Thug Mama (CLOSED)

Designer JoAnn Berman got her start in the music world, creating costumes in the ’90s for P. Diddy, Salt-N-Pepa and Michael Jackson, and she opened her third New York boutique (previous shops were shut down due to a fire and financial issues, respectively). The store has patchwork wallpaper, posters of music legends and mismatched furniture scattered throughout. Berman creates one-of-a-kind pieces using recycled and thrifted fabrics, which she then hand-paints or screen-prints with iconic imagery. Her quirky, avant-garde styles are showcased on wooden racks and dress forms, such as a neon sequined tank ($200), a dress printed with Cuban Revolution insignia ($245) and a swirl-pattern cape that doubles as a wrap skirt ($690).