If your image of shopping in downtown St. Louis conjures up images of dark empty streets and bargain shops with bars on the windows, then you haven't strolled down Washington Avenue recently. Completely renovated and now a thriving entertainment district, Washington Avenue is also coming alive with a wide range of designer shops, furniture stores and art galleries.
Designer Clothing
For clothing you won't find elsewhere in St. Louis, try Paperdolls or The Time Boutique. Both offer clothing designed by independent artists and carry lines that stand apart from anything found in a mall. Paperdolls is located at 1021 Washington, and The Time Boutique is just one block west at 922 Washington.Hats and Men's Accessories
The perfect hat can become one of your favorite accessories, and hats also make very exciting and personal gifts. Whether you're shopping for yourself or someone else, there's no better shop for hats in St. Louis than the Levine Hat Company. Levine has been doing business in St. Louis for more than 100 years, and carries everything from men's derbys, fedoras, knit skullcaps and western hats. Levine also carries a small but distinctive line of leather jackets, shoes, jeans and accessories. The Levine Hat Company is located at 1416 Washington.Crafts from Around the World
Photo courtesy Downtown St. Louis Partnership
If you're looking for products or gifts with international flair, visit MacroSun International, a fair trade shop that sells jewelry, decorations and other artifacts created by artisans in South Asia. MacroSun carries unique items for many tastes and virtually every budget, from Henna tattoo kits for under $10 to hand-woven wall hangings for $1,000. You'll also want to stop in at Salt of the Earth, which carries the works of traditional family artisans from Latin America, including glass work, jewelry and paintings. MacroSun is located at 1310 Washington, and Salt of the Earth is at 1123 Locust.
Furniture and Accessories
Photo courtesy Good Works
With the boom of the downtown loft market, it's no surprise that multiple furniture and accessory stores have opened shop and are doing a brisk business. One very recent addition to the Washington Avenue district is Good Works, which focuses on urban and contemporary styles. But Good Works doesn't automatically equate stylish with expensive; much of its furniture (and furniture sets) costs under $1,000, and its large selection of accessories and art objects are also very reasonable. Good Works is located at 901 Washington Avenue.
