Gretta Luxe
Dresses, skirts, and tops in a rainbow of colors beckon from racks around the store's perimeter. / Photo by Leonard Greco The next time you need a wardrobe upgrade, head to celeb fashion stylist Gretta Monahan’s eponymous boutique. This spring, the shop relocated to an airy new space across the street from its original location, expanding its already-fab selection from sophisticated clothing brands such as High Sport, Marni, Proenza Schouler, and Zimmermann. The shop’s trove of bags is equally impressive, as is its collection of artisanal fine jewelry — and there’s no way you won’t find your next favorite pair of jeans in the heavily stocked denim bar. 97 Central St., Wellesley, MA 02482, gretta.co.
Matsu
The Smiths invited you to their dinner party. Not just any soiree. Beef bourguignon from scratch. Cheval Blanc 1947 St-Emilion. Forget about bringing scented sachets as a thank-you gift. You need sizzle. You need wow. You need a treasure from Matsu. Count on owners Dava and Masayuki Muramatsu to deliver the goods: a fabulous ecru knot-shaped vase, petite cerulean elliptical plates, or a collection of Japanese architect Kazuhiko Tanaka’s handmade figurines. In other words, your repeat invitation is guaranteed. 76 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, matsu-boston.com.
M.M.LaFleur
No longer just boardroom attire, suits are being worn by women for lots of occasions — and who can blame themwhen there’s such a fab array to choosefrom at M.M.LaFleur? Available as mix and-match separates in a slew of fabrics, several suiting styles are washable, which makes them infinitely more wearable than their dry-clean-only counterparts. Colors range from cheery to classic, and if you’re unsure of which style to select, stylists will expertly steer you toward the one that most flatters your form. 134 Newbury St., Boston , MA 02116, mmlafleur.com.
Covet
If you’re looking for a classic Chanel shoulder bag, a David Yurman star burstring, or a Burberry pea coat for a fraction of the list price all under one roof, Covet is the place to go. And if you’d rather browse from the comfort of your couch, the store also posts more than a hundred items to its Instagram Stories every day. Just make sure you’re the first one to hit reply in Covet’s DMs, because that bubble gum-pink Gucci bag you’re eyeing will go quickly. Back Bay, Beacon Hill, South Boston, Boston , MA covetboston.com.
Tracksmith
courtesy photo Nicknamed the Trackhouse, this store remains the premier spot for Bostonians who want to hit the pavement in style. While the store’s signature performance Ts and sneakers are worth seeking out, it’snot just about the merch here; it’s about the community. Joining Tracksmith’s weekly running clubs or marathon training workout groups — ideally while donning the brand’s limited-edition gold chainwith a charm of mascot Eliot the hare, whose speed you can carry with you on your next run — is an experience unto itself. 285 Newbury St., Boston , MA 02115, tracksmith.com.
Dress Boston
Desperate for a dress in time for dinner? Your first call should be to Dress, which can practically ferry one to you in the time it takes to make a reservation. The longtime Beacon Hill boutique always has a top selection of fresh, mod wardrobe staples from Vanessa Bruno, Nili Lotan, Ulla Johnson, and Zimmermann. And now, with a new outpost in the South End, even more local fashionistas will have the opportunity to shop coveted pieces by hard-to-find designers, along with a curated mix of fine jewelry — including a knife-edge emerald tennis bracelet by Lizzie Mandler that we’vebeen lusting after for months. Beacon Hill, South End, Boston , MA dressboston.com.
Glossier
courtesy photo While we love the products from this New York–based company, which made its Boston debut last year, it’s the shopping experience that has us obsessed. Instead of boxes upon boxes of product backstock on the shelves, à la those big-box beauty stores, pink-jumpsuit-clad employees disappear out of sight to wrap up your products of choice — but only after you’ve tried every shade of the “Cloud Paint” liquid blush and sampled the “After Baume” face cream, of course. 120 Newbury St., Boston , MA 02116, glossier.com.
Lunette Optic
With the opening of a sixth boutique in Cambridge — and a seventh in the Back Bay on the way — we can officially crown husband-and-wife team Ted Mogtader and Michelle Rahimian the king and queen of Boston’s optical world. The titles are well deserved: Showcasing hard-to-find brands like Jacques Marie Mage and Blake Kuwahara, their chainlet of shops even has its own line of eyewear, dubbed the Mora collection. On-site optometrists, meanwhile, perform eye exams with state-of-the-art equipment, including a digital imaging tool that’ll capture a picture of your retina within seconds. 35 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA 02138, lunetteoptic.com.
Exela Movers
Dragging everything you own from one house to another is about as fun as sitting in standstill traffic on I-90, but the folks at this full-service moving company are here to make it a little easier. Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, the brawny guys in blue shirts can pack, load, unload, and even unpack for you if you so desire, and are known to do so carefully and efficiently. Bonus points for the company’s partnership with Box Save, a Boston-based crate-rental company that’s already kept 110 tons of cardboard out of the waste stream. exelamovers.com.
Moki
Courtesy Moki Go ahead and throw a bathing suit on under that heavy down coat — the Nordic sauna experience is here, and it’s fabulous. Come fall, this pop-up “village” on the Rose Kennedy Greenway will once again offer brave bathers their choice of three wood-fired saunas heated between 170 and 190 degrees (when it’s snowing out, that kind of heat feels juuust right) and a cedar-barrel cold plunge kept around 45 degrees. Can’t wait till the colder weather to get your outdoor sauna on? Good news: Moki’s hanging out in Mashpee through October. Multiple locations, MA mokisauna.com.
Salon Mario Russo
As soon as you step through the door of this chic salon, you’re treated like a VIP: greeted by name, coat whisked away, and robe presented before being ushered to a stylist’s chair. As you settle in, a tray with a steaming espresso — or sparkling water — arrives with a bit of biscotti. And that’s before you even get to the actual service! When it comes to that part of the equation, Russo and his team of stylists and colorists are who they have always been: top-tier creative visionaries capable of total hair transformations.They’re also great listeners, so if you prefer to keep your locks simple, that’s just what they’ll do. Multiple locations, MA mariorusso.com.
SOS
Courtesy of SOS/Christina Hickey We’ve all been there: You’re in the bathroom and (gulp) you need a period-care product, stat. SOS has your back. The sleek Boston-based smart vending machine dreamed up by former finance pros Robina Verbeek and Susanna Twarog, installed everywhere from City Hall to Fenway Park to South Station, dispenses them for free. Even more exciting, it comes stocked with all kinds of other necessities for purchase — skin care, hair care, makeup — from curated brands such as First Aid Beauty, Ursa Major, and Drybar. Only a woman could’ve designed something like this. worldofsos.com.
Jewett Farms + Co.
Photo by Sian Richards If the kitchen is the heart of the home, why not have it seamlessly fit your personal style and needs down to every last detail? That’s the ethos of design firm Jewett Farms, whose team has been dreaming up striking kitchens for a quarter century. Though consistently sleek and modern, there’s always something special about a Jewett Farms space that uniquely suits its owners — whether it’s a playful accent wall of lemon-yellow cabinetsor a five-seat island perfect for entertaining. Nothing, it seems, is off-limits. One Design Center Pl., Boston, MA 02210, jewettfarms.com.
Landry & Arcari
Interior Design by Dane Austin Design. / Photo by Sean Litchfield If you regard rugs as artwork for the floor, Landry & Arcari is the place to acquire them. Flip through stack after pristine stack of new, vintage, and antique Tabriz, Heriz, Serapi, Soumak, Oushak, and more while the knowledgeable sales team patiently educates you on origins and styles. (Or start by clicking through the well-organized website.) If contemporary designs are more your taste, there are ombres, abstract florals, and sharp-edged geometrics, plus a custom rug-design program for bespoke creations. The showrooms also offer a selection of high-quality broadloom carpets that would convince any hardwood-floor lover to consider going wall-to-wall. 333 Stuart Street, Boston, MA 02116, landryandarcari.com.
Vejigantes
The chuleta kan kan certainly makes a dazzling impression at this vibrant spot from longtime Boston restaurateurs Hector and Nivia Pina: Sourced directly from Puerto Rico, the succulent 18-ounce bone-in pork loin chop is served with the belly and crispy skin still attached. But really, anything on the menu, from classic mofongos (mashed plantain or cassava with meat inside) to house-special paellas, is worth trying. The extensive list of fun cocktails garnished with fresh flowers, umbrellas, and mini bottles of champagne, meanwhile, practically guarantees a good time. 57 W Dedham St., Boston, MA 02118, vejigantesrestaurant.com.