A styling new neighborhood crops up in New York City every few years. Now several neighborhoods are connecting to create a Manhattan style line which is becoming the mandatory stroll for visitors and natives alike. The line runs from SoHo to Chelsea. Let’s start our stroll at the giant new L’Occitane/ Oliviers & Co. at Prince and Mercer. Then hop over to Broadway, keeping north and you’ll hit the standard-setting, Koolhaas-designed Prada store. Stop in the Lounge between Prince and Houston where, amidst a cacophony of the latest house music, you’ll find books by Diana Vreeland next to the latest Brazilian lounge jazz CD compilations and clothes from Just Cavalli to John Richmond Denim. Turn left onto Houston, where Onward has stood awkwardly for some years, now soon to be validated by the style line. At Greene and Houston dip into the incomparable Moss for future design. Continue on Houston going west and then turn right onto 6th Ave. where the Banana Republic at the corner of Bleecker is starting to make sense.

Stroll up Bleecker across 7th Ave. and witness another one of Marc Jacobs‘ trendsetting successes. Joining Jacobs’ three stores, Lulu Guinness, and Verve (the eclectic shoe store fully stocked with every hard to get European brand from Calliste to Strenesse Blue to Kowalski) are Ralph Lauren and Cynthia Rowley — and Polo, under contruction now, is set to be joined by Calvin
Klein (rumored to be opening in the old Kim’s Video). Jump over to Hudson where you’ll hit Elizabeth Charles, exclusive stockist of Australian designers. Further up on 13th and Hudson are new Catharine Malandrino and Calypso stores slated to open soon. Turn left onto Little West 12th Street for Shelly Steffe and Louis Vuitton, rumored to be opening on the square. Detour slightly down Little West 12th to Destination and then nip back round by Soho House to take a left onto 14th Street, home of Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Rubin Chapelle and the neighborhood pioneer Jeffrey. Keep on north to West Chelsea and end your shopping spree at Balenciaga on 22nd St., making sure to stop by one of the numerous art galleries that have departed Soho for Chelsea in the last 10 years. When two powerhouse neighborhoods like these link up, there’s bound to be enough style for
everyone.

-Meghan Cleary

Photos: Elizabeth Charles
Catharine Malandrino