In the age of online shopping, brick-and-mortar lifestyle boutiques that combine eclectic offerings with a singular vision have become destinations in themselves. Here, five of our favorites, from Dallas to Mumbai.
Nathan Schroder
Forty Five Ten, Dallas
Speak with anyone who’s shopped here, and you’ll hear the same thing: that it’s worthy of a fashion pilgrimage. Since moving to a new 37,000-square-foot space in the city’s downtown district, the flagship store (there are five other branches in the U.S.) has raised the city’s style profile. The draw is its fine-tuned selection. You’ll find covetable items by big-name designers, like whimsical pieces from Brock Collection and monastic-chic wear from the Row, as well as cult labels like OAMC and Japanese brand Visvim. There are also accent pieces for the home, like Allan Knight furniture, books from Assouline, and Artemest decor. fortyfiveten.com
Ketil Jacobsen
YME Universe, Oslo
This streetwear-focused shop, which carries stylish staples like Kanye West’s fashion label Yeezy, French brand Maison Margiela, and Italian retailer MSGM, looks out upon Oslo’s majestic Palace Park. It’s housed in a historic building that has since been retrofitted by Oslo-based architectural firm Snøhetta, which also designed the city’s modern opera house. Besides fashion, the shop also features a bookstore with art titles from Rizzoli, Taschen, and Phaidon. ymeuniverse.com
Eva Losada
Boon The Shop, Seoul
Located in the city’s tranquil Cheongdam ward—Seoul’s equivalent to Rodeo Drive—this store has been credited with pioneering the area’s obsession with “multi-shops.” Alongside floors devoted to designers such as Alexander McQueen and regional toy brands like Kinkirobot, the Peter Marino– designed space recently launched curated sections that take the concept a step further: Books, Gifts, and Curiosity is centered on collectibles; Casestudy is one of the country’s first retailers of international sneaker brands; and Boon Music features tech gear and records recommended by local influencers. (K-pop star G-Dragon is a regular.) facebook.com
Courtesy Le Mill
Le Mill, Mumbai
Stepping inside this store is like seeing India through the eyes of its two French owners, Cecilia Morelli Parikh and Julie Leymarie. The items—printed ensembles by Peter Pilotto, pieces from Indian brand Evaaya, Ecru textiles, scents from Bombay Perfumery—cater as much to the pair’s friends as to visitors looking for a unique addition to their wardrobes. Set in a heritage building in Colaba, a promontory of Old Mumbai that juts out into the Indian Ocean, the 4,000-square-foot space also includes a tea bar by No. 3 Clive Road, an in-house florist from Libellule, and coffee-table books. lemillindia.com
Courtesy Temple Muse
Temple Muse, Lagos, Nigeria
The burgeoning African city has one of the most vibrant shopping scenes on the continent. Much of it is centered in the upscale Victoria Island neighborhood: There’s Alara, the concept store designed by London-based architect David Adjaye, and Temple Muse, a high-end boutique that sells fashion and home goods. The latter, with its simple interiors and mixed offerings (it even has a champagne bar and an art gallery), showcases brands like Emilio Pucci and Givenchy alongside local houses like Lisa Folawiyo Studio, which gives traditional Nigerian dress a sporty spin. temple-muse.com
