Cover Story: Consumer Culture

Walk on the West Side

Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza, any given stretch of Virginia-Highland — those are the obvious choices for the upscale shopper.

But if you’re into the thrill of the high-fashion hunt — of finding a secret locale filled with potential possessions no one else has — head to Buckhead West Village, a pleasantly funky collection of old warehouses and bar spaces clustered between Roswell Road and Paces Ferry Place.

Shoe fetishists ought step into Sabot (45 Irby Ave., 404-816-0077), a shoe boutique specializing in Latin and French designers. We’d love to tell you that Sabot’s slinky stilletos, funky flats and spritely sandals won’t break the bank, but prices range from $100 to $300, and even higher. So instead, we’ll suggest you ask about their layaway options.

Next door is Beth Ann’s (47 Irby Ave., 404-233-4424), where former model and current image consultant Beth Ann Taratoot offers a variety of new, vintage and locally made jewelry, handbags and other accessories, as well as a custom line of cosmetics.

Just past Beth Ann’s, Razzle Dazzle (49 Irby Ave., 404-233-6940) holds a small but solid collection of boutique brands, including tank tops by Free People, skirts by Johnny Was and dresses from ABS. For the homebody in all of us, Urban Cottage (3211 Cains Hill Place, 404-760-1334) offers affordable furniture ­— both new and antique — as well as candles, throws and slippers designed to spoil their owner. Nearby Boxwoods (100 E. Andrews Drive, 404-233-3400) features plants, antique indoor and outdoor furniture, as well as gifts ranging from jewelry and flowers to planters and cards.

Unique and funky shops in the Metro area

A CAPPELLA New and used bookstore. Specializes in out-of-print rare titles and first editions in addition to large selection of reasonably priced used paperbacks. Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-8 p.m; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., 12-7 p.m. 1133 Euclid Ave. 404-681-5128. www.acappellabooks.com. (Store will move April 15 to nearby location at 484 Moreland Ave.)

ALESSI Retromodern store for kitschy and high-design housewares. Stylish tableware from brands like Mono, littala and Rosenthal offered alongside whimsical items like toothpick holders in bunny shapes and funky floss dispensers. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 805 Peachtree St. 404-724-0093. www.retromodern.com.

BILL HALLMAN ORIGINAL Urban hipster central for men´s and women´s clothing. Boasts wide selection of cult labels, including well-chosen assortment of Diesel, James Jeans, Miss Sixty and Frankie B., as well as a solid collection of smaller, independent labels. Mon.-Tues., 12-8 p.m.; Wed.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun. 12-7 p.m. 792 N. Highland Ave. 404-876-6055. www.billhallman.com.

BOB ELLIS High-end men´s and women´s shoes and accessories. Selection includes legendary names like Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Gucci and Prada, and cutting-edge designers such as Alexandra Neel and Marc Jacobs. Mon.-Wed., Fri., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Thurs., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun. 12:30-6 p.m. Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road, Suite A-3. 404-841-0215.

CHARLIE’S TRADIN’ POST Discounted men´s clothing and accessories. Dig through piles of pants from Dickies work styles to Levi´s and Wrangler. Or pick up bona-fide trucker hats, wife-beaters, galoshes and fishing equipment. Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. 648 McDonough Blvd. 404-627-4242.

CITY LIVING Affordable, well-made contemporary furniture, lighting, accessories and interior design with an urban attitude. Variety of styles for a variety of budgets, including brands such as Soho, Bern and Klaus. Wed.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 12-5 p.m. 1135 Chattahoochee Ave. 404-350-9592. www.citylivinghome.com.

COOK’S WAREHOUSE Paradise for foodies and the people who love them. Store features a wide array of kitchen gadgetry both predictable and highly specialized, along with every kind of cooking-related accessory imaginable. Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 12:30-5 p.m. 549-I Amsterdam Ave. 404-815-4993; 4062 Peachtree Road. 404-949-9945. www.cookswarehouse.com.

CO-OP Offers a slice of Barneys New York in the ATL. Hip lines geared toward a fashion-forward audience who also has cash to burn. Wide assortment of designer jeans for women by Citizen, Seven and Antik, as well as a well-chosen selection of handbags. Men can choose from items by Marc Jacobs and True Religion denim. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., 12-5:30 p.m. Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road. 404-467-1569.

DAKOTA J’S Boutique offers women´s clothing and accessories with labels for trend-conscious shoppers including Liquid and Ana Capri. Also a large selection of jewelry by local artists, including LEM Designs and Romero. Mon.-Wed., 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Thurs., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., 12-6 p.m. 1030 N. Highland Ave. 404-870-0690.

FRIEDMAN’S SHOES Extensive selection of casual and dressy for men and women, specializing in large sizes. Includes Italian-made offerings such as funky slip-ons by Donald J. Pliner and comfy lace-ups by Bacco Bucci, but also carries Steve Madden, Cole Haan, Timberland, etc. Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 209 Mitchell St. 800-886-3668. www.largefeet.com.

INTERNATIONAL VILLAGE MARKET Antique and flea market with wide, unpredictable selection of merchandise. New and used clothing for men, women and children, oddities, used CDs and more. Fri.-Sun., hours vary. 5000 Buford Highway.

INTIMACY Women´s lingerie boutique specializing in bra fitting, hard-to-find sizes and custom-fitted bras. Also a full line of sleepwear, bras, panties and more exotic lingerie. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., 12-5 p.m. Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road. 404-261-9333. www.intimacyofatlanta.com.

KATE SPADE Upscale accessory boutique. Collection of the designer´s famous handbags, stylish shoes and movie star-ish sunglasses, updated each season to reflect the latest fashions. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 12:30-5:30 p.m. Lenox Square, 3393 Peachtree Road. 404-841-8838. www.katespade.com.

KUDZU ANTIQUE MARKET Antique and flea market with multiple dealers specializing in American and European furniture and assorted collectibles. Also an affordable selection of vintage clothing, jewelry and books. Mon., Thurs.-Sat., 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 12:30-6 p.m. 2874 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-373-6498.

MITZI AND ROMANO Luxury-brand women´s clothing that ranges from conservative to funky, plus accessories counter with wide range of prices. Brands include Citizen, Seven, Michael Star, Earl and Max Azria, among others. Nearby Mitzi’s Shoe Closet keeps feet well-clad in Elle, Charles David and BCBG. Around the corner, M III offers bargain-basement sale prices on last season´s offerings. Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-10 p.m. 1038 N. Highland Ave. 404-876-7228.

OUTWRITE Bookstore and coffee house. Stocks a wide array of gay and lesbian literature in addition to books and gifts of local interest. Mon.-Sun., 10 a.m.-11 p.m. 991 Piedmont Ave. 404-607-0082. www.outwritebooks.com.

OXFORD COMICS Most comprehensive supply of comic titles (new and old), American and European graphic novels, and manga in the city. Also a menagerie of hard-to-find toys, DVDs, T-shirts and other collectibles. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 2855 Piedmont Road. 404-233-8682.

PAISLEY Boutique features designer women´s clothing, accessories and jewelry. Juicy and James Jeans along with more sophisticated and dressy brands, like Tracy Reese. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., 12-6 p.m. 4475 Roswell Road. 770-578-1120. www.paisleyboutique.com.

PARIS ON PONCE Gift and antique shop with European flair. Seemingly endless rooms of vintage curios and furniture make it an ideal store for the shopper who loves to dig for buried treasure. Wed.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 12-6 p.m. 716 Ponce de Leon. 404-249-9965. www.parisonponce.com.

POSTER HUT Gift shop with wide selection of sexually provocative novelties (think penis-shaped cake pans), in addition to tamer items like watches and lava lamps. Other novelties include ¨Over the Hill¨ toilet targets, crossword toilet paper, and the ¨Little Swimmers¨ boobs water toy. Side room boasts fetish and bondage gear for the newlyweds. Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Sun., 1-6 p.m. 2175 Cheshire Bridge Road. 404-633-7491.

RONDO DISTRIBUTING CO. Offbeat gift shop for all your talisman, charm and hex needs. This tiny storefront has more than its share of seriously weird products, from lucky mojo incense to lottery candles to air fresheners specially formulated to help you win lawsuits or chase away bad juju. Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m.; Sat., 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 171 Mitchell St. 404-522-4379.

RUSCH HOME College Park shop specializes in home and garden decor, including shabby chic furniture and accessories. Wide array of potpourri, scented candles and oils, and handmade soaps. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 3397 Main St., College Park. 404-669-9010. www.ruschhomes.com.

SOLE Stylish shoes and accessories for men and women. Store stocks a wide selection from dressy to casual, and many cult favorites including Jeffrey Campbell, Lacoste and MC & Power. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 12-5 p.m. 419 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-377-9006. www.soleatlanta.com.

SOUTHERN NIGHTS Fetish and adult store that caters to both women and men. Lubes, toys, and protection are available, as is a variety of books and videos. Open 24 hours, seven days a week. 2205 Cheshire Bridge Road. 404-728-0701.

STANTON DESIGNS One-stop shop for dressing up your rec room in contemporary style with a hint of retro. From shaggy wall hangings to witty Jonathan Adler pottery to space-age furniture, upscale scented candles and an up-to-the-minute stock of electronica and lounge CDs. Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 12-6 p.m. 431 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Suite 1, Decatur. 404-371-1991. www.stantondesigns.com.

STEFAN’S VINTAGE CLOTHING Vintage boutique for men and women. Cashmere sweaters, real and faux furs, costume jewelry, handbags and gloves, suits, hats and more, all in pristine condition. Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 12-6 p.m. 1160 Euclid Ave. 404-688-4929.

STUART WEITZMAN Women´s shoes by the respected designer. Store carries a large selection of Weitzman´s stylish dress shoes, pumps and boots. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., 12-6 p.m. Lenox Square, 3393 Peachtree Road. 404-846-0101. www.stuartweitzman.com.

TABU Consignment shop specializing in women´s designer clothing. Careful shoppers can find variety of vintage clothing along with still-new designer clothes from previous seasons. Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 3184 Roswell Road. 404-848-0806. taburesaleboutique.com.

THE TOY STORE Enough contemporary doodads, like ¨The Simpsons¨ action figures, to help decorate your cubicle, but impresses more with diverse selection of educational games and old-school toys like jigsaw puzzles and kites. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 12-5 p.m. Ansley Mall, 1544 Piedmont Road, Suite 222. 404-875-1137.

WISH Urban gear for the discerning street sophisticate and avid club-goer. Clothing, accessories, and a wide array of footwear for men and women from lines including Diesel, Fornarina, Nike, Gentle Fawn and Gsus. Mon.-Thurs., 12-8 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 12-9 p.m.; Sun., 1-7 p.m. 447 Moreland Ave. 404-880-0402. www.wish-atl.com.??