With so much fashion existing online, there’s something refreshing about trying pieces on in-store after eyeing them first on a little screen. Enter Just Browsing: We’re taking you into the fitting room as we preview the newest collections from some of our favorite labels. We’ll get into fabric and quality, fit and feel, and so much more as we make our way through the shop floor. Happy scrolling (and strolling)!

There’s a certain five blocks in the West Village where the primary objective isn’t to meander or queue half an hour for a slice of pizza. It’s to shop. This quaint little stretch of Bleecker Street has attracted a microcosm of curated stores, like Dôen and Leset, you’ll recognize from being primarily online; for many, their proximity to one another is the silver lining of having to your elbow your way past idling tourists on a packed Saturday afternoon.

Anyone who’s spent time in the area recently has surely a caught a glimpse of a thrilling new addition: Posse. The Australian label founded in 2016 by Danielle Mulham and best-known for its pared-back linen and cotton separates, has firmly planted roots stateside, with its flagship boutique situated in the heart of it all.

The jewel box-like space is everything you’d imagine for a brand built around a timeless and quietly romantic approach to wardrobing. Louis Rambert, the French interior designer behind Kallmeyer’s elegant Upper East Side hideout and Beverly’s Orchard St. outpost, imbued the space with a layered warmth where vintage decor sits alongside custom furniture, like sconces crafted from Fortuny fabrics and iron-wrought tools upholstered in colorful, tapestry-like textiles. The antique black and white stone flooring came straight from France.

I was one of the lucky first to visit Posse on the day of its opening on May 10. Walking up to the store, you’re greeted by a lush floral display in the window. Inside was equally bright and inviting, with a robust of selection of core pieces to try on, alongside key styles from the spring collection. Tiny Easter eggs were scattered throughout, like bright knitwear in the alcoves, a tassel belt on a faded antique dresser, and an assortment of woven baskets by Underwater Weaving—in colors that compliment the spring collection. There were even a few exclusives from the Moda Operandi La Isla capsule. If only all my Mondays could start here.

Up, Up, and Away!

Lightweight, airy, and exactly what you need for a sticky summer in the city, I gravitated almost immediately towards the balloon pants Posse had in store: some were plain, some ruffled, others were trimmed with broderie anglaise. It’s a look that you can take as pared-back or as bold as you like. I went for the latter, trying on the Pearl in beige and black. Voluminous by design (they’re made from a cotton-silk blend that billows at the bottom), I’d size down if you want an overall slimmer fit in the leg. A little T-shirt and heel are what you need need here to balance out the proportions (I have micro wedges on!), though I do like the idea of wearing it with a colorful halter top and flip-flops on the weekends.

Capri Calling

I never thought I’d be a capri girl—they simultaneously intrigue and intimidate me—but they were all I could think about after trying them on. I styled the black ones two ways: with a cropped cardigan-as-jacket and a pink linen tunic with a fringed scallop hem. One office look, one weekend look. The cut is definitely what makes these work for my 5’2 frame; they hit just over the knee (I find this more flattering and elevated than mid-calf) and have the tiniest of side splits at the hem for ease of movement. The material is key, too. They’re a thick but still stretchy cotton-blend that wear more like trousers than leggings, giving them plenty of styling potential. And if you love a printed pant, the black or red gingham is pure fun.

Summer Whites

You could easily build your entire vacation wardrobe around Posse’s airy cottons and linens, which span beach-ready minis and delicate embroidered sets ideal for aperitivo hour. This is summer dressing, simplified.

Pretty in Pink

If you know me, you know I have a soft spot for a midi skirt. It also happens to be a category Posse excels in. (The Emma, a simple pencil style, is an enduring bestseller.) I was drawn to this sweet A-line shape for its charming ditsy floral and almost gossamer-like fabric. Pink is often a color I prefer conceptually, but something about this cherry blossom shade felt just right as a lightweight summer knit, which splits the difference between an actual sweater and a long-sleeve top in terms of fit and weight. A full look with one of the Underwater Weaving baskets!