This month’s New York stores are hoping to capture different elements of the city’s spirit and culture in their store designs.

Many of the stores try to ensure that unique New York features, from high ceilings to industrial features, are maintained in their retail spaces and incorporated into the design. Some stores prefer to have a stripped back feel where the focus is on the product items, whereas others include artwork and sculptural pieces where products are part of a gallery display.

Stores also continue to provide VIP experiences in-store, with personal shopping, style expertise, or community events now becoming more frequent in retail at all price points. Sustainability remains a focus for fashion stores in particular, reflecting the changing shopping habits of customers.

Here is our roundup of the best new retail stores you can find in New York.

Image credit – Dries Van Noten

Dries Van Noten, SoHo

Luxury brand Dries Van Noten has launched its first flagship store in New York City.

The store is designed to reflect the artistic energy of Manhattan and is located in a tall industrial building. The space, however, feels warm and intimate, with white and marble walls placed to create narrow corridors. This gives the store the feel of an art gallery or exhibition space, and this is additionally enhanced by the artwork dotted throughout, which includes a mix of contemporary and historical pieces such as 17th century portraits and modern furniture from Ben Storms.

This artistic presentation provides a backdrop for the Dries Van Noten collection of fashion, beauty and accessories. The new Spring Summer 2025 collection is additionally the last that Dries Van Noten himself will lead, with the New York space marking a new era for the brand.

Marmalade, Brooklyn

Fashion boutique Marmalade has relocated to a new space in Brooklyn.

The brand, known for supporting up and coming designers, is looking to provide an expanded experience to customers. The new space will provide shoppers with the opportunity to choose from a selection of items across fashion and accessories from a range of independent designers.

The store will also be a hub for fashion enthusiasts in the local community, with the brand looking to offer events, collaborations and launches. 

Vivaia, SoHo

Another arrival in SoHo is Vivaia’s first physical store, following a successful pop-up in New York.

The sustainable footwear brand is known for its comfortable shoes for women and has designed the store to encompass New York heritage as well as nature, with brickwork and green plants throughout.

Customers will be able to find the full Vivaia range, along with its latest release, the Ballet Sneaker. These shoes involve recycled satin materials and can be washed in the machine. The design has been very popular with a number of celebrities, including Bella Hadid.

Image credit – L’AGENCE

L’AGENCE, Madison Avenue

Luxury brand L’AGENCE launched its latest flagship store in Manhattan’s most popular shopping destination.

The store is neutral and light, with pale wood fixtures, white walls and glass, giving the space an understated, quiet luxury feel. Customers will be able to find the full range of L’AGENCE products, including its denim line, swimwear and new sleepwear collaboration with Eberjey.

The brand is also offering luxury service in-store, in the form of fashion and styling expertise and VIP shopping experiences. 

Image credit – Paloma Wool

Paloma Wool, SoHo

After a string of successful pop-ups in New York, Spanish knitwear brand Paloma Wool has launched a new permanent space.

Minimalism is the theme of the design, with stark white walls and metal fixtures. The clothing is also “hidden” by opaque white partitions, so that visitors have to come inside to properly view items.

The store offers a unique shopping experience, more akin to luxury spaces. Customers can browse items which have a number on each label. When shoppers wish to try something on, they give staff the number and their own clothing size. Staff then provide a dressing room tailored to that individual, with adjustable mirrors and lighting.

The idea of the store is slow fashion, with sustainable pieces that can be worn for a long time, in-line with preferences of younger shoppers. 

Image credit – Rough Trade

Rough Trade, Rockefeller Center

British record store Rough Trade has expanded its New York City store by adding a new space called Rough Trade Below, to reflect its new location below the original store (Rough Trade Above).

Customers will be able to find new vinyl records and artist signings at Rough Trade Above, while Rough Trade Below will have a greater focus on used vinyl and creating a marketplace where customers can sell their own items. Visitors will also be able to listen to records before they buy them and take photos in a retro booth that creates 1970s style photos.

The space will also be the main host for Rough Trade live performances and events, as Rough Trade Below can accommodate more people. Additionally, the brand has partnered with film brand A24 to provide films, books and other merchandise, and is looking to expand to providing space for book signings and Q&As.