Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

Releases: Expanded View

Jan 25 2012

New Shops, New Styles In & Around Philly

Region Welcomes Trend-Defining Independent & International Stores

On-trend shops have taken root in Philadelphia and The Countryside®, spreading fashion and function from Rittenhouse Square to King of Prussia. In the past year, the region has embraced aspiring athletes and adventurers via women-centric Lululemon and Athleta and rugged Trove General. Newer shelter shops showcase pieces that stand the test of time, from Morihata’s note-perfect Japanese staples to garden lifestyle essentials at Earth to RevivalSmith’s curated vintage wares. Europe makes its presence known, too, with expansions of Jack Wills, Barbour, Wolford and more. Check out some of Philadelphia’s newest places to shop:

Chic Shelter:

  • Busybee Homestore – A Philly company long known for real estate staging stages a real shop of its own in a massive South Street storefront. The company’s retail division sells new and gently used furnishings, great hostess gifts—all within shouting distance of its design services, should a customer need to know exactly what to do with a pumpkin-hued vintage-inspired sleeper sofa with split back. 734 South Street, (215) 592-9600, busybeephilly.com
  • Chairloom – Main Line mom turned design maven Molly Andrews and business partner Tracy Jenkins offer fresh re-imaginings of old seating—settees reupholstered in modern florals, antique armchairs swathed in luxe velvet, midcentury sofas reworked in brilliant geometric prints—at her by-appointment-only showroom. 137 E. Spring Avenue, Ardmore, (914) 484-5498, chairloom.com
  • Earth – Seamlessly blending green design and green itself, this Chestnut Hill newbie offers the most perfect little terrariums, soft taupe seating, bath-time aromatherapy and gardening tools and plants, all brought to you by Doug Reinke, the proprietor of beyond-successful Host furniture stores. 8433 Germantown Avenue, (267) 297-6868, earthgardenhome.com
  • Hipster Home – Bright Buddha bowls, Gus Modern’s square armchairs and Blu Dot’s electric-hued furnishings reside in the most recent location of Dave Friday and Lindsay Herman’s contemporary décor and gift shop. 8236 Germantown Avenue, (267) 336-7259, hipsterhome.com
  • Jonathan Adler – Designer, potter, proponent of “happy chic” living and South Jersey native Jonathan Adler returned to his roots to open his first Philly shop in the heart of Old City. The two-floor space offers Adler’s vibrant, tongue-in-cheek and always retro panoply of his own-make furnishings and accessories—embroidered pillows, clever candy holders, pristinely fun couches—as well as design services. 33 N. 3rd Street, (215) 574-1999, jonathanadler.com
  • Linen – The best of modern bedding—by Dwell Studio, Pine Cone Hill, Serena & Lilly—classic-modern beds, high-end bath linens and a well-edited array of children’s clothes fill Doug Reinke’s third Chestnut Hill shop (Host and Earth are also his). 8133 Germantown Avenue, (215) 248-3300, lineninteriors.com
  • Deconstructed Living – Vintage school maps, shipping pallets made into coffee tables and potting tables reworked as display pieces are among the finds at Audra Fine’s clean design-meets-rustic Main Line furniture and accessories shop. 201 E. Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, (610) 975-8908, deconstructedliving.com
  • Morihata – Beneath a factory-turned-loft building, shopkeeps Yuka and Kaz Morihata display wares that epitomize impeccable Japanese accessories and tools. The boutique’s signature stock has quickly become extra-soft Yoshii towels (woven cotton on one side, terry on the other), but shoppers can’t get enough of their tin-plated wasabi graters, cast-iron bottle openers, wooden tea canisters and other instant home essentials. 428 N. 13th Street, (215) 238-1328, morihata.com
  • RevivalSmith – Vintage specialist, blogger and Etsy alum Lise Gaule deftly gathers the vintage-and-older pieces in her small Manayunk co-op. Chairs here are upholstered in old feedbags and ticking. Birdcages adorn windows one week, rescued school lockers the next, maybe traditional straw hats after that. A total find. 4233 Main Street, (215) 509-6550, revivalsmith.com

Euro Fashions:

  • Barbour – This shop’s repertoire consists of traditional wax jackets, tweed caps, check shirts and crewneck “jumpers” that embody the sporting life across the pond. 1517 Walnut Street, (215) 255-8420, barbour.com/us
  • Briar Vintage – Some of the mint-condition pieces—trousers, blazers, boots, bowties, belts, top hats and other curiosities reclaimed from men’s wardrobes in the 1800s through the 1960s—in this tiny enclave are obviously American. But the look and feel of this Old City experience seem straight out of Sherlock Holmes, Boardwalk Empire or Mad Men. 62 N. 3rd Street, (215) 627-1990, briarvintage.com
  • Dr. Marten’s – Nineties phenom “Docs” are back again, via chunky soled-styles that look straight out of Singles, plus more boot, oxford, even high heels that reinvent the good doctor’s tough-yet-comfortable “Air Walk” shoes. 1710 Walnut Street, (215) 545-2455, drmartens.com
  • Jack Wills – This self-proclaimed “fabulously British” brand exemplifies collegiate style with its tweedy blazers, toggle-close gilets, shawl-neck sweaters and crested rugby shirts. 1617 Walnut Street, (215) 751-1055, jackwills.com
  • Papilio – This all-things-that-need-to-fit-right shop—the third to open in the U.S. and the first to open in a city—offers excellent hosiery and swimwear, with personalized service to match. 1700 Sansom Street, (215) 851-8778, papiliostores.com
  • Wolford Boutique – Surely Austrian engineering goes into the design of this most iconic of leg-, under- and shape-wear brands. Fashionistas swear Wolford’s opaque tights last and last, and onlookers observe that their undergarments make everything atop them look just a bit better. King of Prussia Mall, 160 N. Gulph Road, King of Prussia, (610) 962-7801, wolford.com

More To Love:

  • Free People – Decades ago, Philadelphia-based retail giant Urban Outfitters got its start as the “Free People Shop” in West Philly. Today, the company brings its hippie aesthetic back to town—albeit to tony Walnut Street—with its most free-spirited clothing and accessories brand (the company’s others include Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Terrain, BHLDN). Opening scheduled for January 2012. 1625 Walnut Street, freepeople.com
  • Laila Rowe – This off-price women’s accessories shop became an instant hit along the burgeoning Chestnut Street corridor, offering steals and deals on chunky beaded bracelets, statement cocktail rings, ribbon necklaces, stylish sunhats, umbrellas, rain boots, handbags and easy adornments. 1710 Chestnut Street, (267) 324-5723, lailarowe.com
  • Nicole Rae Styer – This longtime Philly clothing designer scored her eponymous shop along South Philly’s up-and-coming East Passyunk Avenue. Styer’s signature look is to update standard tanks, minis and tees with funky vintage trimmings, neon lace and more fun flourishes that are ruffly, feathery and such. 1822 E. Passyunk Avenue, (215) 339-0168, nicoleraestyer.com

The Movement Movement:

  • Athleta – Nike’s signature earthy-chick brand joins competitors Lululemon and City Sports along Center City’s Rittenhouse Row. The retailer offers styles that work in and beyond the gym, trail, slopes and studio; boasts an excellent selection of sports bras; offers in-store Tae Bo, Zumba and fitness classes; and organizes a running club. 1722 Walnut Street, (215) 732-1983, athleta.com
  • Lululemon Athletica – Chic yoga gear repped by local “ambassadors” is the stock-and-trade of this San Francisco-based chain. The brand’s sleek-yet-comfy tanks and pants have become staples in many a hatha yoga class. King of Prussia Mall, 160 N. Gulph Road, King of Prussia, (610) 337-0780, lululemon.com
  • Swim ‘N’ Sport – This 58-year-old specialty swim shop made its long-awaited debut in King of Prussia, offering fit-centric suits, bikinis and cover-ups. The shop’s go-to repertoire of designers include Calvin Klein, Gottex, Body Glove and Trina Turk. King of Prussia Mall, 160 N. Gulph Road, King of Prussia, (610) 265-2875, swimnsport.com
  • Trove General – American and European heritage brands are the focus at this ruggedly handsome Main Line shop of Charlotte Bonner, Molly Bonner and Foster Zeh, as stylishly outdoorsy as their shop’s wares. The boutique has helped revive the local popularity of Pendleton, Woolrich, Filson, Bill’s Khakis, Dubarry and other tried-and-true labels, making suburban shoppers realize it’s cool to go old school. 82 E. Lancaster Avenue, Paoli, (484) 320-8626, trovegeneral.com

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality.

For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit visitphilly.com or uwishunu.com, where you can build itineraries; search event calendars; see photos and videos; view interactive maps; sign up for newsletters; listen to HearPhilly, an online radio station about what to see and do in the region; book hotel reservations and more. Or, call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Historic Philadelphia, at (800) 537-7676.

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Tagged: Shopping

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Tagged: Shopping
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Tagged: Shopping