On my first visit to Grethen House, I made a beeline for a gauzy, diaphanous light peach tunic fluttering with layers of scalloped silk.  It was magnificent, it was Stella McCartney, and it was so expensive I nearly fainted.  And although the mind-blowingly high-end pieces are abundant, affordable items are equally easy to unearth in this sleek, contemporary boutique.  
 
The shop’s understated décor and muted tones are counteracted by a riot of textures on racks and shelves.  Without the merch, Grethen House might look like a Japanese rock garden.  With the merch, it looks far fluffier, shinier and busier.  The shop is divided into three distinct sections.  The entrance plunks you into the center section, which includes shoes, accessories, and some clothes.  The leftmost section houses butter-soft tees and sweats, as well as the bulk of the shop’s denim.  The rightmost section holds a few fitting rooms, organics, and assorted other covetable clothes.
 
Alongside shiny sack-like raincoats from the future and crazily colored Jean Paul Gaultier tops, you’ll find gorgeous cashmere from White + Warren, splendidly cut Vitamina jeans, and subtly sexy tops from Three Dots.  John Patrick’s impeccable line of organic separates is spare and stylish, utilizing recycled wool and cotton alongside organic fibers to create clean-lined clothes with subtle detailing. Patrick’s items are decently priced, and not a single piece looks like it was fashioned from burlap.  Updated classics from brands like Giraudon and Robert Clergerie round out the N’etc shoe collection, while metallic clutches and oversized belt buckles abound among the accessories.
 
This boutique is a best bet for a pair of polar opposite shopping goals: luxuriously crafted tees and sweats from Lilla P and White + Warren make for beautiful basics, while unusual items from edgy vendors like Charles Chang-Lima and Jeremy Laing make ideal signature pieces.  Not particularly suited for workweek shopping, Grethen House is your go-to for base layers or frosting.