Rugby
If you’re over 25—or if you’re under 25 but a fan of, say, death metal or fantasy goth—then Rugby probably isn’t for you. No, the latest brand in the Ralph Lauren empire is very much at the All-American (or at least English-public-school) tousled-but-very-clean-hair end of the spectrum. The womenswear is flattering on lithe young bodies, especially those that look like they summer on Block Island and winter at Choate, but at the same time quite modest…
• 99 University Pl., nr. 12th St. (no phone yet); opens September 23.
Porsche Design
This is one of those companies that appeals to the gadget-freak male of the species, and its new East Coast flagship (opening this November in, amusingly enough, the General Motors building) takes that ethos to the max.
• Madison Ave. at 59th St.; opens November 2005.
Saturdays@Philips
Phillips de Pury makes a bid for first-time auction buyers.
• 450 W. 15th St., nr. Ninth Ave. (212-940-1200); Saturdays starting September 17.
Cloak
At the designers first boutique, the Roger Daltrey–circa–1965 look sells out.
• 10 Greene St., nr. Canal St. (212-625-2828); opens September 15.
Urban Renewal
Tiffany & Co., Tod’s, and Hickey Freeman undergo renovations and expansions.
Best of the Rest
Company C
Recent Ikea grads can get a design fix at this festive home store, a joint venture with Kate’s Paperie featuring energetically graphic throw pillows, area rugs, and linens.
• 85 Prince St., nr. Broadway; 212-941-9816. September 14.
Beneath
More Soho than Upper East Side, this California bohemian boutique is where Nicole Richie (the skinny, chic version) might shop for cotton tube dresses, loungy pants, and layered tanks. Labels include Leigh Bantivoglio and Gara Danielle.
• 265 E. 78th St., nr. Second Ave.; 212-288-3800. September 15.
Cherry
Resist the temptation to make bad sexual puns and head straight for the rock tees and eighties biker jackets when this mini-vintage boutique opens inside the CD retail giant.
• Virgin Megastore, 1540 Broadway, nr. 45th St.; 212-921-1020. September 15.
Girls Love Shoes
Zia Ziprin rented 200 pairs of vintage shoes to the crew of Angelina Jolie’s new film, The Good Shepherd. See why at her pint-size shop crammed with antique kicks from Candie’s to Yves Saint Laurent, Wild Pair to Chanel ($40 to $250).
• 85 Hester St., nr. Allen St.; 917-250-3268. September 16.
Carol’s Daughter
Jay-Z and Mr. and Mrs. (Will) Smith helped pay for this all-natural beauty line’s expansion from a one-bedroom flat to a shop in Fort Greene and soon in Harlem too.
• 24 W. 125th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-828-6757. Mid-September.
Plaza Too
High fashion on the Upper West Side? That’s where the founders of the Westchester-based chain Plaza Too, favored by suburban fans of Marc Jacobs, Luella Bartley, and Chloé, are opening their first Manhattan shop.
• 2231 Broadway, nr. 78th St. October.
What Are You Looking Forward To this Fall?
Ask a Teen Girl
Sasha Berk, Senior at Ramaz School
Taste: Gwen Stefani and Nicole Kidman are my icons. Definitely not grunge. I can go into Etro and find a crazy hippie top, and the idea will be Soho, but everyone knows I’m from uptown, so it’s not a $30 thrift-shop top.
Looking forward to: Dior’s low-heel crocodile boot. I can’t wait to wear my red Michael Kors wool trench coat with black high-waisted belt. I saw it in the window and had to get it. I think everyone in New York has it.
Wish list: I’d pull together Tom Ford and John Galliano to come up with the most beautiful little party dress. Lots of crystals and sequins and beads. It would be pink and very short and a little puffy on the bottom with a corseted top and a little V-neck in the front, with a strappy pink satin shoe with little rhinestones around the ankle. Then jewels. Diamonds. Chopard’s Happy Diamonds floating-heart necklace with matching earrings—my dream item. Who knows, maybe for graduation?