Denim Jacket

Leave it to Becca Hanson, the savvy owner of fashion-forward Carmel boutiques such as 14 Districts Weekend, to find a denim jacket for her clients that’s as flattering as it is comfortable—two words we’ve never uttered to describe the boxy, stiff style hanging in our closet. But once you slip into the Mavi jean jacket, you get why Hanson has sold hundreds of the little denim number; it glides on like a buttery-soft cotton tee and nips in at the waist as if it’s your favorite blazer. Good luck talking yourself down from splurging on a second one in a different wash. Carmel City Center, 736 Hanover Pl., Carmel, 805-1857

Barn Sale

When Google Maps leads you to a place called Small Town Salvage via Two Cent Road, you know you’re about to find bargains. And you aren’t the only one—co-owner Diane Schulz says antiques dealers are streaming up from Texas because all the scruffy farmhouse furniture in the Lone Star State is now overpriced. Diane’s husband, Jeff Gindling, is a fireman with a passion for salvage, and his work leads him to some undiscovered treasure troves. That collection of sparkling depression glass? Found it in an outhouse. Sales on the second Saturday of the month fill two buildings in Bargersville with harvest tables, Hoosier Cabinets, and quirky accessories, not to mention a clientele that knows how to work with the bones of a dismantled barn, a pristine wood canoe, or photos of obscure bands from the 1970s. 291 E. Two Cent Rd., Bargersville, 812-521-1214

Yoga Pants for Tweens

Show of hands from those who went grocery-shopping in their gym clothes last weekend. No judgment here—we can’t fault anyone for jumping on the ultra-comfy athleisure bandwagon. Tween girls who want to dress the part head to Ivivva, a Lululemon offshoot, where, in true little-sister-copying-big-sister fashion, the draw is workout pants. Sun-saluters gravitate toward the “Rhythmic Tight,” a body-hugging style with a colorful patterned waistband and a “brushed” option for extra warmth, or the stretchy “Quick Trick Crop,” featuring mesh panels and reflective trim. The looser “Live to Move” pant is ideal for wearing to after-school practice—or for lounging around gossiping about boys. 404 W. Main St., Carmel, 569-0824

Sassy Kids Boutique

If Kim Kardashian’s little one, North West, lived in Indy, she’d be shopping at the playfully chic kids boutique House of Z. The contemporary shop, decked out in zebra hide and galactic-looking chandeliers, reps the styles preferred by owner Hailey Brooke Barham’s 5-year-old son Zade, such as Raglan’s “Straight Outta Playgroup” baseball tee and reflective Stay Wild tanks. There’s also a darling selection for girls, ranging from sparkly red-soled Little Loubs moccasins to Mimi & Maggie fringed ponchos and leg warmers. Moms, get ready to be out-dressed by your toddler. Carmel City Center, 727  Hanover Pl., 810-1329

Christmas-Treat Tote

The CakeBox at Homespun may be big enough to accommodate your three-layer red velvet, but the pine carton truly excels in shepherding muffins and cupcakes without squishing them. Two removable trays inside will hold up to 18 of the pastries—no more Tupperware lids marring your perfectly swirled cream-cheese frosting. For an even easier haul, kick in for the handsome leather carrying strap. $56 (box), $26 (strap). 869 Massachusetts Ave., 351-0280

New Men’s Boutique

Righno has been around as an online outpost since 2012, but now that owner Corey Bee’s baby is old enough to shave (in retailer years), it probably won’t: Beards are so hot right now. Along with Ben Sherman polos and button-downs from ourCaste, Righno’s new, minimalist brick-and-mortar spot devotes a good chunk of space on its reclaimed-wood displays to beard oils and—if you must—shaving creams from Portland General Store (try the Whiskey Old-Fashioned Wet Shave Puck). There, you’ll also find skin- and hair-care products from Ursa Major and Joe’s Grooming. Complete the look with kicks from Volley, an Aussie shoemaker that made its name in tennis. 1103 N. College Ave., 796-4704

Locally Designed Fabric

Even the name of Heather Givans’s fanciful textile collection is fun to say: Succulents. The “quilter-in-chief” at Crimson Tate, the contemporary downtown sewing shop, debuted her first-ever line of cottons (for Windham Fabrics) this spring, drawing inspiration from her potted plants at home. So depending on which of the 22 prints you pick up, you’ll find hand drawings of baby toes, cacti, prickly pears, and mother-in-law tongue, all done in cheerful hues meant to evoke nature. Other patterns bear typewritten instructions for caring for succulents. And if you need ideas for what to do with this quirky stuff, Givans and her crew have turned the fabric—which sells for $11 per yard—into seating poufs, headbands, lunch totes, pincushions, and other whimsies on display. 845 Massachusetts Ave., 426-3300

Flannel Shirts

Befitting a boutique with reclaimed-wood walls, James Dant has debuted its own line of flannels, created by owner Tommy Dant in collaboration with Crawford Denim. The three durable designs (favorite: nautical navy stripes on ivory) are made from deadstock fabric, or remnants bigger manufacturers could not use. This upcycling, combined with Dant’s accoutrements of wooden buttons and collars in contemporary cuts, make each look one-of-a-kind—the perfect threads for that indie show at the HiFi. $110 and up. James Dant, 5624 E. Washington St., 974-9715

Designer Bracelet

Luur Design in Carmel created the Pattern Store to come apart—the dressing rooms and tables sit on wheels so the floor can be cleared for fashion events. The studio’s new  North South  bracelet employs the same concept, writ small enough to wear. The wrist candy snaps in two (courtesy of industrial-strength magnets) for mixing and matching different halves, an idea that caught the eye of several top design blogs this year. Luur thinks of North South like a friendship bracelet and suggests swapping halves with buddies. Paging the Taylor Swift crowd. $112 for a starter kit with three pieces. 520-F Industrial Dr., Carmel

Six-Figure Heirloom

With the exception of the sheet music, nothing comes cheap at the new Steinway Piano Gallery in Carmel. The showroom, an offshoot of the former Meridian Music Company, exhibits dozens of top-of-the-line pianos. But the real showstopper is the Model D, a nine-foot-long concert grand in the center of the store. At $160,900, it’s a maestro’s instrument—an investment to be sure, but one that the Hilbert Circle Theatre has deemed necessary, and the Palladium, too (twice over). A few feet away sits a refurbished 1901 Model D, testifying to its lasting power. Once you plunk down the cash for one of these babies, you will be tickling its ivories for a very long time. 14300 Clay Terrace Blvd., Ste. 140, Carmel, 575-9588

Urban Export

The name’s the same—Silver in the City—as are the witty home things (Mason-jar shot glasses), LOL gifts (“Hey, Gull Friend” animal notecards), and contemporary seasonal accents (cross-stitched Fair Isle mug). In other words, everything that makes the Mass Ave shop a favorite carries over to Silver’s second location, in Carmel. The difference? All of the industrial-cool display tables, including a $1,000 “beer garden picnic set” with table and benches by Roost, are for sale. 111 W. Main St., Carmel, 993-3669

Pop-Up Shop

We thought we’d be over the handmade trend by now. But for every tired finger puppet, there’s a gorgeous wooden cutting board by an Indiana artisan that will stay in the family for generations. Handmade Promenade brings together a fresh, local selection for holiday-shopping through December. And this time, the pop-up shop proffers Get Lathered shampoo bars and Indygenous neighborhood prints in a new destination, Mass Ave’s three-level Small Mall—which, thankfully, is permanent. 409 Massachusetts Ave.

Coloring Book

Fountain Square artist Mab Graves wears a bob the color of cotton candy and calls herself a “dreamchild.” There’s no point searching for a better word to describe her pop-surrealist Zodiac Girls, a series just turned into a coloring book. Graves’s gothic dolls with melancholy eyes look like Strawberry Shortcake’s twisted cousins. Printed on heavy stock separated by vellum pages to prevent smudging, the designs are beautifully bound—but likely to be clipped out and framed. $19.