La Gioe Di Toscana (CLOSED)

Husband-and-wife duo John and Sharon Gioe bring even more glamour to already-swanky Fifth Avenue with their first brick-and-mortar store. La Gioe Di Toscana, which means “the joy of Tuscany,” sells Italian art in the form of bags made with fine leather, exotic skins and fur. Designer John Gioe draws inspiration from the memory of his Italian mother; elegant photos of her adorn the walls of the airy shop. More vintage accents—red velvet plush chairs, a championship baseball trophy and a retro radio—lend the boutique an Old Hollywood feel. Snatch elbow-length opera gloves with mother-of-pearl buttons ($325), teal leather satchel handbags with rose gold handles ($750) and mink hats lined in velvet ($375). If that sounds too Cruella De Vil for your tastes, opt for faux-fur muffs with inner zippers ($325) and cross-body bags in different types of faux exotic skins, like croc, snake, zebra and cheetah ($200).