These days, high-end consignment shops dot Mott Street and Madison Avenue like cupcakes. But back in 1993, they were few and far between and Ina Bernstein saw an opportunity. So the one-time fashion industry vet opened INA, her first eponymous store, on Thompson Street. “I find great enjoyment watching varied customers of every age, background and style shop,” she says. “It gives me pleasure to see what they try on.” And although she lived nearby for a few years, Bernstein has called TriBeCa home for decades. Living further below the grid still allows the fashionista — who declined to give her age (“I think my photos show I’m not a teenager,” she says) — to walk to work at one of her five stores in NoLIta, NoHo and now Chelsea, which opened in December. Getting to the Upper East Side shop, however, may require the downtown doyenne to purchase a metro card. This is her tasteful TriBeCa.
PHOTOS: INA BERNSTEIN’S TRIBECA
1. INA SoHo, 101 Thompson St., between Prince and Spring streets
“I don’t need to go anywhere else. I keep a tight closet. If it’s not something I want to keep 10 years, 20 years, I — like many of our customers — re-consign it at the end of the season and buy something new. Of course, the INA stores are only as good as our consignors, and I thank them all for continuing to supply us with such a variety of quality designer clothes, shoes and accessories.”
2. TriBeCa Dog Run, Warren St., between Greenwich and Chambers streets
“One of my hobbies is photography.I shoot black-and-white film on an old Nikon. One of the things I love to do for inspiration is walk around with my camera, looking for great shots. I find it soothing and exciting at the same time. Just the other day I spent a few hours in the TriBeCa dog run, and I think I got some great shots of dogs and their parents.”
3. Tortola Salon, 28 Ericsson Place, between Beach and Varick streets
“Fashion is about a total look, the image we present to the world. And selecting a hairstyle, color, etc. is as important and personal as the clothing we wear. I’ve been going here 30 years. It’s a very neighborhood-friendly, comfortable place to go. I had keratin done for the first time [recently] because I’m going to Italy and didn’t want to deal with all my hair. I highly recommend it!”
4. R 20th Century Design, 82 Franklin St., between Broadway and Church Street
“They always have fabulous and unusual selections of furniture and lighting. The owners are old friends of mine from when they were two young guys selling at the 26th Street flea market. I have a large white oval Saarinen table I bought from them for a couple grand umpteen years ago — well below what it was worth. I wander in there often, even though I don’t need anything more for my apartment!”
5. The Odeon, 145 West Broadway, at Thomas Street
“When it the opened in 1980, I spent several years going there every night. Artists, writers, musicians, actors — the Andy Warhol crowd — all table-hopped, had lots of fun and got into a little trouble. Since then, the Odeon continues to be a place I go with my family for celebratory brunches and dinners. It holds a special place in my heart. I have the oysters if they’re in season, otherwise the country frisée salad, baby beet salad, or the traditional steak frites au poivre with a glass of cabernet. If there’s room for dessert, I’ll have the flourless chocolate cake and hope someone shares it with me!”
Ina’s top 5 Summer trend tips
* MIX HIGH WITH LOW
“Athletic trends were big on the runway this season, so [shoppers] are mixing sneakers with a Balenciaga jacket. ”
* GO TROPICAL
“Hawaiian shirts and bright prints [right]are great with very, very short denim shorts and big, high heels or platform sandals.”
* PILE ON THE BANGLES
“Try tons of bracelets, mixed together and worn with anything! Ten or 12 different [styles].”
* BE A SHEER GENIUS
“You can wear shorts underneath like Marc Jacobs at the Met ball [left] or let everything show. It depends on how exposed you want to be.”
* ROCK THE NEON
“People are wearing it with denim, or a sheer long skirt with a little white T-shirt and fluorescent sandals is a great look, too.”