Profile

Theory opened a Meatpacking District flagship store in 2006, in the ground floor of its slick corporate headquarters, and the immense space, with its dark walls and industrial floors, is the ideal muted backdrop for the brand’s monochromatic clothes. Racks suspended from the ceiling showcase the company’s staples of simple, expertly-cut blazers and trousers, but it’s the details that give these basics a posh edge: The razor-sharp pleats on an unfussy black skirt or the romantic poet’s sleeves on a basic cotton button-down or the gently ruched collar of a leather jacket. Even more casual options such as shorts get done up in shimmery-oiled leather and stiff dark denim. Supremely wearable–nearly all styles are infused with Lycra for comfort–the on-trend offerings of each season change, but always retain a timeless quality that keep customers wanting more. Unfortunately, the men’s line is essentially relegated to a scant handful and is only available at the flagship. — Leaya Lee