F IRSTC LASS
Ave., Brooklyn;
718-388-9525;
shopjumelle.com.
Stylish women
in search of singular
femme pieces must
stop by Lyell, a
jewel box of a shop
in Nolita. Designer
Emma Fletcher’s
flattering, vintage-
inspired blouses
and waist-hugging
dresses are a tri-
umph in ladylike
chic. And, Lyell’s
well-edited in-house
collection has a bountiful rack of vintage
dresses, blouses and the like. Lyell, 173
Elizabeth St.; 212-966-8484; lyellnyc.com.
Few shop owners in Manhattan (or else-
where) have the fashion foresight of retail
pioneer Steven Alan, whose eponymous
shops feature harder-to-find men’s and women’s items in a
way that’s unique and inspiring. Many of the collections—
both clothing and accessories—have a “handmade sensibil-
ity.” Steven Alan, 103 Franklin St., 465 Amsterdam Ave. and
229 Elizabeth St.; 212-343-0692; stevenalan.com.
Louis Terline and Jeff Madalena have mastered the art
of smart, chic shopping at Oak. With backgrounds in design
and styling, the pair takes
a personal approach to
their space as well as their
connection to customers:
Shoppers get one-on-one
treatment in finding
just the right piece. “Our
tastes change frequently,”
says Terline, referring to the
always-rotating store display
and merchandise. A bonus:
Oak is the only shop in New
York to carry Andrew Harmon’ s
sexy ‘70s-inspired denim. Oak,
208 N. 8th St. and 668 President
St., Brooklyn; 718-782-0521;
oaknyc.com.
—Christene Barberich
Sweater Still. “I love
the new Alice Lane short
sleeve sweater,” says
Emma Fletcher of Lyell.
“Any girl would love
this luxuriously soft piece
with a sweet key-hole
opening at the neck.”
Get it at Lyell. $295.
Upload a
Little
Personality
Loading computer files
onto diskettes to tote
between home and work
is so last millenium.
It’s time to upgrade to
a USB drive. Plug one into
your USB port and these devices—the size of a pack of
gum—allow you to carry thousands of work files in your
pocket or on your key chain. Best yet, the new crop of
USB drives lets you inject a little personality into your
workspace. The coolest USB drives are manufactured
by Mimoco ( mimoco.com). Part art toy, part high-tech
gadget, they come disguised as greasers, ghosts, demons
and devils that spruce up any desk top.
Or showcase your taste—or your taste
buds—with Sushi Disk ( sushidisk.co.uk),
sea urchin, tuna roll and salmon roe
sushi-shaped drives.
—John Tomkiw
Pratique Makes Perfect
Looking for the perfect gift? Then go by the
book. The Pratique Guides to shopping
destinations in New York take
you block by block to thou-
sands of businesses over
hundreds of city blocks.
Peruse the listings for the type
of service or product you want,
then read the comprehensive
reviews for location, hours and
brands carried. Once you’ve located
your destination on the foldout,
color-coded map that’s included, just
head on over. What to write on the
card? That’s up to you.
