Wandering downtown on Bleecker, I was taken with how little originality there was — just the same fashion names you see throughout the city. That’s when I wandered by Irma’s, the window just catching the corner of my eye. I kept walking … and, then, stepped back. What was this? A boutique with merchandise that actually managed to be different. A lovely lady named Nana Adjiashvili was styling some racks — you could tell instantly she was more than a manager. Turns out the doors had been opened in 2003, and we hadn’t even been there yet! (Another secret reason to love this city, we suppose.)
The clothes are a bit pricey, but we’re willing to spend a little more on high quality cashmeres and cottons that actually seem worth it. Designers carried feel very European and elegant in a casual, minimal way, including one I didn’t know but instantly took to, Kristensen Du Nord. (It didn’t hurt that they were having a great sale!) According to New York Magazine‘s Lauren Murrow, “You won’t find neon prints, busy florals, or plunging necklines here; instead the racks are filled with sophisticated cocktail dresses, pencil skirts, and layerable separates in muted pastels and basic black,” and offer “touchable, high-quality fabrics like silk, cashmere, and linen, selecting choice designs from each season’s collections.”
Irma is the sister store of Hotoveli (formerly men’s luxury store L’uomo), which also sells men’s clothing, shoes and accessories (271 W. 4th Street; 212.206.7722). Both stores are owned by Michael Adjiashvili.
Irma
378 Bleeker (Charles and Perry St.)
New York City
212.206.7475
