Evander Preston Contemporary Jewelry Design From sterling silver pop-top bracelets to a golden ring adorned with a glass eye, ZZ Top lookalike Preston has cornered the market on elegantly quirky jewelry design. And if you’ve never visited his gloriously eccentric headquarters in Pass-A-Grille, complete with Great Danes and a 1930 Russian motorcycle, you’re missing out on a key Tampa Bay experience. Look for the Preston-designed electric train: its headlight shines so bright because it's a half-carat diamond. 106 8th Ave., St. Pete Beach, 727-367-7894, evanderpreston.com.
Fresh Threads Dip into a unique, designer label contemporary consignment boutique that offers subtle elegance and kicky style. 1543 S. Dale Mabry, Tampa, 813-449-3578. shopfreshthreads.com.
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.
Graphi-ko Gallery Wilmer Vergara is a serial artist and he’s got an art gallery/jewelry shop on The 600 Block to prove it. Find Wilmer’s original paintings and jewelry designs alongside pieces imported from exotic places. All of the credited jewelry in the 2013 CL Style Issue fashion editorial was sourced from Graphi-ko Gallery. Open Mon.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Sunday. 669 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, graphi-ko.com.
A. Haley Located in the plaza with Starbucks and Panera, they are 2 years old, have another location in Arkansas, and only carry six of each item in the store to keep things fresh. Also, they host different events for women such as babysitter swaps and wine tastings. 128B S. Westshore Blvd., Tampa. 813-207-0400. ahaleyboutique.com.
Heavenly Heels The women’s online shoe retailer and St. Pete boutique specializes in women’s designer shoes, Badgley Mischka, Bernardo, Diana Kelly, Sasha London, Poetic License, Bacio 61 and hard-to-find designers such as Morena Rosa, Luz da Lua and more. Parkshore Plaza Shops, 300 Beach Drive N.E. (corner of Third Avenue North and First Street North), St. Petersburg. 727-498-8871. heavenlyheels.com.
Illume Eco Boutique The Indian Rocks Beach/Largo area is not the retirement haven it used to be. As this shop’s name suggests, it stocks mostly eco-friendly new clothing and some vintage but should be best known for its outstanding selection of vintage jewelry. “Hands-down the best collection I’ve ever seen,” said fellow Belleair Bluffs business owner Carol Cortright. “It’s like crack to those of us with a vintage bling fixation.” 784 Indian Rocks Road N, Belleair Bluffs, 727-422-3630, ecolunatic.com.
Junque from the Trunque The “little shoppe of treasures old and new” has furniture, collectibles with some clothing, jewelry and accessories thrown into the mix. Deep in the heart of Pasco County. 2334 Seven Springs Blvd., Trinity.
Kina Kouture Head to this stylish li’l haven for vintage savoir faire, classic lines and edgy trendiness. Shop for that Mad Men party, browsing 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.
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.
Little Brooklyn Vintage Eclectic home-wares, clothing, furniture, art, jewelry, whimsical baubles and “general knick-knackery” cultivated by Corey Galeano and her staff. 120 Second St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-827-2832. littlebrooklynvintage.com.
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.
McB’s The place for fashionable men, and we won’t call you out on being metro. Just smart. CL sales exec and clothes horse Anthony Carbone purchased a brown plaid Hugo Boss sport coat (original value estimated at around $600); the ticket was marked $39 but he got 20 percent off to cover alterations. Total investment: $44. 1045 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-258-4932.
