New Additions:Hudson Street's Kesner Debuts

To the surprise of many, menswear has been among the more resilient categories against the current retail troubles. That's good news for Philip Silverman and Matthew Simon, who opened their new men's store, Kesner, just in time for the Holiday season. Named after their grandfather, the cozy boutique adds a luxury element to Hudson Street, one of the West Village's main arteries. Call it spillover from an over-gentrified Bleecker Street if you must, the store at least fills one of the many empty storefronts that have been plaguing the street.
Inside, we found a carefully selected assortment from a roster of emerging menswear labels like Tim Hamilton, Simon Spurr and Robert Geller arrayed against a warm setting designed by architect Peter Pawlak and interior designer Eric Lysdahl. Rich and classic with a twist is the order of the day here, wiht a few sporty additions like Gilded Age's artisanal jeans and witty accessories from the likes of Barker Black.
It's surely a dicey moment to launch an exclusive luxury boutique, but we are happy and relieved to report that Kesner was comfortably busy on the weekday afternoon when we visited. We can't say that about every store, but there's hope for the future on Hudson Street.
Kesner 524 Hudson Street at West 10th Street, West Village
Previously, Upcoming West Village Arrivals:Kesner To Bring Luxe Menswear To Hudson Street