Made in Manhattan

They may share a CEO, but J. Crew and its new offshoot, Madewell, are worlds apart. Madewell—more casual, less expensive and a bit more bohemian than J. Crew—was a defunct workwear company when Mickey Drexler bought the name shortly before he joined J. Crew. In 2006, Drexler assembled a team to revive the brand in a new format. Since warming up in markets across the country, Madewell has opened its New York City flagship. The two-story store (below) successfully conveys the brand's spirit with original 1882 moldings, floors and fireplaces, and a brilliant contrast of stark white walls to vibrant merchandise everywhere one looks.