Avalon Exchange, Inc. is located in the popular Delmar Loop shopping and entertainment district. This trendy resale shop is a great place to get a hold of hot outfits without breaking the bank. The inventory features unique and stylish gear, from up-to-date fashions to timeless, funky vintage couture. If planning to sell your own gently-used attire, don't take rejection personally, as the staff is very picky about what they buy. Though the market for such a cosmopolitan resale shop targets tweens through twenty-somethings, folks of all ages can find that perfect artsy tweed jacket, unique costume, or great pair of purple fishnet stockings. - Cathryn D. Blue

Plaza Frontenac is home to some of St. Louis' better clothing stores, with everything from business casual attire to the finest name-brand suits on hand. Shops include Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, plus a number of men's and women's apparel stores and household goods stores. Plaza Frontenac has two levels, all-wood flooring and a lounge area with leather chairs. After shopping, you can enjoy an independent film at the movie theater.

As with Sole, its sister store, Blues stays at the forefront of fashion, offering designer denim couture from the U.S. and Europe. Catering to the rock star and just about anyone who makes looking good a priority, the styles are always trendy, hip, and changing. The selection includes denim jeans, jackets, and skirts, as well as t-shirts and classic-cut button downs. The staff is often modeling the latest threads and can help create a look that rivals those of Hollywood elitists. Stop in to browse for ideas. A life altering pair of boot-cut corduroys could be right at your fingertips. - Cathryn D. Blue

This fly shoe store on the Delmar Loop stays at the cutting edge of shoe fashion. Trendsetters, hipsters, party-goers, and business moguls alike come from far and near to check out the latest in U.S. and European footwear. Sole is set on a mission to bridge the past with the present, integrating the classic with the contemporary to create a timeless look that will never be old. However, the inventory perpetually changes, so don't count on that fabulous pair of authentic leather cowboy boots still being on the shelf next week. - Cathryn D. Blue

At Plowsharing Crafts, the stuff you buy will actually help the people who made it. The store, which is better understood as a ministry, originated under the Fair Trade initiative of the Ten Thousand Villages organization. Imported goods including clothing, artwork, handmade jewelry, incense, organic food items, and home décor are from small villages all over the world where skilled artisans are paid fairly for the goods they provide. The staff is service-oriented and knowledgeable and can offer information about the people from which the goods come as well as the process of trading that occurs between regions. Stop by to learn and shop with a purpose.

Where the beautiful Central West End stops and the bustling Delmar Loop begins, Pizazz sits, awaiting those who are looking to add style to their lounging. The selection of modern, classic, funkadelic, ingenious, and outright weird bedroom and lounge furniture opens up a world of possibilities in design. The staff has a personal stake in each item selected to grace the showroom floor, so their excitement, expertise, and sensitivity to customer issues make shopping a refreshing experience. The prices aren't bad either. So if planning to make a change in décor, or to just be inspired, visit Pizazz for a breath of fresh futon. - Cathryn D. Blue

For hanging, wrapping, flowing, skirting, draping, sewing, or just looking, Anatol's Fabric Outlet is a one stop shop for fabrics. Located in the busy Brentwood district, the wide assortment of designs, colors, and textured fabrics makes Anatol's the first place many boutique owners, clothing designers, and individual fabric enthusiasts visit before starting a new project. The prices are out of this world, which puts this fabric warehouse ahead of its competition. Beware the traffic in Brentwood. Rush hour makes Anatol's a bit difficult to get to, but once in the store, the helpful, knowledgeable staff and the outstanding selection will leave you giddy. -Cathryn D. Blue

Located in the city of Kirkwood, a suburb of St. Louis, this market is an open air affair Thursdays through Saturdays. The market is in the city center and accessible to a number of restaurants and shops. Vendors sell anything from fruits to apparels. Kirkwood Farmers' Market is also a nice place to socialize and make acquaintances, especially if you're new in town.

A staple for the music loving community of Webster Groves, Euclid Records has an extensive selection of new and used LPs, CDs and magazines. Here, one can browse through the stock without much effort the inventory is wonderfully organized. Be it a classic jazz album or a contemporary electronic music record one wants to bring home, the store doesn't disappoint. Make sure you grab some limited edition vinyl 45s, which have been recorded at the store. During summers every year, the store hosts the Record Store Day Weekend, where bands from across the country perform at the store. Open everyday, one can always find students from the nearby colleges of Webster University checking out the new arrivals from its collection.

Complete with beautiful, fresh vegetables, an amazing variety of ethnic fruits and spices, and a friendly helpful staff , Global Foods Market has become a destination for many St. Louisans. For those who have no experience with international foods, items can look unfamiliar and intimidating. However, if customers are clueless as to the uses of bitter melons or bok choy, the staff members on the floor are patient and helpful. Shoppers regularly meet in the aisles to share their recipes and secrets to that perfect pot of yellow curry. Patrons always leave Global Foods with a smile, a basket full of food, and a new idea. Cathryn D. Blue