At three years old, Oak (previously Canary) is one of the oldest (and still one of the best) stores in an ever-changing Williamsburg.

Co-owners Louis Terline and Jeff Madalena first got their feet wet in fashion as stylists/designers before realizing they'd much rather choose clothes for real people than work in the magazine world. This objective coupled with a desire to only stock products they believe in, Oak was opened (under the name Canary) in 2003. The store quickly gained a faithful following of locals and visiting Manhattanites, drawn by Louis and Jeff's knack for choosing exceptional pieces regardless of the label. The selection is small but only because the store space is rather limiting and because of the belief that less is more when the product is well-chosen.

Stock shifts fairly often at the whim of the owners and based on availability. A recent visit turned up all sorts of gems from a little Vivienne Westwood jacket, a beautiful Mimi Turner dress, and fantastic wearable silk DKNY blouses. Oak might be best known for their incredible selection of denim, including Refinery favorites like ACNE, Tsubi, Habitual, Harmon, and Rag and Bone. Jeans are a subject near and dear to the owners' hearts as Jeff once designed his own line of denim. This experience has made them experts at fitting customers to the right pair of jeans (a great skill for those of us who have gone through the ordeal of trying on every pair in the store). Our favorite part of Oak is all the little surprises you'll find among the wares. A great leather Savoy bag here, some fragrant Voluspa candles there—every item so entirely perfect it's hard not to buy out the store. While Canary would hesitate to be identified as a lifestyle store, it is clear that they know their customers. Which isn't to say that Oak ever does the predictable—part of what makes browsing through Oak so addictive is not knowing what to expect every time you enter its doors.