45 Minutes in SoHo

A trip to NYC is not complete without shopping. For reasons beyond my control, my time in the city last weekend was extremely limited, leaving me with literally 45 minutes to shop. I focused on SoHo and hit these five stores – some new, some established, but all essential and unique to the city’s shopping scene.

My first stop was the new Chloé store. While that might seem unlikely, I added it to my list not only because I’m a Chloé fan, but because the Greene Street flagship opened 6 months ago to celebrate the brand’s 60th anniversary. The store is the first new prototype in the US, which follows the design set forth by the Paris and Shanghai flagships and will be expanded to existing US locations. The SoHo space is divided into three areas, with the front and mid-sections dedicated to accessories like handbags, shoes and sunglasses. Clothes appear in the back. Light tones of blush, beige and white create an open atmosphere, while 3D walls add a touch of modernity.

Chloé
93 Greene Street
New York, NY 10012

My next stop was the new Kirna Zabête flagship on Broome Street, a stone’s throw from the former Greene street location . The new space is HUGE at 10,000 square feet and has a fun feel to it, from the neon words on the wall at the entrance, to the black and white striped floors and cutout chandeliers displayed throughout the store. The store continues to be a leader in multi-label luxury brands, from Celine to Givenchy and Stella McCartney as well as more recent favorites like Prabal Gurung and Joseph Altuzarra. Surely, the new space will allow owners Beth Buccini and Sarah Easley to buy deeper into existing collections and expand with up-and-coming labels.

 

Kirna Zabête
477 Broome Street
New York, NY 10013

A trip to SoHo is not complete without hitting West Broadway, which was an early (and quiet) destination for stores before SoHo became the shopping mecca that it is today. I visited Treasure & Bond, the charity store that’s owned by Nordstrom but independently operated. The store opened 1 year ago, and you may have heard of it earlier this year for housing boutiques for the 10 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists. The store donates to 8 NYC children’s charities per year. The space is over 11,000 square feet and serves the women’s, men’s, accessories and home markets across 2 levels. It has an unfinished warehouse feel by way of concrete floors and industrial lighting, while merchandise is displayed on re-purposed Nordstrom displays (though there are no signs that Treasure & Bond is associated with Nordstrom in the store). With a diverse mix of product, it’s kind of like a treasure trove, and in my estimation, a great destination for gifts. I ended up buying a ring myself.

Treasure & Bond
350 West Broadway
New York, NY 10013

Of course Opening Ceremony is a must-see destination for all things cool and current – I’ve been saying forever that whatever OC sells turns to gold. Even though owners Carol Lim and Humberto Leon are now at the helm of Kenzo, Opening Ceremony remains relevant for it-labels and collaborations from brands like Band of Outsiders to Proenza Schouler as well as the store’s own private label.

Opening Ceremony
35 Howard Street
New York, NY 10013

If you remember the early days of Opening Ceremony, you’re going to want to check out American Two Shot. Owned by best friends and opened a year and a half ago, the store features a rather eclectic mix that is part boutique, gallery and coffee shop. In terms of labels, American Two Shot offers a well-edited selection of vintage apparel, along with select pieces from labels like Porter Grey and Samantha Pleet. Dubbed as the “next Opening Ceremony,” keep this one on your radar.

American Two Shot
135 Grand Street
New York, NY 10013

10 Aug This entry was published on August 10, 2013 at 5:28 AM and is filed under Brands, Designers, Retail, Travel. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.