Our Top Ten store openings of 2006
From the personalized interiors to the visionary proprietors to the singular mixes of emerging fashion superstars, our favorite new shops of 2006 represent what we love most about the independent fashion scene. We've traversed the globe to find the newest boutiques that continue to make shopping an artform. Check out what's in store.
• Berlin: WoodWoodIn step with Berlin's ever-changing cultural vibe, WoodWood's newest outpost blends underground fashion labels with gem-colored pieces by Commes des Garçons, Cheap Monday, and Nike. Don't let the brand names fool you; the hand-picked wares from these collections are anything but mainstream.
Rochstrasse 4, 10178 Berlin, +(49) 30 280 99 039; www.woodwood.dk
AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT
• Los Angeles: All PurposeStemming from the creation of the owner's own line, Filius, this shop is home to menswear that mixes classic appeal with innovative details. Showcasing like-minded designers and new talent, the shop is less about presentation and more about experiencing the collections.
144 South Flores (at 3rd Street), Los Angeles, 323-866-1828; www.filiusdesign.com
• Los Angeles: 06+
Hidden behind a trick wall inside of Blends shoe store, this fashion speakeasy is stocked with finds from Unholy Matrimony and Martin Margiela. A vision of art, fashion, and culture, this shop is a must-hit for wardrobe risk-takers.
125 West 4th Street #106, Los Angeles; 213-626-6606.
• Reykjavic: LiboriusProgressive fashion finds a home in this Icelandic boutique; the shop's gleaming sprawl creates a place for love and respect to meld with the darker side of the proprietor-designer's famous local line, Dead.
Myrargata 101, Reykjavic, +(354) 511 6811; www.dead.is
Myrargata 101, Reykjavic, +(354) 511 6811; www.dead.is
• London: JezebellThose scouting around for London's Next Big Thing head to Jezebell for a little fashion foraging. By featuring young, unknown, and emerging designers, this shop always has that one (or five) things you know you'll never be able to find anywhere else.
59 Blanford Street, Marylebone, London W1U7HP, +207 935 7109; www.jezebell.co.uk
• London: KJ's LaundryThis independent boutique is already known in insider circles for its sublime rotations of up-and-coming designers. With its wardrobe staples and exclusive labels, the shop is a flawless example of London-by-way-of-New York style.
AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT
74 Marylebone Lane, London, W1U 2PW, + (44)207 486 7855; www.kjslaundry.com
• Paris: Montaigne Market
The first multi-brand shop to hit Avenue Montaigne, this zen-like space stocks collections from London, the Netherlands, and Milan, and has cornered the Parisian market on U.S. brands like Behnaz Sarafpour and Mayle.
57 Avenue Montaigne Paris 75008, +(33) 142 56 58 58
• New York: Freemans Sporting ClubFor men with old-world tendencies and offbeat taste, Freemans Sporting Club offers an array of exquisitely crafted suits, work shirts, and shoes. And with a turn-of-the-century barbershop comprising the other half of the space, gentlemen can relax in the comforts of an era gone by.
8 Rivington Street (between Bowery and Chrystie streets) at Freeman Alley, 212-673-3209
• New York: LeontineThe owner of this petite fashion emporium chose the newly shifting South Street Seaport for her newest venture. With its unknown designers, vintage frocks, and 1920s salon-style decor, Leontine has more than shopping events and fresh-cut flowers on the agenda.
226 Front Street, New York City, 212-766-1066
• New York: Hollander and LexerAmid a collection of antique oddities, this eclectic men's shop mixes outrageous finds (handmade fedoras and Roman rings) and everyday staples (Steven Alan shirts, Filson totes) for a truly guy-friendly shopping experience.
358 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-797-9190
Our Top Ten store openings of 2006.