Our friend Holley Sinn, co-host of the Studio 10 morning show on WTSP-Ch. 10, was remarking the other day about the bounty of fashion bargains hereabouts. "In most cities, the 'boutiques' use an outrageous mark-up, but not here. I was amazed that I spent an entire day shopping, hitting every boutique I knew of, and I spent roughly $200. It was ridiculous."
She's right. Tampa Bay's independent fashion retailers are the oases we turn to when mall stores like Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters shut us out like window-staring children from a Dickens novel. Some of these shops make "repurposing," "vintage" and "upcycling" their buzzwords, offering a haute-couture shopping experience on a K-mart budget with hand-crafted merchandise, artsy decor, and clean, neatly organized displays. But if we do decide to splurge, there are plenty of chi-chi boutiques showing one-of-a-kind something-somethings for that special night out.
The guide below lists some of our favorite local indie boutiques. But we know the number of independent shops is vast and growing; if we left any out, let us know. Many feature coupons online, so be sure to check their websites, too. And if you wanna know more about shopping local? Visit LocalShops1.com!
All Sewn Up If you're tired of the "same old, same old," you can trust that this shop will give you the breath of fresh air you need, in a space that maintains a healthy and attractive balance between edgy and boho flair. The purchasers shop smart — they only buy one size in each item, so you can have the satisfaction of knowing you're one of the few who owns the piece. Plus, the store treats students and those in the hospitality industry to a 10 percent discount on Mondays and Tuesdays. 621 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-289-7034, allsewnupboutique.com. Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Sun. —Melissa Beck
Artpool Proprietress Marina Williams and her intrepid cohorts pool together a uniquely hip and eclectic selection of vintage fashion for both men and women. Discerning shoppers can complement their wardrobes (and homes) with Artpool's handmade jewelry, vinyl records, artwork, vintage collectibles and other accouterments of indie pop-culture fun. 919 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-324-3878, artpoolgallery.com. Tues.-Sat., Noon-6 p.m. —Julie Garisto
Bella Moda The ever-hopping, relentlessly upscale Beach Drive in downtown St. Pete is starting to resemble that other, more famous Beach Drive in Miami, and Bella Moda is the epitome of South Beach chic in the Burg. The shop sells trendy looks, handmade jewelry and accessories, plus Brazilian swimwear. 30 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg, 727-623-9981. Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-6 p.m; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun., Noon-5 p.m. —JG
Bentley's Boutique A comforting, chic boutique named for owner Torrie Tiernan's beloved malti-poo. Buy or sell. A unique collection, ranging from local jewelry designers Sid Tori and Feather to trendy threads from Betsey Johnson and Diane von Furstenberg. 6 Sixth St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-403-7280, facebook.com/bentleysboutique. Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri., 11 a.m- 6:30 p.m.; Weds. and Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. —Chloe Lykes
Babybird Vintage Amber Drees and Illene Sofranko's vintage shop on Etsy offers unique and stylish vintage clothing, shoes, purses and accessories. Most pieces under $20. etsy.com/shop/babybirdvintage. —JG
Buffalo Gal Vintage Giddy on up for distinctive, snazzy all-Mad-Men-up-in-yo-face couture, decor, accessories — and even pinup-style photography. The newly relocated shop is a paradise for shoppers who love to sift through antique and repro goods. On Facebook, BGV posts a contest for pinup of the month, based on wall posts with the most "likes." And their Pinups and Pooches event deserves awesome props, having raised a crate of cash for the Humane Society of Pinellas. 911 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-290-8468, buffalogalvintage.com. —JG
The Chameleon South of the Skyway, this shop offers an array of tops, dresses and other pieces made of natural fibers, plus unique jewelry and accessories. 2801 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, 941-747-4477, thechameleonboutique.com. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed Sun. —JG
Disco Dolls Whimsy, fun and function epitomize the Dolls' designs. Sisters Kristine Bush and Leigh Anne Balzekas, and hairstylist Maxwell Maisano, run the Disco Dolls Studio, an artistic space equipped with hair, styling and tailoring services. Made entirely of vintage and recycled fabrics, their new collection marries style and sustainability. Whether you're looking for vintage cocktail dresses, colorful tees or gypsy skirts, the Disco Dolls have you covered. 408 N Howard Ave., Studio A, 813-641-4367, thediscodolls.com. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and by appointment. See photos from the Disco Dolls fashion shoot at the Independent. —Melanie Wiesen
DROP This is not your grandma's floral-print Florida-friendly boutique. The Northeast St. Pete house-converted-into-a-shop offers the best of "surf or city," where a combo of urban sophistication and trendy looks converge with cute beachwear. Owner Caroline Saunders has lived in Hawaii and traveled all over. Her experiences inspired her to sell fashions that "snuggle up harmoniously in your suitcase." 2012 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-490-7799, surforcity.com. Mon., 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. and Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m. —JG
Georgette's With multiple awards under its belt, this 30-year family-owned boutique uses one-on-one service and multiple collections to give every buyer a unique look. Specializing in black-tie events, pageants and proms, this store can make anyone feel like a celebrity. 141 S Dale Mabry, Tampa, 813-254-1141; georgettesfashions.com. Summer Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.—6 p.m. —Meeghan Gilchrist
House of Donshey Dolly Donshey, custom milliner and favorite of local designers, has a knack for mixing daring and sophisticated, funky and sleek, employing materials that include feathers, velvet, jewelry — you name it. Donshey also works behind the scenes, raising community awareness and helping local charities with fun fashion events. See her Fall 2012 collection during Fashion Week Tampa Bay and again at SRQ Fashion Week in Sarasota. dollydonshey.com, 352-206-7795, Facebook.com/DonsheyAccessories. —JG
Illume Eco Boutique The Indian Rocks Beach/Largo area is not the retirement haven it used to be. Illume, one of the cool new kids on the block, sells vintage clothing for all seasons along with new merchandise and cool repurposed accessories. 784 Indian Rocks Road N., Belleair Bluffs, 727-422-3630, ecolunatic.com, Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Sun. —JG
k.hendrix studio and showroom Because k.hendrix designs emphasize recycling, reusing and renewing materials, every piece in the collection is one of a kind, and most items are made year-round and do not follow the trends or seasons. Dresses, cover-ups and skirts are among the main pieces in the collection, which also includes pants and bikinis — all with lots of sequins, dyed leathers, knits and color-washed silks. Items on sale include a silk bed jacket featured in Maxim magazine. Hendrix also does custom work updating wedding gowns and prom dresses for re-use. 1207 Sutherland Drive, Palm Harbor, 727.643.2356, khendrix.com. Open to public Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; by appointment: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. See J. Hendrix fashions in a CL photo shoot at The Castle. —JG
Kina Kouture Head to this stylish li'l haven for vintage savoir faire, classic lines and edgy trendiness. Owners Bert and Jeanne Halle bring back the fab figure-flattering looks of the '50s and '60s with repros by Lucky 13, Bernie Dexter, Stop Staring and Bettie Page brands — in addition to formalwear and choice accessories. The shop in Pinellas' quaint Valhalla of retail, downtown Dunedin, has been featured in DFAC's Wearable Art and offers something for any woman who likes some swagger in her style. 447 Main St., Dunedin, 813-734-2900, kinakouture.com. Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri., 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sun., 1-5 p.m. —JG
La France The Tampa Bay area's most popular and well-established vintage shop has won multiple Best of the Bay awards for its wide-ranging selection, which includes rack upon rack of vintage and retro clothing — from ball gowns to Hawaiian print shirts to pencil skirts — as well as hats, shoes, belts and other accessories, several cases worth of jewelry, and various retro-fied odds and ends such as postcards, magnets and coasters. The staff is perfectly willing to style you for your special event. 1612 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City, 813-248-1381. Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., Noon-7 p.m. —Leilani Polk
Love That Here's a sweet retreat with unpredictable goodies. Blousy blouses, snazzy dresses, denim, distinctive jewelry and nifty accessories round out a selection that lives up to the shop's name: It's truly lovable. 4109-B S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, 813-902-0500, lovethatonline.com. Mon.-Fri., 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. and 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat.; closed Sunday. —JG
Lucas Bags Locally based online retailer Lucas Bags, aka Amy Wells, creates handmade, custom-made handbags, '50s-style apron reproductions and around-the-house doodads, such as her adorably simple, cartoon-like stuffed animals (hippos, cats, giraffes). Wells uses vintage fabrics and buttons in her designs, and the outcome is at once elegant and playful. Especially nifty is the "lb" logo on her product tags. lucasbags.com. —JG
MISRED Outfitters Unlike what many "vintage" clothing stores have to offer, MISRED's racks hold more than the regurgitated remains of your granny's closet. With options to buy, sell or trade in-store, you have plenty of opportunities to snag some slammin', one-of-a-kind duds without compromising your wallet. 615 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-827-8310, bemisred.com. Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m, closed Sunday. Check out the MISRED photo shoot on p. 21. —MB
Penelope T The SoHo spot combines urban sensibility and bohemian aesthetics. With one-of-a-kind finds in clothing, jewelry, shoes, swimwear, handbags and lingerie, Penelope T targets creative women with a distinctive style. the merch veers away from shopping-mall monotony, yet it won't break the bank — price points are reasonable and sales are plenty. Choosing from pieces by renowned designers and rotating new talent, owners Nickie and Manne will help you put together a chic, contemporary look. 1413 S. Howard Ave., Suite 104, Tampa, 813-254-5740, penelopetboutique.com. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. —MW
Plato's Closet With seven locations in the greater Tampa Bay area alone, Plato's Closet is quickly becoming the go-to stop for secondhand fashion. The franchise specializes in stylish, gently-used clothing and accessories by top-name brands and designers, and is frequented by teens, 20-somethings, and those of us who avoid the mall and its prices like the plague. A buying club gives you the chance to earn points for your purchases to apply toward future shopping sprees. Plato's Closet also takes trade-ins and offers cash or store credit based on style, condition, brand and its current inventory. With locations in Carrollwood, South Tampa, St. Petersburg, Brandon, Largo, Palm Harbor, and Wesley Chapel; hours vary. platoscloset.com. —LP
Ramblin' Rose The local merchandisers' and artists' co-op known for funky events and enviro-friendly repurpose-ification has moved into its own digs on Central Avenue — a spacious, artsy but aesthetically pleasing environment. Visit, if just to see the vibrant mural by Felici Asteinza and Joey Fillastre. Once you're there, you might just fall in love with the conscious retailers for their "great clothes, knickknacks and energy." Hours vary. 683 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-557-5812, ramblinroseupcycle.wordpress.com. —JG
Renown Goods A great place for men to shop for quality casual wear, caps and nightlife finery. 1501 E. Ninth Ave., Suite B, Ybor City, 813-200-7081, renowngoods.com. Tues.-Thurs., 1-8 p.m.; Fri., Noon-9 p.m.; Sat. 2-9 p.m., and closed Sunday. —JG
Revolve Clothing Exchange A funky treasure trove of vintage threads, new fashions and accessories, with locations on both sides of the bay. Items in stock vary on any given day, but you'll always find a wide variety of stuff, ranging from pink cowboy boots to that guayabera your dad used to wear. The selection of staff picks is always worth a once-over. Don't have spending money? You can trade your gently used secondhand clothes for store credit. Both stores offer a frequent shopper rewards program and stamp card. The Ybor store is at 1620 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City, open Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sun. Noon-6 p.m.; 813-242-5970. The St. Pete Revolve is at 2000 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg, open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; 727-399-7788; revolvewear.com. —JG
Sherry's YesterDaze Contributing to Seminole Heights' ever-growing coolness is Sherry's YesterDaze Vintage Clothing and Antiques. For the past 13 years, YesterDaze has been serving up a wide variety of vintage clothing and accessories for ladies and gents alike. Can't seem to find that perfect pair of 1960s tapestry hot pants? Or that 1980s terry jumpsuit? Look no further than YesterDaze. 5207 N. Florida Ave., 813-231-2020, yesterdazevintage.com. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; extended hours on Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. —MW
The Shop This simply named shop in Northeast St. Pete gets kudos for "unbelievable prices" (actual quote) and stylish West Coast-inspired looks. Balancing timeless classics and trendy sass, shop owner Vickey Blair helped pioneer St. Pete's prolific local-friendly shopping movement. 3440 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-821-6905, enjoytheshop.com. Mon.-Weds., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Sun., Noon-4 p.m. —JG
Simple Graces Artisan Jewelry Boutique If your dresser is an island of broken misfits — clasps broken off, unstrung beads and lonely earrings — bring them in for repair or a new custom design. Owner Daphne McDowell is très helpful and creative. She opened the shop in 2002 to help her church move out of its storefront location and build its own place of worship. At McDowell's shop you'll find handmade pieces made with semi-precious gem stones, Swarovski crystals, fire-polished glass, sterling silver, copper, fresh water pearls and other natural elements. 3642 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, 813-503-9863, simplegracesjewelry.com. Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sat., 11 a.m.-4 p.m; closed Sunday. —JG
Singing Stone Gallery We're not including too many non-clothing jewelry shops in this guide, but Singing Stone gets recognition for its distinction and outreach in promoting the arts in Ybor. Owner/artisan Daniel Balk recognizes a unique beauty in the balance of nature; his studies of the natural world, anatomy, psychology, philosophy and anthropology inform his designs. 1903 N 19th St., Tampa, 813-247-2787, singingstoneart.com. Tues.-Fri., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Sunday. —JG
Skatepark of Tampa The skatepark is one of Tampa Bay's most inspiring success stories, a world-renowned skateboard facility. Locally, it's a veritable counter-culture dynasty with two great retail shops. Browse a slew of quality brands online or at the SPoT's two locations. The SPoT Bricks of Ybor Skate Shop, 1327 E Seventh Ave., Tampa, and the main skatepark location at 4215 E. Columbus Drive, Tampa 813-621-6793, skateparkoftampa.com. —JG
Sorella Fretta Collections Sorella is sister in Italian, and Tampa-born sorrelle Serena Fretta and Francesca Fretta talked about opening a boutique together way back at the tender ages of 7 and 9. This year, they made their shop-owning dreams come true in the Westchase/Citrus Park side of town. For their merchandise, they travel to Los Angeles and New York to hand-pick quality pieces that are both ready to wear and affordable. 11965 Sheldon Road, Tampa, 727-458-8722, sorellafrettacollections.com. Tues.-Thurs., Noon-7 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., Noon-8 p.m.; Sun., 1-6 p.m. —JG
Squaresville If you're searching for some of the grooviest fashions of the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s, Squaresville is a goldmine of retro fashions for both men and women, plus funky mid-century home furnishings. With wigs, hats and sunglasses as well, you've got all the trappings for a carefree decade-themed party! 508 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-259-9944, squaresvilletampa.com. Mon.-Tues., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Weds.-Fri., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sun., 1-4 p.m. —MG
The Trunk Since 2010, The Trunk stylists have had their fingers on the pulse of what's hip in apparel and accessories. Neesa Shakur and Marianne Shaffer bring their mobile boutique to your home for image consultations and closet revamping. Now with a storefront in Downtown St. Pete, The Trunk is filled with the trendiest of threads — tribal print crop tops, high-waist floral shorts, pocketed rompers and wide leg pants. 651 Central Ave., St Petersburg, e-mail shop@thetrunkonline.com, URL: shop@thetrunkonline.com, Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. —MW
Urban Body A mainstay for men since opening in SoHo 11 years ago, Scott Moore's boutique is now making women happy, too, with a carefully edited selection of separates and dresses that share the same body-conscious, casual flair of his men's collection. Now that the shop occupies a more visible space on Howard (in the former home of Kabloom), there's more room to browse the smartly constructed, fashion-forward looks favored by the unfailingly affable Moore and staff. 711 S. Howard Ave. # 100, Tampa, 813-251-5522, urbanbody.com. Mon.-Wed., 11 a.m.-7:30 pm; Thurs.-Sat., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., Noon-5 p.m. See a variety of current UB looks photographed at SideBern's. —David Warner
Acknowledgments
The following folks contributed to Creative Loafing's 2011 Style issue: Editor David Warner and A&E/Events Editor Julie Garisto did the requisite grunt work. Art Director Todd Bates helped us be a little more easy on the eyes. Leilani Polk ventured over from musicland to help us with our retail guide, and Associate Editor Joe Bardi kindly helped us cover our behinds. Interns Monica Torres, Melanie Wiesen, Melissa Beck, Chloe Lykes and Meeghan Gilchrist were of invaluable assistance. Thanks to Veronica Vellines of the Independent, Sam Mahfoud of Swingtime at the Gulfport Casino, Dean Hurst and Brooke Palmer of SideBern's, Alan Kahana of The Castle, Nancy Seijas-Kipnis of the Tampa Museum of Art and the folks at the St. Pete Shuffleboard Club for providing their great venues for our photo shoots. Special thanks to Nancy Vaughn of Fashion Week Tampa Bay for her expert input. Extra special thanks to the designers, stylists and photographers who created the dazzling photo shoots that capture the best of what to wear and where to go in Tampa Bay.
This article appears in Aug 11-17, 2011.