Steven Alan’s tiny ten-year-old shop on Wooster Street – filled to the gillswith the avant-garde (United Bamboo, Moi et Cat, Alice Roi) and the justplain pretty (Vanessa Bruno, Ulla Johnson) – has always had a very highratio of style to square feet. But this fall, Alan is expanding to Tribeca,with a 2,200-square-foot “urban general store” on Franklin Street. In asurprise move, about half the space will be devoted to menswear, serving upthe minimalist, Thurston Moore chic that works well in Williamsburg and WestChelsea: APC, Comme des Garçons Shirt, Rachel Comey, Levi’s. “It’s nothigh-high-end,” Alan says. “It’s just stuff men can have forever and thatcan age.” The rest of the store will house womenswear – favorites like Margiela 6 and Katayone Adeli, necessary basics like La CosaT-shirts and Cosabella underpants, and a well-edited selection of jewelry.Plus all those other life-enhancing items you’d want from your generalstore: beauty products from Dr. Hauschka, vintage everything, and aselection of albums (Phantom Planet, anyone?) courtesy of Other Music. Asfor Wooster Street, it’ll keep Alan’s name on the door, but inside it will be all Vanessa Bruno all the time, the only complete U.S. outlet for her eponymous line, including shoes andhandbags. “I love Vanessa Bruno, and I love Tribeca,” Alan explains. “I’vewanted to do this for so long.”
STEVEN ALAN
109 Franklin Street
Opens September 1