Best of Boston

Best Designer

2017 Best Designer, Jewelry

Sophie Hughes

Boston
It's all about craftsmanship for Sophie Hughes, who uses recycled precious metals and reclaimed diamonds to fashion each of her masterpieces by hand. The MassArt [...] read more»
2017 Best Designer, Shoes

Milicent Armstrong, Artemis Design Co.

Allston
Very few people look at a rug and see a great pair of shoes. Milicent Armstrong is one of them. Made from intricate, colorful kilims [...] read more»
2016 Best Designer, Bags

Gina DeWolfe

Gina DeWolfe inherited her leather-working tools from her grandfather, so we have him to thank, in part, for the ultra-chic leather backpacks, satchels, and wallets [...] read more»
2016 Best Designer, Clothing

Kate Brierley, Isoude

This Rhode Island–based designer crafts chic, timeless silhouettes for women looking for effortless style, but it’s her specialized wardrobe programs that set her apart. Brierley [...] read more»
2016 Best Designer, Shoes

Thom Solo

Thom Solo’s avant-garde footwear, donned by the likes of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, is for women who appreciate “having a moment,” he says. His [...] read more»
2016 Best Designer, Jewelry

Sophie Hughes, Ore Jewelry

Boston
Sophie Hughes’s boutique is a trove of trendy mixed-metal bracelets, stackable rings, and delicate earrings, all done in the artisan’s minimalist style. By using high- [...] read more»
2015 Best Designer, Clothing

Petite Mort Fur

Um, excuse us, but bespoke fur accessories fashioned from roadkill? Pamela Paquin changed us from skeptics to apostles with her stunning gauntlet gloves, leg warmers, [...] read more»
2015 Best Designer, Bags

Artemis Design Co.

There are "it" bags, and then there are timeless investment pieces that pack an aesthetic punch. South End designer Milicent Armstrong, an intrepid wanderer, specializes [...] read more»
2015 Best Designer, Jewelry

Nervous System

Somerville
We're writers, not scientists, so we barely understand the programming behind Nervous System's computer-generated jewelry lines ("kinematics" is a line of energy bars, right?). But [...] read more»
2014 Best Designer, Clothing

Luke Aaron

Boston
Crisp tailoring and dramatic silhouettes are the calling cards of this costume designer turned couturier, who continues to impress us every season with his sophisticated [...] read more»