SoHo Shops

The columned facade of Watches of Switzerland’s NYC boutique is unmistakable in its SoHo-ness. Inside, the original ironworks building is split into two levels of everything serious collectors, devoted horologists, and casual appreciators of good design could ever dream of.

Danish-born designer Anine Bing knows a thing or two about nailing that whole classic-meets-modern mix. Since 2005, the LA-based designer and mother of two has been designing edgy-feminine pieces with a timeless bent (motorcycle jackets, Chelsea boots, high-waist denim, and silk camisoles). The entire line is meant to be mixed and matched in a way that’s totally relatable, no matter your style. So it was only a matter of time before the former model set up her second shop in New York, smack in the middle of the action in the Soho. The space is well-aligned with Bing’s aesthetic: a little raw (concrete floors, metal fixtures) and eclectic (potted plants and antique furnishings). And because she doesn’t churn out seasonal collections, every week there are at least five to ten new pieces, which means you have good reason to come back.

Ariane Goldman had her lightbulb moment five years ago when she was pregnant with her daughter and couldn’t find many fashionable options for her growing size. Her months of searching resulted in Hatch, an easy-to-wear line geared toward mothers before, during, and postpregnancy. There are staples, like a striped bateau and chambray tops, as well as special pieces, like the Noa Jumper, a versatile linen jumpsuit with adjustable knotted straps, and the Ziggy Pant, which features a stitched smocked waistband to accommodate an expanding waist. Dressing rooms have a size chart to help you figure out how a piece might fit, depending on where you are in your pregnancy and—best yet—there’s a cravings bar stocked with candy, pickles, you name it.

Inspired by the Italian linens she encountered on a trip to Amalfi several years ago, Parachute founder Ariel Kaye wanted to bring the same luxurious bedding to America. While the line started with bedding (the linen sheets are the only thing you’ll want to sleep in once you’ve tried them), the line has expanded to waffle bathrobes, Turkish towels, table linens, and throws. The New York flagship, which is set up like an apartment, with a living room, a functioning kitchen, a bedroom, and a vanity, pays homage to local artists, like Rodger Stevens, who designed the brass art installation in the entryway, and Brooklyn-based Rooted Design & Build, which created the natural wood table.

While everyone else in fashion was developing e-commerce platforms, retail pioneer and French native Laure Hériard Dubreuil decided to open a 20,000-square-foot boutique, the Webster, in South Beach in a 1939 Henry Hohauser–designed Art Deco building. This initial flagship has since expanded to include locations in Bal Harbor, Houston, Costa Mesa, and most recently, New York's SoHo. Dubreuil is in good company, with Opening Ceremony and Apartment by The Line a hop, skip, and jump from her beautifully feminine, blush-hued store. You'll want everything, which is fine, as everything right down to the furniture is for sale. Designers are mixed together in the merchandising, meaning you need to search through the racks to hunt down a particular piece—this is all part of the fun. It also means you get to see everything and might pick up something you never knew you wanted until now.

Roman and Williams's first brick-and-mortar location spotlights its Founding Collection—furniture, lighting, and accessories created by the husband and wife duo Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch—and collaborations with global artisans, found objects, and antiques. From the glossy custom grey paint to the open shelving showcasing French and Japanese artisan glassware, every detail in the space is considered and exudes the signature striking-meets-livable Roman and Williams style, as seen in spaces like New York's Ace Hotel, San Antonio's Hotel Emma, and Freehand Chicago (Roman and Williams are also the geniuses behind goop Lab's design). Standefer and Alesch wanted the space to reflect the way they live, so they incorporated La Mercerie, an all-day Parisian café and bakery (open until 11 p.m.), and flower shop from "local muse of botany" Emily Thompson. The result is a gorgeously luxurious, utterly authentic space we never want to leave.

Ethical sneaker start-up Allbirds has recently opened their first NYC concept store in Soho, replete with a human sized hamster wheel to test shoe durability.

Benjamin Sormonte and Elisa Marshall–founding partners behind the charming, chic, and decadent Maman cafés (and one of our all-time favorite chocolate chip cookies)–recently opened this marriage of a marketplace, café, and boutique in the heart of Soho. Stocked with coveted French brands, from eclectic Jamini textiles to Bastide botanical creams to Merci Bisous wears for littles, this is one of those shops we can spend hours in–literally. Bonus: It's an ideal spot to grab a housewarming, birthday, host, anniversary, you-name-it gift–and there's a gorgeous West Elm-clad patio out back where you can take a respite and enjoy Maman's incredible menu.

Nina Allen's shop, Tophat, first grew out of her online store, Sweet Bella, where she sells specialty items like fruit and vegetable-shaped ceramics, unique pins and patches, and Stalogy office supplies. Her nondescript shop on Broome Street doesn't look like much from the street (even for Broome Street), but it's well worth stopping by, as she stocks the shelves with the same things from her online store, plus one-of-a-kind finds and antiques that she doesn't post. In the winter they have toboggans for rent.

As if founding and designing the now international furniture brand BDDW wasn’t enough, now the brilliantly creative (and energetic) Tyler Hays has opened up a second space in Soho named after a general store in his hometown of Lostine, Oregon. The reference to Hays’s childhood memories is ever-present here: Everything in the shop–from clothing to knives, butter dishes, and beyond—is handmade in Tyler’s studio in Philadelphia.