Sarah Easley and Beth Buccini have been best friends since the day they met in the University of Virginia’s freshman dorms. They are also fabulous at choosing designer accessories and clothing for their store located in Soho.  Kirna Zabete – as it is called – originates from the pair’s college nicknames: Kirna for Easley and Zabete for Buccini.  Kirna Zabete offers apparel and more from famous brands such as Givenchy, Stella McCartney, Jason Wu and more.  Thus, fittingly emblazoned on their window is the phrase, “So many designers, so little time.” What is important to Easley is taking what she terms as “fashion risks.” She would rather see her models wear too many bracelets, or mix styles that might quite not match rather than go down the dull route.  As she said, “bad taste is better than no taste.”

But now – as part of The Shops at Target program – a limited edition of Kirna Zabete will be available in local Target stores. It brings a few affordable collections co-created by high end boutiques and Target to its stores.  Other boutiques participating in the program include: Odin, The Curiosity Shoppe and Patch NYC. Kirna Zabete is thus offering close to 100 pieces in its fun, flirty collection, replete with cool mixes of styles, patterns and more offering at local Target stores. As well the collection comprises signature colors of pink, red and teal, and boldly-colored graphic dresses and coats.  The line’s seal is a puckered-lipped kiss.

And that is how the general style of the boutique is, as it seeks to reflect clients’ different moods vis-à-vis how they want to dress each day. It seeks to mix a variety of prints, patterns and colors, “throwing all fashion rules out the window.”

More Color to Come

But Kirna Zabete isn’t the only color array to come to SoHo.  Piperlime – Gap’s online-only fashion boutique – is set to open its first actual store next week in the area too. Measuring 4,000 sq. ft, the store aims to create the same feeling of actually walking into its Piperlime.com virtual counterpart.  The store’s “Color Clashing” trend seems to be right in line with what Kirna Zabete is trying to accomplish.  There will be clothing and accessories, with 800+ items ranging in price from $49 to $600.

The reason for this move is that Gap saw that Piperlime is its fastest-growing online property. While it doesn’t have its own label, it has been seen that a 3D version is vital to ensure a real relationship is created.  Customers will also be given an opportunity to discover new names in a boutique-style environment as opposed to through the computer. A variety of jeans come in colors ranging from classic indigo to snakeskin, floral tapestry and everything in between, spanning 15 brands. And of course, it’s much easier to try stuff on in the store’s four large fitting rooms complete with three-way mirrors than on line!

So for those who love color, fashion and are avid-fans of breaking rules, SoHo seems to be the place to be.