Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

Shopping is fun. Shopping in indie and owner-operated boutiques that feature unusual wares and personalized service is even more fun, which means that shopping in Historic Philadelphia is a blast. With dozens of independently owned clothing, jewelry and home furnishings shops, the area between Front and 7^th Streets and Race and Spruce Streets is a shopper’s nirvana. Best of all, in Pennsylvania there is no sales tax on clothing and shoes, leaving room in the budget for that extra bauble. Here are just a few of the places where discerning shoppers can indulge in their favorite pastime:

Trendy Threads:

• Charlie’s Jeans – Short or tall, thin or curvy—no matter what body type, the staff at Charlie’s has an uncanny knack for selecting the right jeans with the perfect fit. Two stores—one for women and another for men—carry more than 30 brands. Women’s shop, 233 Market Street, (215) 923-9681; Men’s shop, 237 Market Street, (215) 627-3390, charliesjeans.net
• Forbidden Planett – Shoppers step down into this basement-level boutique and step up in style with sassy vintage clothing and accessories. 10 N. 3^rd Street, basement level, (215) 923-7399
• Lost + Found – Trendsetters appreciate the combo of hip tees, dresses, menswear and shoes at affordable prices. 133 N. 3^rd Street, (215) 928-1311
• Reward – No big names here. Just forward-thinking women’s and men’s threads from the best emerging designers from around the world. 55 N. 2^nd Street, (267) 773-8675, rewardproject.com
• Sevilla Smith – This former Hollywood stylist brings her own sense of style to the ladies clothing, toddler togs, accessories and jewelry available at this well-edited boutique. 128 N. 3^rd Street, (215) 629-5683, sevillasmith.com
  
• Smak Parlour – Take fun and flirty and blend in a little hipster chic—that’s the look of the original designs by fashion mavens Abby Kessler and Katie Loftus at their girl-centric boutique. 219 Market Street, (215) 625-4551, smakparlour.com
• Third Street Habit – Fun fashion fans flock here for edgy designs and high-style fashions by Betsey Johnson, Cynthia Rowley and other top runway names. And it is the only boutique in the city featuring Karen Zambos and Sonia Rykiel designs. 153 N. 3^rd Street, (215) 925-5455, thirdstreethabit.com
• Three Sirens – Photo-op-worthy dresses, chic tops, miles of denim and style advice from the owners make this boutique a fashionista favorite. 134 N. 3^rd street, (215) 925-3548, threesirens.com
• Vagabond – Shoppers can’t get enough of the owner’s hand-knit sweaters and unusual accessories, along with styles from emerging designers and new labels. Do-it-yourself stylists snap up the selection of unusual yarns. 37 N. 3^rd Street, (267) 671-0737, vagabondboutique.com

Accessories:

• Fivi – Accessory-philes find lots to choose from in this diminutive shop packed with affordable handbags and jewelry by local designers. 138 N. 3^rd Street, (215) 965-8685
• J. Karma – Shoes? Yes. Handbags? They’ve got ’em. Silver jewelry? It’s their specialty. Any outfit looks better with the stylish and affordable ethnic jewelry and accessories found here. 62 N. 3^rd Street, (215) 627-9625
• Sioux Zanne Messix – Accessory maven Sioux Zanne Messix never met a bead, gem or bit of fabric she didn’t like. And she has used them all to create must-have handbags, jewelry, hats and other accessories at her tiny boutique. 54 ½ N. 3^rd Street, (215) 928-9250
• Tony – The funky jewelry and trendy handbags earned Tony City Paper’s award as “Best Store for Accessories.” But don’t overlook the designer threads available at very “un-boutique” prices. 47 N. 3^rd Street, (215) 592-8669, tonyonthird.com
• Viv Pickle – Viv’s custom-designed handbags have shown up in Hollywood and in the top fashion magazines. Hundreds of fabrics and dozens of shapes mean every bag is a one-of-a-kind creation. 21 N. 3^rd Street, (215) 922-5904, vivpickle.com

Jewelry:

• Jewelers’ Row – Strolling along its brick-lined streets, shoppers can find diamonds, pearls and all manner of bling in the nation’s oldest—and one of its largest—diamond districts. Hundreds of merchants offer precious stones and settings at discounted prices. Sansom Street between 7^th & 9^th Streets, philadelphiajewelersrow.com
• Ven and Vaida Jewelry – Shoppers can splurge on elaborate estate pieces, sleek and modern designs and new selections from upcoming jewelry artists. 18 S. 3^rd Street, (215) 592-4099, venandvaidagold.com

Home And Interior Design:

• Big Green Earth Store – Any home can be a little greener with the energy-saving gadgets, eco-cleaning supplies, kids’ accessories and pet goods at this earth-conscious shop. 239 Market Street, (267) 239-5679, biggreenearthstore.com
• Bruges Home – Inspired by the Belgian tradition of combining nature and design, this décor shop specializes in contemporary international home furnishings, tableware, design accents and gifts. 323A Race Street, (215) 922-6041, brugeshome.com
• Foster’s Homeware – Whimsical design accents, gadgets and accessories for every room turn any house into a home. Foster’s modern and classic styles can be incorporated into almost every décor. 399 Market Street, (267) 671-0588, shopfosters.com
• Host Interiors – Furnish a room or simply select a few accent pieces that add charm to any space. The selection of contemporary and classic pieces is dizzying at this sleek and hip home interiors shop. 108 N. 2^nd Street, (215) 925-3377, hostinteriors.com
• Hudson Beach Glass – Beautiful hand-blown glass bowls, decorative items, vases, trays and other items add color and interest to any style décor. 26 S. Strawberry Street, (215) 279-7118, hudsonbeachglass.com
• Matthew Izzo – This hipster home design boutique has packed up and moved to new digs in Historic Philadelphia, where style-conscious shoppers can find the latest in furnishings and accents along with clothing and accessories. 151 N. 3^rd Street, (215) 829-0606, matthewizzo.com

Lotions, Potions And Gifts:

• Pileggi on the Square – Part spa and part boutique, this little gem is all about style. With hair care, makeup and spa products alongside designer sportswear and elegant day and evening wear, this spot is a one-stop destination for all-things beauty. 717 Walnut Street, (215) 627-0565, pileggisalon.com
• Scarlett Alley – Packed into this homey boutique are tasteful and funky home accents, gotta-have-it jewelry and lush body creams and lotions. Although there is always something new, many items have become classic and are always in stock. 241 Race Street, (215) 592-7898, scarlettalley.com
• Terme Di Aroma – Creams, perfumes, candles and a wide selection of face and body products make this a one-stop shop for do-it-yourself spa treatments. 32 N. 3^rd Street, (215) 829-9769, termediaroma.com

Chocolate, Chocolate And More Chocolate:

• Lore’s Chocolates – The family here has been turning out handmade sweets for two generations. They even make custom designs for special occasions. 34 S. 7^th Street, (215) 627-3233, loreschocolates.com
• Shane’s Candies – America’s oldest candy store still makes candy the old-fashioned way. Handmade, hand-dipped chocolates in traditional and novelty shapes have been tempting palates since 1876. 110 Market Street, (215) 922-1048, shanecandies.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 gophila.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 Hear Philly, 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.

Contact(s):

• Caroline Bean, (215) 599-7433
• Morgan Obidowski, (215) 599-2298