PAPER magazine / Armoire

I wrote this review for PAPER magazine in August 2006. Armoire is a clothing boutique in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Armoire

Even if I were taken back to Armoire blindfolded, I'd know where I was just by touching the clothes: Owner Melissa Ray has quite a knack for sniffing out fabrics with textural interest. Upon entering, I immediately fell in love with a coat by Mint, whose cream wool imitated the look and feel of raw silk. Ray has an eye for up-and-coming designers and also a talent for choosing clothes that suit her loyal Williamsburg customers. A knee-length, plum-colored Wyeth dress conjured up all the fun of the roaring 1920s (how did she know that I've secretly been longing to be a flapper?). Slinky dresses, fine knits and all the store's great denim would look great with a pair of Jacqueline Schnabel boots (Ray's favorites are the two-inch-heeled, slouchy green-suede ones) and the Mercer clutch from Hayden Harnett in soft mustard-yellow leather with brass hardware. Taking pride of place is the eponymous armoire, a handsome antique Ray picked up on Bedford Avenue, bursting with treasures such as corduroy sweaters, floral baby-doll dresses from Cassguy, tailored sweatshirts from Mike & Chris and ultrasoft cotton T's and lacy dresses from Woo. Ray's hope was that Armoire would have the feel of "everyone's big closet." Indeed, stepping in is like finding yourself in an older -- and much cooler -- sister's walk-in wardrobe: your style, but way better.