Shopping

Lingerie Boutique
The front room of Barbara’s New Beginnings is packed with barely-there undies, lacy chemises, and come-hither bustiers. But the good stuff is in the back—a huge room packed to the rafters with bras of all shapes and sizes. Backless, strapless, sweetheart corset? It’s there, along with hard-to-find sizes and crazy-cute running bras. 20 W. Pine St., Zionsville, 733-4100

Consignment Shop
In Vogue shoppers can find up-market bargains such as new-to-you apparel by Prada, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Burberry. Most items have to sell within 60 days, so new styles constantly come in and go out the door. 11546 Westfield Blvd., Carmel, 580-0058

Skinny Ties
On a table near the back of the eclectic, stylish vintage shop IndySwank rests a well-edited selection of quirky neckwear, the result of the owner, Jennifer Von Deylen, and her husband stopping at every thrift store they see and poring over the selection. For around 10 bucks, you can channel your inner Mad Man. 1043 Virginia Ave., 632-6440

Hat Shop
We tip our Stetson / beret / porkpie / Kangol / Gatsby-style snap-cap / stingy-brimmed fedora to Queen Bee/Dad’s Hats (top right) for stocking every type of head covering under the sun. 3842 N. Illinois St., 923-1766

One-of-a-Kind Gifts
Good luck resisting the treasures arranged like little museum exhibits at Irvington handicraft shop Homespun. Whether you are looking for something ironic (a hipster onesie with a cassette-tape graphic), cerebral (Johnny Cash cross-stitch kit), or couture (feather headpieces from milliner Emily Clark), this polished storefront—check your scrappy DIY presumptions at the door—has exactly what you need. Or rather, exactly what you didn’t know you needed. 5624 E. Washington St., 351-0280

Bridesmaid Dresses
The wedding-planning waters can get plenty choppy, but shopping at Bella Bridesmaid (right) makes dressing the girls smooth sailing. Allison Rechter’s local franchise of the national chain houses samples from all the big-name designers (Monique Lhuillier, Priscilla of Boston, and LulaKate, to name a few). The appointment-only policy ensures both privacy and undivided attention for your ’maids, and a streamlined ordering process lets the bride cross one more thing off of her to-do list. 916 E. Westfield Blvd., 850-0027

Men’s Makeover
Raleigh Limited (above) has kept Indy men looking their dapperest for decades. This fall, the men’s store gave itself a style tweak as well. A handsome new Fashion Mall location (just down the hall) gives second-generation owner Mark Koplow plenty of space to display racks of cashmere and wool, and line up those pointy-toed Salvatore Ferragamo shoes. Fashion Mall, 844-1148

Equestrian Store
Whether you’re looking for your first pair of chaps or a second saddle for your jumper, Grand Champion Tack and Saddlery is not horsing around. The high-end tack store carries stellar leather Ariat boots and products for almost all riding disciplines, from hunter to dressage (but—sorry, cowboy—not Western). 3905 W. 96th St., 872-4248

Tennis Shop
Want Nadal’s forehand? Practice. But if it’s the world number one’s plaid Nike shorts you covet, that’s easy. The Indianapolis Racquet Club pro shop is the go-to spot for the gear and clothes that star players sport. Taking up more space than a doubles court, the shop also ventures far beyond the endorsed styles from Lacoste and Wilson to offer a vast selection of court essentials and training gear. One visit, and you’re all set. 8249 Dean Rd., 849-2531

Workout Clothes
Now that Lululemon Athletica (below) has opened a showroom in Broad Ripple, local yogis—not to mention runners, ice skaters, and anyone else who wants to be seen in North America’s hippest athletic gear—can browse the full array of hoodies with zipper garages, cuffins, and hidden pockets for iPods. Throw in the free Saturday-morning classes, and Lululemon leaves you with no more excuses for not getting into shape. 6402 Cornell Ave., 253-7195

Tutus
The fluffy frillies at Bebe Gate are a staple for any little princess. The shop carries Kaiya Eve original pettiskirts—the same label Dakota Fanning donned at the 2003 Teen Choice Awards. Finally, little girls have a go-to outfit for play dates. 920 Broad Ripple Ave., 255-2323

Mascara
From its pretty Asian label to its surprising floral scent (it’s infused with rose petals), local stylist Naieem Abdool’s Naieme Collection mascara brings luxury to your makeup bag. Angelina Jolie is said to be a fan of the stuff, available in smoky black Tattoo and deep brown Henna, and pumped full of keratin for the kind of glamorous movie-star sheen that might wean you off of Great Lash once and for all. Emmett’s Limited, 711 E. 54th St., 475-0777

Green Boutique
The mostly recycled inventory at Nature’s Karma plays nicely by the environmentally friendly/fair-trade rules. But good intentions will only get you so far. That’s why the locally owned shop has chic cuff bracelets in geometric patterns woven from old telephone-pole wires, itty-bitty salt bowls and spoons carved from reclaimed wood, an entire set of decorative bowls made from—ahem—discarded magazines, and other covetables to keep the customers coming in the door. Clay Terrace, Carmel, 843-9999

Green-Thumb Boutique
Vintage Rosenthal vases, ancient-looking finials, giant antique urns, and a nice scattering of found-object knickknacks make The Empty Vase (below) feel like a home-accents store with a personality. This is no pretty flower shop (though it does stock floral decor year-round). A stack of French hotel ashtrays for sale proves the point. 111 E. 49th St., 925-8273

Designer Bags
In the vast handbag department at Saks Fifth Avenue, cases and tables drip with Chanel, Gucci, Prada, and Valentino. Jimmy Choo and Diane von Furstenberg make an appearance, not to be outdone by Marc Jacobs or Michael Kors. If you’ve seen it on a Kardashian, you will see it here. Fashion Mall, 816-0171

Designed Bags
Made by designer Michelle Warble, Busty’s Fun Bags (yes, we get it) prove that “utilitarian” and “stylish” can go hand-in-hand. The pieces—fold-over totes, wristlets, half-messenger bags, laptop bags, and sling bags made of textured vinyl or cotton upholstery fabric—have a laid-back L.A. style. But each one has a specific job to do. The hip pack is a hands-free compartment sized for storing car keys and a little journal, perhaps for jotting down the ways in which it is cooler than a fanny pack. Silver in the City, 434 Massachusetts Ave., 955-9925; Homespun, 5624 E. Washington St., 351-0280; and IndySwank, 1043 Virginia Ave., 632-6440

Luxe Lighting
Remodeling your home? Ollier Distributors can help guide you to some Mediterranean light. Local designer Carol Ollier is the only U.S. distributor for Aldo Bernardi Italian lighting and offers her office as a trade-only showroom of sorts for the exclusive modern-farmhouse collection (imagine a ruffled ceramic shade on an aged brass neck—gorgeous). 634 S. Meridian St., 634-5000

Vintage Musical Instruments
Thrifty Gypsy co-owner Mike Ross is a horrible salesman. His funky antiques shop has a little bit of everything—including an impressive selection of electric guitars, horns from the Desi Arnaz era, and a sweet marching band of well-fingered reed instruments. Ross, who played for the local punk band Vibrating Velvet Tones, might pull a banjo out of its case and give you a demo that’s more like a mini concert, or blast out a tune on a tarnished cornet. And he will get such a kick that it would be a crime to buy any of those toys away from him. 1107 E. Prospect St., 225-8067

Kids’ Snowsuits
The parkas, puffer vests, and ski suits at Pampolina are stylish enough for Suri Cruise’s next trip to the bunny slopes. Fleece-lined, water-repellant nylon is dressed up with fur trim, fanciful embroidery, belts, big pockets, and zippers with rhinestone pendants. Hailing from Europe, the brand recently opened its first U.S. store at the Fashion Mall, just in time to turn Indy kids into snow angels. Fashion Mall, 575-1990

Outdoorsy Store
If the inventory of Everest-ready gear at The North Face doesn’t light a fire under your base layer, then the dressing rooms walled in orange sleeping bags, the water fountain designed to top off water bottles, the wall-size photos of mountainscapes, and the snow-gear mannequins fitted out in rock-climbing harnesses and carabiner hooks surely will. Fashion Mall, 843-9419

Kids’ Shoes
Proof that life is unfair, the totally boss rubber galoshes by Bog, belted ankle boots, retro Lacoste sneakers, and Merrell moc slip-ons in the little boys and girls department at Nordstrom are probably cooler than anything currently on your own shoe rack. Circle Centre, 636-2121; Fashion Mall, 810-9809