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Check it twice at these new shops
It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays, but don’t sweat it. Like the Grinch’s heart, the local boutique scene grew a few sizes this year.
Here are some new places to pick up something for (almost) everyone on your gift list.
Trendy fashions for her
Apricot Lane (5533 Walnut St., Shadyside). From cozy cardigans to cocktail dresses — plus lots of statement jewelry — you’re sure to find something here for the lady on your gift list. Dresses average $50$70; separates and accessories are often priced lower.
Mother-daughter duo Debbie and Taylor Jamieson opened the first Pittsburgh location of this California-based franchise in May. The store’s decor — pink-andwhite walls and crystal-accented lighting — looks like something plucked from Pinterest. If you see something you like, don’t wait. Inventory is ever-changing, so what’s in the window today may be gone
tomorrow. (412-932-2092 or Instagram @apricotlanepittsburgh)
Local (and sustainable)
Make + Matter (3711 Butler St., Lawrenceville). For people who like a gift that tells a story, the garments and other goodies here have plenty to say. The store’s co-owners — Kelly Simpson-Scupelli, Rebekah Joy and Rona Chang — are entrepreneurs and designers who care about crafting clothes, accessories and home items out of ecofriendly materials.
Ms. Joy’s line, Flux Bene, features upcycled garments and accessories from repurposed fabrics. Ms. Chang’s line, Otto Finn, includes whimsical onesies and bandana bibs, tote bags and home decor such as storage containers made from washable paper. Ms. SimpsonScupelli is known for her colorful printed dresses, but the store also carries her Remnant Lab line of home goods and jewelry made from leftover fabric scraps.
Make + Matter also sells creations by other regional artisans on a rotating basis. (shopmakeandmatter.com)
Hats galore
Helen & Earl (1405 Potomac Ave., Dormont). Your hat hunt ends here, thanks to a wide selection curated from around the world. For men, a classic snapback goes for $28 and pageboy hats and other caps for less than $50. Another option: a black noir brimmed rancher hat on sale for $89. For her, fedoras, floppy hats and caps tend to run under $100, with some in the $30 range.
“It’s really about things that adorn your life and make you feel good,” owner and creative director Emily Price said when Helen & Earl opened earlier this year.
The shop also stocks home decor (glassware, knickknacks, candles, etc.), grooming goods and jewelry. (helenandearl.com or 412207-9660)
Raw denim for him
Franklin & Mercer Co. (3507 Butler St., Lawrenceville). Got a sharpdressed guy on your gift list? One of the newest shops on the block is a contemporary yet relaxed treasure trove of men’s casual cardigans, everyday button-downs, vegan grooming essentials, raw denim and versatile outerwear. This is the place to shop for the man who likes to look good but doesn’t want to look like he’s trying too hard.
Quality is reflected in its brands, which include Raleigh Denim Workshop, Homespun Knitwear, Save Khaki United and Tanner Goods. (franklinandmercer.com)
Home decor made here
PG&H (536 Smithfield St., Downtown). This gallerylike space in the heart of the Golden Triangle is a onestop shop for grab-and-go items (candles, pillows, pottery, dishware, etc.) and elevated home decor, including furniture and art made in the region. Some popular items are 3-D printed ceramics from Coded Clay by Brian Peters, intricate geometric place mats cut from wood by Naked Geometry and vivid nature-inspired wallpaper by Ashley Cecil.
PG&H — which stands for pride, grit and heritage — is the brainchild of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership in collaboration with the Richard King Mellon Foundation and MONMADE trade group by Bridgeway Capital. Kelly Sanders and Monica Yope, who own love, Pittsburgh, manage the shop. It opened in late October and will remain Downtown for at least a year as organizers test the concept.
Inside is the second location of Oakland-based Redhawk Coffee, so you can enjoy a caffeine jolt while you shop. (shoppgandh.com)
Chic vintage finds
Ruhling Woven (5417 Butler St., Lawrenceville). Think a vintage store means racks stuffed with secondhand clothes? That’s not Ruhling Woven. It has a New York minimalist sensibility (a nod to owner Kathleen Fanto’s Brooklyn roots) with an emphasis on solid color palettes and natural fabrics.
Beyond clothing, Ruhling Woven sells pretty cool accessories, many with a 90s feel. Check out the vegan circle bags in rich mustard and lilac and dangling marbled earrings. (www.ruhlingwoven.com)