(Photo: Kenneth Chen)

An avid shopper for silky underthings, Lauren Blankenship was tired of itty-bitty boutiques that had panties crammed into drawers, inexperienced staff, and closetlike dressing rooms. So she and her husband, Allen, opened Bodyhints (462 West Broadway; 212-777-8677; bodyhints.com)—or, as they like to refer to it, “the Sephora of lingerie.” The 3,500-square-foot behemoth houses a well-edited selection of lingerie, loungewear, and swimwear from faves like Rosa Cha, Cosabella, and OnGossamer as well as hip up-and-comers like Vannina Vesperini and Anika, and it accommodates all budgets: The thrifty can snatch up a cheery bra-and-panty set for around $26, while those with deeper pockets can opt for the $350 kind.

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• Archive: “Best of New York Weekly”
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