Body Jewelry, Ear Cuffs, Vintage Baubles, and More at Alibi

Parsons grad Jo Liu learned the industry ropes working with fashion designer Jen Kao, jewelry designer Tina Tang, and handbag designer Suen-Cooper. Last month, she launched her own downtown-cool, budget-friendly jewelry shop in Nolita, stocking the cases with designers from New York, Los Angeles, and Asia. The narrow space is artfully decorated, with display cases enclosed by refinished vintage frames, dusky gray walls, and a mix of antique and modern furniture. The spot originally opened showcasing pieces from Jo's own label, Littlesthings, and just three other lines; the selection has since expanded to a roster of ten designers. Most of the pieces extend outside of the typical semiprecious-stone/sterling-silver trinket array, with offbeat offerings like embellished sweater clips from Dirty Librarian Chains, body jewelry and ear cuffs by Armor, mixed vintage arrangements by Archive, and coral-like nylon-silicon bracelets by Nervous Systems. The wares span from $15 charms to $250 mixed-chain necklaces, but most hover in the affordable $50 to $100 range. Click ahead to check out some of our favorite pieces in store.
Alibi, 241 Mulberry St., nr. Prince St. (212-226-7373).
Read more and see the slideshow: http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/01/alibi_buyers_guide.html