SHOPPING EXCLUSIVES: UNIQUE LINES FOUND ONLY IN PHILLY

Indie Stores Maintain Exclusivity With The Nation’s Top Designers

PHILADELPHIA, June 1, 2009 – Some of the country’s most cutting-edge, indie boutiques operate within the historic neighborhoods of Philadelphia, and many of them maintain in-town exclusivity of their favorite local, national and international lines. Here’s where to go for fab frocks, must-have make-up, sky-high stilettos and luxurious lotions and potions within the city limits:

Hipster Labels:

• Vagabond – After nearly a decade, this Old City pioneer still scores top-level labels exclusively. It’s the only place in town that offers the shop owners’ own lines—knits by Stella pop and avant garde pieces by City of Brotherly Love—along with Scout, Ashley Watson, Slow and Steady Wins the Race, Motion Clothing, plus locally made necklaces by Leah D’Ambrogio and knitwear by Nunzi and Ezi. 37 N. 3^rd Street, (267) 671-0737, vagabondboutique.com
• Sugarcube – Elisa Burrato’s impeccably stocked hers-and-his boutique was one of the first in Old City to bring fashion up a notch. Among the exclusives here are Serial Cultura (for twisted 1980s printed pieces), multi-rising jeans from Found Denim, timeless tops from APC and neutral garments from Theory alum Navar. 124 N. 3^rd Street, (215) 238-0825, sugarcube.us
• Arcadia – Organic cotton, durable bamboo and reclaimed fabrics are the versatile backbone of this eco-conscious, 18-month-old Northern Liberties shop, the first and only in town to stock solidly on-trend dresses and separates from France’s Numanu, an internationally acclaimed design house that supports organic farmers and fair-trade fabric makers in rural India. Other exclusive lines culled by shop owner Ali McCloud include Naturevsfuture, Loyale and vegan accessories from Matt & Nat. 819 N. 2^nd Street,
  (215) 667-8099, arcadiaboutique.com

Pretty Frocks And Such:

• Leehe Fai – Irresistibly girlie fashions—think: Nanette Lepore, ABS—are this Rittenhouse Square shop’s specialty. And the boutique is at its best with exclusive styles from stylish good-girl dresses by Sea NYC and bags made of remnant and vintage leather by DEDE. 133 S. 18^th Street, (215) 564-6111, leehefai.com
• Third Street Habit – The only shop in Philadelphia—and Pennsylvania—to carry the coveted Etoile line by Bohemian designer Isabel Marant is also the only spot around to stock beautiful, feminine shoes from Les Prairies de Paris, hand-flocked and embroidered Mongolian scarves from Leigh & Luca and crisply contemporary styles from Swedish designer Rodebjer. 153 N. 3^rd Street, (215) 925-5455, thirdstreethabit.com

Couture Collections:

• Joan Shepp – The note-perfect domain of fashion doyenne Joan Shepp features eminently recognizable pieces from supremely important collections such as Balenciaga, Junya Watanabe, Play by Comme des Garçons, Ann Demeulemeester, Jil Sander, Yohji Yamamoto and Pucci—all found nowhere else in the city. 1616 Walnut Street, (215) 735-2666, joanshepp.com
• Adresse – Like a perfect find on a Parisian side street, this well-curated townhouse boutique offers impeccable styles from some of the most coveted fashion houses. Owners Stephanie and Michael Lutzo are the only ones in town to fill their racks with Peter Som, Derek Lam, Nina Ricci, Lela Rose and Lanvin. 1706 Locust Street, (215) 985-3161, adressephiladelphia.com
• Boyd’s – This 70-year-old stalwart has long been Philadelphia’s Saville Row. Today, Boyd’s three stately floors include the city’s only Govberg shop, women’s fashion from Zac Posen and Behnaz Sarafpour—and a pristine collection of exclusive, ready-to-tailor menswear from Armani Collezioni, Trussini, Hickey Freeman and Joseph Abboud. 1818 Chestnut Street, (215) 564-9000, boydsphila.com

Shoes
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