Melange: A Fringe Find in Carmel

The new boutique extends the limits of that city’s shopping scene.

There’s a good chance you’ve overlooked one of Carmel’s newest shops, Melange, quietly occupying a spot on downtown’s edge. The minimalist space, skirted with hanging windowpanes and wooden desk chairs that double as clothing racks, doesn’t give off a high-end vibe like nearby City Center shops, but that’s the accessible nature owners Margi Beaver and Carmen Shew are going for. True to the name, the eclectic merchandise at Melange—French for “a mix of things”—covers a lot of bases: stunning Papillon Blanc wrap dresses ($194), whimsical Appaman children’s tees ($38), and even vintage furniture. We love perusing the playful Wildfox shirts the most, choosing between cheeky quips and colorful lion heads. Melange’s services extend to in-home closet makeovers ($60 to $70 for two hours), during which Beaver re-creates an episode of What Not to Wear, replacing outdated clothes with on-trend basics like velvety Achro sweaters ($52) and Mind Code distressed skinnies ($48). 20 Executive Dr., Carmel, 317-810-1653, melangefashion.com