It’s safe to say that 2020 wasn’t a banner year for fashion. Fashion week was a bust, and the best most of us could muster was cozy chic. But this year, we’re planning to make a splash back into the social scene. Our inspiration? Anything bright and airy from our favorite Baltimore boutiques. Here are a few pieces to add to your mood board:

As shops around the city remain closed, many have struggled to sustain business in the interim, causing them to shift their models. Some have created full-fledged online stores, while others have developed curbside delivery options. And the shoppers? Well, chances are you’re one of them. We all miss our regular hangouts, getting brunch with friends, and maybe checking the latest inventory at our favorite shops on the way home.

Among the creative solutions that local boutiques have come up with are care packages. (Or self-care packages depending on who you’re shopping for.) Whether ordering a box of hair supplies or a basket of home décor treasures, here are a few options to support Baltimore’s small shops while keeping calm at home.

For The Pick-Me-Up

A sweet mix of stuck-at-home goodies, the “limelight” package from Hunting Ground is a box packed with all of your self-care needs. They’re free to ship and the contents bundle price of $88 comes to 20 percent-off retail costs.

For The Hair Care Refresh

Just because your salon is closed, doesn’t mean you have to forgo regular upkeep. Thanks to Ash & Oak salon, hair care kits are being made to help you keep your locks at bay in the meantime. Smaller kits range from $56-$75, while larger “quarantine kits” have been offered for limited times.

For The Manicure Mayhem

The horrors of broken nails, chipped gel, and overgrown manicured polish are no joke. If you’re missing your manicurist, fear not—Melly Mani is delivering gel/dip removal kits. You’ll receive a box of all the necessary tools, as well as some polish to maintain your nails from home.

For The Distraction

Isolating at home gets old. To keep yourself occupied, or cheer yourself up, check out the “quarantine kit” items at Brightside Boutique. Various items include home organization, greeting cards, and cocktail mixes. Whatever you’re needing to get you through these lonely times, they’ve got you covered.

For The Local Supporter

Show some love to Baltimore makers with the help of The Codex Club. Stock up on candles by Knit Soy Metal or refresh your home with some handmade wood pieces by Jon’s Design Company. If you’re interested in building your own kit, just reach out to the shop through social media.

For The Ones You Miss

Canton gift shop Best Day Ever is offering an assortment of items for all the special people in your life. Send a friend a birthday care package, or one to your child’s favorite teacher. They’re simple gestures to tell those you miss that you’re thinking of them.

Attention, menswear lovers! Fall is here, and you know what that means: a fresh seasonal style guide. Stay hip with the trending styles and take note of these latest looks from your favorite local shops.

Even veteran barista Kris Fulton knows that, sometimes, craft coffee shops can feel snobby.

“If there isn’t an overarching energy that promotes discovery and learning, it can be very off-putting,” he says. “But if you create an environment that is inviting, people are going to feel comfortable taking that journey with you.”

To combat the coffee culture stigma, Fulton and his partner Ann Travers Fortune are opening Sophomore Coffee—a welcoming shop inside the shared space that Clavel co-owner Lane Harlan is developing in Old Goucher. The property will also house Harlan’s outdoor beer garden concept and a neighborhood food counter and grocery store.

Though he’s racked up more than a decade of experience working for roasteries across the country, the new space will be the first that Fulton can call his own. The Anne Arundel County native got his start in the industry at Annapolis landmark City Dock Coffee and later moved to Baltimore where he became one of the founders of Charmington’s, along with Travers, in Remington in 2010.

His post at the now-closed Lamill Coffee inside the Four Seasons Baltimore spawned a new opportunity for him to work for the company in Los Angeles, and most recently, Fulton headed up education and training efforts for Brooklyn-based Toby’s Estate Coffee in New York. Ultimately, after four years abroad, the pull of Baltimore beckoned him home.

“Baltimore shaped who I am in a lot of ways,” he says. “I always knew I wanted to come back here. And when I did, it was pretty noticeable that the whole city structure had shifted a bit. Places like R. House and Clavel had opened up—there was just so much that had happened.”

Expected to join the city’s robust food scene this fall, Sophomore Coffee will feature a seasonal program with blends from Toby’s Estate—including a single-origin house drip, espresso drinks, and flash-brew options. The starting menu will be small, and perhaps most notably, it will lack terms like “cappuccino,” “latte,” or “macchiato.”

“We want to educate people in a simplified way,” Fulton says. “And we want to explain that if you’re getting a larger espresso milk beverage, you’re actually getting more milk and not as much coffee. These are all interactions I’ve had in the past that can very easily spark a pretentious vibe, especially if you’re talking to someone who is saying, ‘a macchiato is this or a cappuccino is that.’ It creates a tension that doesn’t really need to be there.”

In keeping with the inclusive feel, Fulton is using smaller, low-profile pieces of equipment behind the counter, ensuring that customers are able to communicate and ask questions about their drinks without feeling like the machines create a barrier.

“We’re going to try our best to shed light on the fact that some coffee beans might be more expensive because of the work put into creating them,” Fulton says. “But we’re also going to work with coffees that are approachable, and offer flavor profiles that aren’t so hard to wrap your head around or aren’t so different than what you expect coffee to taste like.”

The interior, designed by Travers, will also reflect the owners’ mantra with soft shades of yellow and pink, high-top bar seating with built-in power outlets, an L-shaped area for meetings and gatherings, and a mobile accent wall that also works as a sliding gate for the back entrance. Fulton says he is especially excited about the property’s shared courtyard, which will be accessible to coffee patrons during the day and transition into Harlan’s beer garden at night.

Though the space won’t debut to the public until the end of the summer, Fulton and Travers have been giving locals a taste of their offerings at a recurring pop-up at Hunting Ground in Hampden—which returns for one last installment this Saturday, June 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. He says that he’s enjoyed having a personal interaction with patrons, and is looking forward to meeting regular customers at Sophomore Coffee—cleverly named after he and Travers’ second venture in the business, the first being Charmington’s.

“I’ve always thought the coffee could be a regular luxury item,” he says. “It’s something you have that is really made with care from the best ingredients. I’ve always made the joke that the coffee P. Diddy can drink, I can drink, too. You can’t say that about a lot of other things that P. Diddy has. It’s a sensible luxury.”

Looking for a simple way to elevate your wardrobe? The tassel is this season’s go-to embellishment, effortlessly taking any outfit from bleak to chic. Long gone are the days of only seeing tassels on graduation caps or your grandmother’s curtains. This fun fashion add-on is hanging—literally—on everything from handbags and apparel to jewelry and footwear.

1. Izola One For All/All For One pocket knife ($21) at Trohv. 2. Yellow, vintage, made-in-the-USA bandanna ($10) at Hunting Ground. Dyer and Jenkins Shelter Spray ($22) at Trohv. 3. Now Designs Adventure Awaits thermos ($28) at Trohv. 4. Pocket Guide to Animals/Tracks with Andy Diamond ($12.95) at REI. 5. REI Backpacker Weekend first-aid kit ($24.50) at REI. 6. Patagonia Arbor Pack 26L backpack ($99) at REI. 7. Now Designs Adventure Awaits pencil tin ($18) at Becket Hitch. 8. Kind bar ($1.99) at Whole Foods Market. 9. Chronicle Books Thoreau cards ($14.95) at Trohv. 10. Brainstorm Appalachian Trail print ($47) at Trohv. 11. Sunnylife Classic LED lantern ($30) at Becket Hitch. 12. Nikon Nikkormat 35mm camera ($125) at Charlotte Elliott.

The holidays are stressful. Between cooking, cleaning, and shopping, finding the time to pick out the perfect party look can be tricky. Whether you’re attending a family brunch or a fancy office fete, we’ve got you covered with an outfit for each occasion.

Friend Function

Metallic sweater with black trim ($22) at Hunting Ground.

Blank NYC dark denim jeans ($88) at South Moon Under.

Black lucite dangle earrings ($13) at Go-Go’s Retread Threads.

Chinese Laundry black pumps ($79.95) at South Moon Under.

Dinner Date

Ark & Co. romper ($64) at Brightside Boutique.

Gold and silver dolphin brooch ($42) at Go-Go’s Retread Threads.

Circus by Sam Edelman bond black leather boots ($98) at Poppy and Stella.

Family Feast

Everly wine dress ($38) at Sweet Elizabeth Jane.

Beaded collar ($28) at Go-Go’s Retread Threads.

Gold lamé clutch ($22) at Bottle of Bread.

Restricted New Day booties in olive ($75) at Poppy and Stella.

Festive Formal

Laser panel dress ($88) at Hunting Ground.

Sybil metallic clutch ($38) at Poppy and Stella.

Chinese Laundry burgundy pumps ($79.95) at South Moon Under.

Fashion trends are constantly evolving, but they’re also greatly inspired by the past. We take a look back at some classic style icons to reinvent their effortless looks with items from a few of our favorite local stores.

>> Icon: Blondie
Album: Eat to the Beat ($6.65) at El Suprimo Records.

Have we ever really gotten over the power of a good leather jacket, sunglasses, and a red lip? Blondie’s eternally cool style was ahead of its time and is still very relevant in today’s fashion scene. Time to invest in these edgy essentials, because no closet is complete without them. Blank NYC Private Practice jacket ($98) at Brightside Boutique. Kitti sunglasses ($40) at Blushing Gypsy.

<< Icon: Jimi Hendrix
Album: Miami Pop Festival ($19.99) at The Sound Garden.

It’s been a while since the days of psychedelic prints and Western hats, but this fall, they’re having another fashion moment. Nearly 45 years after his untimely death, Jimi Hendrix’s eclectic style of scarves, pattern mixing, and a few undone buttons is back and better than ever. Walnut 2204 Weekender hat ($229) at Hats in the Belfry. Purple silk paisley pocket square ($50) at Christopher Schafer Clothier.

<< Icon: The Beatles
Album: Beatles for Sale ($17.99) at The Sound Garden.

As classic as they come, The Beatles donned their clean-cut look in perfectly tailored suits and so-called Beatles boots throughout the 1960s. Today, we are still loving trim suits, crisp button-downs, and skinny ties. Frank Leonard white button-down ($155) at Samuel Parker Clothier. Lifetime Alex tie ($32) at Hunting Ground.

1. Peter Millar shirt ($115) at Loafers & Laces. 
2. Joseph Cheaney & Sons Pitlochry shoes ($470) at Loafers & Laces. 
3. Turnbull & Asser polka-dot tie ($185) at Samuel Parker Clothier. 
4. Martin Dingman braided belt ($140) at J.S. Edwards. 
5. Hardwood razor and stand ($79) at Hunting Ground. 
6. The Ambitious Outsider glasses ($115) at Sixteen Tons. 
7. Edward Armah boutonnière ($35) at J.S. Edwards. 
8. Robert Graham socks ($27.50) at J.S. Edwards. 
9. Shoe brush ($26) at Trohv. 
10. Grant’s Golden Brand pomade ($25) at Sixteen Tons. 
11. Round stuffer ($30) at J.S. Edwards. 
12. J. Fold slim wallet ($65) at J.S. Edwards. 
13. Flask ($29) at Trohv.

The fluffy stuff falling from the sky isn’t the only white we fear
during the winter. Many of us are still baffled by the rules of how—or
if!—one should wear white after summer.

Jenna Hattenburg, co-owner of Hampden’s Hunting Ground, assures us
that wearing white is acceptable and that the look is easy to pull off.
Her suggestion: Be bold with texture. “Save the linen and seersucker for
summer,” she says. “And instead, go for chunky knits, wool, leather,
and silk.”

Although black-and-white color blocking is a classic look, Sima Blue,
owner of Lutherville’s Trillium, prefers to mix and match other
neutrals—think caramels, creams, beiges, chocolate browns, and even
leopard prints. “I love white pants and a beigey camel sweater,” says
Blue.

And it’s totally acceptable to apply this color choice to jewelry,
handbags, and even sunglasses throughout the winter. “It breaks up the
drab color this time of year of always black and brown,” Bree McNerney,
manager of Harbor East’s Handbags in the City, explains. “It’s a natural
color that brightens things up and makes things more cheery.”

Clockwise
from top left: Ted Baker Ohavia top ($195) at Trillium Ltd. Necklace
($36) at Sassanova. Pierrot Alessandro purse ($129) at South Moon Under.
Vintage ivory gloves ($52) at Hunting Ground. Urban Expressions natural
clutch ($34.99) at South Moon Under. Tom Ford Kit Astuccio Rigido
sunglasses ($440) at Handbags in the City. 7 For All Mankind velvet
skinny jeans ($178) at Trillium Ltd.