boston
Shopping
Nesting on Main
Marrying the depth of a sprawling flea market with the edited feel of a high-end antiques store, this spot is packed with deals: There are bits of embroidery for $1, old maps, and vintage photographs of 1920s rowing teams.
44 Main St., 978-369-4133
Shopping
Nicole Marie Fashion Boutique
Owned by a former personal shopper, the basement-level space has a roster of labels like See by Chloé and Tocca.
32 Main St., 978-287-1469
Shopping
Viola
The just-opened second outpost of this accessories boutique—the first is up the coast in Hamilton—is lined with Sigerson Morrison flats and Rebecca Minkoff totes.
38 Main St., 978-297-0775
Shopping
Back Bay & the South End
Lucky's favorite stores in Boston's Back Bay and South End neighborhoods!
Shopping
Dress
Martha Hilfinger and Jane Schlueter have reliably flawless taste: There are no risky style choices on their racks. Instead, their three-year-old spot, awash in blond wood, features only the most flattering picks from a smattering of brands like 3.1 Phillip Lim and Lyell. The duo's on-point judgment has established Dress as the best place in town for foolproof party dresses.
221 Newbury St., Back Bay, 617-424-7125, dressboston.com
Shopping
Good
While in Boston on a retail consulting job, New Yorker Paul Niski happened upon a FOR RENT sign in a storefront—and he snapped up the lease on the spot. The space, fronted by huge Palladian-style windows, is just that compelling, and Niski has done a good job of ensuring that the gorgeous selection of gifts and jewelry inside measures up. Antique memento mori pendants are set beside old engraved cigarette cases, and beaded Chan Luu necklaces are arranged next to ink drawings from Patch NYC.
88 Charles St., Beacon Hill, 617-722-9200, shopatgood.com
Shopping
Gretta Luxe
The Gretta Luxe minichain is our favorite of local TV personality Gretchen Monahan's vast endeavors (she also owns spas and salons); Monahan unerringly presents an irresistible array of high-high-end picks from designers like Stella McCartney alongside more affordable names like Adam and Lauren Moffatt. The Copley Square branch wins points for convenience and a gallery-like presentation, but the Wellesley original is bigger and has better sales.
10 Huntington Ave., Back Bay, 617-536-1959; 94 Central St., Wellesley, 781-237-7010
Shopping
Hudson
Named after Hudson, New York (a former mill town famed both for its prison and its mass of vintage home goods stores), this two-year-old destination is equal parts modern industrial and old-world farmhouse. Owner and interior decorator Jill Goldberg pulls together a masterful mix of block-printed John Robshaw pillows, handcarved bird statues from Oly, and richly patterned Madeline Weinrib rugs.
312 Shawmut Ave., South End, 617-292-0900, hudsonboston.com
Shopping
Lab
Situated in the student-heavy, slightly gritty neighborhood of Allston, this streetwear shop stocks the requisite collectible vinyl toys (and has a set of turntables in the corner), but you'll also find streamlined tops and jackets that work just as well in a more mainstream wardrobe. Lab is a huge supporter of local artists, so all of the graphic, brightly hued paintings on the walls are for sale.
113 Brighton Ave., Allston, 617-395-4330
Shopping
Lekker Home
For more than five years, Lekker Home has offered the sort of clean-lined housewares that never go out of style. The emphasis here is on European designers (lekker is Dutch for "tasty" or "enticing"), who turn out everything from gold-plated serving spoons to porcelain salt and pepper shakers modeled after mini tin cans.
1317 Washington St., South End, 617-542-6464, lekkerhome.com
