(Photo: Courtesy of Petrou)

When socialites need over-the-top furs, they head to Dennis Basso. Now, when they want handmade eveningwear to go underneath those furs, they can turn to Nicolas Petrou, who happens to be Basso’s creative director. At his new store, Petrou (850 Madison Ave., nr. 69th St.; 212-249-7111), there are Paul Poiret–inspired evening vests with silk trim, Empire-waist taffeta gowns, and cocktail dresses to wardrobe his charity-circuit clientele (plus a few of his own furs, like a $40,000 embroidered Russian broadtail coat.

Bergdorf Goodman (754 Fifth Ave., nr. 58th St.; 212-872-8700) has revamped its fourth-floor shopping salon to coddle big spenders (celebrities with a posse, or just friends who like to shop in packs). The by-appointment space boasts larger fitting rooms equipped with lighting that can be adjusted to simulate day or evening, catering from the seventh-floor restaurant, and a stylist who can step in to make tough decisions about total wardrobe overhaul or advise on what gift to get for a co-worker. The store is also making its stylist staff available by e-mail, for those who have less time to kill.

Other noteworthy openings: Sigrid Olsen has a new 4,000-square-foot store in fashionable Soho to sell its collection of soccer-mom basics (411 W. Broadway, nr. Spring St.; 917-237-0140). Samsonite has a store now just for its Black Label luggage, which includes everything from sturdy wheelies to footwear and wallets to designer collaborations with Marc Newson and Matthew Williamson. The highly anticipated Alexander McQueen line arrives in January (838 Madison Ave., nr. 69th St.; 212-861-2064).

Related:

• Archive: “The Storefront: Openings & Closings”
• Articles by Aja Mangum
• Table of Contents: Oct 2, 2006 issue of New York | Subscribe!