boutique

She's cool. And these shops are way cool.

I went inside Sandro's sleek new West Village space...and shopped it out.

Between taking to the catwalk for some of the world's most famous designers and test-driving new merch months before it hits stores, models are way ahead of the curve when it comes to style trends. So when multiple mannequins pop up in identical pieces, we tend to take notice and trust their judgment.

Last night, we got a first look at H&M's Dragon Tattoo Collection by Trish Summerville pop-up boutique. Good news, Lisbeth fans: you'll find lots to love here. Appropriately placed at 72 Gansevoort Street in the industrial-cool, blustery Meatpacking District, the store space features distressed wooden paneling, a coffee shop and cyber café, and Salander-styled mannequins strung up with chains.

Trying on clothing in a store is so hard!

Kiyonna wraps and Igigi's beautifully cut cocktail dresses are highlights here, not to mention its roster of special events, like photo shoots with local studio Vavoom Pin-Ups.

Whether you visit the elegant bricks-and-mortar shop in Kirkwood Station or its extensive online complement, Plush is a reliable resource for showstopping dresses, like rainbow minis from Hello Eliza and evening selections from Vitamin C.

The lingerie selection here, with bras up to size 44JJ, is peerless—as is owner (and photographer) Jaclyn McCabe, who has an eye for figure-flattering designs from David Meister, Anna Scholz and Jessica Svoboda.

Bree Reed names Gossip lead singer Beth Ditto as inspiration at this disco-ball-adorned, one-year-old shop. Ditto's exuberant spirit is evident in wildly patterned maxi dresses from Fashion Love and pink party frocks from S.W.A.K.

This new-and-vintage downtown Portland shop grew out of a sale that cofounder Annie Maribona once held in her apartment.