Vivienne Tam has pushed the doors of her new SoHo boutique open. It's a little bit later than we were expecting, but we can now see why it might have taken a bit longer than planned. The shop is a  sleek, minimalist box, neutrally styled to serve as a backdrop for her richly colored and detailed collection with sleek, movable racks and carpeted cubes designed to display her shoes and provide a place to sit whie you try them on.
Among all these blank surfaces, however is a centerpiece that reflects the Chinese-born designer's heritage. Looming behind everything is an elaborately carved, full-scale, wooden tea-house. While Tam's last SoHo boutique had an almost pop element to it's Asian décor, this time she goes for serene elegance, plus it's a nice place for weary husbands and boyfriends to sit and wait while the shopping continues.
Tea anyone?
Vivienne Tam 40 Mercer Street at Grand Street, SoHo