Often the idea of joining a family business seems to some an unsavory fallback. But for Stephanie Pappas, who opened the showstopper Eva three and a half years ago, giving her mother's Long Island outpost a new western branch was a welcome proposition. The NoLIta area is no stranger to enterprising retail where new boutiques spring up faster than Starbucks. But Pappas' place has managed to thrive, stocked with a variety of well-known high-end designers, such as Christopher Dean, Valentino, Imitation of Christ, Daryl K, and Vivienne Westwood. Typical Eva wares are contemporary, a touch edgy, and high-end but always fun and wearable.

Eva devotees count on Pappas’ superior editing skills when it comes to sourcing the most striking pieces from the seasons' collections (you won’t find more than four or five items from any one designer). Hence, it’s a spare but superior selection, mirrored by Eva’s sparse but strikingly designed space (read: exposed ventilation system and mannequins hanging from the ceiling). Pappas also carries a number of beautiful jewelry lines, such as the clustered charm necklaces by Made Her Think, gorgeous Art-Deco inspired pieces by Lara Bohinc as well as up-and-coming jeweler Tatty Devine. For the pro-fur set, Eva is also stocked all year with a serious range of coats.