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ith a collection that runs the gamut from diaphanous evening dresses to tailored, yet easy separates, Shelly Steffee reveals a staunch passion for sharp cuts, inventive shapes, and thoughtful details. Located in Manhattan's Meatpacking District, Steffee's eponymous shop caters to her ideal clientele, women she describes as "ageless individuals with edgy elegance and an understanding of quality." While tensions between the sensual and the intellectual, the masculine and the feminine, motivate each piece, Steffee's primary wish is a little less cerebral, "I hope to reveal an enjoyable emotional response from my customers. Happiness from a piece that serves them well," she says.

The Goods: Sophisticated separates with sharp lines and muted colors; understated outerwear, modernist gowns, and utilitarian tops; all the right pieces to form the foundation of an elegant contemporary wardrobe.