High-collar cotton top ($250) and silk tulip skirt ($325) for fall 2009; the storefront; silk wrap dress ($595) for fall 2009.Photo: Coutesty of Velita

Peruvian boutique owner Elena Ramos-Velita unveiled her sleek womenswear shop in Soho earlier this month, juggling decorating and production decisions with her day job as a consultant at Citigroup. Fittingly, the modern, white-on-white space is geared toward professional women, with small bouquets of flowers and Danish antique furniture providing understated accents. Ramos-Velita offers versatile basics in Italian fabrics that span staff meetings to happy hour: draped cashmere and modal-blend tops, high-collar cotton button-downs, wrap dresses, shapely tulip skirts, and lightweight blazers. The spring collection is on racks now (with prices ranging from $195 to $335), and fall styles will start trickling in late next month.

Velita, 79 Sullivan St., nr. Spring St. (212-334-1814); T—Su (noon—7).