(1). OVERVIEW:
Gothic Renaissance may well be the best store for purchasing the edgy/darker side of the festive, dramatic, romantic and even sexy costumes for the excitement-seeking people. (This is NOT adult rated store.) The same owner owns and operates the gigantic Halloween Adventure store next door (2 floors).
If you are into the costumes and collectable items of the vampire, gothic, steampunk, dieselpunk, industrial, burlesque, Venetian style carnival (including awesome collection of masks), New Orleans Mardi Gas, sexy lingerie, corset, S&M or Master & Slave role plays, etc., this may be the best if not the first store for you to visit in NYC, in my humble personal opinion. This is also a great store for your variety of items of the Japanese lolita fashion.
(2). NOTE: Lolita Fashion (ロリータ・ファッション rorīta fasshon) is a fashion subculture from Japan that is highly influenced by Victorian and Edwardian children's clothing and styles from the Rococo period. A very distinctive property of Lolita fashion is the aesthetic of cuteness. This clothing subcuture can be categorized into three main substyles: 'gothic', 'classic', and 'sweet'. Many other substyles such as 'sailor', 'country', 'hime' (princess), 'ero', 'guro', 'oriental', 'punk', 'shiro (white)', kuro (black) and steampunk lolita also exist. This style evolved into a widely followed subculture in Japan and other countries in the 1990s and 2000s and may have waned in Japan as of the 2010s as the fashion became more mainstream. Needless to say, the driving force of this Japanese lolita fashion is females.
My outfits has been evolving since 1980s, when I started wearing the formal black suits and the tuxedos as my default outfit to go out. My outfits became more elaborate later but they are NOT because being influenced by the Japanese lolita fashion or American steampunk fashion. They because so because I wanted to dress more ceremoniously and festively for my festive and dramatic dinings specifically at the all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants in New York City. All of my own festive ceremonial jackets were personally modified from the simple black jackets and black tuxedos. I also created my original lobster claw necklaces and the pig bone necklaces, that I wear regularly. The items they sell here are quite inspirational to me.
(3). CORSETS:
One of the specialties of the Gothic Renaissance is vintage (and vintage-look) awesome corsets. If your lady is into this specific style of garment, make sure to stop by to make her day. The same goes to the huge collection of the awesome edgy and sexy black leather boots.
(4). MEN'S FORMAL HATS:
Personally, I am into the men's formal hats, especially the top hats, fur hats, and Fedora hats. Unfortunately, the Gothic Renaissance did not have what I was looking for, which are the "real" formal hats. Nevertheless, they had a wide range of costume quality formal hats.
(5) CLASSIC-LOOKING ACCESSORIES:
Gothic Renaissance also sells gorgeous and classic-looking small accessories. They include the small statues, jewelries, lady's household items (such as the mermaid's hand mirror), curved fake skulls, taxidermy works.
(6). EARLY SHOPPING:
Gothic Renaissance is packed with people around the Halloween, Christmas Holiday, Comic Convention, and other special events. So, it is better to visit here earlier months and the weekdays rather than the weekends for getting the individual personal attentions by the people here. The items sold there are pricey but they really worth it because you can try it on you physically right here, get the help & second opinion by the people, before taking them to your home, unlike your internet shopping.
(7). BONUS:
Sometimes, you may meet the artists, who crafted/created their artworks on display at Gothic Renaissance. Ask the clerk about it, so that you may be able to meet such an artist in person. One of my photos attached to this review shows myself with my sea rabbit AND a local young taxidermy artist, who created a small raven taxidermy on display in the glass case at the Gothic Renaissance.
Another added bonus is a big and very impressive gargoyle, which guard this store by the entrance. Make sure to take selfie photos with you :-). I just love this gargoyle statue here! (See my attached photographs.)
I highly recommend the Gothic Renaissance to my friends.
Dr. Takeshi Yamada and Seara (Coney Island sea rabbit)
2 Photos: December 23, 2011
15 photos: September 30, 2018 read more