Best of the New: Shopping
A new mall (hint: It's west), a new downtown district (hint: It's south), and more new shops.
PRETTY DOES
Paula Tierney wanted to beautify the North End, specifically the women who live there. So she opened A Matter of Face, a boutique carrying high-end skin-care and cosmetic lines from Bliss, Darphin, Paula Dorf, and more. Weekly after-hours "makeup-madness" events are convenient for after-work shopping and perfect for gal-pal bonding, as are monthly Sunday "beauty brunches." Lash extensions are available by appointment. A Matter of Face, 425 Hanover Street, Boston, 617-742-5874
FIX AND MATCH
Done up in pale wood, glass, and stainless steel, Casa di Stile in the North End screams urban sophisticate, not tourista. Catering to the way many women dress, much of its inventory is tops and blouses, making it easy to update any skirt, pant, or pair of jeans. Casa di Stile, 371 Hanover Street, Boston, 857-233-4885
THINKING SMALL
Not every mother-daughter shopping excursion requires a trip to the mall, especially if you live in Needham. Just hightail it to the upscale and trendy Chrislee boutique, chock-full of chic choices for moms and splurge-worthy clothing for daughters from toddlers to teens. Prices range from investment to affordable, and designers include Badgley Mischka, Tocca, and Vivienne Tam. There's also a killer high-end denim selection. Chrislee, 1110 Great Plain Avenue, Needham, 781-453-4073, chrisleeboutique.com
RUNWAY, REALITY
Fashion-conscious women do not live by designer handbags alone. Just check out the expanded Christian Dior boutique in Copley Place. It's filled with oh-la-la clothes, shoes, and jewelry for those with deep pockets and European tastes. John Galliano may go over the top in his Dior runway designs, but the choice pickings at the boutique are eminently wearable. Christian Dior, Copley Place, Boston, 617-927-7577, dior.com
PYT PLACE
Crush is a warm and friendly Beacon Hill shop that's filled with feminine styles perfect for date night or wowing them at work: trendy lines like Jenny Han, Prairie NY, and Tracy Reese. There's great stuff for boyfriends, too, including casually cool labels such as Modern Amusement. Crush, 131 Charles Street, Boston, 617-720-0010, shopcrushboutique.com
SOUTH AMERICAN STYLE
For home goods exactly like everyone else's, don't go to Diseno. The sexy shelter shop (the name is Spanish for "design") is filled with striking South American pieces - leather sofas from Argentina, ceramics from Brazil, blankets from Peru - that are both worldly and decidedly different. Diseno, 409 Harrison Avenue, Boston, 617-423-2008, disenoboston.com
OFF THE SCALES
Interior designer Dennis Duffy's new DScale in the South End brings his natty modern vibe to retail buyers. In addition to Duffy's own designs and revamped vintage furniture, his two-level shop stocks interesting accessories, such as squat ceramic vases with pin-thin necks and glittering beaded pillows from India. DScale, 520 Harrison Avenue, Boston, 617-426-1055, dscale.com
FASHION FOOTPRINT
At Envi on Newbury Street, co-owners Callie Smith and Ursula Stahl pick and choose from the most stylish earth-conscious collections - Del Forte, Edun, Stewart + Brown, and the like - and stock an assortment of fashions you'd want to wear even if there weren't a global-warming crisis. Envi, 164 Newbury Street, Boston, 617-267-3684, shopenvi.com
HIS WAY
It's about time another men's clothing store opened in Boston. Already established in New York, Frank Stella Clothiers in Back Bay is a smart mix of classic and hip brands, like Mason's, from Italy, and the UK's Ted Baker London. Combining old-world clubby with modern sleek, the spacious store holds an ample selection, and sales-people are helpful without being pushy. Frank Stella Clothiers, 220 Clarendon Street, Boston, 617-267-7505
STATEMENT DRESSING
South Shore social butterflies have been flying into Gia B since it opened in Hingham last fall. This beautiful shop is filled with the latest in pretty party frocks and hip casual wear. Owner Joyce Brennick has a discerning eye, choosing cheeky but wearable designs from hot lines like Alice + Olivia, AdamPlusEve, and Valentino Red. Gia B, Derby Street Shoppes, Hingham, 781-749-5510, giaboutique.net
PARTY PREP
Find the perfect party dress or designer duds without ever leaving the North Shore at sweet Helene M. Shop for Lilly Pulitzer's signature resort wear and accessories by local designer Hadley Pollet, plus hip Habitual jeans. Tasteful, contemporary jewelry and handbags round out the clothing selections. Helene M., The Shoppes at Hamilton Crossing, South Hamilton, 978-468-3455
ON HIS ARM
It's a given these days: Real men carry bags. So how fortuitous that Jack Spade has opened up shop beneath sister store Kate Spade on Newbury Street. Started as a line of utilitarian bags that were sold in hardware stores, the line's offerings continue to be functional first, but super stylish as well. Jack Spade, 117 Newbury Street, Boston, 617-262-2632, jackspade.com
GREAT GALLERY
Several new art galleries opened in the area in 2007, but LaMontagne Gallery in South Boston stands out. Russell LaMontagne And the people at Looc do the same for you. Named for a French slang word (it's "cool" spelled backwards), the spacious South End boutique has a minimalist, romantic decor, stocking only special items with an eye toward European elan. Designers are a combination of currently and about-to-be hot labels from New York and Paris. Looc, 12 Union Park Street, Boston, 617-357-5333, loocboutique.com
POCKET PURSE SHOP
Many of the brands carried at high-end handbag specialists Lux Couture can be found on the arms of Hollywood starlets - just not in other Boston shops. It's a pocket of a store tucked away in an industrial setting in Wellesley, a very private place that's startlingly conducive to shelling out $5,000 for a purse. Lux Couture, 14 Mica Lane, Wellesley, 781-431-7777, luxcouture.com
UNIQUE BOUTIQUE
Fashion is a family affair for Marianthe Anagnostis, a local jeweler known for her elegant artistic designs, and daughter Aimee Bode, a former buyer at Bergdorf Goodman in New York. Their Back Bay Mahri boutique (there are two suburban locations as well) showcases Mom's sculptural sparklers alongside tempting clothing and handbags from small, high-end lines. Prices range from affordable to investment. Mahri, 215 Newbury Street, Boston, 617-437-0110, mahrijewelry.com
MODERNISM PLUS
Mid-Mod Design at the Boston Design Center isn't just another showroom joining the modernist pack. Of course, the Art Deco and mid-century-modern artwork and furnishings are a testament to owner David Sanborn's exceptional eye, honed working at top Boston art galleries, antiques auctions, and to-the-trade furniture houses. It's his savvy picks for newly made, eco-friendly goods that set Mid-Mod apart. Send your designer. Mid-Mod Design, Suite 549, One Design Center Place, Boston, 617-261-0300
ON YOUR SIDE
They say you can't buy good taste. Well, they haven't been to the South End's On the Side, the retail collaboration of two local design firms. In the small, spare space, where Boxx Furniture's streamlined tables and seating mingle with stylish, neutral-palette Simplemente Blanco linens and other home accessories, good taste is the only thing you can buy. On the Side, 40 Waltham Street, Boston, 617-734-3669, boxxfurniture.com
STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE
Sure, Saks, Bloomingdales, and Neiman Marcus carry some of the label's bags, but if you want the "waiting list" styles now, and in the hottest colors and rarest leathers, the Salvatore Ferragamo boutique in Copley Place can't be beat. It is also the only local store carrying the complete men's and women's clothing and footwear collections of luxurious, expensive pieces you'll wear forever. Salvatore Ferragamo, Copley Place, Boston, 617-859-4924, ferragamo.com
WRITE ON
Beautiful and unusual stationery lines the walls of Scribe, an intimate store in South Hamilton. Embossed cards, wrapping paper printed with "pugs and kisses," and even photos and paintings created by local artists make even just browsing an adventure. Scribe, The Shoppes at Hamilton Crossing, South Hamilton, 978-468-6300, scribepaper.com
COLOR MY WORLD
From the moment you spy the magenta-colored walls, Stitch House, a yarn shop in Dorchester, gets you thinking about color. For yarns, there's a bright chartreuse alpaca, an intense marine-blue cotton, and the perfect basic-black merino - among dozens and dozens of other choices. Just as inspiring are the shop's hours: It's open on both weekend days, and Tuesday through Friday shoppers are welcome until a conveniently late 8 p.m. There are classes on knitting, crocheting, and quilting (though no quilting supplies are sold in the store). Stitch House, 846 Dorchester Avenue, Boston, 617-265-8013, stitchhousedorchester.com
GOING GLAM
Alison Barnard, who actually made buying jeans a pleasurable experience at her In-jeanius boutique, has opened a second store, Twilight, specializing in nighttime glamour. In a North End setting that resembles the inside of a shiny jewelry box, there are flirty finds like dresses by Nicole Miller, Betsey Johnson, and Rachel Pally, as well as just the right bag and jewelry. Twilight, 12 Fleet Street, North End, 617-523-8008, twilightboutique.com
ALL WRAPPED UP
With the arrival of Velvet Ribbon, Brookline's Washington Square has a women's boutique to call its own. Conceived as a source for stylish working women who need office-to-evening wear, the store carries pretty dresses, skirts, and blouses that look hip but won't embarrass you in front of the boss. Velvet Ribbon, 1620 Beacon Street, Brookline, 617-277-0066, vribbonboutique.com
SUITS YOU
The talented team behind popular Wish boutique on Beacon Hill has struck gold again. As the name suggests, Wish Splash is fashion central for beach or poolside glam, featuring sexy suits from lines that include Lisa Curran, Milly Cabana, Shoshanna, and Vix. Chic coverups, straw hats, sunglasses, and beach totes complete your vacation needs. (Plane fare sold separately.) Wish Splash, 15 Charles Street, Boston, 617-228-0225
SAVE A TRIP
Not that there's anything wrong with the coastal-conservative look, but FRENCH + ITALIAN brings a welcome dose of European chic to Marblehead. Owner Aimee Lombardi loves all things French and - you guessed it - Italian, so she fills her boutique with a selection of clothes and accessories from those two countries, many of which can't be found anywhere else in New England. She carries travel guidebooks, French paper, and a few eco-friendly clothing lines, too. French + Italian, 129 Washington Street, Marblehead, 781-639-5129, frenchitalian.com
OLD, MEET NEW
Who has the time to shop fairs and thrift stores for in-again period fashions? The owners of North End boutique THE VELVET FLY do. Their wearable vintage selections (with on-site custom tailoring available) share space with contemporary designers, making it easy to put together charmingly unique outfits. The store is pretty as a picture, and prices are reasonable. The Velvet Fly, 424 Hanover Street, Boston, 617-557-4359, thevelvetfly.com
SERIOUS FUN
Two hundred dollars may sound like a lot for a tin toy from 1950, but you may change your mind when you wind it up and watch the little dog flipping burgers in a frying pan as its ears go up and down. in Watertown is an overstuffed closet of a store COSMO FUNTIQUES with vintage toys plus furnishings and advertisements that owner Mike Kaplan rents out as movie props. Bike nuts beware: Kaplan has collected for years, and is currently offering a 1952 Schwinn Red Phantom, in showroom condition, for $3,500. Browsing is an obstacle course that takes you back to your childhood. Cosmo Funtiques, 609 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown, 800-551-7767, cosmofuntiques.com
ELEGANT ENVIRONMENTS
At gifts and accessories boutique GREENWARD, everything is earth-friendly in some way, whether it's energy-efficient, recyclable or biodegradable, or made from recycled, sustainable, or organic materials. But it also reflects the taste for finer things that husband-and-wife owners Scott Walker and Simone Alpen share. There are elegant soy candles and stylish bamboo serving pieces - even the compost bins look cool. Greenward, 1776 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 617-395-1338, greenwardshop.com
ALL OF IT
Lovers of M. FLYNN's polished, just-preppy-enough bags and costume jewelry, rejoice. After selling pieces in specialty shops for years, the design duo, sisters Megan and Moria Flynn, has opened a boutique where shoppers can paw their entire line all in one place. The store is a dream for anyone who needs to accessorize quickly and prettily for an upcoming wedding, party, or date. M. Flynn, 46 Waltham Street, Suite 101, Boston, 617-292-0079, mflynnstudio.com
TOP IT OFF
Its name basically means "a little bit of everything." And SALMAGUNDI - opened in Jamaica Plain by husband-and-wife team Jessen Fitzpatrick and Andria Rapagnola - definitely delivers, selling plenty of funky accessories for women and men. But the store's specialty is hats: everything from formal felt fedoras to handmade winter wear. "A hat brings out something in you," Fitzpatrick says. "It's like a party in here on weekends." Salmagundi, 765 Centre Street, Boston, 617-522-5047
THEY DO THE MATH
Wondering what to wear for that worrisome first date? Sisters Keri and Brianne Barrett have divided their adorable Andover boutique into sections, each catering to a different mood, from "Just Cocktails" to "Sunday Stroll." Even if you've already landed the man of your dreams, there's plenty to love in FIRST DATE's fashions, billed as "preppy chic with a modern twist." First Date, 28 Chestnut Street, Andover, 978-247-8999, shopfirstdate.com
A MALL, MALL WORLD
The reopened Natick Collection brings luxury shopping to the suburbs in a big way, with Burberry,
A catalog favorite for years, HANNA ANDERSSON has finally opened a first-in-Massachusetts store featuring its charming and colorful children's wear inspired by Swedish designs. Every garment from the Portland, Oregon-based company is made of 100 percent organic cotton for super softness and chemical-free comfort against tender skin. Prices are reasonable, and a portion of all sales goes to children's charities. Hanna Andersson, Natick Collection, 508-647-3711, hannaandersson.com
New from the American Eagle company, MARTIN + OSA is an appealing, outdoorsy store that makes basics look cool. Novel fabrics and bold colors update wardrobe staples like jeans, sporty outerwear, and soft knits, with fashion detailing in the women's offerings, such as balloon hems and red patent-leather ballet flats. Martin + Osa, Natick Collection, 508-655-2502, martinandosa.com
Natick's NEIMAN MARCUS is surprising both inside and out. First is the striking exterior "wrap," which looks like an undulating ribbon of metal fabric. Then there's the classical pianist playing the white baby grand near the entrance. Most important, the store is happily not Neiman's-lite, offering many designers that even the Boston branch doesn't carry, including Derek Lam, Donna Karan, and Zac Posen. Neiman Marcus, Natick Collection, 508-620-5700, neimanmarcus.com
It's been a long wait. As if NORDSTROM's mammoth shoe department and loads and loads of designer collections - many new to the area - weren't enough, the store's service actually exceeds its excellent reputation. And don't forget the fabulous children's department, which includes too-cool-for-school shoes from Europe. There's also not one, but two places to grab a bite. Nordstrom, Natick Collection, 508-318-2600, nordstrom.com
The name should be RACHEL ASHWELL Not-So-SHABBY CHIC. Everything in the store - started during the '80s and now a successful chain - has a left-to-me-by-a-rich-French-aunt appeal, with one-of-a-kind flea-market finds mixed with vintage-look furniture, bedding, and decorative accessories. Prices are down-to-earth, as are the helpful salespeople. Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic, Natick Collection, 508-655-3220, shabbychic.com
First the Swedes sent over H&M, now Spain wows with export ZARA. A huge success in New York and elsewhere in the US, Natick nabbed the first local store (there are more to come). Though a bit pricier than H&M, the spot-on trendy merchandise for men and women is still a bargain, and the quality is a step up. Zara, Natick Col-lection, 508-655-5040, zara.com
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