01/19/2026
An Upstairs Treasure in Kingston
In my never-ending search for connection, for the stories that live behind storefronts and within the hearts of those who build them, my travels led me to Kingston, New York.
Not to a place you casually pass.
Not to a shop you simply stumble upon.
But to something waiting quietly above.
Up a staircase, tucked into the second floor of a century-old building, a space that once echoed with the sounds of childhood classrooms, lives Thoroughbred New York. A destination that feels less like retail and more like discovery. The kind that requires intention.
Owned by Laird Mackintosh, the showroom unfolds like a love letter to craftsmanship, heritage, and timeless design. Vintage Ralph Lauren clothing and accessories line the space, each piece carrying its own quiet history. Not trends. Not noise. But stories woven into fabric and form.
And then, as so often happens in the most unexpected places — conversation.
Laird generously shared his story, one shaped by passion and reinvention. A love for Ralph Lauren that began in his early teens, not as admiration alone, but as recognition. A sense of identity found in aesthetic, narrative, and feeling. And then, like so many stories in recent years, the shift.
The pandemic altered the course of his life, redirecting paths, reshaping priorities, and ultimately guiding him to Kingston. Not as an ending, but as a beginning.
There is something remarkable about Laird.
His knowledge is deep but never performative. His passion unmistakable yet effortless. His willingness to share, to engage, to connect in a way that cannot be curated.
But perhaps even more extraordinary is the space he has created.
Thoroughbred New York operates by appointment only, a choice that feels less like exclusivity and more like intention. Every detail of the experience shaped with care. Nothing hurried. Nothing accidental. Stepping into the showroom feels like stepping outside of time. The world softens. The pace slows. Conversations stretch. Memories surface. Wonder quietly returns.
It becomes a place not simply to browse, but to linger.
To talk.
To reminisce.
To consider the stories carried by objects, by garments, by people.
It is the slowing down we all crave yet rarely know how to name.
A reminder that beauty is not always loud.
Sometimes, it waits upstairs.
Quiet. Thoughtful. Full of soul.
A treasure in every sense of the word.
And finally, gratitude.
Thank you, Laird, for welcoming us into your space. For opening not just your showroom, but your story. For offering more than an opportunity to purchase, but an invitation to value, respect, and truly appreciate the craftsmanship, the history, the clothing, the accessories, and perhaps most importantly —
Each other.
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