The abattoir workers of a century ago could never have guessed that their neighborhood would become the address of some of the choicest apparel boutiques around. Though some of the initial fashionistas to move into the converted warehouses and factories—Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Moschino—have since moved on, others such as Diane von Fürstenberg remain, and many more have set up shop in the neighborhood as well.
431 West 14th Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues)
In the years since Stacey Bendet launched Alice + Olivia in 2002, her womenswear line has garnered quite the celebrity following. Dakota Fanning, Angelina Jolie, and Katy Perry are among the fans of feminine, even whimsical apparel and accessories, which encompass everything from cocktail dresses to jeans, leather jackets to handbags. Standouts from the fall/winter 2018 ready-to-wear line include ‘70s-inspired pants suits with palazzo legs, impractical but fun sequined jumpsuits, and heavy doses of buffalo checks and fringe.
874 Washington Street (between West 13th and West 14th Streets)
Diane von Fürstenberg was one of the numerous driving forces that made the High Line a reality, so it is no surprise that her Meatpacking District shop, in the shadow of the park, is also her brand’s headquarters. Von Fürstenberg made her name in fashion with her innovative, figure-flattering wrap dresses in the 1970s, and you will find plenty of those, along with wrap tops and wrap skirts, in this flagship shop. But the brand is no one-trick pony: the range now includes sweaters, pants, swimsuits, outerwear, shoes, and bags. Although von Fürstenberg is no longer the chief creative officer, the designs maintain the clean yet flowing lines and vibrant patterns that have long been her hallmark.
821 Washington Street (between Gansevoort and Little West 12th Streets)
Helmut Lang. Image: La Citta Vita/Wikimedia
Helmut Lang—both the designer and the brand, from which he departed in 2005—is known for a minimalist aesthetic, and its spare, adornment-free Meatpacking District store is in keeping with that spirit. The shop carries both the men’s and women’s lines, in which black and white solids dominate, with occasional flashes of fuchsia, olive, and lace.
401 West 14th Street (at Ninth Avenue)
This bordering-on-cavernous outpost carries primarily menswear, but you will find a small selection of classically tailored women’s apparel near the back. As for men’s apparel, you can buy your entire wardrobe here: precision-tailored tuxedos and suits, cashmere topcoats and leather jackets, hoodies and swim trunks, wingtip shoes and leather-trimmed sneakers, Italian silk ties and argyle socks. It is a one-stop shop for the quietly but indisputably fashionable man.
401 West 14th Street (at Ninth Avenue)
Located in the same building as Hugo Boss, The Kooples shop is brighter and less austere, with glossy floors, white walls and ceilings, and plenty of mirrored surfaces to reflect the light coming in from the windowed façade. The French brand gives equal weight to its women’s and men’s lines, both of which boast a youthful insouciance. The men’s suits come in two cuts, classic and fitted, but even the classic is form-hugging. Varsity-style jackets and button-down shirts with silver-tone guitar snaps at the wrists are among the standouts of the men’s collection. The women’s suits, like the men’s, are tightly fitted, while the dresses are flirty, with floral prints and lace detailing; shoes range from the shiniest red patent-leather ankle boots to studded leather sandals.
One Gansevoort Street (at West 13th Street)
This 2,500-square-foot outpost carries the Italian house’s men’s, women’s, and children’s lines. Those who have a fear of color and pattern should shop elsewhere. On the other hand, if you thirst for a button-down shirt adorned with sailboats to wear with wide-legged suit trousers or an unfitted satin dress that juxtaposes floral, check, and polka-dot prints, Marni is the store you have been hunting for.
69 Eight Avenue (between West 13th and West 14th Streets)
Each of the six Meg boutiques (five in Manhattan, one in Toronto) features a small collection of highly wearable apparel designed primarily by founder Meg Kinney herself and made in New York or Toronto, complemented by accessories from small, women-owned companies. The clothing is created for real women of a variety of figure types: a party dress short enough to flaunt slender legs but loose enough to hide a rounded tummy, jumpsuits that can be cinched around the waist or worn loose with equal aplomb. You can also make an appointment with one of the shop’s specially trained stylists for a complimentary hour-long personal-shopping session, a service that has won rave reviews from customers.
34 Gansevoort Street (between Hudson and Greenwich Streets)
The New Zealand-born designer is a favorite of women for whom small-scale floral prints serve as neutrals and who want to wear ruffles and shirring without sacrificing sophistication. The Meatpacking District boutique, intimate without feeling crowded or cluttered, offers the gamut of Rebecca Taylor’s ready-to-wear, from cropped tweed jackets suitable for work and play to tiered ruffled dresses to sweatshirts with ruched sleeves. The fall/winter 2018 collection promises more of the same aesthetic, with rich velvets, darker prints, and lashings of gold.
36 Little West 12th Street (between Ninth Avenue and Washington Street)
This bijou boutique is the first—and so far, only—U.S. store for Swedish menswear designer Stephen Ferber. The offering is classic with a twist: an impeccably tailored tuxedo jacket, for instance, is available in vibrant cobalt; a blue button-down has white sleeves and collar so that it resembles a shirt with vest. Alan Cumming, Darren Criss, and Nick Jonas are said to be fans of the line, many items of which are handmade.
38-40 Little West 12th Street (between Ninth Avenue and Washington Street)
With its bold orange front doors, brushed-steel walls, sleek gold chandeliers, and bright green carpeting, Tory Burch’s 1,600-square-foot Meatpacking District shop eschews the industrial aesthetic common to the area. That is only fitting, as the womenswear brand is all about contemporary glamour with a dash of retro flair. Tunics with bold geometric prints call to mind both Mod interior designer David Hicks and Palm Beach favorite Lilly Pulitzer; ribbed cotton turtlenecks evoke the Jackie O of the ‘70s. The shop carries Tory Burch footwear, handbags, and accessories as well as apparel.
67 Gansevoort Street (between Ninth Avenue and Washington Street)
The Trina Turk aesthetic—Palm Springs circa 1975—is apparent as soon as you approach the store. Its bright white exterior poses a sunny contrast to its more-industrial neighbors. Inside a mannequin poses on a swing chair suspended from the beamed white ceiling; a tree fashioned from wood scraps is surrounded by a turquoise borne. This store sells women’s ready-to-wear, accessories, and swimwear as well as Mr. Turk menswear. Men’s and women’s apparel alike favor bright colors and bold patterns that could have come from a Slim Aarons photo of a Positano soiree in the early ‘70s.
831 Washington Street (between Gansevoort and Little West 12th Streets)
Opened in 2009, this was Zadig & Volatire’s first standalone U.S. shop, and it offers the brand’s full range of women’s, men’s, children’s, and accessories offerings. The apparel has been described as streamlined, luxe rock-and-roll, and pieces such as a cashmere hoodie with a rhinestone skull on the back and a jean-style jacket made of intentionally rumpled lamb leather bear that out. You will not find much, if anything, suitable to wear to your investment banking or law office here, but you will covet much of the line for your after-hours activities.
652 Hudson Street (at West 13th Street)
Sydney-based sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann launched their line with a collection of dresses they sold at local markets in the early 1990s. They dubbed their fall/winter 2018 collection “Unbridled,” and the name is appropriate: The apparel offers unbridled femininity, from the flowing jersey-knit maxi dresses to the floral suits paired with elaborately ruffled blouses that Lord Byron would have lusted after. As you would expect from an Australian brand, the swimwear selection is extensive, though much of it is surprisingly simple in style, especially compared with the flounced tunics and pin-tucked dresses that make up much of the resortwear assortment. Pieces such as the belted, collarless coat with hidden seams and the relaxed striped trousers, however, prove that Zimmermann can create tailored, clean styles with the best of them.