on the phone trying to describe the store to my friend and how to get there. While I was trying to give directions, the shop worker/owner?/Old middle aged man with glasses came out with this mean look on his face. He then pointed a sign that was posted on the left of the store window: «NO STANDING» and implied to me that he did not want my business, wanted me to walk away and talk somewhere else, or just get out of his sight.
I really wanted to browse the store when my friend got there, but the vibe and attitude definitely threw me away and told my friends what happened.
The store does have some cool vintage old looking hats, scarves, jewelery and sun glasses. If you were going to a speakeasy or Gatsby themed party, this store seems to have the accessories for your costume. The prices are on the high side but affordable, although I’m sure you can find better deals elsewhere.
The old man in the shop seems grumpy, buyers and shoppers beware…

I had to review since so many people are being so tough on the place. Yes, it’s small… it’s New York. And yes… there isn’t always something you want… it’s a vintage shop, things change.
However, I came here to look at jewelry and found a beautiful pair of chandelier earrings and Art Deco bracelet that I am wearing for my wedding. The pricing was reasonable and since I was buying both pieces, the guy gave me a deal. He was very patient and helpful and I would definitely go back as well as recommend others.

I really liked this shop. My sister and I stumbled upon it walking through Soho. There are a LOT of items to where you can easily spend more than an hour just looking. My favorite was the jewelry (and the pieces are affordable and very unique). My sister’s favorite were the bags which come in a variety of styles, ages and price points — she opted for a fun 60s style purse that fell in her student/​intern budget.
I ended up opting for a pair of the art-​deco earrings, and the owner gave us a great little history of the pieces, which just added to the experience. One thing I loved and didn’t get to buy were the bangles, they had several really fun styles!
I loved it, we didn’t feel rushed by who we think was owner. I think it might be the smallish space that gives you that feeling. If you can get past that, I think it’s a great and original spot to find something unique in. Definitely give it a shot, and I agree with other reviews that it doesn’t feel like a pile of junk like many vintage shops, most of the pieces are great even if they are not your unique style.

This place has tons of unique, thoughtfully-​selected vintage accessories. Sunglasses, reading glasses, and frames, as well as boo-​koo shoes, gloves, belts, and last but not least jewlery. Unlike some vintage stores that carry what i would consider irrelevant or tacky costume jewelry, their pieces are actually relevant, striking and quite cheap. I had been perusing jewelry at Scoop earlier, and weirdly, eye candy had many similiar pieces. Anywho, the shoe and purse selections area also huge. I ended up browsing in a store less than 100 square feet for like an hour. Disturbing, I know, but there was just so much cool stuff! Much better accessory selection than screaming mimi’s IMO.

There is a lot of junk. I pass by this store all the time and stroll inside to find nothing interesting. Their sunglasses are pretty vintage boring if you ask me. You won’t find any cute unique styled sunglasses here. I would buy some and make your own instead of spending money on some boring junky glasses. Their accessories are nothing fancy either. All the items are overpriced. The sales people are not friendly and they stand around and chat with friends then care about what you are interested in.

I love this store SO much, strictly for the jewelry. I’ve gotten a necklace and a ring here that look exactly like Tom Binns — I’ve even been asked a few times if they are. I just wish the guy that owns and works in the store was nicer! He always is so unfriendly to me. I still go in every now and then, but on the times I walk out without buying something, I feel like he takes out a voodoo doll and uses it on me.

I’ve been in there a couple times b/​c I live across the street but I don’t like going in when there’s no other customers in there b/​c it’s such a tiny store (like 12′ x 5′ plus clutter) and the clerk tends to hawk over you, which makes me uncomfortable.
The first time I wanted to look at their earrings, but everything was in the case right in front of the register so I had to ask the clerk for the price of everything. And considering the costume chandelier earrings I liked were around $ 150 that makes for short browsing unless you have a big budget to work with.
I think the store *could* be cool if you could browse more without feeling pressured (b/​c there’s no one else in there and the clerk is staring at you) and if it was more affordable. Pretty sure I won’t go back.
The designer’s market on the weekends a block away on Mulberry has a lot of great jewelry/​scarves/​hats/​bags that are really reasonably priced — and you don’t feel like the sales people are going to get all snotty if you don’t decide to buy anything. I’d recommend that any day over this place.

There’s something about a great hat that can’t be achieved by any other combination of accessories. The perfect hat will frame your face, bring focus to your eyes or your neck and will revamp any old outfit. And I found that hat here. Of course, I left the hat here b/​c at $ 50 and being black in color, I just couldn’t explain buying a hat that would make me hotter in the summer when I’m actually looking for something to shade my face and hopefully cool me off a bit. But yes, this quirky shop is full of kistch from costume jewelry to vintage handbags (I spied a tomato red samsonite bag that would be perfect for work/​bowling bowl/​shopping). Prices are not soho expensive but they are not cheap enough to make you buy stuff just for the heck of it either. In a way, this store reminds me of finding a treasure chest in someone’s grandma’s attic and playing dress up. There aren’t actually clothes to dressup with but there are plenty of accessories.