Profile 

Owner Cella De Luise holds open calls twice a year to source new designers for her pair of boutiques, favoring skilled up-and-comers who have designed less than five collections. The resulting assortment of about 150 lines—mostly from the West Coast and abroad—highlights well-made dresses, skirts, and tops in unusual cuts and textures. A former designer herself, De Luise’s affinity for vivid colors and touchable fabrics like ombré silk and organic fiber is on view in the high-end silk tanks and button-up dresses from Maxine Dillon, soft Japanese cotton coats from Mercy, men’s Turk + Taylor limited-edition tees, and cut-out leather pumps by Marcello Toshi. The clothes take center stage in the small, sparsely decorated space, with trend-seekers and fashion students weaving through apparel-lined aisles formed by two-tier and waist-high racks. New stock arrives sporadically, as each designer works at his/her own pace. — Lauren Murrow