Top 10 New NYC Stores

New York City has seen an influx of new retail this past year. Everyone has their favorites. Here are mine:

• Alexander McQueen: The British fashion brand’s new Upper East Side flagship boasts a lavish design that is both strange and utterly romantic, with an attention to detail that mirrors McQueen’s signature stylings. Marble and ornate moldings, black marble floors, black lacquer and brass hanging racks are combined with a soft color palette. (747 Madison Ave.)

• Balenciaga: With fashion boy wonder Alexander Wang at the helm, Balenciaga has opened a vast and glamorous flagship in SoHo. The ultra-luxe, ultra-modern three-story space is awash in deep-green marble — on the floors, the walls and the fixtures. (148 Mercer St.)

• 7-Eleven: The nation’s largest convenience store chain goes high-tech with touchscreen ordering, free Wi-Fi and a huge flatscreen TV. Designed by WD Partners, the Wall Street-area store has a clean modern look, with granite flooring, white tiled walls, rustic wood crates and fun signage — and a brand new logo. (111 John St.)

• H&M: It’s hard to miss H&M’s just-opened flagship in Times Square — just look for the giant LED screens on its façade. The 42,000-sq.-ft. store has a futuristic, tech-inspired look, with a “social media lounge,” interactive mannequins that play videos or flash photos, and a geometric metal decor. (4 Times Square)

• Patagonia Bowery: The longtime environmental champion’s first surf outpost on the East Coast is located in the gallery annex space of the former CBGB OMFUG, the legendary music venue of the punk era. That’s reason enough to check it out. (313 Bowery)

• Rent the Runway: The popular designer dresses and accessories rental website has opened a retail showroom in the Henri Bendel flagship. The space is appropriately feminine and glamorous, with an upbeat pink and purple color palette. Outside the fitting rooms is a plush lounge area where customers can peruse baubles — and even have a glass of Champagne. (712 Fifth Ave., second floor, Henri Bendel)

• Shinola: The made-in-Detroit brand that makes watches, leather goods and bicycles has opened in a David Rockwell Group-designed space that references the nation’s manufacturing legacy. Simple materials, such as bronze, brass and oak, create an industrial feel, while custom-made furniture complements the handcrafted quality of Shinola’s products. (177 Franklin St.)

• Sleep Studio: A 3,700-sq.-ft. store devoted to rest, Sleep Studio has a soothing, dreamy ambience. A wide range of slumber-related products are featured, but the big attraction is a proprietary sleep system that fans swear by. (73 Wooster St.)

• Teavana Fine Teas & Tea Bar: This new store concept from Starbucks Corp. features a wide range of teas, tea fusion beverages, tea-related merchandise, sweets and some food items. Accented with light woods, comfy seating and low lighting, the space has a warm, inviting feel. (1142 Madison Ave.)

• Wolverine: Wolverine’s first permanent store reflects the heritage of the 130-year-old footwear brand. The store features wooden beams — part of the company’s original tannery — and a wall of vintage shoe lasts. Other design elements, including a 1,000-lb.-plus concrete sign from one of the company’s original factory buildings, also help bring Wolverine’s long history to life. (254 Elizabeth St.)

Those are my faves. Let me know yours!

Marianne Wilson

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