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With the dog days of summer behind us and winter a distant three months away, it’s time to head to one of the city’s incredible shopping districts—places where you can walk outdoors, sun on your face and fall’s crisp air ruffling your hair, discovering one tiny, original boutique or funky old-fashioned shop after another. This guide is written for the adventurous—those who believe that shopping is a treasure hunt, a sport, a pleasure to be savored. Everyone else, head to the local mall, which is probably having “the biggest sale of the year.”
Eurostyle - Central West End
Known for its galleries, antique shops and chic boutiques, the Central West End has always been a destination for those who want to shop outside the box. Park on Euclid and head first to Kuhlman Company [1], with its European fashions and extensive collection of Italian shirts—perfect for a night out at Drunken Fish [2]. Then walk down Maryland until a sign for Girl [3] appears. Fun and flirty, Girl carries designer clothing for everyday wear. Pay special attention to Girl’s denim collection, including Live Life & Love, and the handbags to match. If you make spoiling your pet an art form, head next door to Couture de Pooch [4]—a blingless leash and house in the backyard are so last season
Turn the corner and find yourself in Austin Powers’ swinging bachelor pad, Design Within Reach [5], inspired by midcentury modernism. Your new shagadelic Le Corbusier leather couch or Eames lounge chair will be delivered promptly. Farther down Maryland, stop in front of Coles Lamar’s [6] gorgeous window display, then walk inside to check out the high-end Italian furniture or the art gallery downstairs. Back on Euclid, stop in at Silica Glass Art Gallery [7] which puts oldstyle stained-glass to shame.
For lunch, drop by the “food court” at Euclid and Maryland:, with everything from Coffee Cartel [8] to Culpeppers [9] to Liluma [10]. Shopping alone? Stop by Big Sleep Books [11] for a little murderous intrigue to read while you eat.
Ease back into shopping with a trip to Level 1 [12], St. Louis’ first all-male boutique, and browse Modern Amusement, Trovata and James Perse. The aesthetic here appeals to college grads, loft-dwellers and businessmen who don’t believe that the day should begin and end in a suit. Next, head to Level 1’s female counterpart, Mezzanine [13], which caters to the young professional age range (25–45), providing classic upscale pieces trendy enough to snap up—but not so trendy that you’ll discard them next season. You’ll find L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani, Nanette Lepore, Joe’s Jeans and jewelry by Alexis Bittar. Continue to Left Bank Books [14], the last independently owned, full-service bookstore in St. Louis. Turn the corner onto McPherson and keep your eyes peeled for Finery [15], an out-of-the-way, elegant accessories boutique. Didn’t eat before? Got an aggressively fast metabolism? Grab a pub lunch at Dressel’s [16] or something savory at Zoë Pan-Asian Café [17].
Ready to outfit your house? Go north on Euclid, to Fellenz Antiques [18], for salvaged art glass, fireplace mantels and iron gates. Go south to Rothschild’s Antiques [19], which guarantees surprises, then east to Centro Modern Furnishings [20], the only place to buy the Cassina collection; Arlene Lilie Design/West End Gallery [21] for sleek classics (don’t miss clothing boutique Sohaila [22], inside), Sambeau’s Ltd. [23] (eclectic and artful), Charles Houska [24] (original artwork by Houska, vivid and intense) and the Antique Center of St. Louis [25]. Reward yourself with chocolate from Bissinger’s [26]—the recipes began in 17th–century Paris.
On the way back to the car, stop at Cassie’s [27] and create a custom scent, and Pick Flower Gallery [28] for a bouquet of Stargazer lilies. Now grab the car and head to Sage Paper Store [29] for handmade stationery to write a letter to that long-lost friend. Forget e-mail.
Getting Personal – Clayton
Feeling neglected? Make the trip to Clayton, where the theme of your shopping experience will be personalized customer service. Park near Forsyth and Brentwood and walk east on Forsyth until Laurie Solet [1] appears on the horizon. The clothes wink knowingly at high fashion, and the owner makes you feel as if you’ve been friends for years. Labels range from Foley & Corinna, offering dressier date-night pieces, to Tag and Taverniti denim and tees and tanks by LA Made.
Now head west to the brick sidewalks and green awnings of the shops along Maryland just west of Brentwood. At one end there’s Joy Tribout Interiors [2], famous for vibrant, artful pillows—many designed by Tribout and made in Belleville—and stylized accessories. Fortified, you can brave Byrd [4], where the staff will never let you walk out the door with something you later convince yourself that you bought because of the fluorescent lighting in the dressing room. From throw-on clothes by Velvet and Seaton to hand-beaded pieces by When I Was 5 and cashmere by Cake Couture, Byrd carries pieces with wide appeal, especially for twentysomethings and young mothers who refuse to look like soccer moms. Next door at Su-Ellen [5], shoppers are trying on updated classics, the only Origami in the St. Louis area and custom-designed knits by J.S.S. for those chilly fall nights. Tami’s Trousseau [6] carries one-of-a-kind dresses and is a well-known prewedding stop. Now make your way to Simons Jewelers [7] for that special platinum ring or designer piece or to Barucci Gallery [8] for gorgeous ceramics, vivid serigraphs and handblown glass. Drop by Brilliant Antiques [9] and examine the century-old English serving pieces. Get fitted for lingerie at Margaret’s [10] and pick up a Verena nightgown or a Bed Head unmentionable. Grab a pastrami on rye at the Posh Nosh Deli [11], load up on Cajun shrimp at Almond’s [12], sit outside at Companion Bakehouse [13] or walk over to Brentwood for a latte and crêpe at City Coffee House and Creperie [14].
When you finally venture out of the Clayton Triangle (Forsyth, Brentwood, Maryland), head for Meramec. The Queen Bee [15] maternity boutique is great for the woman who knows that life (and therefore fashion) doesn’t have to stop just because a new life is beginning. Right next door at Lusso [16], Top 40 music sets the tone for small home-accent pieces and fashions by Michael Stars and Paper Denim & Cloth. It’s a scaled-down Anthropologie, the appeal broadened; shop here for the perfect pair of jeans, a book on fondue cooking for a friend, a set of funky glasses for your kitchen. For jewelry that steals everyone’s attention, drive over to David Kodner [17] on Carondelet or Elleard Heffern on Hanley, next door to J.Buck’s [18]. Don’t want a burger? Order tapas at BARcelona [19], sushi at SanSai Japanese Grill [20] or an egg-salad sandwich and peppermint malt at Jennifer’s Pharmacy and Soda Shop [21], a retro heaven with ’50s toys, wicked-funny cards and herbal remedies. Then drive to Mavrik [22], on Forsyth across from Ivey-Selkirk [23], and browse intricate sterling-silver jewelry by Israeli designers Michal Negrin and Dorit Gornat. Ready for vice? Try JR Cigars [24], Jon’s Pipe Shop [25] or The Wine Merchant [26]; all of the necessities for a night without the kids can be purchased within a few-blocks radius.
On the way home, stop at the Clayton Road Antiques Row, checking the latest English and French finds at Finches [27] and Davis Place [28]. The Designing Block [29] offers fanciful modern and antique decorative pieces for the home. Twigs and Moss [30] explores uncharted territory in floral design, achieving a stunning simplicity with plants and botanicals you won’t immediately recognize. Need a wedding present? You can find the most perfect traditional silver, china and crystal at Byron Cade [31] —but you can also find the kind of eccentric, thoughtful gift a British squire might proffer. Glowing with accomplishment, take home one of the beloved Ladue or Paradise coffeecakes now sold at Lake Forest Confections [32].
The Ultimate in Shopping – Ladue
Ladue lives up to every shopper’s expectation—it really does have it all. Begin your expedition in the ClayPrice shopping center near—you guessed it—the intersection of Clayton and Price, and stop first at Jillybean [1], a boutique featuring clothing and gifts for children up to size 12 from Burberry and Lili Gaufrette as well as infant, baby and expectant-mother gifts from names such as Zutano. Gorgeous baby togs are also available next door, along with gifts for the home and perfect lemon meringue pie, at st. louis woman’s exchange. Next door is Codi Jewelry [2], a new shop featuring handmade jewelry and home accessories. In the business for seven years, owner Courtney Hopson achieves a classic, simple look that’s never monotonous or rehashed. Another door down, Just Chic [3] greets you with the placard “Your husband called and said buy anything you want.” Appealing to those who’ve lived long enough to be interesting, Just Chic offers clothing for women willing to take a few risks. lordo’s diamonds is your last stop here—when you’re finished stargazing, pull the car around.
Follow Clayton until you spot Merle Freed [4] and Ms. Flirt [5]. Owned and operated by a mother who has been in the biz for 12 years and a daughter with an eye for all things Generation Y, these adjoining shops offer an abundance of fashion options for the St. Louis woman, whatever her age or style. From Nicole Miller dresses to bags by Lockheart, Merle Freed and Ms. Flirt carry clothing that transitions from day to night with a change of accessories and, perhaps, attitude. Looking for that piece to make him stop dead in his tracks, make his heart skip a beat or just make him thank God you’re his girl? Look no further, because you have arrived at Vie [6]. Vie prides itself on its absolute originality; it’s the first store in St. Louis to carry Tory Burch, and it also offers Streets Ahead studded jeans, fashions by Live It and hand-crafted jewelry by Safia. The single best reason to go there? The Mandalay dresses—think a night out in Vegas when no one can keep his eyes off you.
Cross Clayton to Imagination Toys [7]—the oldest specialty toy store in St. Louis—and pick up some carpet skates, an OgoSport disc or an Odyssey III interactive globe that, at the touch of a stylus, talks back. Pick up a Polo or Lacoste shirt at Roberts Boys Shops [8], the only place in St. Louis focusing exclusively on boys’ clothing—or, if he needs a suit custom-made, head to Savile Row Clothiers [9]. Pick up a Vera Bradley bag at Provence Boutique [10] and continue walking west. Slip into some-thing a little more comfortable at Jule [11], choosing from the huge selection of camisoles or perhaps visiting the Wall of Thong before picking up a Wacoal bra for everyday wear and a Cosabella for times when you want ultrafeminine lace. Get all your shoe fantasies fulfilled at Wish [12], which offers many lines new to St. Louis, including London Sole ballet flats and Olivia Morris party shoes.
Walk a few doors down to Mister Guy [15] to find the perfect pair of Blue Cult jeans or Tiffany Quint earrings—not to mention free alterations on sizes 2–14. Pick up a book on modern manners, a fanciful Victoria and Richard lamp or a set of Juliska serving pieces from Sallie Home [16]. Continue on to Testimo [17] and its international denim collection, from Serfontaine to Grey Ant to Sass & Bide. A veritable Ed Hardy warehouse, Testimo also carries myriad accessories, including Adam Foster jewelry and hobo bags by Leather Wings. Step over to Mister Guy Mister [18], a man’s man’s boutique that even features cold beer in the back and ESPN on the TV. Exclusive St. Louis carriers of the Robert Talbott Estate collection, Mister Guy Mister brings more than a half-century of experience to the table—along with suits and sportswear by Zegna and Paul & Shark.
Cross Clayton to Sassy Pants [19], a boutique for kids that’s bringing big-city fashions to the Midwest (Escada and Miss Sixty for girls, Armani Junior for boys and a strong selection for those awkward “tweener” ages), then turn right and head for the Lilly Pulitzer collection at Resort Classics [20], a sea of pink and green. To the north is Huffords Jewelry [21], ex-q-uisite, reliable and deft at repairs. Catch them here one last time before they move (on November 1) to the Frontenac Grove.
Drive to Lindbergh and Clayton and stop at new Euforia [22] for the latest Italian fashions or Melanie’s [23], a jewelry and accessories boutique with gorgeous tur-quoise pendants. Cross Clayton to the Village at Schneithorst’s and visit J. McLaughlin [24], a men’s and women’s clothier that reinvents the classics—then Play [25], an edgier boutique for men and women, where you can find a vintage concert tee by Trunk, jeans by Rock Revival or Stitch or something a tad more conservative—this is St. Louis, after all—by Robert Rodriguez.
Suburban Chic – Chesterfield
Take Long Road to Chesterfield Towne Centre and park: Great shopping is all around. Start at Crush [1], a women’s boutique where men even have their own section, not just the usual two sad racks in a back corner. With great belts and an extensive denim collection, including True Religion and J Brand, Crush brings West Coast fashion to the Midwest.
Across the plaza is Susan Lynn’s [2], a store that feels like a chic Easter morning with its growing Lilly Pulitzer selection. Instead of shoving purses, shoes and jewelry to the side, Susan Lynn’s gives its huge collection of accessories (Diane Katzman, Costablanca, My Flat in London) as much space as it does its expanding clothing collection. And for the new mother, Susan Lynn’s just opened Mary’s Corner. Nearby Ginger Pye [3] features top-of-the-line baby clothing, toys and books—and when your baby’s not your baby anymore, at least not sizewise, there’s designer clothing by such names as Lucy Ann and Florence Eiseman.
Now jog over to Ghisallo [4], an athletic shop that caters to both competitive and recreational bike riders. Knowledgeable staffers will help the eager amateur find the perfect pair of Oakleys and a bike to match. A few doors down, Elan [6] sells country artwork and furniture reminiscent of Chesterfield’s rural history. The Tack Trunk [7] offers all things related to English-style riding, from clothing and saddles to stuffed steeds. Two doors down, future jewelry-makers roam free in child-friendly Bizzy Beads [8].
Hungry? Try the chicken nachos at El Maguey [9] for what’s practically a religious experience. Afterward, head for Galleria Toscana [10], with its Tuscan-themed furniture, bronze sculptures, European street scenes and carved wood furniture. Cross over Edison to Ooh La La [11], a sophisticated showroom of Old World art and furniture, French and Italian décor, greenery, dark irons and polished nickel. Then drive over to Clarkson and check out Talbots [12], Chico’s [13], White House/Black Market [14] and Barnes & Noble [15] without the hassle of a mall parking lot. At the Clarkson Clayton Center, sift through the eclectic fashions at Marta’s [16] boutique, and while you’re there, browse the coolest watches at clarkson Jewelers. Then drive to Woods Mill and Olive for Ann’s Bra Shop [17], a ritual stop for anyone seeking support. Or go south on Manchester to Ariana’s [18] bou-tique for ultrachic local designers or Imitation of Christ and Antik Denim. Rest your feet and take high tea at Ladies of Lucerne [19]—or head for dinner at Annie Gunn’s [20] or Aqua Vin [21].
A Place for Everything - Kirkwood
Start your day on Kirkwood Road, in the Kirkwood Junction area. At First Impressions Studio [1], buy a black-and-white or hand-tinted picture or a christening gown for your baby. Then head to Bicycles of Kirkwood [2], where the staff can help you find helmets, clothing, strollers and trailers for bike rides on those warm fall afternoons. For home décor that’s both country and modern, step into tranquil Sycamore Moon [3] and take inspiration. Walk next to Small Indulgences [4], at the corner of Kirkwood and Jefferson. Think of it as Kirkwood’s everyday art fair, featuring national artists alongside locally made works. Next, turn down Jefferson and follow it to Finders Keepers [5], a shop selling new and nearly new children’s clothing. Feeling retro? Stop in at Sunny’s International Boutique [6] to free your inner bohemian. Continue on to Dolittles [7], a home-décor shop that strives for a “non–Pottery Barn look.” (Don’t miss Blings ’n’ Things [8], a separate store inside Dolittles that’s studded with belt buckles, hats and T-shirts accented with wish-they-could-be diamonds.) Across the street and down a block or so, Blush [9] clothing boutique carries affordable L.A.-based labels such as Rachel Pally, Fresh Karma and 1921 Denim (try these jeans if you like Citizen of Humanity).
If Celtic blood runs in your veins, turn around and walk back to the Shannon Shop [10]. A few doors down, soon-to-be rock stars practice at the Music Center of Kirkwood [11].
Back on Kirkwood, turn right and head to Cornucopia [12], a kitchen-appliance shop with the latest in cooking accoutrements. If your mouth’s watering, stop at McArthur’s Bakery [13]. Continue south on Kirkwood, turn left on Argonne and walk to The Bug Store [14], with decorative stones and fountains in its windows and, inside, such flea-market whimsy as with mod rings, toys for the kids, cool door handles and Burt’s Bees lip balm—plus bugs for your garden’s ecosystem.
Now head east until you reach Moonbeams [15], full of kitchen and bathroom items as well as decorative street-address numbers. Sashay on down to Head to Toe Dancewear [16] to fulfill your (or your child’s) dream of becoming a ballerina. Gift shopping for a girlfriend? Cross the street to Down by the Station [17] and pick up a sweetly fragrant lotion or a Vera Bradley bag.
Turn around, cross Kirkwood and keep your eyes peeled for The Posh Fox [18], a custom-design jewelry store. Feeling more practical? Visit OK Hatchery [19] for seed, mulch, wind chimes and horse toys (big dogs love ’em). Farther down the street is Christopher’s [20], a hometown Crate & Barrel with platters by Atticus, picnic utensils, gardening tools and even Christopher Radko Christmas ornaments.
Continue south on Kirkwood to Tamou [21], a vivid Moroccan home décor shop, and Mavrik Romantika [22], where the jewelry is just as colorful, then head west on Monroe until you see the sign for Vellum [23], which creates personalized announcements and invitations. Examine their extensive paper stock until you find the choice that suits your style—what shopping’s all about.
Funky and Fun – The Loop
One of St. Louis’ best-loved walking districts. Park in the big lot at the west end, near St. Louis Bubble Tea [1], and maybe grab some tea before starting your adventure. If you’re a sneaker junky, your first shopping stop will be across the street at R. Sole [2]; otherwise, head for Craft Alliance’s gift shop [3]. Go on to Archetypes [4], a home-décor shop. Cross the street to Zuma Beach Bead Co. [5], St. Louis first full-service bead shop, tucked into the Market in the Loop, then walk across the courtyard to Tantrum [6], a boutique featuring West Coast casual wear (Silver, Tank-farm, Fan Club) and Meli-Melo [7], the perfect gift shop when you’re not sure whether you want an antique, a silly wind-up toy or an Art Deco necklace. East on Delmar, Phoenix Rising [8] offers gifts with a little more edge, from slang flash cards and Wash Away Your Sins lip balm to Candela rechargeable lamps and a guide for the anti-bride. Good Works [9] has brightly colored accent pieces and clean-lined furniture (a growing leather collection features Natuzzi). For a more neutral palette and refined Italian aesthetic, try Intaglia Home Collection [10].
Continue on to Blues [11], one of the few designer-denim stores in St. Louis to carry Denim Drifter, AG and 575 jeans for men and women alike. Next door at Soul [12], pick up a Hobo or Tosca handbag and a pair of shoes by Palladium, Me Too or Fly London. By now, you’re hungry, and Blueberry Hill [13] burgers are the stuff of legend. Follow up with a root-beer float from Fitz’s [14] and backtrack to Subterranean Books [15], where you can browse everything from the Mammoth Book of Pirates to The Modern Drunkard. Want global culture without a passport? Turn left and walk into Plowsharing Crafts [16], an earthy shop with a social conscience. Lighten up at Star Clipper [17] with a DIY Munny or Superman classic comic books. Head east to Fifi’s [18], which one staffer describes as “the one-stop punk and rockabilly shop,” or Runway Fashions [19], with distinctively urban designer clothing for a night out at the city’s hottest hip-hop clubs.
Seeking style on a budget? Grab a Ben & Jerry’s [20], double-dip and flip through the offer-ings at the Rag-O-Rama [21] resale shop or step into Alice’s [22], a wonderland of the vintage dresses, suits, handkerchief linen, hats, gloves and brooches. On the corner, Ziezo [23], maintains a grown-up art-school aesthetic with ultracasual clothing, trendy flats and designers such as Fornarina, Free People and Triple 5 Soul.
Step into Sunshine Daydream [24], where Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley and Johnny Cash line the walls, then move on to what looks like the set of High Fidelity (a.k.a. Vintage Vinyl [25]), where you can find new or used music and maybe meet your favorite performer at an in-store visit. If you’re not having dinner at Riddle’s Penultimate Café & Wine Bar [26], go home with falafel from Al-Tarboush Deli [27] or Korean food from the U. City Grill [28].
Old-Fashioned Specialty Shops - Maplewood
In the new millennium, Maplewood has worked to bring back the boutique-style shopping that it once boasted. Park in front of Elizabeth House [1], near the intersection of Manchester and Southwest, then come in and inhale the sweet scent of lavender. Whimsical yet practical, Elizabeth House offers vintage jewelry and country-French home décor and even provides consultation for would-be redecorators.
Next door at Femme [2], the techno music sets a completely different mood. Resembling a little girl’s dream closet, the store carries clothing and accessories for fashion-conscious women, especially new moms. With stroller-friendly dressing rooms and open spaces for children to move about (there’s even a playroom in back), Femme combines func-tionality with style in both its décor and its clothing, which includes work by three St. Louis designers—Squasht by Les, Exquisite Corpes and Doki-Doki.
Farther along Manchester, you’ll come to Pom Pom [3], where intricately designed chandeliers hang from the ceiling and antique clocks chime on the walls. Then step into TheTime [4], where interesting pieces from more than 60 designers, including Kara Janx of Project Runway, are combined with a coffee shop in an effort to create an informal shopping environment with an ever-changing selection based on each designer’s collection that season. With clothes that are edgier and more rock ’n’ roll, The Time says it offers “the basics with a twist.”
What is truly great about Maplewood, though, is its array of specialty shops. Penzeys Spices [5], for example, has hunted down any spice a kitchen could ever require and a few that the average shopper never knew existed. Cheryl’s Herbs [6], specializing in aromatherapy, carries the oils and herbs needed for a holistic lifestyle and even allows customers to custom-blend their own. Fine Light Ltd. [7] showcases a stock of lamps that encompasses both classical and modern styles. Next door, T. Rohan Interiors [8] sells top-notch antiques. Also on Manchester, Jones Typewriter Co. [9] focuses on the technology we depended on before computers ruled the world.
Making a left on Sutton, shoppers will find Tiger Lily [10], a colorful shop that brings sunshine to the task of gift buying. They will monogram many of their products to personalize a purchase. Stop into Gisele’s [13], where owner Brenda Wolf flies to Paris and brings back iron-angel door knockers, jewelry, hand-milled soaps and old books in French. When you just can’t shop anymore, grab a quick bite and a microbrew at the Schlafly Bottleworks [14] or an elegant dinner at Arthur Clay’s [15] or Monarch [16].
Garment District – Washington Avenue
Along Washington Avenue, the old garment-district ethos is alive again as more and more boutiques and showrooms dedicate themselves to trendy fashions and the art of home décor. Park inside the U.S. Bank garage, across from America’s Center, and stop at the Starbucks [1] at Eighth and Washington if you need a pick-me-up after navigating the garage lot—or Breve [2], an Internet coffee shop on 10th near Locust, if you need to check your bank statement online before a day of indulgence.
Now walk down Washington toward 11th until Paper Dolls [3] comes into sight. A hot new boutique, Paper Dolls carries a little bit of everything, from the funky to the classic. Co-owner Carolyn Burghoff emphasizes global style with hand-painted Argentinean skirts by Macu and hand-beaded clothing by Spy Exchange of Canada.
Across from Paper Dolls is Lee J. Fashions [4]. With its deliberately urban style, Lee J. presents male and female shoppers with offerings by mainstream designers they will recognize, like Kenneth Cole and Allen B., but chooses the most distinctive pieces in the collections to guarantee originality. Farther down 11th,
Circles, Etc. [5] replaces fem-inine frills with arty apparel by Anac and Westin Wear and mass-produced accessories with artwork and jewelry by local artists such as Nancy Davis.
If your inner decorator’s restless, head next to UMA [6], which carries nothing mass-produced. UMA’s home goods, including some gorgeously intricate lamps, have clean lines and bright colors to accent any room. Across the street, Salt of the Earth’s [7] handpainted Italian dishes and imported vases suggest Mediterranean or tropical sunshine, not the fluorescent light of retail. If your stomach’s growling starts to interfere with your decorating decisions, head to Kitchen K [8], a restaurant that offers creative cuisine and an industrial-chic ambience.
To segue from lunch back to shopping, stop at Casa Semplice [9] on 10th, where kitchen appliances’ function is never sacrificed to form. The only Bosch dealer in the area, Casa Semplice caters to the space-conscious by offering well-made products that are multifunctional—as well as designer lines from Jonathan Adler, Eva Solo and Nigella Lawson.
If a grander renovation is what you have in mind, head to Niche [10]. A gallery and showroom, Niche not only provides contemporary products for purchase, such as those by Knoll and Herman Miller, but also showcases them to give you great ideas for home decorating.
Also check out Blend’s [11] eclectic mix, combining classic wooden pieces with modern art and furniture. Featuring custom-made steelwork by one of the owners, John Beck, and other artists, Blend combines local craftsmanship with antiques from all over the country.
Hungry? Meet a friend at Copia [12], an urban winery and market that offers great food and wine of the quality you’d find in Napa. Buy a bottle of one of their many house wines as a souvenir of the experience. Just try not to drink it on the way home.
Arts & Crafts – Webster Groves
Webster Groves still has the vibe of a small town—one with two distinct shopping districts. Start at the intersection of Gore and Lockwood, in the heart of Old Webster, then turn down Gore and stop in at McCaughen & Burr [1], the Neiman Marcus of framing. Visit The Empty Nest [2], bright with carefully chosen gifts, toys and home décor; next door, get almost anything monogrammed at The Initial Design [3], from bags to bibs to blankets, so you won’t see it duplicated at the next party you attend. When you leave, turn left and follow your feet to A Strand Above Bead Shoppe [4], which sells original necklaces and bracelets, as well as the materials with which to create your own. More crafty plans? Cross the street to Apple of Your Eye [5], half craft store, half gift shop, and pick up decorations for the coming holidays, picture frames and kits for the kids to create today’s suddenly hip indie crafts on their own. For the pooch that needs a little pampering, head to Lucky Dog [6]. Just off Gore, hiding in a little corner, you’ll find Ladybugs [7] and its inimitable mix of ladybug knick knacks and Red Hat paraphernalia, including copies of the poem that started it all.
Need serious relief? Head back to Lockwood, turn right and browse a while at the Webster Groves Book Shop [8], then reward yourself with at Very Best Cookies [9] (the chocolate-chip and snickerdoodle varieties are favorites). If you need something more substantial, there’s the standby favorite, CJ Muggs [10], on the corner of Gore and Lockwood. Not in the mood to try on clothes right after eating? Visit Copernicus Fine Jewelers [11], a custom shop that works with tortoiseshell, dinosaur bones, fossils and semiprecious stones. Stop at Yucandu Art Studio [12] to buy the materials (beads, glitter, wire and more) to create your own.
Now grab the car and head over to the 8000 block of Big Bend. Park near The Natural Way [13] and stop inside for pomegranate juice, then go left to Daisy Clover [14], an easygoing boutique that carries sizes 2 to 14 and welcomes shoppers in sweats as warmly as those dressed to the nines. Look for shoes by Seychelles and clothing by Grail, Free People and Rebecca Taylor. A few doors down, Salt of the Earth [15] brings brilliantly colored handcrafted pieces from the Mediterranean, Mexico and Europe—or the artists across the street at Krueger Pottery [16] will teach you to make your own.
Wrap up your day with a slice of New York–style brick-oven pizza at Racanelli’s [17] or treat yourself to dessert at Cravings [18] ... dinner at Big Sky [19] ... jazz at Cookies [20]. Prefer one last stomping ground? Drive over to Vagabonds [21] on Manchester to get a dress for a night on the town or order one custom-made by Kathlin Argiro. Then pick up some West Coast fashions at the original Splash [22]. End your experience at American Vision Contemporary Crafts [23], perusing the latest North American works in clay, glass and wood. Inspired by what you see? Sign up for one of the workshops.
