With the 2015 holiday shopping season in full swing, finding the perfect gifts for friends and loved ones is a full time job. If you’re hoping to win the award for “most creative gift”, nothing beats a boutique. Boutiques tend to offer more individuality and diversity since their products are hand-selected by the owners or a small team. Plus, it’s always lovely to give a gift with a backstory. 

Our country is home to some of the most beautiful boutiques that carry exclusive merchandise from hard to find designers and brands. The shops on our list make us wish teleportation were possible so we could browse them all in one day.

Moondance Jewelry
1530 Montana Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90403
www.moondancejewelry.com

Moondance was voted one of America’s Coolest Stores by InStore Magazine for a reason. Inside you’ll find one of the most comprehensive selections of accessories, including modern staples, classic favorites and some affordable stylish pieces. The accessories-only store attracts everyone from tourists to locals and celebrities.

Ikram
15 East Hurron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
www.ikram.com 

This windy city boutique may have been put on the map in 2008 when Michelle Obama turned to owner Ikram Goldman as her personal (albeit unofficial) fashion advisor, but Chicago fashionistas have long relied on this high end women’s boutique for a tightly edited selection of American, European and Japanese designers juxtaposed with vintage clothing and accessories handpicked by Goldman herself.

Maryam Nassir Zadeh
123 Norfolk St.
New York, NY 10002
www.mnzstore.com

New York is such an incredible shopping mecca, especially for indie boutiques. Maryam Nassir Zadeh is on the Lower East Side and features avant-garde pieces selected with a gallerist’s attention to detail. This is where you come when you want to find something truly unique.

Alchemist
1109 Lincoln Rd
Miami Beach, FL 33139
www.shopalchemist.com

This stunning luxury boutique has a minimalist vibe and embodies art, fashion, architecture and culture. Alchemist carries the finer things in life, and it’s worth going for the visual appeal alone—it won an award for Best Interior Space in the Country from the American Institute of Architecture.

Kirna Zabete
477 Broome Street
New York, NY 10013
www.kirnazabete.com

Described as “The high-fashion equivalent of a candy store—colorful, tempting and addictive.” by T Magazine, Kirna Zabete is a “must see” when in the big apple. Founded 15 years ago by Sarah Easley (nickname Kirna) and Beth Buccini (nickname Zabete) the Soho boutique has been hailed by every major magazine and it’s no wonder why. Their roster of designer is both impressive and eclectic. Mainstays include Celine, Saint Laurent and Stella McCartney. Fresh faces such as Shrimps and Racil are interspersed through the racks and jewelry brands such as Tatiana Verstraeten and Elsie Dray perfectly accessorize any look. They even offer paintings by artist Ashley Longshore.  

Aline Boutique
5375 Landmark Place
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
www.aline-online.com

This fashion-forward Colorado boutique has been acknowledged by the likes of Lucky and Elle Magazine for its fabulous outfits and accessories. Owner Karmen Berensten and her team specialize in creating a red carpet experience. Whether that be personal styling, free tailoring or opening the store at midnight, they’ll do just about anything for their busy clientele.

Les Mechantes
900 North Point Suite E101
San Francisco, CA 94109
www.lesmechantes.com 

It was only one a little over a year ago that owners Delores Arabian, Ashley Arabian and Kathleen Ensign came up with the vision (and name) for Les Mechantes at Paris Fashion Week. Within a year’s time, the store that started strictly as an e-tailer opened its brick and mortar doors at The Yard at Mission Rock. Both the store and website sell the brand’s namesake collection of caftans, as well as a curated collection of ethical brands, with an emphasis on local designers.

Forty Five Ten
4510 McKinney Ave
Dallas, TX 75205
www.fortyfiveten.com

Named after its McKinney Avenue address, Forty Five Ten has become the shopping destination for Dallas’ best dressed. The one stop shop carries all the best, from Pierre Hardy to Proenza Schouler and Azzedine Alaia to Jil Sander. The 8,000 square foot store is a work of art in it of itself—it’s housed in a historic building.

Jeffrey NYC
449 W 14th St
New York, NY 10014
www.jeffreynewyork.com 

Don’t let this showroom-style boutique fool you. Housed in an old loft warehouse, this mini department store is happy to have its customer use the space as a place to hang out. While Jeffrey New York carries staple luxury designers, such as Prada and Saint Lauren, the store also encourages clients to take a walk on the wild side and step outside their comfort zone with labels like Coperni and Paskal. Getting married? Make sure to check out their bridal-only shoe section.

A’maree’s
2241 West Coast Hwy
Newport Beach, CA 92663
www.amarees.com

Newport Beach is home to Haute Couture in a relaxed, no-pressure, no-pretense setting. Just like the power fashion families of Europe and Italy, the family behind A’MAREE’S has built the tiny boutique into a high fashion force unparalleled in America. A West Coast institution since the early 1970’s, Mother Nancy, daughters Apryl, Denise and Dawn approach high fashion buying with one unifying mission…you.

Allora by Laura
1269 Coast Village Rd
Montecito, CA 93108
www.allorabylaura.com

The former Creative Director for Antoinette in Montecito began her career in 1984 where she honed her skills merchandising and selling European designer clothing including the most important collections of the day. Working with the Versace and Dolce & Gabbana collections of the 1980's to the current fashion houses of Etro, Yohji Yamamoto, Martin Margiela and more, Laura has been dressing stylish women, and introducing premier designers to Santa Barbara for over 25 years.

Fwrd.com

Forward by Elyse Walker is a partnership between e-tail giant Revolve Clothing and Los Angeles boutique owner, Elyse Walker that has been described as an edgier Netaporter. For years, a “who’s who” of clientele have flocked to Walker’s Pacific Palisades boutique for her racks of carefully curated merchandise that is both classic and edgy with an LA twist. The site features the world’s most illustrious designers, such as Givenchy and Balenciaga, juxtaposed with up and comers such as Carisa Rene and The Perfext, which also happens to be Walker’s own line.