When it comes to shopping, there’s something to be said for the old standbys—the stores where you know you can walk in on any given day and leave with a bag in hand. But the Indy shops on these pages, all of which have arrived in town within the last couple of years, have us rethinking our rut. From cool, comfy athleisure wear you can live in, to a beauty shop that stocks more than 20 types of moisturizer alone, to some of the hippest menswear this town has ever seen, we’ve never been more impressed with what’s out there. Here’s where to find the best clothing, home goods, gifts, and all-around fun stuff in town.
Clothing
Altar’d State
Antiqued lace, floaty tulle, and crochet detailing embellish much of the goods at Altar’d State, whose name offers the first clue to its faith-based bent. But if you look, there are other hints that this Fashion Mall shop—part of a chain with outposts mostly in the Midwest and South—is more than just a purveyor of trendy fringed vests, skinny jeans, and drapey ponchos, a kind of little sister to Free People. For one thing, 1 percent of all sales goes toward building a city in Peru. For another, every Monday is known as Mission Monday, when 10 percent of sales go to a local nonprofit. The store’s onetime slogan “Faith Meets Fashion” has given way to the comparatively secular “Stand Out. For Good.” Because whatever your religious affiliation, you’ll want to hit the massive scarf selection, and take a whiff of the Voluspa candles while you’re at it.
Big for Fall: Ankle booties and long cardigans.
The Fashion Mall, 317-860-7606, altardstate.com
Miss Frankey’s? Try …
Beauty + Grace
Jenni Meyers’s boutique in Carmel City Center radiates sophistication, from its soaring-high ceilings to the beauty of the artfully arranged shift dresses, distressed denim, and preppy-chic loafers. Beauty + Grace holds a handful of labels you won’t find anywhere else in the state, such as well-known French designer Etienne Marcel, famous for bold red zippers. The jewelry, hand-plucked by Meyers, sells quickly, with pieces from Adina Mills and Giles & Brother lining the glass cases (only the sleek booties and heels exit more quickly). Meyers’s favorite part of her store? The 14 styles of denim suspended from the ceiling, helping you imagine how they would look from every angle.
Happy Fun Night: Meyers offers a special shopping experience to groups of friends who want a night out, with wine, champagne, and sweet treats included, along with 25 percent off all purchases.
Carmel City Center, Carmel, 317-564-0687, shopbeautyandgrace.com
Blue Peppermint
A lack of retail experience didn’t stop Jessica Landez from pursuing her long-held dream of owning a boutique. She tiptoed into the industry, first renting space in another store before opening Blue Peppermint nearly two years ago. By design, Landez doesn’t cater to one specific type of shopper. “We’re not just boho; we’re not just business-casual,” she says. “It’s all very on-trend, but it’s not just one style.” In-stead, she looks for pieces that will appeal to the masses, stocking A-line floral dresses, tanks with high-low hemlines, off-the-shoulder rompers, and swingy frocks to slay date night. And those cowhide rugs on the floor? They’re for sale, too.
Bestsellers: Bangles with chunky stones and beads by Florida-based Bourbon & Boweties, luxury jarred candles by Aquiesse (one sniff and you’ll be hooked).
8936 South St., Fishers, 317-436-7082, shopbluepeppermint.com
Endeavor Boutique
What’s hanging on the industrial-pipe racks at Endeavor probably wouldn’t come as a shock. There are long, flowy tanks; trendy off-the-shoulder tops; and tunic-style blouses that could pull double duty as dresses. Indiana tees pack a wooden trunk, and tasseled necklaces, fringed crossbody bags, and dainty stackable bracelets are displayed throughout. But owner Melissa Butrum also stocks a couple of unexpected surprises in her new Carmel City Center shop: Nothing costs more than $100 (in fact, the majority of items ring up at less than $75), and the size selection goes up to 3X. A fun mix of casual and dressy makes it simple to create an outfit for a Saturday of running errands or a special-occasion dinner—with plenty of dough to spare.
846 S. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, 317-993-3112
House of Z
Kids know best? House of Z owner Hailey-Brooke Barham thinks so. Her 6-year-old son, the sassy boutique’s namesake, calls the shots. Tots who scored scented cupcake emoji pillows ($37.50) have Zade to thank for nailing the trend, and for keeping Indy’s newborns through preteens on the best-dressed list. If you feel like you’re shopping Manhattan-style sample sales, it’s because you are: Barham snags exclusive wholesale pieces for her backroom, some that never hit department stores. Rep Zade’s signature style with Joe’s black coated jeans and leather Doc Martens. For the little ladies, embrace back-to-school bohemian vibes with PPLA striped bell bottoms ($42) and Freshly Picked fringe snakeskin moccasins ($60). And don’t miss Zade’s must-have item for the first day of class: an emoji backpack ($42.50).
Bestsellers: Hello “I’m So Pregnant” tees ($24) for expecting mothers, “pile of poo” emoji pillows ($16.25).
Carmel City Center, Carmel, 317-810-1359, houseofzade.com
Ivivva
Vibrant, young, but most important, comfortable—these are the goods you’ll find in the local Ivivva showroom, which boasts workout wear created by Lululemon Athletica for girls ages 6 to 14 that will make your daughter the envy of her peers. Right on Main Street in Carmel, the store invites you to browse, with serene decor that accentuates the leggings, jackets, and backpacks lining the aqua walls. Check out the complimentary yoga session every Saturday morning from 10 to 11 a.m. inside the showroom, where you’ll walk out with your girl begging for the patterned, reversible Rhythmic Tight she eyed while perfecting her Downward Facing Dog.
Great Find: Stretchy headbands ($14) made with a material that promises to inhibit odor-causing bacteria.
404 W. Main St., Carmel, 317-569-0824, ivivva.com
James Dant
After eight months of selling his screen-printed shirts and hand-painted shoes at pop-up shops around the city, Tommy James Dant II opened this hip men’s emporium in Irvington. The workshop-like space is small but mighty, stocking well over 100 brands ranging from home goods, apothecary products, and exclusive apparel to cool gifts for guys. Beneath the red-and-gold beer-delivery bicycle hanging on the wall—the “Booze Cruiser”—you’ll find United State of Indiana T-shirt designs in colors you’ll only see here, heavy Japanese denim, and high-quality boots for fall. Covetable pieces include sturdy Filson jackets, Shwood wooden sunglasses, and Pendleton flannels. James Dant also carries its own line of coffee, beard oil, candles, tees, and more.
5624 E. Washington St., 317-512-7058, jamesdant.com
BONUS: A video tour and chat with Tommy Dant.
Like Dottie Couture? Try …
JenDaisy
Shop owner Jen Russell started her business four years ago out of her home, but has since moved to a location on Emerson Avenue in Greenwood. That means more room for her boho-chic clothing, jewelry, and home items for women—think floral and striped maxi dresses ($45), cozy pashminas ($15), and little lacy tops ($25). Russell selects items from New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, but the store also exclusively carries The Lemon-dime, a local crafter and designer.
Bestseller: Lemondime chain necklaces emblazoned with inspirational quotes and verses.
1279 N. Emerson Ave., Greenwood, 317-889-1150, jendaisy.com
Kate Spade New York
Sugar and spice and everything nice—that’s what cheerfully preppy-chic Kate Spade is made of. From the “It’s Bananas!” T-shirts and bowtie-bedecked halter tops to the handbags shaped like watermelon slices and the palm tree wedge heels, this is the place to add a dose of sass to your closet. Doing the work for you, the racks of color-coded outfits show you the best ways to mix and match shirts and skirts, or dresses and sweaters, in Indiana’s only outpost of the New York label. Finish with a trendy metro watch or a fun parrot pendant necklace.
Hot Buy: The ladylike “Maise” handbag ($298), a classic in the vein of Hermès’s “Kelly” bag.
The Fashion Mall, 317-708-0236, katespade.com
Lily & Sparrow Boutique
Call it divine intervention. Jen and Steph Miller knew they wanted to own a boutique—someday. But when a couple at their church who owned a hair salon told them about an available space in the rear of their building, the sisters forgot about their timeline and jumped right in. Since opening, Lily & Sparrow Boutique has evolved from stocking inexpensive finds suited to the Forever 21 shopper to offering better-quality—but still trendy—items that the two describe as a mix of West Coast and East Coast. Translation? You’re just as likely to find relaxed, beach-ready tanks and dresses as you are a faux-leather burgundy miniskirt and an oversized wear-with-anything white blazer. Buys that give back are big, including colorful paper-bead baubles by 31 Bits, which employs Ugandan women and gives them educational opportunities, and Hunter-esque rubber rainboots by Roma, a line that follows the Toms model of providing a free pair to someone in need for every pair purchased. Also important? How a piece feels. “We touch everything before we buy it,” Jen says. Which explains why they carry the soft, slouchy tees by Z Supply you’ll want to live in.
11720 Maple St., Fishers, 317-578-2445, lilyandsparrowboutique.com
Love Your Body
At Nora loungewear boutique Love Your Body, owner Lisa Berry’s mantra is “down dog to date night.” Berry, a yogi, dancer, and mom of three, stocks the shelves with her favorite high-quality, transitional basics, like buttery-soft Splendid tanks and Alo Moto leggings that can be tossed on for the gym, or dressed up with a drapey Tart Collections wrap and Free People peep-toe booties for dinner out with the girls. Customers can also find bold, on-trend pieces in both the ready-to-wear and activewear sections of the store, ranging from Ella Moss off-the-shoulder tops and Hard Tail tie-dye T-shirt dresses, to loud, printed Wolven Threads leggings, an exclusive fitness line designed by a California artist. Don’t worry, guys—Berry hasn’t forgotten you. She recently added men’s Bed Stu shoes and organic-cotton joggers, V-necks, and henleys from Alternative Apparel to the sales floor.
Exclusive Lines: Heidi Hat, Haute Body, Lukka Lux, Wolven Threads, and Mei Lei (jewelry designed by a Park Tudor mom).
1726 E. 86th St., 317-663-8440, loveyourbodyboutique.com
The Luxury Sneaker Exchange
Former Pacers guard Fred Jones may be fresh to Mass Ave, but his specialty boutique is no benchwarmer on the bustling Indy street. New and consigned shoes line the clean, crisp white walls here, a sports lover’s shopping fantasy. You’ll shoot and score at this hub for the sneaker-obsessed, with hot sellers Yeezys and Space Jams racking up points for the fall. Hoosier-made lines include Wishful Thinking (an Indy label) and MyChem (out of Gary). Need a halftime? Strike up some competition with arcade-style game KeyMaster in the hopes of winning a new pair of sneaks, or challenge a buddy to a game of pool. The store offers SoulSearch, a program designed to help you hunt down the kicks you’ve been coveting. “Give us what you’re looking for, and we’ll go find it,” says co-owner Carl Bradley.
Bestsellers: Yeezy Boost 350 ($1,000), Air Jordan 12 Flu Game ($300).
421 Massachusetts Ave., 317-340-1954, theluxurysneakerexchange.com
Oak & Ivy Boutique
The growing shopping scene in Fishers got Kim Kwiatkowski thinking. The longtime hairstylist had always loved shopping, so why not bring the two industries together? Though she still does ’dos, Oak & Ivy (formerly Blue Eyed Girl) has bloomed into her primary business. Dex denim jumpsuits, Vintage of Havana’s SoCal-boho designs, and preppy English Factory pieces offer a range of looks. Kwiatkowski aims for well-made garments that stand the test of time—and won’t fall apart after one washing. Delicate necklaces and stud earrings are displayed within white picture frames stenciled onto a chalkboard-paint wall, just one element of the uncluttered, easy-to-shop interior.
8643 E. 116th St., Fishers, 317-284-1457, oakandivyboutique.com
Profyle Boutique
Your dream closet might look a little like Profyle. From the glitzy chandeliers to the soft brown hardwood floors and wooden shelving, this is one posh spot for browsing and putting together outfits. With faux-fur vests and sequined tank dresses, you can find your next party look, or keep it Saturday-morning-cool with a solid sweater dress or jeggings and a comfy cardigan. Clothing bridges that oh-so-precarious gap between upscale-casual and work-ready, and plus-size designs from favorite labels Kiyonna and IGIGI are on offer, too. Complement your new threads with a chic beaded necklace or some bold bling for your fingers, like a large-stoned gold ring.
2727 E. 86th St., 317-731-4602, profyleboutique.com
Roman & Leo
Angela Castelli fielded enough questions about where she bought her sons’ trendy clothes to convince her that there were plenty of moms just like her—those who didn’t want to dress their little ones in precious pastel outfits. That led her to launch Roman & Leo, where tops and bottoms for babies up to size 6 sport adult-like colors and fits to make dudes the coolest kids on the playground. Instead of cutesy teddy bears and cartoon dinosaurs, tees feature quips like “Hello Ladies” and “Let’s Blame the Sugar.” Buttondowns in preppy chambray or peppered with mini skulls and crossbones can be paired with denim jeggings or drawstring joggers.
Great Finds: Straw fedoras, aviator sunglasses, clip-on bowties, and leather moccasins are among the adorably hip accessories. Because even pint-sized getups need finishing touches.
8664 E. 116th St., Fishers, romanandleo.com
The Shop
Apparently, we Indy-ites love our nostalgia—the most popular shirts at The Shop, a haven for locally themed tees, feature places that no longer exist: Deer Creek Music Center, Market Square Arena, and the Hoosier Dome, among others. You can also find exclusive United State of Indiana shirts and screen printed goods for sports teams, venues, and colleges at this Broad Ripple boutique, a collaboration between T-shirt-makers Hayes & Taylor and The BrickShirtHouse. Their goods are available online and in about 20 different stores around the state, but you’ll find the biggest selection here. Heading into fall, The Shop is making hoodies in blue and white for football fans (not officially licensed for the Colts, but still fab game-day wear). It’s the perfect spot to pick up your Indiana University gear—or, new to the store, Purdue apparel—on your way to tailgating.
Great Finds: Mason jars featuring the state of Indiana shaped like a beer mug.
920 Broad Ripple Ave., 317-426-4899, theshopindy.com
Tory Burch
Boho prepsters find plenty to love in this glam boutique, where gold accents on every corner and abundant mirrors create a sparkling backdrop for hot fall trends, from riding boots to sweaters and scarves. No detail has gone unthought-of: For the men who have been dragged in, there are couches, along with iPads and drinks. For women, there are items inspired by whatever has caught fashionista Tory Burch’s eye on her travels: mod handbags embellished with the designer’s famous double-T logo, bold cat-eye sunglasses, tastefully fringed jackets in the colors of a Moroccan souk. Stock up on Burch’s popular Reva flats ($225 and up).
The Fashion Mall, 317-574-2802, toryburch.com
Home
Agrarian
You don’t need to wear overalls or own a pitchfork to be enthralled by this contemporary general store in SoBro. True, the peeps of chicks provide the soundtrack for browsing locally made products, like Barley Moon Salvage wooden roosters and pretty felted soaps. And yes, you can purchase chickens, feed, and coops. But the shop’s inventory is hardly limited to livestock—cutie-pie finds include an egg-collecting apron replete with tiny pockets, and individual “poach pods” for cooking up breakfast. And if you do get inspired to start a hen house—or just feel the need for a poultry companion—well, then, you know where to come.
1051 E. 54th St., 317-493-1166, agrarianindy.com
Decorate
In a carefully curated spot on Mass Ave, this brick-walled boutique stocks smaller pieces—petite end tables and wee grills, for example—to accommodate the limited urban-living spaces of the city. Navigating the shop can be a bit of a scavenger hunt, with fun patterns and cute, quirky home goods sprinkled through three separate nooks, in addition to the main room. From sweet stationery to dishes to a table chock-full of Kate Spade, each collectible calls out to be the perfect garnish for your own HGTV-worthy home. “We love mixing and matching,” says owner Amy Minick Peterson. “We want people to have fun with decor.”
Lustworthy Lines: Surya (textiles), Dash & Albert (rugs), and Chilewich (more rugs).
716 Massachusetts Ave., 317-737-2109, decorateindy.com
Inhabit
Two rows of colorful chairs and backless barstools suspended above a pale blue hemp-and-tweed sofa, pendant sculpture lighting made from cardboard and recycled materials, and geometric-patterned area rugs set the scene for the Inhabit showroom in Irvington. Textured tiles (one of Inhabit’s biggest hits) and inspirational quotes cover the walls that lead up to the soaring ceiling. Offering custom home products made by co-founder and designer Mike Tuttle, the mod space, which opened about a year and a half ago after years as a web-only source for those of us in Indy, also markets products from other interior design companies like Gus Modern and Rowe Furniture. Although the custom-fabric sofas are the biggest sellers this season, homeowners travel from all over to search for one-of-a-kind pieces, such as a metal arrow outlined in lightbulbs, a wide-seat vintage chair, or a George Nelson Lighting bubble lamp.
211 S. Ritter Ave., 317-636-1699, inhabitliving.com
Printtext
Walk in the already-open door at Printtext and you’ll be greeted by owners Benjamin and Janneane Blevins and their winsome lab, Huckleberry. The SoBro shop is meant to evoke your home, only with a whole lot more magazines. Crisp white walls are the backdrop for multiple coffee tables carefully arranged with periodicals such as British bestseller The Gentlewoman, cheeky indie pub Cherry Bombe, and other treasuries of art, fashion, history, and more. Most hail from around the world, with a healthy sprinkling of locally produced titles, including Pattern. The boutique, which doubles as a design studio, also holds launch parties, poetry readings, and an eight-part art series, which continues until February. In September, watch for the official Printtext city guide to Indianapolis.
652 E. 52nd St., printtext.co
Rusted Window
DIY … or don’t. At Carmel’s Rusted Window boutique, the choice is yours. Owner Stacy Molander isn’t shy about sharing her secret weapon for repurposing furniture. In fact, jars of Little Billy Goat restoration paint ($36.50) overlook a robust, studded kitchen table ($500), recently coated in a rich chocolate shade dubbed Greyson; just one layer gives antique treasures a Pinterest-worthy makeover. Merging industrial, original, and vintage home decor with heaps of lush greenery from the on-site florist, the store creates scenes clipped out of Southern Living. Or out of HGTV’s Fixer Upper, topping Joanna Gaines’s Magnolia Home romantic buffet ($1,269) with a triple vase crafted of recycled barn wood ($40) and a halo of succulent terrariums. But don’t expect to purchase a full kitchen set. The owner insists on mixing her new and upcycled pieces with your old ones, constructing a fresh space that’s truly personal.
Great Find: Stikwood, pieces of peel-and-stick reclaimed wood—so hot right now!—that you can use to create accent walls.
99 E. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317-205-1716, rustedwindow.com
Like Midland Arts & Antiques? Try …
Society of Salvage
Hunters of industrial-chic style—or simply the unusual and amazing—will love this whimsically weird space housing all kinds of off-the-wall decor items. From architectural flourishes to vintage desks, from old Playboys to X-ray machines, there’s something here to make you stop and gawk. Giant and colorful letters salvaged from commercial buildings and signs are a specialty, and you should probably snap up some of that reclaimed barn wood before it’s all gone. Just make sure to get there during the store’s limited hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.
1021 E. Michigan St., 317-964-0513, societyofsalvage.com
Verdigris
Seeking knick-knacks, mirrors, or beautiful handcrafted antique furniture to accent your home this fall? Look no further than SoBro’s adorable Verdigris, named for the greenish-blue patina that copper takes on as it’s exposed to the elements. Owner Hillary Steckler combs flea markets and estate sales, using her trained eye to find her customers exactly what they didn’t know they were missing—curling fireplace screens and equally chic log holders, a midcentury-modern bar cart complete with gold ice bucket, an artfully weathered French Provincial sideboard. As fall approaches, Steckler recommends adding metallic accents around your house; gold, bronze, or silver. Grab an antique mirror to add a sense of space to your home (and a touch of history). Right on cue with the resurgence in appreciation for vintage items, Verdigris brings in new pieces every week.
Hot Buys: Antique chandeliers, which Steckler refurbishes with replacement crystals and rewires, if necessary.
5208 N. College Ave., 317-737-1526, verdigrisindy.com
Gifts
Like Etsy? Try …
Silver in the City (Carmel)
Shopping for the hard-to-buy-for in the ’burbs just got easier, now that Silver in the City has brought its same unconventional, quirky, and sentimental gifts to an airy Carmel location. Decagonal glassware houses dainty silver charms resting on a bed of moss. Pale green air plants ($5) sit alongside geode coasters ($18.75) and earthy scented soy candles ($24). The whimsical display lures you in, and whispers to take a breath of fresh air: Browsing here will be stress-free. And it is. Name your price and let the staff cherry-pick the perfect gift (and wrap it). From Everyday Artifact’s poignant “I am enough” necklace to BeerCapTrap’s exclusive “Home Sweet Home” Indiana cutout, you’ll adore perusing the miscellany. And you’ll have a laugh—probably at Blue Q’s expletive-dropping socks ($10.95).
Great Find: Twigs & Twine’s hand-stamped torch-and-stars necklace nodding to Indiana’s bicentennial ($68).
111 W. Main St., Carmel, 317-993-3669, silverinthecity.com
The Small Mall
The Small Mall has moved fast—after debuting on Mass Ave in late 2015, the store packed with goods from a variety of local vendors has already relocated to the northeast side. Tables are some of our favorite finds here: industrial-rustic varieties from Iron & Elm that are right on trend, and decorative ones from Bella Bella with mosaic-esque patterns sealed with resin. With its inventory constantly changing, keep The Small Mall’s mantra in mind: “The item you saw today and want to think about tonight will be sold later today to the people who saw it yesterday and thought about it last night.”
5060 E. 62nd St., 317-870-3403, smallmallindy.com
Beauty & Body
Eva Maison
Imagine the cosmetics aisle at Whole Foods situated inside Anthropologie, and you’ve captured local beauty emporium Eva Maison. Owner Josh Posner channels an earthy, free-spirited vibe at each of his locations to set the stage for more than 30 cruelty-free lines that span the all-natural beauty scale, from stripped-down products you can actually eat (Earth Tu Face) to toxic-free skincare (Drunk Elephant). If you’re new to these wholesome cosmetics brands, the adorable shopgirls are self-proclaimed “green-product junkies” and will ease you into the lines with some of their favorite items, like the Living Luminizer highlighter by makeup company RMS and the peptide-packed Daily Anti-Aging Moisturizer by MD Solar Sciences. They direct male customers to Baxter’s aluminum-free deodorant and popular clay pomades. You’ll be tempted to replace everything in your medicine cabinet. New for fall, British brand Lilly Lolo Mineral Cosmetics offers a wide range of makeup products at an affordable price point.
Bestsellers: Ambre Blends “Unmasque” natural deodorant, Malin + Goetz Detox face mask, Skinny & Co. facial oil.
912 E. Westfield Blvd., 317-964-0918; Invoke Studio, 970 Fort Wayne Ave., 317-631-9642; The Fashion Mall, 317-688-1063; evamaison.com
