Lindy

Former Marley Jewelry manager Lindy Reef (Mt. Washington) opened this upscale women’s clothing boutique last July. Reef’s worldly experience—she worked for Estee Lauder in South Africa—lends a sophisticated eye to the store. Lindy features clothes by Juliana, an in-home shopping line of fashionable, high-end wear with a traditional, tailored look. She also carries accessories including hats and bags by Eric Javits, Patricia Green slippers ($138, at right, the rubber soles allow for a quick carpool or coffee run), and clothes by David Meister, Elliot Lauren and Drama. 10427 Stevenson Road, Stevenson Village, 410-415-0101

Beloved

When Amy Coleman (So.Maryland) said goodbye to her D.C. job, she bet everything on her dream of fashion design. In June, she opened Beloved, a boutique and gallery where she shows her vintage-inspired couture and designs from around the country, and across the ocean. Try on edgy evening wear and hip casual looks by Natalie Anne, feminine camouflage by Blackberry Creations, shown, $138, Tamara Pogosian—her silk zebra print cocktail dress is standout ($500)—Amy’s own Ame:Koh label (her sweater dress–$148–is one part sex, one part warm practicality), jeans by Antik Denim, and confident party heels by Kristen Lee, Samanta’ and Pazzo. 208 W. Read St., Mt. Vernon, 410-244-6005

The Little Shoebox

Former schoolteacher Janie Griffin (Guilford) and at-home mother of four Emilie Blaze (Ruxton) opened The Little Shoebox last month to bring sophisticated shoes to Baltimore. Sandwiched between J.McLaughlin and The Pink Crab, the store is sure to be a winner with preppies, but the owners aim to appeal to a broader crowd with lines like Bettye Muller, shown, $345, Nancy Nancy, Michael Kors, Nancy Geist and sassy Hollywould shoes by former Lilly Pulitzer head designer Holly Dunlap. Retail offerings of comfy shoes are ample elsewhere—this store, with its focus on fashion, is a welcome addition to the retail scene. 7625 Bellona Avenue, Ruxton, 410-825-3191

Fresh and Hush

We love the social consciousness of Fresh and Hush: A percentage of all sales go to charity. Owner and Mrs. Maryland runner-up Heidi Slacum (Timonium) sits on the board of Turn Around, a Baltimore agency for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. She houses both stores in a small bungalow where the main floor features women’s clothing, the basement children’s. Both feature designs by local designers. At Fresh, look for hand-embellished jeans, shown, $185, by Monet Jeans (Slacum’s sister Liz Walker’s line), groovy Indian cotton print bellbottoms by Garrison Forest alum Kelly Cushing and bags by local handbag designer Sherry Wolf, among others. Not exclusively a local designers’ showhouse, Fresh also carries Betsey Johnson and Kenneth Cole as well as Kay Unger’s new, younger line Phoebe. Children’s store Hush stocks appliqued tutus, reversible superhero capes, darling shifts, above, $48, jewelry and more. The Bundie Baby line is especially noteworthy. It features designs for infants with heart monitors, feeding tubes and other special needs. 2067 York Road, Timonium, 443-901-0097