Two of My Favorite Things

Well...two of my favorite shops, to be exact. The weeks following Christmas are filled with incredible sales. This year I found myself in New York City for a few days of excellent post-holiday shopping. Today I'd like to consider the factors that contribute to an outstanding shopping experience while introducing you to two exceptional New York boutiques.

V i a   B u s   S t o p


Via Bus Stop routinely surpasses my expectations. With a selection from designers such as Antonio Berardi, Viktor & Rolf, Ann Valerie Hash, Alexander McQueen, Trosman, and John Galliano, it is at the top of my list of boutiques to hit on trips to the big city. The store, which is located at the intersection of Houston and Mercer in Soho, is in fact the New York location of a Japanese chain run by the same company that owns Takashimaya. Accordingly, the stock is extremely well edited. Over the course of several visits to the boutique, I have interacted with several members of the staff, and I have only good things to say about them. They are knowledgeable but never pretentious, and helpful but never overbearing. The layout is utter perfection--not so sparse as to create the impression of wandering through a museum of inaccessible objects, yet not so full as to require a shopper to rifle through extraneous product to strike gold. Several photos are posted after the jump.

C u r v e

Some of you may be familiar with the LA boutique Curve, which has recently set up shop in NYC (at 83 Mercer St). I was not until just a week ago when I happened upon the store as I was making my way to Via Bus Stop. For those of you unfamiliar with Curve, do not be thrown by the LA association--its stock is perfectly suited to New York girls. Curve stocks its own line of covetable clothes and accessories as well as items from lines such as Ports 1961. I was particularly impressed by two exquisite dresses (one in heavy white lace--perfect for spring '07, and a black sequin trapeze dress that will remain on trend through next fall). Prices range from about $200 for a scarf to over $1000 for a dress, but they only reflect the quality of the merchandise. You know that item in your closet that elicits compliments from the most sophisticated fashion lovers? The one that's modern yet classic, and perhaps touches ever so slightly on a current trend? Curve is full of such items. Continue reading for more pictures.

Via Bus Stop

Curve

Comments

[cris]

thanks for the reviews. i actually passed via bus stop several times in the past couple of weeks, stared at the window displays, but was too intimidated to go in. (i saw the list of designers and knew i couldn't afford a thing). now i wish i went in to take a closer look at the goods, esp that canary and pale blue brocade dress!

[Phoebe]

Wow, the interior of Via Bus Stop is absolutely gorgeous. It's exactly as you said, minimalistic without being too scanty.

[Anne]

Awesome reviews!
Via bus stop looks like a gallery instead of a fashion shop to me! ;P

[jinius]

i live in nyc but have not been to these stores. thanks for the heads up!

[Luxury]

Great review on both stores plus the pictures reveal what you truly said ... plus more! the interiors too are simply marvelous!