Occasionette
We’ve been fans of Occasionette since the East Passyunk gift shop opened in 2013, but now our friends across the Delaware can enjoy it, too. What to expect at the new 3,800-square-foot spot: style-forward planters (plus, faux succulents!), a large card wall, and locally made chocolates. 724 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, NJ 08108, occasionette.com.
worKS
The region’s most revered makers joined forces to create this market-like mecca last year. All our favorites—leather bag gurus Arden + James, upholstery savants Chairloom, French-inspired apothecary Zoet Bathlatier—have carved out nooks in the cavernous warehouse, and it seems there’s always a deal (an upscale yard sale) or event (live folk music) gracing its grounds. 432 South Walnut Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348, workskennettsquare.com.
Fishtown Flea
Leave it to Amy and Leo Voloshin (the impossibly hip duo behind Philly’s powerhouse print-design firm Printfresh) to pack 30 of the city’s best indie artisans – vintage vendors, jewelry designers, ceramists, stationers, artists and more – into rotating locations around Fishtown. In-the-know shoppers (3,000 of them came to the first one, but you can expect up to 5,000 at the next) can discover the coolest makers on the scene, then pretend they knew about them all along. Catch the next one on September 8th behind Suraya restaurant. Frankford Ave btwn Girard Ave and Oxford St., Philadelphia, PA 19125, fishtownflea.us.
UBIQ Lab
At UBIQ’s appointment-only “lab,” which opened this past winter, serious sneakerheads can design a pair of kicks in a completely custom color palette. (Deposits start at $500.) Need some inspiration? Consider taking those holy-grail Air Jordan 1’s and refinishing them in exotic crocodile or python. (Yup, they do that.) 1509 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, ubiqlife.com.
The Grand Fromage
They source interesting blues and cheddars from across the globe, then pair them with jam, honey, crackers, and anything else you might need for a cheese board – right down to the actual board. 3910 Skippack Pike, Skippack, PA 19474, thegrandfromage.com.
Rim Cafe
Have dinner somewhere in South Philly, then pass on the French press and head to this kitschy cafe to finish your night over an expertly pulled espresso drink drizzled with your choice of warm chocolate or salted caramel. 1172 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, rimcafe.net.
Ps & Qs For Her
After three years of catering to the city's coolest dudes and fielding desperate pleas for a women's section from their equally hip girlfriends, men's shop Ps & Qs opened a sister store mere blocks from the original outpost. The sequel boasts a familiar, albeit feminine, aesthetic, and stocks a style-forward lineup of slim-cut joggers, tailored collared shirts and chic Tretorn kicks. They also sell children's clothes — because what little one doesn't need a Pendleton poncho? 1018 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, psandqs.com.
Skirt (@shopskirt)
Instead of clogging your inbox with another store newsletter, follow the feed of this boutique triumvirate, which posts about trade-in days when you can donate garments in exchange for store credit; holiday flash sales; and free gifts with purchase. (They've given away goodies like Vince scarves and Sundry tees.) But be prepared to drop and shop: Most deals are announced day-of 931 Lancaster Avenue, Locations in Bryn Mawr, Rittenhouse, and Stone Harbor, PA 19010, shop-skirt.com.
ToBox
Memo to philly fellas: If you're going to wear shoes -- real grown-up men's shoes -- you're going to want to wear ones from ToBox. Can't afford a new pair of John Lobbs? Bring your old ones in, and owner Tung To will custom-paint them so they'll look out-of-the-box new. 25 South 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, facebook.com/Toboxshoes.
Tim's Racquet
All the Federer-obsessed tennis pros we know swear by the racks of discounted, court-perfect attire. 261 Old York Road, Jenkintown, PA 19046, timsracquet.com.
Fashion Forward Designer Resale
Ayana Hamilton's boutique is the Ritz of resale. Color-organized racks brim with pristine picks from fashion's heavy hitters. There are major investment pieces (a barely used camel-colored Celine Phantom bag for $2,500) and pinch-yourself deals, like a $90 Herms scarf that, cough, may or may not still be there. 7906 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118, .
Old City Coffee
Cardboard boxes of lukewarm Joe? Blech. Old City Coffee will dispatch a barista with a giant espresso machine, because everyone deserves a decent red eye before a Power Point presentation. 221 Church Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, oldcitycoffee.com.
Per Lei Boutique
The haute women's clothing boutique has initiated a Buy Now, Wear Now, Pay Later program: Spend $1,000, pay half, bring it all home, and pay your balance within 30 days. When your significant other asks how you scored so much for so little, just shrug and tell him you're a savvy shopper. 2 East State Street, Media, PA 19063, perleiboutique.com.
Breakaway Bikes
An impressive range of bikes for all riders, plus super-nice mechanics who are total gearheads, but who get that you might not be. They just want you to love your bike as much as they do. 1923 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, breakawaybikes.com.
TownHome
Men: Go here, tell gift-whisperer/owner Dana Bank what you did, and she'll find you the perfect thing to make it all better. Women: Go here, tell Dana all about your fabulous girlfriend, and she'll find you the perfect thing your fabulous girlfriend didn't even know she wanted. 1616 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, townhomeonline.com.