All Over Albany

Lucia of Saratoga

If the list of things you need includes: delicate jewelry, a special dress, late-fall mittens for windy walks, a passport case (so that you can wear said dresses and jewelry to somewhere awesome), a clever postcard, or a gift for someone who is terrifically hard to shop for, I offer you Lucia in downtown Saratoga springs.

Those who remember the Saratoga shop, Mabou, can think back to the jewelry and gift selection (Lucia is owned by Lucy Strauss, the daughter of Mabou owner Mark Strauss). Lucy's shop is one of my favorite places in downtown Saratoga that doesn't involve food.

You'll find Lucia in the Downtown Marketplace, tucked just behind Aggie's (where I go to drool over designer blouses) and across the hall from Pangea (another great spot for neat little items like Orla Kiley stationary and awesome aprons).

I like to pop into Lucia when I feel the need for special little wearable and pretty things without the immense guilt that comes with a dwindling bank account. I regularly check the selection of postcards on a turning rack outside the store (it's usually stocked with The Beatles, Bob Dylan, or other clever shots of individuals like Einstein, Marilyn Monroe, or Woody Allen) and soon find myself inside and cooing over all manner of objects.

I'm especially fond of the vinyl lace place-mats which make sweet gifts or pretty decoration on a tabletop. And at $1.95 a piece I can afford to buy them in multiples.

Next on my list of things I want there -- a delicate necklace--suitable for every-day whimsy--or the kind of beaded bracelet that makes it easy to cheat effortless style. But we'll see. Maybe a pair of vintage boots--it is late autumn, after all.

It's a teeny space, slightly difficult to maneuver if you feel the need for the worlds largest purse (I do), but tiny seems to work for Lucia. There's a diaphanous black ruffled dress hanging on one wall, along with a studded boyfriend blazer (a study in contrasts, but it makes one long to wear them together). There is also a striped jersey cardigan, and slouchy plaid shirt with floral trim that keep imagining themselves into my existing wardrobe.

It's that meeting of styles though, that seems to be part of the mission behind the store. For Lucy Strauss, it is important to make note of current trends (like the aforementioned studded blazer) while still keeping in mind pieces that can transition well, or will appeal to a broader audience. Her genuine love and interest in fashion and style is part of what makes shopping there so appealing.

And Lucia's is affordable --this is not to say that prices are comparable to H&M (which is a whole different animal) --but the key is to finding special, sometimes trendy pieces without spiraling out-of-budget. There is, really, something for just about every price range. Jewelry that can run you from a few bucks to around $60. I picked up an adorable floral ring was 28$ (You can get a similar one for 12$, featuring only a few flowers, or one with a thicker block of blooms for $49.) Clothing also runs around in price. The plaid shirt I eyed is 39$, a boyfriend blazer 65$. Some items run lower or higher, and of course there's the sale rack to consider!

Sadly, if you're a guy, there's little to be found here -- unless you're shopping for a gift (or a postcard!).