NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE

A must shop from the Hawaiian Islands, Aloha Rag New York does not carry hibiscus-patterned t-shirts or grass skirts as the name may connote. Quite the contrary, this sleek New York outpost of the Oahu-based boutique is a haven for cutting edge designers like 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang, Ann Demeulemeester and Comme Des Garcons. You’ll also find esoteric brands from Japan, the UK and other international markets not readily available on the East Coast. For men, preppy-casual pieces from Obedient Sons or Rivy Ng, for women, technicolor leopard-print ensembles and Hysteric Glamour graphic tees. Finishing touches include oversized Kenji Ikeda quilted-leather purses and eyewear lines, new arrivals and special collections are frequent so check back often. And be sure to visit Aloha Rag’s website too — it’s one of very few online destinations for such hard-to-snag designer labels.

Photo credit: Grungy Gentleman