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"I got a guy for that," is the secret mantra of the well-heeled woman. Do your favorite pair of Louboutins need new red bottoms? I got a guy for that. Has that Loro Piana sweater you spent a small fortune on developed a pin-prick hole in the sleeve? I got a guy for that. Did you invest in Pratesi sheets after years of sleeping on Wamsutta? You should send those out to be hand-washed. Oh sure, I got a guy for that.
From cobblers to jewelers to dry cleaners, this is our list of the best “guys” in New York City.
Leather Repairers & Cobblers
Leather Spa: If you only know about one leather repair shop, let it be Leather Spa. With five locations in Manhattan, as well as mail-in services, Leather Spa is where you'll go when your red bottoms need re-reddening, or to get that slightly snug pair of Sigerson Morrison flats you scored on sale stretched out a skosh.
Services include repairs to shoes and handbags, as well as minor garment repairs like zipper replacement and mending rips. Leather spa will also clean and repair accessories like belts and wallets. Services vary slightly from location to location, so check the website for details.
Peerless Shoe Repair Service: The cobbler behind this Brooklyn Heights storefront, in his capacity as a shoemaker for the Metropolitan Opera, has designed shoes for Placido Domingo. Customers looking to be treated with kid gloves may find the service lacking, but if you can handle a real New York character, you'll be just fine. Cash only, deposits often required.
Cobbler Concierge: If you're looking for a more modern cobbling experience, Cobbler Concierge is for you. Customers can request repair estimates by texting a photo of distressed shoes or handbags before opting to mail-in their leather goods for servicing. Once at the Queens factory, the shoes are fitted with a barcode for tracking, and a before photo is sent to the customer prior to the repair process.
East Village Shoe Repair: Same name, new location! East Village Shoe Repair, which opened on St. Mark's Place in 1994, was a neighborhood staple until it was seized by city marshals. Its owners, Eugene Finkelberg and Boris Zuborev, reopened in Bushwick in 2014. In addition to offering shoe care and repair services such as resoling and shining, Finkelberg and Zuborev are known for their customization work, including creepers, those towering staples of the bygone club-kid era.
Tailoring
Stanton Tailor Shop: Pablo Vargas, the man behind this teeny tiny Lower East Side tailor shop, is so beloved that it's not uncommon to hear his customers describe him as "the man!" Be aware that credit cards are not accepted, and that wait times can spike during the summer months, when wedding season creates a crush of alterations.
Silhouettes & Profiles: Do you need a swimsuit altered? Or a vintage dress re-sized? Then Irene Tcherniakovski, the owner of this Upper West Side shop, and her staff of five will take good care of you. In addition to tailoring, restoration, and resizing services, Silhouettes & Profiles also offers custom clothing design.
Beyond Bespoke: In addition to bespoke clothing design including, but not limited to, suits, topcoats and tuxedos, Beyond Bespoke specializes in tailoring and can provide same-day rush services. Their sister business, Beyond Bridal, offers wedding dress fittings and alterations, as well as emergency services.
Dry Cleaning & Specialty Repair Services
Madame Paulette: Don't you dare refer to Madame Paulette as a dry cleaner! This family-owned specialty cleaning and restoration business has been serving the Upper East side and beyond since 1959, and is the go-to spot for luxury brands like Vera Wang and Hermès. Madame Paulette has cleaned everything from Princess Diana's evening gowns to Donald Trump's airplane, so you can be sure your favorite silk blouse is in good hands.
Meurice Garment Care: With four locations, including their corporate headquarters in the Bronx, two in Manhattan and one in Manhasset, as well as in-home services such as drapery cleaning, fire and water damage restoration and pest control, Meurice can handle just about any mess that life throws your way. They also employ EPA-preferred cleaning methods, so if eco-care is a priority for you, Meurice has got you covered.
Jeeves: Jeeves of London, which has 15 locations around the world, including New York (plus seasonal collection and delivery in Eastern Long Island), has held a Royal Warrant since 1980. Their broad array of luxury services range from dry cleaning to leather cleaning and repair to fur cleaning and glazing.
Hallak Cleaners: With two locations, one in New York and one in New Jersey, and delivery services, Hallack services everything from diaper bags to Uggs. They also specialize in retail cleaning and on-location training, so if you're a small business owner who needs to bring in professionals to clean a boutique interior or to train staff in fabric care techniques, Hallak is the ticket.
Laundry Services
Green Apple Cleaners: As the name suggests, Green Apple Cleaners specializes in non-toxic dry cleaning and hypoallergenic wash-and-fold services. They’ll also come to your home to provide fire, smoke, and water damage consultation, as well as bed bug prevention and control.
Allo Laverie: Allo Laverie provides washing and restoration services, including hand washing, boil washing, darning, and mending. They specialize in fine linens, luxury bedding, delicate items, and antique textiles.
Brown Bag Laundry: This full-service laundry offers pick-up and delivery, as well as pressing and alterations. Brown Bag also allows you to customize the way in which your laundry is handled, providing customers with the ability to specify everything from detergent type to separating by color or fabric type, to requesting hand-washing or air drying.
Jewelry & Watch Repair
Cluster Jewelry: Avid fans of PBS's "Antiques Roadshow" may recognize father-son team Berj and Kevin Zavian from their stints as appraisers on the show. Their business, Cluster Jewelry, has been in the family for three generations and can handle just about any kind of jewelry or watch repair, from plating to battery replacement to restringing.
Master of Time: Operating out of a booth in midtown's diamond district, Dimitrie Vicovanu is the go-to expert when Sotheby's New York has watches in need of repair or restoration prior to auction. Master of time also buys and sells watches, and provides appraisals.
Ray Griffiths: In addition to refurbishing and repairing jewelry, Ray Griffiths is also a designer who will work with clients to create custom pieces. He is also an expert when it comes to refashioning jewelry, from recutting stones to resetting or updating the look of heirloom pieces.