Acne Studios

Aesthetes have gone gaga this year waiting for Acne’s much-ballyhooed debut of its largest studio (ever)—a whopping 5,000 square feet of the Swedish designer’s denim, knitwear, leather goods and accessories. The just-opened retail spot in the lobby of the turquoise Eastern Columbia Building anchors the emerging shopping district of 9th and Broadway (where the Ace Hotel will be opening in early 2014, Aussie skincare importer Aesop launched earlier this year, and Urban Outfitters will soon reveal a megastore in the converted Rialto Theater just up the street). The in-store café—a first for the brand—is a welcome respite for the shopping weary, while the VIP room is reserved for those wanting a little more privacy when picking out the perfect pair of signature Skin 5 pants ($230-$280) or a printed tee ($85-$115).