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WOMEN 110 COUTURE Despite being on Birmingham’s main corner, this very chic boutique is a little hard to spot—fortunately the address is in the name. Just below street level, area fashion takes a definite upturn. You’ll find vanguard designers that you’re used to seeing in national magazines, like NY designers Rachel Roy and Ingwa Melero and LA-based designer Nony Tochterman’s hot Petro Zilla. They also have the area exclusives on Lotta, Sarah and Robert Rodriguez and a staff that knows their stuff. BELLA BELLI If you’re pregnant, Bella Belli is worth a pause. Open since 2004, the boutique was among the first to bring trendy maternity clothes to metro Detroit, and it still knows how to deliver. Now in a larger location, the store has more room than ever for designer labels like Diane von Furstenberg, Citizens of Humanity, Michael Stars and Liz Lange. Moms-to-be will love the selection of clothing, jeans, diaper bags, helpful books and supplies, and a newly expanded selection of baby clothing, gifts and cute bedding. Bella Belli has everything a mom-to-be needs to celebrate pregnancy without sacrificing style. BIZ-R COLLECTION This may very well be the finest women’s store in the history of the city. We’re talking amazing, it’s full of fabulous finds you won’t find in any city, much less Detroit. Biz-R takes up half a floor in the New Center, about 15,000 square feet loaded with an ever changing variety of shoes, hats, and clothing from exclusive luxury labels to the cheap, but chic. The Free Press said it was the closest thing you’ll find to a department store in Detroit. But while department stores in the city got smaller and disappeared, the Biz-R Collection keeps growing and growing. Stop by and you’ll know why—this is a world class destination. BOUTIQUE BELLISSIMA It’s like the woman’s section of a big mall store, except they give you cookies and treat you a lot better than a department store (unless they suspect you’re just mooching free cookies). Bellissima has added a lot of lines to their store that appeal to the younger shopper, in addition to the more refined lines for which they are famous. There’s also plenty of perfume and the hosiery selection is superb. BRA~VO INTIMATES Bra~vo Intimates is a premier bra fitting retailer known throughout the metro area and beyond for helping women look their best. These experts measure and fit customers in the right size and style for their wardrobe and since most women are wearing the wrong size, you can probably benefit from their expert service and advice. They also offer a private in-office executive service for the busy gal short on time but long on style. BUDDHA BELLY Wanna be a haute mama? Instead of hiding that beautiful Buddha belly, flaunt it in designer jeans by Paige Premium Denim, gorgeous Olian Maternity wear, flirty tops by Japanese Weekend, fresh, sassy shirts from 2 chix tees and comfy Juicy Couture tracksuits as well as smaller unique designers you won’t find anywhere else. Buddha Belly now offers sizes from petite to plus. Owner Pam is also an authorized Medela Dealer, carrying breast pumps and all the nursing gear and apparel you’ll need, plus the must have Moby Wrap baby carrier. Make these nine months your most stylish ever—after all, you’ve got the perfect excuse for a new wardrobe! CHAUD It’s pronounced more like “show,” which means hot in French—this store is hot in any language. This is where to go when you are looking for high-end designer denim; they have an incredible selection of some of the best brands in the world including the locally-inspired Inkslinger’s brand, with the unique tattoo embroidery. It isn’t all just jeans, there are tasty tops as well as belts and other cool accessories. DRAGONFLY BOUTIQUE If you’re a clothing fiend, you probably already knew about Dragonfly. But did you know they have moved to a bigger, swankier spot in Rochester? The stylish boutique carries up-to-the-minute clothes for clubbing, kicking back or just looking better than anyone else in your workplace. There is stuff you won’t find anywhere else—purses, accessories and especially a lot of the jewelry, most of which is one-of-a-kind works of wearable art. Dragonfly owner Heather also makes her own line of hand poured soy candles, as well as carrying Votivo and Burt’s Bees products and cute home décor items. They just don’t come any sweeter (or hotter) than Heather, who sets Dragonfly apart from other stores with her exquisite taste. EDWARD DORIAN Classic but by no means stuffy, fun, fashion-forward clothing for the Birmingham set and beyond. Custo Barcelona, Love Letters and Zion are a few of their clothing lines. Their shoe section, filled with Martinez Valero, Franco Sarto, and Donald Pliner can stop almost any woman dead in her tracks. FLAIR Step into Sandhya’s art nouveau-inspired fashion haven and you may think you landed in a chic SoHo boutique. Well, you didn’t; you’re still in Royal Oak, so as soon as you’re done shopping, you’d better change that prescription. From unique, stylish and surprisingly affordable clothing, accessories, bags and shoes to higher-end evening wear, Flair has something for the bohemian uptown woman in every D-town girl. Be sure to check out the fabulous array of scarves and ethnic jewelry as well as the Italian ZitaMina line of jeans. HARP’S LINGERIE Elizabeth Harp estimates 85% of women wear the wrong size bra. Whether too tight in the band or too big in the cup, the wrong fit can lead to a less-than-seductive silhouette, not to mention irritation and discomfort. Do yourself a favor and stop by this classic lingerie shop for a fitting. Harp’s carries the finest in undergarments, from frilly to functional, including hard-to-find lines like Chantelle, Aubade, Rigby & Peller, Lavit and Fantasie. Whether you need a beautiful bustier for your wedding night or a workday matching bra-and-panty set, Harp’s has you covered. Get measured and made over with the right undergarments, courtesy of Elizabeth’s 58 years of experience in the biz. Her selection of accessories and evening bags ensure you’ll leave with something to wear on the outside as well. HULLABALOO MATERNITY & INFANT WEAR Show off that “glow” with high fashion maternity wear. Here is a store that was created out of a true need—the partners who created HullaBaloo met in an on-line chatroom. They had a lot in common, both were pregnant and both were having a hard time finding the right maternity wear at a reasonable price. Brainstorming began, babies were delivered and a store was born as well. The result is a great place to find fashionalble, functional and reasonably priced clothes. Pick out the baby’s stuff too, as they cater to the infant and toddler as well. IMELDA’S CLOSET Dictators of fashion love to shop this swank Birmingham boutique. Owners Jayme Kirschner and Patty Spadafore established Imelda’s Closet in downtown Birmingham eight years ago. Their vision was to provide women of all ages everything they would desire for their dream closet: funky accessories, European shoes and unique clothing, not to mention great gifts for any occasion. Don’t feel guilty splurging on the Puma product, Tylie Malibu handbags, Elle footwear, G-Series bags and shoes and Miss Sixty found on these shelves. Miss Marcos would be proud. IVY'S CUSTOM CORSETS Embrace yourself in a beautiful custom corset and enhance your assets! Make a statement with a casual or elegant outer corset, or use in place of a brassier to define your shape and form, slim your waist and support your back. At Ivy’s you will choose your style and fabric (from matte satin, brocade, raw silk and denim to a large assortment of beautiful fashion fabrics) and then be meticulously measured for a custom piece that is just right for your needs. How delightful to own a piece designed just for you, whether for a truly special garment to wear under your wedding dress or a cool look to throw on with jeans. Ivy’s does fab custom skirts too. LILY BOUTIQUE If you like to keep up with the latest looks but don’t want to spend a fortune, Lily is the place for you. Stop by this Dearborn boutique for an expertly edited selection of trends and junior contemporary sportswear. The lavender walls and crystal chandelier provide a nice atmosphere for browsing the jeans, tees, casual wear and sprinkling of dresses in this friendly shop. Lines like Free People, Seven for all Mankind, J & Co. and Made and Collins keep customers coming back for more and continue to draw new clientele. Don’t worry if you can’t squeeze into junior sizes—that just leaves more cash to spend on belts, handbags, jewelry and other accessories that are priced so reasonably you’ll make Dearborn a destination. LINDA DRESNER/LOFT Designers’ careers have been won and weakened on the endorsement of this famed fashion trendsetter, who maintains a space in Birmingham and one in New York. Expect to use the platinum card . LUXE CLOTHIER More Melrose than Maple; if you’re wondering what happened to Vain Couture, travel to Birmingham and check out Sandra Soka’s exclusive new shop, Luxe. She carries all the latest trends for men and women from New York, LA and Italy. All your favorite '70s pop icons make appearances on adorable T-shirts by Green Tea. MICHELLE RACHELLE There’s no doubt this boutique has brought a slice of bicoastal style to metro Detroit. Walk into this clean, elegant-yet-funky little store and you’ll soon recognize some of these fashions...that’s because you’ve probably seen starlets wearing them in the pages of Lucky, Vogue and InStyle magazines. Michelle Lobsinger opened the boutique to make clothing by indie New York City and Los Angeles designers available to metro Detroit fashionistas. It has since become a must-shop stop. Lines like Calypso, Botkier, Lauren Moffatt, Lulu Guinness, Ya-Ya and Woo assure you’ll be dressed to impress. The store is fresh and inviting, supplying women with quality merchandise that’s edgy without being overly trendy. These clothes will be in your wardrobe for many seasons, not just one. NAHLA'S PLACE Nahla is a true beauty and fashion expert. As a child, she learned the art of ‘threading’ from her mother, and later spent nine years at the Bobbi Brown cosmetics counter at Nordstrom. That’s not to mention her talent for sketching and designing clothing and custom gowns. With the opening of her store in Birmingham, Nahla consolidated all her talents in one place. Find chic accessories and clothing (including many designs by Nahla herself), and don’t leave without ?sitting in Nahla’s salon chair for traditional eyebrow threading and makeup application, using cosmetics and brushes from Nahla’s own line, of course. PAMPLEMOUSSE Laura Williams’s amazingly cute boutique in downtown Northville has everything to bring out the feminine side in you. Pamper yourself with luxurious and unique products from Burt’s Bees, Davies Gate, Caswell-Massey, Get Fresh, Votivo and Dr. Hauschka’s Holistic skin care. Pamplemousse also carries adorable purses, jewelry and hair accessories. You’re sure to come out smelling like a rose (or any other flower that you like). PARIS This is not a last year’s model resale shop; merch is on the antiquated side— from those who have departed the planet years before you were born. This vintage clothing/décor store is so loaded with feminine wears and wares it makes Laura Ashley look butch. Lace, florals, buttons and bows prevail in this place for girly girls who don’t mind a previous owner. PASHMINA BOUTIQUE Pashmina, if you don’t already know, means cashmere wool of the finest quality. It comes from the underbelly of a goat living in the Himalayas, 14,000 feet above sea level. This coveted wool is used to make shawls and scarves of amazing beauty and softness, often embellished with beadwork or embroidery. This elegant little boutique of the same name features gorgeous Pashmina items as well as soft and feminine skirts and tops, anklets, earrings, bracelets and hand-carved Kunden jewelry. POSH COUTURE Posh is defined as elegant and fashionable, and the eponymous Birmingham boutique is just that. The store stays on the cutting edge with clothing from Single, Robert Rodriguez, Body Language and Frankie B, along with to-die-for dresses by Dina Bar-El and Marc Bower. John Medeiros jewelry is worth a look, and Posh’s handbags and other accessories will make you feel like you’re shopping on Melrose instead of Maple Ave. REAR ENDS Love jeans? In search of the perfect fit? With thousands of jeans, this has got to be one of the largest selections anywhere. You’re certain to find the jeans of your dreams in this massive collection, featuring dozens of the hottest denim designers like Seven, Citizens for Humanity and True Religion as well tomorrow’s brands like Antik and Taverniti. Besides the hippest denim for your hips, there’s is a huge inventory of tees and tops, including Nicky Hilton’s oh-so-fun line and the best collection of cute and sexy Michael Stars. RISE Want to add some West Coast flair to your wardrobe? There is no need to fly to LA when you can zip over to Washington Ave. for Cali flavored fashions. This hip boutique on the corner is loaded with women’s fashions in the current looks favored by starlets and the style conscious—at great prices. They have denim, tops and skirts and lots of unique accessories that complete your vision. SAMIRA’S FASHIONS AND FURS Think Chanel, Escada and Dolce & Gabbana are out of reach? Think again. Samira makes dream designers affordable at her upscale consignment store. Samira’s Fashions and Furs collects fine clothing and accessories from across the country for resale to a discerning clientele. The same ladies who shop at Saks find brands like St. John and Celine at significant savings here. Service keeps customers and consigners coming back. Samira helps women find the perfect ensembles for work, formal events, ballroom dance, even vacations. Shop by appointment or simply drop in. Layaway is available. SHAPES DESIGN STUDIO What, your local boutique doesn’t offer custom, one-of-a-kind tops and dresses? Pity. Shapes, of course, does, which is exactly what has garnered them several awards in the vein of Best Boutique or Best Women’s Wear in Detroit. The movie star slinky look is so much better when custom cut to your killer curves; that’s what Shapes owner Treas thinks, at least. She’ll create a sleek tunic or frilly frock that helps your shapely shoulders or sprinter’s calves look their best. Using luxurious fabrics and only the most up-to-date color palettes, Treas whips up little pieces of heaven that always manage to make your globes look golden. She even does custom wedding dresses that would never, ever conjure up the words “big,” “fat” or “Greek”—in fact, think more along the lines of Carolyn Bissette Kennedy or J.Lo wedding #3. And don’t worry, she’s got plenty of affordable ready-to-wear items, too, as well as a very original, very awards-show collection of jewelry. TENDER Thank Tender for upping the area’s style quotient. What used to be available only to those savvy, striking jetsetters with style pruned from either of the Coasts or Europe has been a Birmingham fixture since 1993. Known for its exotic collections—nearly all of which are exclusive to metro Detroit, some exclusive to the U.S.—style mavens near and far rely on Tender to update seasonal wardrobes or find a special-occasion dress. Tender is feminine and flirty, sexy and kicky. It is, all at once, power suit for careering, bathing suit for sunning, denim for Krogering, comfy tee for carpooling, dress for romancing and vintage jewelry for celebrating. Its beautiful garments drape from pretty hangers, and its shoe and handbag collection sit so sublimely the editors of Vogue Italia gave it a nod as one of the best assortments in the world. As for what to wear with those strappy heels or new favorite status bag…Derek Lam, Peter Som, Nina Ricci, Thakoon, Rodarte, Jimmy Choo, Miu Miu, Zac Posen, Lanvin, Valentino and on and on. URBAN BLUES The fabulous Fowler sisters realized a lifelong dream when they opened this denim emporium in 2005. Hard-to-find labels like Rock and Republic, J Brand Jeans, Serfontaine and Paige Premium bring the boutique’s slogan “Better Butts Thru Better Jeans” to life. Hoodies, tattoo-printed tees, cool leather belts and handmade jewelry can also be found here. URBAN DAISY Finally, somebody opened up the kind of shop Grosse Pointe needed. If you still think of the Pointes as Talbot’s Town, get to the Village and check out this chic boutique. It’s so trendy, we worry they might be breaking some kind of city ordinance. This store is fun—kind of designed for the hipster housewife. Their selection of fun kicking-around clothing is so on the pulse, we worry they might start opening one up in every mall in America. They also carry bath and body products. VERA JANE Sexy and sophisticated, Vera Jane is a lingerie boutique with good taste. Not to say the stuff won’t pop a few eyeballs, it’s just more restrained than the flashy trashy stuff you see in many shops. Vera Jane also sells women’s coats, and we can’t think of anything better to wear under a coat than something in black lace. © 2008 Guide to Detroit, LLC |