European Watch Company
Photo by Bruce Peterson/Styling by Laura Nero It’s not just the real estate market that’s hot, hot, hot; it’s also the luxury watch market. And when it comes to buying, selling, servicing, or trading the highest-end tickers, this Newbury Street boutique’s expert squad clocks in as the very best. Particularly impressive recent “gets” for serious collectors include an F.P. Journe Chronometre Resonance with brass movement and a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms (among the world’s first dive watches) in white gold. And that’s just the tip of the chronometer iceberg. 137 Newbury St., 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02116, europeanwatch.com.
Sinesia Karol
Photo by Marcio Amaral Bathing-suit shopping can be a fraught endeavor. (Is there anyone on Earth who likes trying on spandex in a poorly lit dressing room?) Mercifully, this Boston- based designer eliminates much of that stress with an array of options — from classic string bikinis to one-pieces that offer a little more coverage — that can be ordered online or browsed in-person at Karol’s eponymous brick-and-mortar in Newport, Rhode Island. And while some swimwear runs frumpy or just plain bor- ing, Karol’s line (inspired by her native Brazil) is jazzed up with fun patterns, interesting cutouts, and unusual details you won’t find elsewhere. 135 Spring St., Newport, RI 2840, sinesiakarol.us.
Bogosplit
This innovative Assembly Row showroom isn’t just a place to browse cutting-edge clothing and accessories from a variety of independent designers, many of them local; it’s also a place for style-minded people to gather and exchange ideas (see: the artist meet-and-greets and micro fashion shows). It all proves that shopping small can reap big rewards. 431 Artisan Way, Somerville, MA 02145, bogosplit.com.
Joe Malaika
Photo by Emmanuel Appiah Boakye You could never accuse Joe Malaika of being dull. Showcasing bold prints, sequins, and cool asymmetrical cuts, the Ugandan-born designer’s pieces are some of the most vibrant (and sassy) ensembles you’ll find in the city. There are purple brocade suits for guys, floral-patterned sheaths for gals, and a whole lot of personality in all of it. 47 Magnolia St., Malden, MA 02148, joemalaika.com.
deWolfe Leather Goods
A good handbag is like a fine meal: simple ingredients, but only the best of them. Gina deWolfe knows this. Her eponymous bag collection consists of minimal cuts with top-quality leathers (plus a few metal garnishes for pizzazz). The “Wolfe-pack,” a supple backpack available in luxe neutrals, provides a sturdy and stylish friend for all of your adventures; the “Bettie” clutch, meanwhile, stands out for its pebbled leather and oversize belt buckle and grommets. All in all, a delicious result. 250 Newbury St., 1st Fl., Boston, MA 02116, dewolfeleathergoods.com.
Michele Mercaldo Jewelry
Michele Mercaldo must have aced geometry — after all, this jewelry artist can sculpt the perfect rectangle and circle like no other. A MassArt alum, Mercaldo has devoted the past 30 years to creating ruby rings, brown-diamond necklaces, and prehnite druzy cufflinks, to name just a few. Browse the cases at her sparkling Shawmut Avenue studio, or make an appointment to have her custom-design something just for you in whatever shape you dream of. 276 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 02118, michelemercaldojewelry.com.
Riccardi
There’s streetwear, and then there’s mad-cool streetwear. Repping brands like Off-White (RIP, Virgil Abloh), Chrome Hearts, and Thom Browne — not to mention a colossal jeans-and- tees collection from Amiri and Saint Laurent — this boutique’s wares definitely fall into the latter category. Riccardo Dallai, who launched his family fashion business in 1978, has also broken into the exclusive collab category with limited-edition hoodies, beanies, and sweat- pants. Your threads will be lit. 116 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, riccardiboston.com.
Garden Remedies
Photo by Michelle Newman You can find candy-colored cannabis fruit chews pretty much anywhere. But for some THC made with TLC, you’ll want to stop by this Newton shop. Its seed-to-sale chocolates are made in-house with Belgian Callebaut, in mouth-watering varieties like Campfire (with graham crackers and mini marshmallows) and Wake & Bake (crafted using coffee and doughnuts from a local bakery). Not a chocoholic? Come Halloween, look for the devilishly hot Spooky Spicy Gummy, made with ghost-pepper extract, and take the #spicygummychallenge. Multiple locations, gardenremedies.com.
Adorn Me Africa
Photo by Mona Miri Showcasing fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products from countries across Africa, the subscription boxes lovingly curated by Elorm Praise Dela-Seshie proved so popular that she eventually launched her own brick-and-mortar boutique in Bow Market. Now, as the business gets ready to scale to even greater heights, she's rolling out quarterly "African Passport" boxes ($99) featuring crunchy snacks, artisanal coffee, lip balm, and more. 1 Bow Market Way, Somerville, MA 02143, adornmeafrica.com.
The Fish & Bone
Courtesy of Canada Pooch Admit it: If your pets don’t feel — and look — good, you don’t either. So whether you’re in the market for a gold glitter collar for your cool cat, some freeze-dried pig snouts for Fido to obsess over, or fresh toys, outfits, and blankets, this shop has you covered. Having a hard time deciding? Let the knowledgeable and friendly staffers throw you a bone. thefishandbone.com.
Eye & Eye Optics
It’s not just your vision that’ll be sharp after shopping for specs here. The gem of a store carries a wide variety of frames — including brands like Versace and Tom Ford — to suit whatever look you’re going for, and at almost any price point, from $60 to $1,000. The father-and-son team behind the counter, meanwhile, are so easy to work with, you might just be happy you need glasses. 2271 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA 02124, eyeandeyeoptics.com.
Soma Optical
Photo by Pat Piasecki The future of Soma Optical is so bright, you better, well, wear shades. Home to exclusive sunglasses from around the world — some of them handmade and some you won’t find elsewhere in the area — the sleek South End shop is the passion project of married couple Alissa and Christos Karabelas, who are so knowledgeable about their inventory that just trying sunnies on with them is a treat. But wearing a pair home just might make your summer. 8 Union Park St., Boston, MA 02118, soma-optical.shop.
Ace Wheelworks
Courtesy of Ace Wheelworks/Specialized If anyone can convince parents to leave their gas-guzzling SUVs at home, it’s Ace Wheelworks, which has increasingly become a hub for Über-popular cargo bikes, those practical movers of kids and groceries alike. Plus, at a moment when kinks in the bike-part supply chain have made cycling more of a hassle, its large workshop staffed with true gearheads has been a lifeline for commuters on the move. Multiple locations, wheelworks.com.
Jean Wang
Courtesy of Jean Wang Dudes want to marry her. Dudettes want to befriend her. Everyone follows her — 733,000 people on Insta, to be exact. Maybe that’s because this fashion influencer’s classic-with- a-little-funk style perfectly fits the aesthetic of the Boston woman. Her roles as wife and mother also make appearances on her Extra Petite blog and Instagram page, where she offers cooking tips, lifestyle advice, date-night recommendations, and kids’ wardrobe ideas. You may find yourself asking, What would Jean do? The answer is a click away. extrapetite.com.
Brown and Coconut
Courtesy of Brown and Coconut No unnecessary (or unpronounceable) ingredients here: Created by Medford-based sisters Letisha Izuchi and Zeena Brown, Brown and Coconut’s much- loved line of plant-based beauty products (think: cleansers, toners, body butters, and more) focuses on delivering results through gentle, non-irritating elements such as aloe vera and juniper berry oil. Take, for instance, the duo’s clarifying kale mask: Packed with French green clay, lemon verbena, and honeysuckle, it promises to fight blemishes in the healthiest way possible. brownandcoconut.com.
M. Flynn
Photo by Avanti Studios There are some days when you just want to layer a mushroom pendant with a horseshoe charm necklace. M. Flynn has your back...er, neck. Sisters Megan and Moria Flynn stock their South End boutique with oodles of funky accessories that add stylish zest to any outfit, any day of the week (black-cherry Hotlips rings and pink-opal third-eye pendants, anyone?). Be on the lookout for M. Flynn’s cool collab with local lifestyle maven Erin Gates, which includes chunky black-onyx earrings and pretty yellow- gold lockets. 40 Waltham St., Boston, MA 02118, mflynnjewelry.com.
Great Eastern Trading Co.
Make sure you clear your schedule before stepping inside this time warp of a store, which stocks clothing and accessories dating to the 1920s. You’ll need plenty of time to browse rack after rack of still-good band tees, three-piece crochet sets, ’70s-era palazzo pants, forever-stylish leather jackets, quirky vests, and just about anything else your vintage heart could desire. Multiple locations, greateasternvintage.com.
Cambridge Antique Market
If you subscribe to the idea that new is nice but vintage is cool, get thee to Cambridge Antique Market immediately. The year-round bazaar, which spans five floors of a 19th-century brick building near Lechmere, teems with all sorts of covetable classics from more than 150 vendors: funky midcentury pottery, retro greeting cards, and old-school rotary-dial phones, to name just a few. 201 Monsignor O'Brien Hwy., Cambridge, MA 02141, marketantique.com/cambridg.
Reside
The magic of modernist furniture design is on full display at this Cambridge staple, which buys, sells, and consigns the types of hard-to-find period pieces that make even the most reserved vintage lovers gasp with delight. The shop’s wide-ranging collection of midcentury wares is especially compelling; after all, where else can you snag always-cool Eames loungers, sleek Hans Wegner daybeds, and brass-hinged Børge Mogensen sideboards in one fell swoop? 266 Concord Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, resideinc.com.
Marie Galvin Millinery
Photo by Mona Miri If you didn’t wear a Marie Galvin number to this hat-dotted luncheon to benefit the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, were you even there? Now that Party in the Park is officially back after a COVID hiatus, so too are the Boston milliner’s whimsical hats and fascinators, adorned with delicate orchids, sculptural bows, and other look-at-me accents. 450 Harrison Ave. #1, Boston, MA 02118, mariegalvin.com.
Lit for Black Kids
Early childhood educator and Roxbury native Brianna Perkins knows representation matters. That’s why she created an Instagram account highlighting children’s books that celebrate the experiences of Black kids — and why, after amassing tens of thousands of followers, she launched her curated online bookstore for anyone looking to share in the sense of joy and belonging. Her soon-to-launch traveling Lit Mobile, meanwhile, promises to bring books, literacy programs, and guaranteed smiles to kids in underserved areas. litforblackkids.com.
Harvard Book Store
It’s easy to lose track of time among the stacks and carefully arranged displays at this Cambridge classic, where paper- backs and hardcovers covering everything from travel to true crime entice at every turn. And now, thanks to an assist from new part-owner John Henry — who began investing in the shop late last year — the store’s next chapter will include renovations and a website revamp for easier browsing. That’s a win in our book. 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, harvard.com.
French + Italian
What was once considered a fleeting sojourn into sweatpants has now become the new virtual-business casual — but when you want to step it up a bit for your video calls (while still remaining comfy, of course), you’d do well to pop into Aimee Lombardi’s chic Beacon Hill boutique. Slouchy but well-tailored, classic but vibrant enough to stand out on camera, the carefully curated racks of linen button- downs from Aspesi and sunflower-yellow jersey pants by Sofie D’Hoore will carry you from Zoom calls to a nap to dinner al fresco. Multiple locations, frenchitalian.com.
Matsu
What’s in the window? That’s the question on Charles Street these days as in-the-know fashionistas stroll by to see what ethereal outfit will swath the mannequin in Matsu’s front display window. One week it may be a white chiffon duster, ecru tutu, and silk tank, while another it could be a multi-tiered tulle dress and sterling pendant. Once inside, the offerings at this jewel box of a boutique — where pulsating music and burning incense seduce the senses — are even more tempting, from handpainted Umit Unal denim to frilly frocks from Louiza Babouryan. Be sure to check out owner Dava Muramatsu’s jewelry collection — and prepare to be enchanted. 76 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, davamuramatsu.com.
Black Market Nubian
For husband-and-wife team Chris and Kai Grant, founding this Roxbury-based market in 2017 wasn’t just about giving local Black- owned businesses a much-needed platform; it was about revitalizing the neighborhood. It’s no surprise, then, that Black Market has since evolved to include a public-art initiative, designed to support area artists in the creation of community-centric murals throughout Nubian Square. And as for the pop-ups? They’re still going strong, with events featuring vendors hawking bath products, handmade jewelry, sweet treats, and more. 2136 Washington St., Boston, MA 02119, blackmarketnubian.com.
Alan Bilzerian
Now that we’re clinking champagne glasses in person, nothing less than a Met Gala–worthy gown will do. Alan Bilzerian leaves the makeup and hair to others, but counts on his team to wrap customers up in jaw-dropping designs. For start- ers, there’s Alexander McQueen’s demure sky-blue bustier dress, Junya Watanabe’s knockout gold-taffeta pantsuit, and Rick Owens’s dramatic open-back dress. After 55 years in the biz — which deserves an award in itself — Bilzerian rounds out those showstoppers with a wide variety of clutches, stilettos, and baubles to match every gown’s vibe. 34 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, alanbilzerian.com.
Saks Fifth Avenue
Think there’s no such thing as shoe heaven? Think again. Year after year, Saks elevates Boston’s style mavens to the Divine with an apostle of top designers. Manolo Blahnik stilettos, Christian Louboutin platforms, Prada kitten heels, Gucci mules, Valentino slingbacks, Roger Vivier loafers...the list goes on and on. Aside from the classics, Saks also makes sure to stock emerging designers — don’t miss the magical styles of Mach & Mach — as well as everyday kicks from the likes of Adidas. Bonus points for the veteran staff (one of the few left in the city), which excels at customer service, overnighting any out-of-stock styles to your doorstep. Amen to that. 800 Boylston St., in Prudential Center, Boston, MA 02199, saksfifthavenue.com.
Zegna
Boston gents, take note: You’re no longer restricted to showing off your personality through socks and ties. After relocating to the Newbury Boston hotel last November, this luxury brand has even more space to display its sharp ready-to-wear suiting in wildly diverse patterns and fabrics, includ- ing cashmere blends and high-performance wool fibers. (And that’s not even counting the enormous array of custom options.) Make it a one-stop shopping experience and pick up polo shirts, joggers, and maybe even an Italian-made leather backpack while you’re there. 1 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, zegna.com.
Tafari Wraps
Our hair is an important part of who we are. No one understands that better than Tafari founder Imani McFarlane. Celebrating the culture of the African diaspora, her gorgeous silk and Ankara head wraps (to say nothing of the sharp headbands and scrunchies) promise to protect, nourish, and beautify. McFarlane also offers tutorials and personalized consultations, so everyone can learn the art of head-wrapping. tafariwraps.com.
Uvida Shop
In the fight against climate change, every little bit helps. Thankfully, Uvida owner (and dedicated environmental advocate) Maria Camila Vasco takes the guesswork out of shopping green by stocking her shelves exclusively with eco-friendly homewares and beauty products — free of pollution-causing plastic packaging. Swing by her Eastie or North End shop to browse biodegradable beechwood-and-sisal dish brushes, reusable food storage bags, natural face-cleansing sponges, and much more. Multiple locations, uvidashop.com.
The Giftsmith at Brookline Booksmith
What do you get the person who has everything? The answer: Something from this Brookline standout, which offers an eclectic array of present-worthy goods without an ounce of the stuffiness or predictability that plagues some of the other gift shops around. The large selection — which, thanks to a shop expansion, has grown exponentially over the past couple of years — no doubt includes something for everyone on your list: Clark + Hopkins artisanal pepper sauces, floral tea towels from Rifle Paper Co., and organic flower-growing kits from the Urban Agriculture Co. are just the tip of the gift-giving iceberg. 279 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 02446, brooklinebooksmith.com/browse-gifts.
Covet
Love designer brands, but not the price tag that comes with them? At any given moment, the list of power players showcased at Covet’s regularly refreshed Southie and Beacon Hill shops reads like a who’s who of the fashion world. That means you’re just as likely to stumble upon gently used Saint Laurent handbags as you are Gucci sandals and cropped Chanel jackets — all in great condition and deeply discounted. Want to stay on top of new arrivals? Tune into the store’s Insta channel on Wednesdays, when owner Hanadi Hamzeh shows off fresh merch via live broadcasts. Multiple locations, covetboston.com.
The Vault Nantucket
All that glitters is gold — and diamonds and rubies — at the Vault Nantucket. Owner, gemologist, and designer Katherine Jetter has made sure of that. With its gem-cut mirrors, Murano glass chandelier, and lush purple sofa, the new Chestnut Hill outpost of her Nantucket boutique feels like a walk- in treasure chest. And in reality, it is: Lining the space are cases filled with Moritz Glik’s diamond pendants, Shay’s emerald pinky ring, and Silvia Furmanovich’s blue butterfly earrings. Then there’s Jetter’s own designs, including stacks of imperial topaz, mint-green tourmaline, and rubellite ban- gles that would turn Elizabeth Taylor into a fangirl. Multiple locations, thevaultnantucket.com.
M.Gemi
You may not be able to take the Italian leather artisans out of Italy, but with the power of the Internet, you can bring their buttery-soft shoes and handbags to footwear lovers anywhere in the world. That’s the smart business model, at least, behind Boston-based M.Gemi, which since 2015 has been collaborating with family-owned factories across the Boot to craft high-style,high-quality kicks. A snakeskin block-heel pump from Toscana? A supple jewel-green slide from Lucca? Che bello. MA mgemi.com.
Bow Market
Forget generic mall brands and big-box stores: This small-but-mighty Somerville standout continues to win us over with its roster of indie darlings, wrapped around an ever-buzzing courtyard with retailers like Crane & Turtle and the newly expanded Vinyl Index anchoring the lot. Plus, Bow Market’s revolving door of pop-ups and shop-hosted events means there’s always something new to check out (when you’re not kicking back at Remnant Brewing or one of the complex’s other hangouts). 1 Bow Market Way, Somerville, MA 02143, bowmarketsomerville.com.