Kate's Paperie

Profile

With a collection of more than 4,000 specialty papers and 1,500 ribbons, die-hard letter-writers think this stationery emporium is the promised land. There are twenty departments to meander through—imported envelopes, greeting cards and even designer letterhead from Vera Wang. Scrapbookers drool over the Paper Wall where hundreds of samples hang on rollers like yards of exquisite fabric. To keep shoppers from getting lost in the sea of papyrus, small signs offer the curiously clueless tips on how to use, say, the Jackie O- or Campbell's Soup-print 20x30 sheets for gift wrap or collage purposes. Advice also comes from employees, who not only know their Lama Li's from their Larroques, but also show off their work (gorgeous Nomex lampshades!) around the store. Meanwhile, the custom printing department attracts primarily the engaged and the pregnant who pore over huge catalogs searching for the perfect invitation or announcement card. With parchment at every turn, it's no surprise to see the strips of the stuff covering the ceiling at most locations. But this isn't just for decor-the paper actually protects the precious stock from the damaging florescent lights. — Chanize Thorpe

Professional Demonstrations

Stationers and designers like Ann Poolman lead free creative paper application lessons and demonstrations at many of the stores.

Key Departments

Wedding Invitations

These enormous stationery troves have unparalleled selections of invites from big-name designers like William Arthur, Julie Holcomb, and Vera Wang, as well as boutique companies like Dauphine Press and Elum. Custom-printed invitations or pre-made ones that couples fill in themselves are also available (about $15 to $20 for a box of ten).

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Featured In

• Ask a Clerk at Kate's Paperie (12/26/05)