VK Nagrani has made a name for his high-quality and stylish dress socks. They are simply the best. To be straightforward we weren’t sure what to expect when we visited the new haberdashery on the Upper East Side. The Upper East Side and hip are typically not synonymous for those of you not familiar with New York.
Owner and designer Vivek Nagrani proved us all wrong. He transformed an Upper East Side home (with the help of Hecho, Inc.) into a shopping haven for the stylish men of the world and most of all a badass social club.
From the moment you walk in the door his Gatsbesque charm, and eclectic décor, takes you for a ride. Not to mention your cup is never empty. Clothes are barely on view. It’s all about the venue here. Except for the handsome retired Harvard library catalogues that display man’s best dress socks with pride. They give the room a bear hug to let you know they’re still the centerpiece. From the kitchen down to the expansive living room there is interesting art and vintage furniture from many eras. If you’re fortunate enough to visit look for the Spaghetti-O display and the wall from Purgatory. One thing is clear — VK Nagrani’s store is the way you want to shop — with cocktail in hand and in good company. Judging from the fully-stocked kitchen the parties must be insane.
The Dress Socks
To paraphrase Nagrani, at one time a man’s hosiery defined his class and status. After our visit there we can completely agree that it still does. Having a quality sock with an interesting design or color completes your outfit.
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VK Nagrani’s socks are made of mostly cotton and mixtures of other fine material. But the difference is they won’t fall down at the end of the day and they will garner more than a few compliments. All of Nagrani’s goods are made in Italy in small local factories. While the socks will run you up to $40 per pair, first -time customers tend to be repeat offenders.
The Clothing
The Manual previewed the new VK Nagrani clothing line, which is slated for a man who can be found in multiple cities on a daily basis. His concept was to create clothing that is so versatile it can move seamlessly through time zones and events. The clothes fit very well and can easily be a go-to piece in your wardrobe. Our top picks were the Liverpool Jacket and the Branson Double-breasted suit. Another favorite was the VK Nagrani underwear, which we heard you can wear for more than two days without loosing the fit. (We don’t advise). They also rock a tongue-in-cheek surprise on the inside of each pair. And last but not least don’t forget to check out his pocket squares and scarves printed with tattoo art.
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