Best of Citysearch: Shopping in Boston

[WOMEN'S / MEN'S CLOTHING] This place manages to be both intimidatingly inspiring (in the totally cerebral, high-concept merchandise) and warm-fuzzy welcoming (soft couches, cute pup, unexpected offerings of beer). The sharp-as-hell owners discover designers way before they become runway darlings, and the cuts and quality of the wares are absolutely worth the pretty penny.

[BOOKSTORES] How this massively cool indie bookseller can manage to survive Newbury Street is a mystery, but I thank my stars every day for its continual existence. A glorious magazine section, free WiFi, homey tuck-ins in the cafe and late hours make this easy-to-get-lost-in-the-stacks hipster haunt a staple for any literate with a soul.

[VINTAGE] Even if I visited this Davis Square boutique every day for a week, I still probably would only register about 10% of the merchandise crammed artfully in a space abound with surprises. It's a dream to paw through the vintage jewelry and apparel, but also heart-pounding discoveries like old campy books, watch fobs, retro electronics and fascinating antique doodads.

[SHOES] This gleaming, enormous, minimalist boutique is like a candy store for design-centric footwear freaks. The gamut runs from cute, yet cobblestone-proof flats to sky-high python-print stilettos, featuring mid-range labels with solid construction. Cut out a couple hours in the day to fully experience the apparel and denim racks, too.

[GIFTS] I can't begin to confess how many too-awesome-to-be-true objets d'art I've procured here--for birthdays, weddings and that perfectly acceptable treats-for-me occasion. From kitschy kitchenware to accessories bleeding with street cred, there's definitely something to blow your design-whorish recipient (or apartment) away.