Musu

This is one of my favorite boutique gift stores in the entire country! I used to live down the street and it was my go-​to place anytime I needed a gift for a female friend. In fact, years later I still make a point of dropping by Musu and buying small gifts there whenever I’m in the City. Musu has a nice selection of jewelry and other sparkly things as well as candles, scarves and a myriad other home and personal goods perfect for gift giving. The shop also carries a small, but high-​quality selection of unique greeting cards that you can’t find anywhere else.
In addition to picking up a little something for that special someone, the shopkeeper, Harumi, is also a very good reason to stop by. She is such a positive and thoughtful ray of light — it’s impossible to walk out of Musu without a smile on your face.

I like this store because the owner is friendly, the place is always well-​organized, and their soaps and lotions are pretty interesting. I always leave with something.

This place is just so cute and well-​arranged (and curated). The charming Harumi is one of the best points in the shop’s favor. She’s so friendly and easy to talk to, she also is very well informed about the merchandise.

Adorable shop that makes great use of their space. I was able to get a thoughtful gift in here for only $ 25, including the handmade card. Great selection of candles & scents. Unique pieces of jewelry, handmade cards, stationary… Little robes and slippers, all handmade. Very affordable prices.
Harumi is very helpful without being overbearing and extremely cheerful. She seems genuinely happy to help and has a great eye if you need assistance with a selection. She’ll stay within your budget and won’t try to oversell you. Also, she offered to gift wrap for me!
I stopped in because it was convenient at the moment and I was drawn in by the delicious aroma. However, I will go out of my way to visit again.
Mastercard & Visa only — NO AMEX

wonderful selection of perfumes and candles. not terribly expensive. it’s the perfect place to buy a mothers day present, birthday thing, housewarming gift, what have you. i love this shop!

I found this place by happy accident. I was wondering around the area, trying to kill some time, and decided to stop inside. I was expecting the typical, cheesy gift shop but that is not at all what i found. The jewelry is great and the candles selection is amazing. There is also a cute section of cards and stationary. I guess I would say that it sells the same items every other gift shop would sell, but Musu’s selection is just of a higher caliber, but not necessarily a higher price. I found most things, including the jewelry to be very reasonably priced. I bought a pair a dangle-​y earrings for $ 50. I went back later and bought a candle ($ 15) and handmade card ($ 7).

Harumi and I are on a first name basis.
There was a time a few weeks ago, where I saw her for three consecutive days. This had the momentum of a newfound friendship, or the thrill of a budding romance (minus the romance of course). Harumi is so friendly, so helpful, that for a split second, I’m more interested in talking to her rather than shopping for sparkly things. She is the sole storekeeper in charge of sales as well as design and display. This tiny boutique gift shop utilizes its quaint size very efficiently. Harumi has done a great job filling every nook and cranny with enticing jewelry and accessories to woo your interest.
Initially, I thought MUSU meant something Japanese and had asked her about the meaning behind that name. «Actually», she said, «it’s the owner’s aunt’s name and it is African in origin.» I love coming up on new info that turn my preconceived ideas upside down. In fact, on one of the evenings I was at the store, the owner was sitting right outside chatting on the phone. As I left, I wanted to tell her what I thought of her store and Harumi but, she was too busy conversing, and I did not want to loiter like a stalker (instead, I went to pinkyotto next door)!
Back to MUSU.
There are nice finds here that I soon realize my admiration of Harumi is a digression which can only last so long. There was the important business of finding jewelry! Birthdays were pending or had passed and I had to step on it. The first time I came here, I just happened to be in the area and that «poke-​my-​head-​in-​for-​a-​sec» actually became a 20-​min «moment» until I settled on a pair of black, dangling earrings that screamed «Jobina» in my mind’s ear. Harumi helped me decide on them. Not only that, but she was so thoughtful in her suggestions that it seemed as though she was one-​half of my decision-​making process. As I left, I made it a point to come back even though the East Village is nowhere near my place of employment or residence. But for that level of service, it’s a pleasure to go the distance, which would account for my 2^nd trip. This time, it was Marleny’s bday.
Girls love earrings; this is plain fact. And although MUSU has a variety of other accessories like bedazzling rings, chunky necklaces, scented candles, etc, I am drawn to the earrings. Once again, this is another 20-​min deliberation, but I close in on pair of gold earrings that were beautiful. Needless to say H helped me again and was kind enough to wrap the gift and tie it with raffia bow (it’s the little things). I also had to get something for myself. How could I not, in a store full of pretty things. Cut me some slack. I bought a silver bracelet that I imagined myself wearing either up (GNO) or down (casual weekend), but fun in both cases. Sadly though, the mistake I made with this purchase was that I failed to try it on at the store. A few things prevented my better judgment, 1) Disclaimer about the jewelry display at MUSU: Everything is pretty much clamped or tied down. This is to prevent theft as well as maintain the integrity of H’s lovely display layout. Trust me, it’s not a big deal, you can still try things on with a pinch of effort. My 2^nd mistake was laziness in not wanting to give the bracelet a test run. I figured a lobster-​clasped bracelet would hold place on my abnormally slim wrists. (Note to self: Very poor assumption, Jen. Try it on next time.) But that was ok, it made way for my third visit!
So, on my last trip, I went to exchange the bracelet for (you guessed it), earrings. I was delighted to see Harumi, as she helped me select a pair of gold filigree earrings that stood out as uncommon and pretty. It made me think of Robert Redford’s «Sundance Jewelry» catalog (another fave), but unlike the (mostly) exorbitant prices in said catalog, these earrings were under $ 30. Bobby would have sold them at twice that price, I bet.
The quality of the jewelry here is solid. A few things are handmade, they are always buying new pieces, and when there’s a sale, you can find some moderate bargains. I had thought the variety was a bit scarce at first compared to say, sidewalk SoHo jewelry vendors, or C-​town touristy jewelry shops, but I still would rather go for unique over these dime-​a-​dozen places where you walk out with homogenous (crap).
To add, it might be nice to know that the larger, louder and flashier accessories are tempered by some really lovely and demure pieces. The glass counter actually has a lot of gold-​plated and sterling silver jewelry that all appear to have been handmade and are extremely nice. They are also more expensive than what is on the floor, so there’s something for everyone.
Harumi assisting you with her considerable kindness and stylish input guarantees you will have a good experience as you walk out with some great accessories from MUSU that’ll win smiles from your gift recipients!

Great little shop with an awesome set of candles and perfumes. Always stoop down and check out their bottom shelves for sale goodies!
I was also impressed that they carry Fragonard Perfumes from France. Beautifully aromatic perfumes that are somewhat hard to find.

LOVE THIS PLACE. they are the sister store of M Sonii clothing store next door… it’s funny that while I was at shopping at M Sonii I realized they have a very cute pen at the counter and I asked if they sell that. they pointed me to this place.
M Sonii sells clothes and this place sell all the accessories. I found so many cute accessories that if I had the $$ i would bought them all.
It’s worth your time to check out if you love accessories/​jewery as much as I do. Of course they sell other stuff as well like (perfumes, candies. etc)

This adorable little East Village shop is easily passed by on 9^th street, which is already full of other novelty shops and boutiques. Musu offers a little of everything, namely perfumes, candles, bath and beauty products, and jewelry. They have a small selection of cute and simple canvas totes and notebooks, and the storekeeper is friendly and helpful.
The prices are reasonable, if not downright low when they are on sale. I really liked some of the handmade jewelry and the scents they carry. I would recommend it for anyone looking for gift for that classy little lady in their lives, even if that happens to be yourself. :]