New York City will always be our first love, but here are some stores across America that have knocked us off our Jimmy Choos…
1. Pangea (Nashville, TN; www.pangeanashville.com) Located alongside the Vanderbilt University campus, this eclectic shop is a feast for the eye as well as the pocketbook. Shoppers will find temptation around every corner, from indie-label rompers to kitsch folk art to a variety of naughty cards and buttons. Expect a sniff or two from one of the store owner’s adorable dogs while killing time in the best way possible.
2. Candy Baron (Laguna Beach, CA; www.thecandybaron.com) This sunny beach town is home to a candy store that brings out the kid in all of us. Check your self-control at the door and indulge in barrel after barrel of classic penny candies that remind you of summer days at camp. Their selection includes sugar-free, international and hard-to-find concoctions meant to satisfy your sweet tooth for days to come.
3. Hey Daisy (Appleton, WI; www.heydaisy.com) This unexpected gem of a boutique breathes life onto East College Avenue in Appleton. The shopper who ducks into Hey Daisy will find a well-edited selection of jeans, tee shirts and dresses at terrific prices. The last-minute “impulse” buys located next to the cash register are particularly tempting.
4. American Rag (Newport Beach, CA; amrag.com) American Rag’s “classidelic” look has a loyal following on the West Coast. Their vintage-inspired men and womenswear manages to be both timeless and boundary-pushing all at the same time. Make time for lunch, as their in-store café offers the best salad selection west of Paris. Then walk out with bags full of head-turning and envy-inspiring fashion. You won’t regret it.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________