ALEXANDER WANG

When the former Yohji Yamamoto SoHo boutique closed, it came with huge shoes to fill. The solution for gothic-inspired fashion wunderkind Alexander Wang was simply to pay homage to the cultural landmark. Much like the CBGB’s-Varvatos shift, Wang reinterpreted the Yamamoto legend and gave it a new mood. For one, it’s a black-and-white retail haven for the downtown “It” girls that fawn over his studded bags, lust-worthy footwear, moderately priced casual T line, and higher-end namesake label. For two, the white marble floor provides the stage for leather couches, metal cage installation, and industrial metal racks dripping with the season’s latest collection. For three, it actually has a luxurious fox-fur hammock. But we’re most smitten by the Alexander Wang SoHo boutique quite simply because the pieces are versatile, you can go from office to happy hour to Yankees game to Chinatown karaoke to Sunday brunch all in the same outfit. Costume changes are so last year.