Helmut Lang

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Known for its stark, minimal designs, Helmut Lang’s Manhattan store is tucked away on a quaint brick street in the meatpacking district. Though Lang himself has not designed for his own brand since the Prada Group bought it in 2005, his name graces this white boutique’s wall in giant capital letters. The almost entirely black, white, and beige collection (now created by Michael and Nicole Colovos) is lined up on racks along the exposed-brick walls with not an accessory in sight. Straight-leg jeans, fitted sheath dresses, and sharply cut blazers define the look. Many items are somewhat androgynous. For instance, blazers of the same style with only slight differences in size and cut could hang on the men’s and women’s racks on opposite sides of the store, almost like mirror images. The center of the shop is reserved for the newest, boldest designs. — Rachel Corbett