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'Offbeat' European Women's Designer Opens First U.S. Outlet in Park Slope

 Lilith, a Paris-based women's designer with
Lilith, a Paris-based women's designer with "offbeat" creations, has opened its first U.S outlet store in Park Slope at 217 Fifth Ave.
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Sarah Cabral

PARK SLOPE — A French designer known for avant-garde fashions has opened its first U.S. outlet store on Fifth Avenue.

Lilith Outlet sells discounted pieces from previous seasons' collections by the Paris-based designer, which makes women's clothes that are "inventive" and "playful," said manager Sarah Cabral.

The clothes are also comfortable and run from size zero to 14, a rarity in high fashion, Cabral noted. Founded in the 1980s, Lilith has shops throughout France and Europe and a flagship boutique in the United States on Mulberry Street in SoHo.

Some looks in the summer 2016 collection appear to draw inspiration from a hybrid of 1980s teen singing sensation Debbie Gibson and Charlie Chaplin in "The Kid."

“The collections, built with real life situations in mind and constantly toying with convention, place the accent on surprise, on the garment’s own magic and on the unforeseen detail,” says the designer’s website, which also describes the clothes as "offbeat" and "audacious."

The Park Slope outlet opened April 8 at 217 Fifth Ave., between Union and President streets, in the space previously occupied by Poppy.

Other recent comings and goings on the restaurant and retail scene include the following:

► The women's boutique Min-k opened in early April at 145 Fifth Ave. (between St. John's and Lincoln places). Designer Minji Kim attracted celebrity shoppers at her shop's previous locations in the East Village and Nolita, according to Here's Park Slope, which first reported the opening. Kim also does costume design for TV shows including Showtime's "Billions" and HBO's "Vinyl," according to her website.

► The outdoor outfitter Gear To Go expanded into a new larger space at 159 Seventh Ave. (on the corner of Garfield Place) on April 16. The roomier shop will allow Gear to Go to sell more camping and hiking supplies, and they're keeping their smaller space around the corner to handle equipment rentals.

Gear To Go's new shop replaces Palma Chemist, a neighborhood pharmacy that closed after 54 years in business. Palma hasn't disappeared entirely — pharmacist Frank Calandriello is now behind the counter at Ansonia Chemist at 358 Seventh Ave.

► The make-your-own batik studio Hiho Batik will close its shop at 184 Fifth Ave. (between Degraw and Sackett streets) at the end of April, the owners announced on Facebook. The shop opened in 2012.