Bird boutique in Brooklyn.   (Photo: Jeremy Liebman)

• Bird

  430 Seventh Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn, 718-768-4940

  Another reason to ride the F train. The midsize boutique is well stocked with interesting American and European labels (Isabel Marant, Nicole Farhi), as well as jewelry by local designers like Bing Bang. For the neighborhood’s recent college grads, the store has lace bralets by Eberjey ($38), dresses by Cynthia Vincent ($298 for an African-print strapless), and a nook devoted to denim labels like Earnest Sewn, Sass & Bide, and Acne. The Slope’s stroller moms love the soft knits by Generra, Mint, and Splendid, as well as smartly prim accessories like Capelli’s wicker purses (under $100). Ample inventory means you’ll find yourself popping into the spacious, Josef Frank–curtained dressing rooms at least once, and the warm atmosphere (made even homier by Nina the dog) will make you want to linger for hours.

From the 2006 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine