New York - June 23, 2006

Couple’s Therapy

Oak Boutique Opens

Relationships are about cooperation. You drop off the laundry, he calls the housekeeper. She orders FreshDirect, you hire the drawer organizer.

Note how you both avoid actually doing any work. Clever.

Feel free to apply this pattern of healthy coexistence to your joint weekend shopping routine. Canary, the Williamsburg boutique, has merged with its brother store to create one hot store called Oak.

No more rock-paper-scissors to decide where you’re going to shop. The new superboutique (right off the L) carries clothes for dolls and dudes by covetable labels like Pure DKNY (it has an organic vibe), Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, Nicole Farhi, Phillipa K, and Society for Rational Dress.

Oak also carries the latest denim styles (tight, high-waisted) from Nudie, Tsubi, Superfine, and Harmon. Gentlemen who aren’t yet ready for skinny jeans (and who hope to one day have children) can ease into classic Lees and Rachel Comey jackets as ladies rifle through LD Tuttle shoes, vintage sunglasses, and Tres handbags.

If you can’t decide what to buy, the owners/stylists will help with some expert counsel.

Now that’s teamwork.

Oak, 208 North 8th Street, between Driggs and Roebling Streets (718-782-0521 or oaknyc.com).

  Avant-Garde, Design Junkies, Edgy, Hangout, Hipster