I was in NYC a couple of weeks ago and went past Atelier not knowing much about the joint other than that I'd heard it mentioned...
I've got to say, I was taken aback but also found a deep new respect for and appreciation for 'fashion'. The stuff was beautiful, in a strange sort of way. It's like architecture for the body. I've got new respect for guys like Synethese and Snake and others who rock this stuff IRL. Of course I found it all too expensive, but the fabrics, cuts, sheer creativity really impressed me.
and then I walked in looking like a jcrew catalogue and saw the people working there, which was something interesting as well. See, just out on the street, I'd probably roll my eyes and go 'only in NY', but within the context, the store, the guys all looked perfectly at home. It's like they were part of a whole different world and I was the outsider there.
just an interesting experience.