Luxury shoppers lamented the closings of Barneys New York, Henri Bendel, Fivestory, Intermix, Opening Ceremony, 10 Corso Como and many other designer emporiums – all victims of Covid-19, changing consumer habits or overexpansion. Luckily, retail is rebounding across the city post-pandemic, and there are new or updated multi-brand boutiques from Tribeca to the Upper East Side.
These flagships offer curated selections of the hippest designer fashion, shoes and accessories from both legacy and emerging labels. “What defines a successful multi-brand specialty store is the relationship and the intimate bond our team shares with our clients is unparalleled,” says Alissa Emerson, creative director and founder of EDIT New York on Madison Ave. “We know [our client], we know her children, her birthday, her last vacation and the one that’s coming up. We know what she does for work. We know what committees and boards she sits on, where her second or third home is and her favorite candy!”
Expert styling and customer service are also a focus for these stores. “If you have a cropped shirt, you might never wear it if you don’t have the right high waisted pants that meet the crop shirt silhouette in just the perfect way that makes this shape wearable for you,” explains Emerson. “It’s the sum of the parts. it’s the way it’s put together. It’s the true styling.”
Need a glam holiday gift, a chic date-night look or a professional outfit for a job interview? Scroll through to see five one-stop shops that have got you covered, plus key trend pieces from each.
Elysewalker
Elysewalker carries the season’s stunners, from suede jackets and oxblood accessories to the cosiest knits. This year the famed retailer – who has eight eponymous stores in California and New York, including flagships at 39 N. Moore St. in Tribeca and at 926 Madison Ave. on the Upper East Side – is celebrating 25 years in fashion. She’s introducing in-store events, charitable partnerships and more than 20 new high-end labels at both of her NYC doors, including Chloé, Heirlome, Johanna Ortiz and St. Agni. Not only can you scoop hero pieces from brands like Miu Miu, Gucci, Saint Laurent and Balenciaga, but you can find a very special sweater that feels like a hug: Elysewalker’s cashmere Anniversary Cardigan, where 10% of the sales go to charities supporting women’s health.
EDIT New York
When Alissa Emerson opened EDIT New York in Carnegie Hill seventeen years ago, she wanted it to look like home. Now in her second location in the same neighborhood, her store at 1298 Madison Ave. still has that same warm and welcoming vibe. The designer emporium carries some 50 clothing, accessories, shoe and jewelry brands, including fan favorites like Khaite, Ulla Johnson, Proenza Schouler, Nili Lotan and Gabriela Hearst. “We scour new collections and old – brands we may not have seen in a while, current in-store collections, designers new on the landscape and small artisanal gems in a scope that is unparalleled, and always filtered specifically to our clients, her needs and taste level and lifestyle,” says Emerson.
Kirna Zabête
Soho multi-brand pioneer Kirna Zabête moved to a spectacular new space at 160 Mercer St. last year. Like its 943 Madison Ave. store, the downtown digs have pink-and-white patterned Italian marble floors, padded velvet walls and red lacquer chandeliers. “We’ve softened and sophisticated our look, with unexpected elements and luxe finishes,” says founder and CEO Beth Buccini, who has seven stores from East Hampton to Nashville to a new location in Miami Design District. “We still have our sense of playfulness and joy of course, and the great mix of products from the best designers of today and tomorrow,” she continues. That means an A to Z array of coveted labels from Alaïa to Zahava.
LuisaViaRoma
Legendary Florentine concept store and website LuisaViaRoma said yes to Noho. The retailer’s first flagship outside of Italy spans two floors and is appropriately dramatic and high design. The 1 Bond St. store carries men’s and caters to the “Iconoclast Woman,” or opinion leader, which means investment pieces from brands like Chloé, Maison Margiela, Jil Sander, Helmut Lang and Lanvin. Thanks to a planet-friendly partnership with Vestiaire Collective, visitors can consign their luxury goods in exchange for LuisaViaRoma credit or find certified vintage pieces.
The Webster
After working in merchandising for Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent, Paris-born globetrotter Laure Hériard Dubreuil co-founded The Webster in South Beach in 2009. Fifteen years later, the entrepreneur has stores across North America, from Bal Harbour to Montecito to Toronto. Her six-floor Soho boutique at 29 Greene St. carries women’s, men’s, children’s, beauty and Webster Home in an airy, art-filled setting that feels like a maison. Find her compelling selection of Chanel, Off-White, Burberry, Gucci, Valentino, Celine and so much more at the 1878 landmarked address.
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