Four great new shops

Photograph: Sasha Benjamin

GLORY CHEN
The San Francisco footwear line known for its avant-garde aesthetic finally gets a New York home at a 2,600-square-foot flagship in Soho. Although minimalist in design, the store wasn’t left sparse in the spirit of being trendy: The gallery-like space showcases designer Joy Chen’s stylish stacked wedges, graphic flats and booties like works of art. Before becoming a shoe connoisseur, Chen worked as a painter, sculptor and graphic designer. She draws upon her fine-art background to create shoes that stray from conformity, infusing art and architecture into her designs. Also look out for her eponymous companion line of lower-cost, trend-driven comfort looks, like two-tone leather ankle boots for $280 and these gray kitten-heel oxfords for $175. Chen has a knack for ignoring fads while still making trendy heels that stand out in a crowd. And they won’t kill your feet while you traipse around town—which earns them major bonus points in our book. 121 Greene St at Prince St (212-677-2938)
—Rachel LeWinter

Photograph: Sasha Benjamin

GARGYLE
Forget the stereotypical picture of middle-aged golfers; this classic shop knows that the country-club look goes beyond ridiculous plaid pants and argyle sweaters. Thankfully, being edgy here means more than just popping your collar. And now that the online boutique’s showroom has moved from Dumbo to the Lower East Side, preppy-chic devotees can try on their Rachel Comey tasseled oxfords and Rogues Gallery striped henleys before buying. Pick up a quasi-ironic too-cool-for-school uniform like a Karen Walker Peter Pan–collar dress and Hansel from Basel electric-blue knee socks. Gargyle says it targets men and women “who lead active, social and dynamic lives,” but we say it appeals to anyone with good taste—and a sense of humor. Whatever you grab, it’s easy to create the perfect outfit for eating tiny finger sandwiches and speaking in fake Mr. and Mrs. Howell accents. 16A Orchard St between Canal and Hester Sts (917-470-9367, gargyle.com)
-Lisa Freedman

Photograph: Sasha Benjamin

GEORGIA
The decor at this decadent new beauty emporium is an artfully disheveled mix of luxury and decay: The blank walls feature deliberate peeling paint, while the marble-topped brass counters display top-of-the-line products and drugstore necessities so neatly that even OCD shoppers will feel at home. In the back, quirky touches—the words straight and kinky are lit up in neon and used to divide territory by hair texture—mingle with sumptuous ones—naughty lingerie by Huit and Eberjey. Around the corner from this T-shaped alcove, there’s a private salon that offers hair conditioning ($35), blowouts ($65) and extensions ($600 and up for a full head), and boasts a very cool heart-shaped shampoo room. They even have a housebrand of glamorous staples like hair brushes and silk pillow covers. Whatever you choose to take home will be packaged in the store’s signature white-and-gold gift wrap and placed in a box bearing their mission statement: be beautiful. 89A E Houston St between Elizabeth St and Bowery (646-827-2428)
—Ashley Hoffman

Photograph: Sasha Benjamin

ANGEL STREET THRIFT SHOP
This thrift shop has been dispensing gently used designer samples and vintage treasures in Chelsea since 1997. So why are we writing about it? Because a second location just opened in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and at 3,000 square feet, plus 7,000 in storage, it dwarfs the old space—and most suburban houses. As of press time, the upscale secondhand store was offering a pair of women’s Michael Kors platform shoes for $80, a $300 Heyward Wakefield cabinet, Tracey Reese dresses for $50–$100 and an impressive array of tchotckes. “But we get new stuff every day, all day long,” a manager reminds us. Items seem to be organized by color in spacious, easy-to-navigate sections that put typical thrift-store piles o’ junk to shame. As at its sister location, all proceeds benefit individuals and families affected by substance abuse, HIV, AIDS and mental illness. So go ahead, shop until your guilty conscious drops. (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.) 67 Guernsey St between Nassau and Norman Aves, Greenpoint, Brooklyn (718-384-1807, angelthriftshop.org)
—Lisa Freedman