If You Must Shop, Shop Local

Combing through your local boutiques is an excellent way to support small businesses while reducing your carbon footprint—and cultivating a look that is uniquely you.

As a rehabilitated shopaholic, boutiques have always been a source of intense temptation for me. That carefully curated, aesthetically pleasing, folksy-yet-trendy vibe gets me every time, and I used to emerge from every boutique experience with several hundred fewer dollars to my name and several clothing items I probably (definitely) didn’t need.

Now that I’m actively working to heal my relationship with shopping, I’ve developed a different sort of appreciation for vintage clothing boutiques in particular. While there are many wonderful online secondhand clothing distributors, exploring a collection of beautiful, unique, vintage items in-person, with tactile feedback and the ability to try things on, is an absolutely delicious experience that can’t be replaced. The panny seems to have cemented online shopping’s supremacy over brick-and-mortar shopping, which has its public health advantages, but there’s nothing wrong with masking up and taking your vaccinated self to a vintage shop once in awhile if that’s your thing. As always, though, make sure you have a plan—some sense of what void in your wardrobe you’re seeking to fill—so that you don’t get overwhelmed by the myriad of delightful options and end up buying nothing (or everything).

Here in Baltimore, there are dozens of quirky, fashion-forward, environmentally conscious, and ethically sourced boutiques. Each has its own individual aesthetic and price point. Here are a few favorites from Charm City:

Poppy and Stella

Not a second-hand shop, BUT—an absolutely fierce local boutique that carries a line of vegan clothing, recycled paper products, and hilariously sardonic soy candles. I also appreciate the heartfelt and personal message from the owners, which includes the following banger of a statement: “Our culture bombards us with images that tell us we aren’t young enough, white enough, thin enough, cool enough, femme enough. It tells us that we need to change ourselves to “fit in”. Let’s fight that narrative together.” You love to see it.

Poppy and Stella: 728 S Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231

The Katwalk Boutique

Again, not a second-hand boutique, but their commitment to sustainability is clear from the small batches of products that they sell, and the fact that they use recycled and/or eco-friendly materials for most of their garments. The fierce clutch above is hand-made in small batches in the USA from 100% canvas. They even sell a pair of booties made from up-cycled saris. The creativity!

The Katwalk Boutique: 1709 Aliceanna St, Baltimore, MD 21213

The Dollhouse Boutique

If edgy street style is your thing, the Doll House Boutique won’t disappoint. Local designers sell custom-made and off-the-rack items, many of which are made of up-cycled denim. I simply adore the idea of custom-making garments, which reduces textile waste and ensures that you’re getting something that is entirely unique. Like many of the boutiques on this list, the Doll House Boutique is owned and operated by a team of black women.

The Doll House Boutique: 525 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

Keepers Vintage

This adorable boutique has both second-hand and sustainable original items, including a t-shirt that proclaims: “Teach Black History All Year Long”. The above vintage find from the early 90s can be purchased from their linked Etsy shop. They also carry brass jewelry hand-made in India that is VERY much my style. Most intriguingly, the brick-and-mortar store includes a space that can be reserved for customers to create their own terrariums using supplies provided by the store. This space is also used for local entrepreneurs to hold classes like candle-making and tarot card-reading.

Keepers Vintage: 805 W. 36th Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21211

Double Dutch

The website doesn’t do this boutique justice, but fortunately, I went there in person just for the content. What an unbelievable selection of second-hand, vintage finds! On the ground floor, you’ll find new items that are ethically sourced and generally made from relatively eco-friendly materials. The upper level is a veritable gold mine of totally unique and rad vintage clothes, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. I very nearly bought at least four things I certainly don’t need, simply because they were so devastatingly fabulous, but I resisted. #growth

Double Dutch Boutique: 1021 W. 36th Street Baltimore, MD 21211

This is obviously not a comprehensive list of all the incredible boutiques and consignment stores in my city, but the main idea is: if you’re going to make your wardrobe a conscious wardrobe, shop less. If you’re going to shop, shop secondhand. And if you’re going to shop secondhand (or firsthand), shop small batch, eco-friendly, and LOCAL!

Happy local boutique hopping!