Purdy Girl

Profile

Sisters Corinne and Nadine Purdy were feeding their love for fashion long before they teamed up in 1997 to bring these flirty pink-and-silver-awninged boutiques to Manhattan. After a stint studying art in Paris, Corinne returned stateside to hawk her accessories on the streets of Soho; in the same neighborhood, Nadine had a boutique called Yoshi. Now the Purdy Girl designs, as well as the wares of fellow designers, are sold from two neighboring West Village locations that are perfectly situated near a university full of potential customers. Purdy Girl also runs a newer Upper West Side shop. Similar in look and feel to Urban Outfitters and Anthropology, the stores offer casual and dressy clothing that’s girly but has a sassy edge. And they stock everything from jewelry to heels to undies, so an entire night-out outfit can be picked up in one stop. Carrying mainly house-brand items, the Thompson Street shop aims to be more casual and affordable, while the LaGuardia and Columbus Avenue shops offer slightly more upscale cocktail-worthy dresses and work appropriate outfits from designers like Nanette Lepore, Tibi, and Trina Turk. — Kathryn Williams

There’s always a sale section in the back of each store and there are regular storewide, end-of-season sales. The Thompson Street boutique offers an especially sweet deal: Every two weeks, a different item (jeans, handbags, jewelry) is marked down.