Damsel in Distress (CLOSED)

After nearly a decade of partying in Miami, Australian sisters Lisa Brooks and Lyn Wills (who worked in retail and promotions, respectively) ditched the beaches and gorgeous weather to open up a Nolita boutique filled with their favorite designers from Down Under, including Laurence Pasquier, Alice McCall, Jessie Hill and Wheels & Doll Baby. The cozy, living-room–like space is peppered with shabby-chic details like a birdcage, cherry blossoms and an inviting maroon-and-ivory area rug. And the sisters have pulled together a well-rounded collection of feminine dresses ($180–$495), tough-girl separates ($90–$295) and fashion-forward swimwear ($196–$236). Scoop up Maurie & Eve’s silky cobalt blue tanks ($180) and Valerie Tolosa’s vintage-inspired white cotton dresses ($199) to get you through the dog days of summer in style. Though you won’t find a huge selection of jewelry and shoes here, what the shop does have packs a punch: Two-toned leather Strummer boots ($295)—the only shoes in the store—have a chunky heel that’s perfect for running all over the city, and NYC jewelry designer Erica Klein’s brass ram bangles ($128) are so desirable, the duo made an exception to its “Australian designers only” rule to stock them.