If you have ever been shopping in New York and sworn that the woman behind the cash register at Blue Tree looks exactly like Phoebe Cates, well, you're probably right. Cates is one of a handful of celebrities opening their own boutiques. And surprise, surprise- most of them-  like Lisa Rinna, Cates and Niki Taylor- are actively involved in every aspect of their shops, from hunting down the coolest new designers and buying the clothing, to occasionally putting in time behind the till. (But one thing most of the celebs need to do is hire someone to create a decent website for them). Here is a look at some of our favourite celeb boutiques.

Butik
Not content with being only a supermodel, Helena Christensen has also turned her hand to photography and fashion, with the opening of Butik. The shop is co-owned with her friend and flower artist, Leif Sigersen, and the shop is a happy jumble of goods picked up all over trhe world, from clothing to candles, antiques, flowers and chocolates.

Butik
605 Hudson Street
(between West 12th and Bethune)
New York, New York
Phone: (212) 367-8014

Twenty8Twelve
Although plenty of young celebs have their own clothing lines (Mandy Moore, the Olsens, Hillary Duff) very few ever open their own stores. That's not the case with the Miller sister. Sienna and Savannah opened their Notting Hill boutique earlier this year, which is ideal for people who cant- or don't want- to schlep over to Harvey Nicks or Matches.

Twenty8Twelve
172 Westbourne Grove,
London W11 2RW
Phone: 020 7221 9287

www.twenty8twelve.com

Abbie & Jesse's
Supermodel Niki Taylor named her Nashville area boutique after her two dogs, Abbie and Jesse. The shop looks simple from the outside- its housed in a brick building that could have been a Pizzeria Uno in the not so distant past-  but inside there are plenty  of savvy design finds. Taylor stocks LA brands like True Religion and C&C California, as well as Da-Nang, Joe's Jeans, Pete, J & Co., and Antik Denim.

Abbie & Jessie's
420 Cool Springs Blvd
Franklin, TN 37067
Phone: (615) 771-5054

www.nikitaylor.com

Little Seed
Remember Punky Brewster? Well, actress Soleil Moon Frye is all grown up (with kids of her run) and recently opened The Little Seed for fashionable mums. Her shop stocks funky baby linens and accessories, and many of them are eco friendly, such as the non-toxic crayons and paints. We think Punky would approve.

The Little Seed
219 Larchmont Boulevard
Los Angeles, California
Phone: (323)462-4441

www.thelittleseed.com

Blue Tree
Actress Phoebe Cates opened Blue tree on the site of the former Penny Whistle store. The Blue Tree is a combination gift store and well-edited boutique. There's clothng for men, women and children as well as stylish accessories. Cates and her team don't stock the usual suspects; their brands include Jamin Puech Paris, Heike Jarick, and Jarbo.

Blue Tree
1283 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10128
Phone: (212)369-BLUE

www.bluetreeny.com

Belle Gray
Lisa Rinna is one busy woman. In addition to her TV work, she owns not one but two boutiques in the LA area (Sherman Oaks and Calabasas). Her Belle Gray stores reflect her laid back but stylish California look, stocking Juicy Couture, Citizens of Humanity and Glamajama. Rinna has also created her own Belle Gray label of comfy track suits and cute printed tank tops (we're waiting for Rinna to come up with something featuring her husband Harry Hamlin and 'Clash of the Titans' movie, which we secretly love). Belle Gray also gets the prize for the best website, as it offers online shopping and handy search tips like “As seen on.." and "Lisa's picks of the week."

Belle Gray
3812 Ventura Boulevard
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Phone: (818) 789-4021

4751 Commons Way “0”
Calabasas, CA 91302
Phone: (818) 222-2917

http://bellegray.com