Eccentric Treasures

UPTOWN'S LATEST RETRO-CHIC BOUTIQUE

Armed with an M.B.A. from Columbia, a keen eye for style, and a healthy love of consumption, 29-year-old Alii Abrahamson has brought some sassy class to Manhattan's refined Upper East Side with her new boutique, Selma and Syd. Named after her maternal grandparents, the tiny shop looks like a bright, eccentric boudoir—done up with sunny yellow walls, billowy bubble-gum-pink drapes, sparkly chandeliers, and polka-dot cushioned benches. "I created a space that was whimsical, Alice in Wonderlandish," she explains. And she has filled it with charming finds from around the globe: handblown, candy-colored martini glasses, flippy skirts, Pucci-inspired silk headbands, girlie jewelry, handbags that look like the ones Rita Hayworth and Grace Kelly used to sling over their shoulders, and divine cashmere baby clothes. Abrahamson prides herself on showcasing emerging designers—45 or so at any given time—from such places as Paris, London, Venice, Denmark, and Vietnam. "I like discovering things," explains the Brooklyn native, who credits her mother as "the one who first introduced me to finding treasures. When I was younger we would drive into the city and hit the markets." Selma and Syd is a heavenly slice of old-world charm. If you're looking for that sort of thing, pop on in. It's a magical place.

DANY LEVY