Assembly Showroom
Los Angeles native Matt Gallagher brings the West Coast to the South Shore with Assembly Showroom, a boutique offering casual-cool styles for men and women. With a wide selection of clothing from brands such as Marine Layer, Faherty, and LNA — not to mention ultra-helpful, knowledgeable staffers that make upgrading your wardrobe a breeze — you’re guaranteed to drop in more than once. And your options for visiting are plentiful: Within three years of opening, Assembly already has three locations on the South Shore. Hingham and other locations 24 North St., Hingham, MA 02043, assemblyshowroom.com.
Sweat Fixx
Pat Piasecki What should you do if you miss pumping iron with your crew, but you’re still not ready to step foot inside a gym? Grab your yoga mat and some optional weights and head to Sweat Fixx for an outdoor fitness class, pronto. Offering al fresco strengthening sessions at its Southie location seven days per week, this woman-owned studio makes it (mostly) painless to squeeze in a low-impact workout filled with squats, biceps curls, planks, and more planks whenever the mood strikes. 323 Dorchester Ave., South Boston, MA 02127, sweatfixx.com.
Fasika Café
Brian Samuels From the springy tear of tangy injera cr&_ecirc;pes to the supple pillowiness of raw chopped beef leavened with gobs of fiery-orange spiced butter (kitfo), the tactile pleasures of Befekadu Defar’s traditional (read: silverware-free) Ethiopian fare are just what the doctor ordered to reward your Purell-chafed hands for 16 months of ablutionary abuse. Your gustatory receptors will thank you, too. 51 Roxbury St., Roxbury, MA 02119, fasikarestaurants.com.
J. Press
In a world where trends change daily, this preppy haberdashery recalls the proper Harvard Square of yore. Looking to impress in the boardroom? Try the U.S.-made "Super 120S Wool" charcoal beaded-stripe suit. Need to accessorize your tailgating attire for the big Harvard-Yale game? Check out the wide selection of neckwear (we suggest the "Harvard Sport" bow tie). Tailoring on-site, meanwhile, guarantees that your slacks will always have a break that's just so. 82 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, MA 02138, jpressonline.com.
Tavi de la Rosa
Rare is the makeup artist who can shake you out of your routine with a single application of blush and eyeshadow. Tavi de la Rosa, who mans the Sisley counter at Neiman Marcus part-time and preps Boston's style icons, can suss out your look in minutes. For us, that meant smoky eyes, flawless foundation, and near-nude lips, plus a few false-eyelash applications for extra zing.
Brighter Lights Media
Ready for your silver-screen debut? Brighter Lights Media’s cinematic wedding-day videos document both the monumental moments and the intimate details in both short trailer and feature-film-length cuts. Bonus: Christian Nachtrieb and Chris Scesny’s stunning aerial shots, captured by quadcopter, let you watch your love story unfold from a birds’-eye view. 15 Channel Center St., Boston, MA brighterlightsmedia.com.
Uniform
Photograph by Bob O'Connor Uniform owner Gary Ritacco has a keen understanding of what it means to balance personal style with form and function. His South End shop stocks timeless basics like fitted plaid and polka-dot button-ups and classic Levi’s alongside unexpected accessories that let your individuality shine through. Just imagine what a sleek Swiss messenger bag, a preppy Daniel Wellington watch, and ankle-high Tretorn sneakers could do for your weekend getup. 511 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02116, uniformboston.com.
Clear Flour Bread
In an era when everyone from your grandparents to your girlfriend has gone “gluten-free,” Clear Flour is unapologetically pro carb. Apricot-studded pain de seigle? Black-sesame sticks basted with garlic-herb butter? It’s easy to see why the yeasty, buttery scent of its long-fermented loaves continues to lure locals in droves. Just arrive early if you’re looking for something special (apologies to the woman behind us who wanted the last rosemary focaccia). 178 Thorndike St., Brookline, MA 02446, clearflourbread.com.
Brilliant Earth
Your relationship is conflict-free—shouldn't your ring be, too? The pros at Brilliant Earth go well beyond the industry standard, tracking diamonds from the time they leave the mine to the time they're cut and polished. A selection of fresh settings made from recycled metals and one-of-a-kind vintage looks, meanwhile, make it even easier to say yes. 38 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, brilliantearth.com.
The Green Room
Photograph by Trevor Reid / Model, Tayla Fernandez/Maggie Inc. From the moment Jessica Thornton asks her first question—"What do you want your hair to say about you?"—it's clear she genuinely wants you to love your locks. The stylist leaves hair so perfectly voluminous that some of her regulars can't resist visiting her one-woman shop for a blowout ($85) multiple times a week. 40 River St., Boston, MA 02114, greenroomboston.com.
Party Favors
After tasting every cake in town—hey, anything for the job—it's official: Party Favors' sinfully rich but not-too-sweet cake/frosting combo is the most delectable. You can mix and match colors and flavors for filling and icing, and sample two combinations before making a decision. Bring in a wedding photo of your cake a year later, and the shop will make you a mini anniversary replica for free—a handy service, considering your reception guests will want to devour every last morsel of the original. 1356 Beacon St., Brookline, MA partyfavorsbrookline.com.
Ana Hernández
A wedding gown is more costly than anything else in your closet. Why buy it off the rack when you can get a couture creation? Designer Hernández will build the dress of your dreams from scratch. Simply walk upstairs to her lovely studio and collaborate with her to produce a dress the likes of which you literally won't see anywhere else. 165 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Marisa DeMarco, Salon Mario Russo
Finally: a hairdresser who actually listens to your requests and delivers. DeMarco stays away from a on-ecut-suits-all technique, preferring to update your look gradually without any sudden, drastic changes. Based in the Louis Boston location of Salon Mario Russo, she's equally adept at color, for those who like to keep their salon visits down to a minimum. 234 Berkeley St., Boston, MA mariorusso.com.
Kenneth Baldwin, Premier Fitness
If he can train Alan Dershowitz, we're pretty sure he can train anyone. We're convinced Baldwin knows the human body outside-in. While he's teaching you proper weightlifting, he explains how each muscle group is working. While you're doing cardio, he gives a minicourse on how your heart is pumping. So you exercise and feel smarter, all at once. Baldwin gets results—without boring you back to your couch-potato world. 61 Cedar St., Suite A, Cambridge, MA .
Marathon Sports
Get personalized attention every step of the way at Marathon, where sharp-eyed employees will diagnose your stride on the sales floor and then bring out model after model in search of the right fit. (Customers are encouraged to take a test jog outdoors, too.) Be it Mizuno, Saucony, or other elite running shoe, your purchase is guaranteed to be ready for action—from a 5K to a stroll at the dog park—right out of the box. 671 Boylston St., Brookline, MA 2445, marathonsports.com.