The buzz: This swim-and-beachwear shop splashed onto SoHo’s boutique scene three months ago—just in time for summer and all the beach trips and weekend getaways that come with it. Owner Cristina Wilkinson opened the shop both as a professional change of pace after five years of sitting at a desk in the real estate field, and as an alternative to the mass-produced, samey beach fashions available at big companies like H&M and Roxy.
The goods: Most of the bikinis, one-pieces, kaftans, sun dresses, scarves and eye-catching accessories are designed by Wilkinson herself before being produced in Bali. Wilkinson plans to bring in two collections of swimsuits per year—with 15 styles of different colors each rotation—and clothing every three months. The boutique’s first collections are explosions of color—fun and flirty prints, bright reds, turquoise and sunshine yellow. The next batch of breezy, beach-ready skirts and dresses are going to be white, Wilkinson says. Prices are definitely affordable compared to most eclectic SoHo boutiques: $300 and up for dresses and $400 and up for swimsuits. Itsie Bitsie also just launched an online shop this week, which will be shipping internationally.
The location: Much like a tiny studio apartment, the boutique is tucked cozily onto the first floor of a nondescript walk-up.
By Leanne Mirandilla
