Just Opened: Mick Margo

There are few streets in New York City as hard to locate as Commerce, but seek it out and you will find the 4-month-old boutique Mick Margo slipped between historic townhouses. "The secretive quality of the street was a huge factor in my decision to open on this block," says first-time shopkeeper Nadine Ferber. The '30s inspired interior, a collaboration between Nadine and designer Alex Locadia (Employees Only), was customized to create an environment with as much character and sense of place as the surrounding streets. Men's suiting fabric conceals the single dressing room and a wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor mirror was commissioned to look like a giant, oversized frame. "I wanted every aspect of the décor to be completely original."

Such originality extends to the shop's name, too. "Mick Margo was my maternal grandfather, a one-of-a-kind gentleman who never went anywhere without looking [pulled] together." Nadine hopes to inspire women to take his cue. "I look for lines that have a masculine feel but are still decidedly feminine either in cut or detail." On a recent visit, we found Borne's menswear inspired jackets, seamed inside with femme floral fabric, and super soft cashmere sweaters by knitwear phenomenon, Alexander Wang (extra long like grandpa used to wear). On another day, there were striped boy-cut tees by Neal Sperling and mod baby-doll dresses by Lewis Cho. Discovering new must-haves—Clu tanks or very un-Juicy-like sweats from Japan's Voeu—is part of the Mick Margo mission, and unlike other petite shops, this proprietor is constantly changing up her lineup to keep things fresh. "I want my customers to feel like they're coming upon [something] undiscovered, whether it is their first or fifth visit."

Don't let the surrounding landmark-worthy buildings throw you off—this sweet new downtown shop is host to loads of fresh new designers and must-haves just in time for a little spring spree.