What’s In Store: Twilight

The North End is well known as a destination for specific cravings: red sauce, cannoli, and, more recently, scantily clad twenty-something singles. Now, newcomer Twilight adds party dresses to the list. Owner Alison Barnard first recruited loyal shoppers to the parking-challenged neighborhood two years ago with In-jean-ius, her Hanover Street boutique. For her second venture, she changes focus from casual to slightly less so with a well-considered frock selection: eyelet A-line halters by Corey Lynn Calter, semiformal dresses by Adam + Eve, jersey shifts by Rachel Pally. While some small shops overgeneralize and overstuff—forcing everything from sleepwear to sequins to compete for attention—Barnard’s keep-it-simple strategy works. The loungey brick-walled space, fitting rooms draped in silk, and a cheery sales crew that offers honest, pressure-free advice help make dolling up as comfortable as dressing down. —Leah Melby

12 Fleet St., Boston, 617-523-8008.