Fashion-forward men in New York City are counting on the re-merchandising of two downtown stores for the best in eclectic designer brands. Minimalist-named A boutique, which sits quietly on Crosby Street, is eighty-sixing their selection of Anne Valerie Hash and Dries Van Noten’s women’s wear to expand on an assortment of men’s wear — “the more successful category” — from Haute, Ann Demeeulmeester, Carol Christain Poell, Xavier Delcour, and Carpe Diem among others. “Our clients tend to be people that work in the fashion industry, creative professionals, and that industry tends to be male dominated. They told their friends and our client base grew from there. Stylists, hairdressers/makeup artists, art directors, pop stars, etc.” says owner Karlo Steel about the switch-up. Destination, an accessories destination on Little West 12th Street, caters to the man who understands Japanese sensibilities and also has a taste for rustic European designs. While Destination maintains a mixture of eccentric women’s accessories, namely from Jacques le Corre (a label owned by the store’s parent company HP France), other exclusive labels and items for men are front and center in this airy Meatpacking District store. Limited distribution Kashura shoes, Collection Privee bags, Histoire de Voir eyewear, Mastermind, Werkstatt Munchen, and Serge Thoraval jewelry and Suzanne Cooper linen hats are only some of the hard-to-find labels on show.

- Jason Campbell
Photo : A boutique