If you were looking for Arsh Mirmiran during the early 1990s around lunchtime, chances are he was at The Village Food Market at The Village of Cross Keys, eating a Reuben or fried chicken and western fries. Known as the Cross Keys Deli, it was a popular (and nearby) destination for Friends School of Baltimore students like him who were permitted to leave campus for lunch.

In fact, not just the deli but all of Cross Keys was a familiar spot for Mirmiran, today a partner with Caves Valley Partners, the Baltimore-based commercial development firm that has recently revitalized the iconic Baltimore location.

Growing up, he accompanied his parents to Cross Keys for shopping trips and more meals at the deli. His mother had her hair done by Howard at Carl Intercoiffurie, one of the original tenants. Later, after he and his wife, Lauren, moved to Homeland, Donna’s Cafe at Cross Keys was a frequent family meal spot with their young daughters.

“When I was younger, I didn’t have the big picture to understand that it felt like community,” says Mirmiran. “There was good stuff there, and we went. For me it was all about the deli.”

“Community” was the vision that Jim Rouse and The Rouse Company had when Rouse purchased the former 68-acre Baltimore Country Club golf course in 1961 to embark on a new concept: a multi-use complex with high-end retail, gathering spots, offices, and luxury condominiums. It was Rouse’s first, pre-Columbia planned community.

Rouse took the name “Cross Keys” from the 18th-century tavern that once welcomed travelers on the Falls Turnpike Road (now Falls Road). Located where the current CVS Pharmacy is on Falls Road, the inn burnt to the ground in 1909, but the two crossed keys of the original inn’s logo informed the new development’s own logo featuring three crossed keys.

The name was also inspired by Cross Keys Village, the free Black enclave on Falls Road, just north of Cold Spring Lane that dated to the mid-1800s. Most of the robust community had been razed around the time Rouse Co. was negotiating to buy the land for the Village of Cross Keys.

In his comprehensive history, Baltimore’s Two Cross Keys Villages, Jim Holechek writes, “To make room for the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute-Western High School complex and a highway entrance ramp, all Cross Keys homes on the west side of Falls were condemned and demolished in the fall of 1961.”

Then a resident of Roland Park, Rouse worked with the Roland Park community to gather buy-in for his low-density concept, hosting numerous in-home gatherings. When construction began on the residential section in September 1963, Rouse took his inspiration from Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.’s Roland Park plan, writes Holechek. “The directive from Rouse was to follow the land contours and not to remove trees except for a few in the footprints of the section of the development.”

When The Village of Cross Keys opened in 1965, it quickly became the place to be. And remained so for decades. Oprah Winfrey lived there during her WJZ TV days, and Gov. Harry Hughes and poet Ogden Nash called it home. (The latter wrote handwritten letters to Rouse complaining about his condo’s TV reception and the parking.)

Legendary jewelry designer Betty Cooke relocated her Mt. Vernon studio to Cross Keys, establishing the iconic The Store Ltd. alongside retailers like The Village Set sportswear store, Hess Shoes, and Octavia, the destination for elegant dresses. Stores shared walkways with Silber’s Bakery, Equitable Trust Co., Cross Keys Pharmacy, and Chappell Brothers food market. Professional offices, doctors, lawyers, RTK&L architects, the Phyllis Mollett Travel Agency, and the Rouse Co. headquarters rounded out the neighborhood hub Rouse envisioned.

The hotel on the property (not owned by Rouse) attracted athletes, celebrities, and high-end clientele. During the 1980s and early 1990s, The Village Roost, first owned by the Rouse Co. before becoming the coffee shop for the hotel at Cross Keys, attracted Baltimore’s movers and shakers for power breakfasts.

At the turn of the 21st century, though, Cross Keys’ shine began to wane. Mirmiran’s beloved Cross Keys Deli had already closed in 1994 when owners Irv Falk and Morris Tossman retired. In 2004, the Rouse Co. was acquired by Chicago-based General Growth Properties (GGP) in a $7.2-billion deal that included the assets of Cross Keys and high-profile Rouse properties like Harborplace and Boston’s Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

“Those were the Rouse assets they wanted,” Mirmiran says. GGP didn’t pay attention to the smaller, less flashy retail complex—and it showed. During the 2008 Great Recession, GGP went bankrupt and, in 2012, sold Cross Keys to another non-local owner, New York’s Ashkenazy Acquisitions Corporation. Mirmiran, coincidentally, had become a Cross Keys “regular” again, driving back and forth from his mother-in-law’s condo there.

Ashkenazy initially had plans to revamp the property, but they never materialized. Cross Keys languished as local retail competition ramped up after the 1991 renovation of Towson Town Center—with its flashy anchor, Nordstrom and the growth of other regional malls.

The fashionista destination for the area and Cross Keys staple, Ruth Shaw, left in 2017 for The Shops at Kenilworth. Donna’s shut its doors a year later. Online shopping was ascendent. At the time, Cross Keys retail occupancy was at 62 percent, with a mere 40 percent of the office space leased. With each trip through the Cross Keys’ gatehouse, Mirmiran saw more shuttered store fronts and vacant offices.

“Every time, I would think that what was happening at Cross Keys was a real shame,” he recalls.

Rosemary “Cookie” Schneider, owner and manager of The Pied Piper, has lived through Cross Keys’ ups and downs. Her mother, the late Kitty DeVincentis (“Mrs. D.” to customers), was a former Peck & Peck buyer who saw the need for an upscale children’s clothing shop in Baltimore. DeVincentis opened The Pied Piper in 1965 on Wyndhurst Avenue and was wooed by Rouse to relocate to Cross Keys in 1995.

“When we came to Cross Keys, it was almost like the Rodeo Drive of Baltimore,” Schneider recalls. “Immediately our business doubled.”

She remembers diplomats driving from Washington, D.C., to shop for their children. However, that dried up after the economic downturn in 2008 and the promised—but never delivered—improvements by out-of-state owners. “We languished, but we stayed,” she says. “My mother and I believed in Cross Keys.”

So did Mirmiran, who was exhausting his spouse with complaints about the center’s plight. “Finally my wife said to stop complaining and to do something about it,” says Mirmiran. He and his Caves Valley Partners, Arthur Adler and Steve Sibel, approached Ashkenazy.

“FINALLY MY WIFE SAID TO STOP COMPLAINING AND DO SOMETHING.”

“This was about nostalgia and commerce, but it had to make economic sense,” adds Mirmiran, who sent persistent emails to Ashkenazy. “Local ownership is important. We knew what it could be. It’s still an incredible location, but it was dated and just needed love for it to come back to life.”

By late 2019, Caves Valley and Ashkenazy were talking. Through the pandemic’s lockdown phase, they worked out the details of a sale that was finalized in July 2020. It excluded the on-site hotel, owned by Delta by Marriott, and the nearly 700 condos at Cross Keys. But Mirmiran finally had the keys to Cross Keys. He and his partners began a major overhaul.

First up was improving property access, signage, road configuration, and parking. Working with the The Cross Keys Maintenance Corp. that owns the Falls Road frontage, Caves Valley Partners funded the clean-up of the tree line along the road. The gatehouse got a needed facelift, with Caves Valley Partners officially naming it the “James Rouse Memorial Gatehouse” in 2022 to honor Rouse’s pioneering vision for mixed-use development.

“Originally the way it was designed was to look like a gated community,” Mirmiran explains. “But if you are looking to bring back the retail, you can’t have it look like a private community.”

Honoring the residents’ wishes to keep the gate arm for safety, they refurbished the gatehouse with a new brick façade, metal roof with a cupola, and better signage for non-residents.

Local architect Design Collective reimagined The Village Square retail and office area, replacing the original vertical planking, which had been damaged over the years, with natural cedar siding. Rouse’s red brick got a modern coat of white paint, and the outdoor lights, what Mirmiran called “1980s globes from Harborplace,” were replaced.

Designer Brian Swanson had developed a criteria package for the signage and storefront of the original Cross Keys in the late 1970s. At the time, he was part of a now-defunct global architectural firm that specialized in large shopping center complexes.

“I knew nothing about the Rouse Company,” says Swanson, who was working out of the firm’s South Africa office in Johannesburg. “But it was the ultimate project with its mixed use and courtyard landscaping—almost forcing the customer to walk around the perimeters against the storefronts.”

Swanson didn’t set foot on the property until 1980, when he moved to Baltimore. “I remember having lunch at The Roost, and it was so crowded,” says Swanson, who founded Swanson Design, a Baltimore-based firm specializing in retail and residential design. “Having worked on it remotely and then seeing it in person was quite an eye-opener.”

In 2020, Swanson saw the banner on Falls Road announcing redevelopment plans and immediately called Caves Valley Partners to share his history with Cross Keys. “Arsh called me back, which led to a meeting on-site with Design Collective architects and Arsh, who asked for my ideas,” says Swanson.

Much of the design work was already complete, but Mirmiran jumped at the chance to connect the old Cross Keys with the new. He hired Swanson to create the new retail signage standards (basically, a set of guidelines retailers adhere to when creating their own signs).

“The opportunity to bring Brian’s career full circle at the property led us to think about how we could incorporate his talents into the project,” Mirmiran says. “We feel like he made a major impact on the design of the retail space, even in his limited role.”

Swanson, who also envisioned the trellises that now surround the shopping perimeter, says that Rouse’s vision of a mixed-use property is as relevant today as it was 60 years ago.

“It’s the intimacy of it,” he explains. “Cross Keys has an esteemed sense of value to it. It’s looking spectacular.”

“IT WAS DATED AND JUST NEEDED LOVE FOR IT TO COME BACK TO LIFE.”

Part of Caves Valley Partners’ due diligence in the early days of the sale was meeting with current tenants as well as Rouse’s sons, Jimmy and Ted, and connecting with former Rouse Co. executives who were involved in Cross Keys.

“I did a whole tour of people who I knew had a history with the property to let them know that we were doing more of a refresh,” Mirmiran says. One of those tenants was Betty Cooke. “Betty was happy that we were keeping the flavor of Cross Keys.”

Before she died in August 2024 at the age of 100, Cooke shared with Mirmiran the original brochure for Cross Keys, displaying illustrations of the original tenants. Today, it’s blown up as wall art for an office hallway.

“The cool factor on the original brochures is through the roof,” Mirmiran says. “She also gave us a stack of old Baltimore Sun ads, which we put on Instagram.”

Under Caves Valley Partners’ stewardship, Cross Keys is nearly fully leased since the completion of close to $175 million in upgrades, renovations, and expansions. That includes a new luxury apartment complex, Sanctuary at Cross Keys, being built by Questar Properties.

“We never thought we would get to 100 percent office leasing, but people want to be here,” says Mirmiran.

It’s not just the offices that are full. Kiddie Calvert was an early arrival, bringing youthful exuberance and a stream of young parents. Foodies flock to new eateries like Nine Tailed Fox, Kneads bakery and coffee shop, and Always Ice Cream Company, located at the new standalone extension near the upper-level parking lot. Mexican restaurant Luna Oaxaca occupies Donna’s former spot overlooking the retail area, and the buzzy Cece’s Roland Park includes seasonal seating in the Village courtyard. Easy Like Sunday and ZaVino, an Italian market, round out the dining options.

When Sanctuary at Cross Keys opens this fall, the six-story complex will house 331 luxury rental apartments, a resort-quality pool, a pet-grooming salon, and 24/7 concierge service.

“It’s going to be a great asset to the community,” says Penny Lane, owner of Pilates House, which moved into Cross Keys last September.

When Lane was looking to expand her Pilates studio, she knew Cross Keys was right for her third location.

“There aren’t that many elevated shopping centers that have done a great job at curating their tenants in the way that Cross Keys has,” Lane says. “With more opportunities for shopping, browsing, and having lunch and coffee, Cross Keys has become more of a destination rather than just a drop-in, drop-out location,” she adds.

Schneider says her mother, “Mrs. D.,” who died in 2023, held hope until the end that Cross Keys would come back—it just needed someone who believed in it.

“Cross Keys needs specialty owners who bring quality merchandise and exemplary service,” Schneider explains. “That’s what Caves Valley is trying to sustain in Baltimore.”

Since the renovation, Schneider has seen an increase in foot traffic and use of the store’s playroom while families wait for lessons at the Baltimore School of Music or for dinner reservations. She knows online shopping isn’t going anywhere, but Schneider learned from the master—her mother.

“Retail is entertainment,” she reflects. “People want to touch it and see it.”

Ruth Shaw, Baltimore’s one-of-a-kind source for European-style designer brands, opened in Cross Keys in 1973. Ray Mitchener, who bought the boutique from Shaw with Brian Comes in 2008, remembers the early Cross Keys days. “It was the place to go and to be seen,” he says.

But, “In 2017, Cross Keys and our sales were dying,” Mitchener says. He and Comes made the hard decision to move to Kenilworth that year. When Cross Keys returned to local ownership, it didn’t take much to convince them to return to the store’s roots. Fittingly, Ruth Shaw, which reopened in Cross Keys in April 2025, took over the former Store Ltd. spot.

“In the 1970s and ’80s, Cross Keys was unique because it had so many female owners: Betty Cooke, Kitty DeVincentis, Octavia Dugan, and Ruth,” Mitchener notes. (Shaw died in 2024 at age 96.) He and Comes are excited that Cross Keys is, once again, a place where people can spend the whole day.

“There is no place like home,” says Comes. “Our window dressing for our re-opening referenced different quotes [about] home.”

He chuckles that their homecoming was something of a resurrection—literally. “Customers have come in since we returned who I assumed were dead because I hadn’t seen them in seven years!” he says.

Building out the complete community feel, Mirmiran contracted with Misty Valley Farms to have a farm stand in the parking lot opposite The Village Square. Now locals can get produce, fresh-cut seasonal flowers, and pick up CSA boxes there.

It fulfilled a dream co-owner Sally Fleischmann had since she visited Cross Keys post-COVID. “I loved the energy there,” she recalls. “Our Cross Keys customers are very loyal,”

Fleischmann continues. “It’s a unique shopping experience. People bring their pets to meet us and bring iced drinks to us on hot days. It’s a community where we take care of each other.”

For Caves Valley Partners, that community has always been the point.

“Cross Keys was part of Baltimore, and it had gone dark,” Mirmiran says with pride as he strolls past the shops and restaurants. “When I walk around Cross Keys, people thank me for bringing it back.”

This article first appeared in our May 2026 issue. If you connected with it, consider becoming a print subscriber. 

IN: Soft yellow.

OUT: Burgundy and camel of seasons past.

—Ray Mitchener, owner of Ruth Shaw

IN: Effortless, boho-inspired peasant blouse.

OUT: Teeny tiny going-out tops.

—Brittany Parry, owner of Match Made Boutique

IN: Simple sustainable skin care routine that you can keep up with.

OUT: A 20-step skin care routine you learned off of TikTok that costs most of your paycheck.

—Annie Demczak, @anniedemm

IN: Shopping small and vintage, and repeating outfits that you love.

OUT: Fast fashion and only wearing things once.

—Rachel Mulherin, jewelry designer

IN: Disposable cameras.

OUT: Capturing every moment on your phone with no real intention.

—Hilton Carter, plant and interior stylist and author

IN: Tried and true T-shirt dress.

OUT: Floral, flashy sundresses.

—Kalilah Wright, founder of Mess in a Bottle

IN: Nike Air Max shoes—95 or 97 will do.

OUT: Nike Dunks—they were cool until they weren’t.

—DDM, musician and rapper

IN: Home decor that lightens the mood.

OUT: Stuffy status tchotchkes.

—Julie Lilienfeld, owner of Wishbone Reserve

Raymond Mitchener wears sweatpants. This is hardly a huge scandal when it comes to most older gents. Except when it comes to the 66-year-old, perfectly coiffed Mitchener, the owner of Ruth Shaw—arguably the most luxurious women’s clothing boutique in Baltimore—it’s practically headline news. Though in fairness, the sweats are from Bergdorf Goodman.

And while Mitchener can sometimes be perceived as snobby or critical—conjure up that NYC salesperson at a chichi designer store to give you a sense of his reputation—the truth is more complicated.

“What many people don’t know is that I grew up in a trailer in the middle of a tobacco field in North Carolina,” says Mitchener. His father was stationed at Fort Bragg before Mitchener and his parents relocated to Wilmington, North Carolina. His childhood was far from fancy, but comfortable and filled with love. Even so, Mitchener learned that regardless of where you came from—at least in the South—“at the drop of the hat you’d get dressed to do anything,” including pumping gas or doing a grocery store run. “My mom always said you never know who you’re going to run into.” That attitude followed him to East Carolina University, where he studied theater, to New York, where he spent some time modeling, and finally to Baltimore, where he followed a boyfriend and ended up employed at Center Stage, back when it was on North Avenue.

Originally, he was working in the box office, but when it was discovered that he could sew, he was moved to the costume shop to make use of his talents with a needle and thread. (Mitchener was working there when arsonists set fire to the theater in January 1974 and the staff had to recreate all the costumes for the just-opened Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, which took up temporary residence at the College of Notre Dame.)

It was while working at Stewart’s Department Store that Mitchener began networking with the fashion heavies of Baltimore. Barbara McConaghy, fashion director at Saks Fifth Avenue, cast him in her shows and became an important mentor. “Everything you learn from me you pass on to someone else,” she told him at the time.

After leaving Center Stage, Mitchener continued to learn about the local fashion scene. He also worked at Hutzler’s and for a time with McConaghy at Saks. There was a healthy rivalry among the businesses and lots of ladies who lunched and shopped. Now, says Mitchener, the pain palpable in his voice, “There’s no competitive shopping.” There’s us, he says, “and then there’s . . . them.” Them being all the other women’s clothing boutiques in Baltimore that sell clothes but not the bold European designers Ruth Shaw carries, and certainly no one he would view as direct competition. “I know it sounds like we’re snarky, but we’re not,” he says, shaking his head. “I think now our society has become so permissive you can do anything and wear anything you want anywhere.” For Mitchener, that is not a celebration, it’s a lament.

“What many people don’t know is that I grew up in a trailer in the middle of a tobacco field.”

The need for high-end clothing shops, believes Mitchener, has taken a hit. He thinks back to his mom dressing for errands, and now he looks around on an evening out and no one dresses up anymore. In Ruth Shaw (the person), to whom he was first introduced by McConaghy in 1977, he found a kindred spirit, another person who always believed you should dress your best. Mitchener and Shaw met for dinner and talked for hours. “We didn’t really talk about business. Just ideas about fashion and politics,” Mitchener recalls. Shaw made it clear she wanted to hire him away from Stewart’s. “And that was it.”

Shaw was equally smitten—and still is—with Mitchener. “At that time no one had ever hired a man to do that kind of work,” says Shaw, now 91. But Shaw was never one to follow protocol. “It was never a problem—the fact that I had a woman’s store and he was not a woman. All the ladies loved him. I just felt comfortable with Ray—and I was right about it.”

In the 42 years that he has worked at what has become a clothing institution, a reputation has formed around Mitchener, and not always a flattering one. His husband, Brian Comes, co-owner of Ruth Shaw and the money side of the business, finds it ridiculous. The people who only know Mitchener as this caricature of an unapproachable salesperson don’t know “what a really genuinely kind, generous, and forgiving person he is,” says Comes. “There’s this image that he’s a snoot. There’s an image that he’s intimidating. It couldn’t be any further from fact. He’ll do anything for anyone within his abilities.” On some level, explains Comes, Mitchener could not care less about fashion. His relationship to people through clothes is what matters.

It’s hard to picture Mitchener, who wore a Thom Brown damask jacket and shorts with Jimmy Choo shoes to his 2013 wedding and has a personal shopper at Bergdorf’s, not caring about his own fashion, but he admits that he dons a pair of sweats after work. “The moment I go home, that’s exactly what I put on,” Mitchener says. Comes laughs, “It’s always very easy at Christmas to buy for him, because it’s always time to replenish.” It’s almost as if, in the comfort of his own home, he’s able to shed the fashion guru costume, and all the responsibility and image that comes with it, and just be a relaxed version of himself in front of Comes.

This August marks 22 years of the two being together, six of those married. “The year 2013 was the first year we could actually legally get married,” says Mitchener. What they thought would be a handful of guests exceeded 45 and packed their Cross Keys home. The two fit together like pieces to a puzzle—not an obvious match at first—but perfect counterparts upon closer inspection, with Comes sometimes working the shop floor alongside Mitchener and always making sure he’s had lunch. And most amusingly, Comes, who is about the same size and stature as his husband, is the couple’s fit model when it comes to their own wardrobe. “He hates to try things on,” says Comes. “He makes me try them on.” Mitchener grins. “I’m a 5-year-old.” With the exception of pants, due to different inseams, they share everything—shoes, tops, jackets.

Despite his sometimes blasé attitude toward his own fashion, Mitchener understands that when a woman walks through the door of this shop she wants to experience a moment of bliss as she slips something over her head that is beautiful and transformative. “I had a girl one day say, ‘I can’t afford any of these prices. I just want to try on pretty clothes.’” So they put her in a dressing room and let her do just that. “There is such a thing as retail therapy,” he says. It’s almost as though he’s undergone that sensation so many times with his own clients, he gets little pleasure from it for himself.

“I think now our society has become so permissive you can do anything and wear anything.”

What does bring him pleasure is his clients, who have become his family. He has dressed generations and tells stories, but in a very “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” sort of way. He tells his staff it’s doctor-patient confidentiality, the curtain of the dressing room often acting as a confessional.

Even his customers—with their platinum credit cards and staff back at home—have their limits. Mitchener remembers one woman who paused in the middle of a transaction. “How much is that shirt?” she inquired. “$500? Take it off—even a train has got to stop once in a while.” He laughs.

What sets the Ruth Shaw shopper apart in a town like Baltimore, unlike, say, New York, is that those women who are dressed, like really dressed, are pretty rare. “It is easier to stand out here,” says Comes. “But that’s a blessing and a curse.” They almost get defeated, he says. It’s as if they have to apologize for caring about clothing. One client told him, “I just get so tired explaining why I look ‘nice.’ This is just how I look.”

Mitchener tells the story of taking a design rep out to dinner in Baltimore one night. They ordered wine and perused the menu, but she was unusually quiet. She finally said to him, “Ray, how do you stay in business? It’s Saturday night at 8 p.m. and people are in shorts and flip-flops. They look like they are going to wash my car.”

He sighs. As much as he’d like to, he can’t dress all of Baltimore. “Look,” he says, tapping the table. “I want to see people wear clothes that I want—not what they’re asking for,” he says, using leggings as an example. “Ruth used to say back in the day that if she had sold polyester pull-on pants she could have made a fortune. But she said, ‘I don’t want to see people wearing that.’” Shaw opened her store and filled it with what she wanted to wear. “Everyone finds their little niche. And whether that’s right or wrong, that’s just where you are,” she told him. He’s kept that general idea since he bought her out in 2008. Like a Chanel suit, the store has aged well, with a few adjustments. After more than four decades at The Village of Cross Keys shopping center, Mitchener moved the store to The Shops at Kenilworth for a fresh start in the fall of 2017.

Mitchener’s customers have followed. They tend to be smart, sophisticated, and loyal, with a heathy budget and an appreciation that fashion is art.

His customers tend to be smart, sophisticated, and loyal, with a healthy budget.

The move from Cross Keys has given the store a facelift and drawn in some new, younger customers. Tobi Thompson Chiampou is part of Mitchener’s plan to attract that next generation. Chiampou began working for Mitchener when he had just purchased the business from Shaw and she was earning her undergraduate degree. She started there part-time and is now the store manager and assistant buyer. Her effervescent personality is the perfect counter to Mitchener’s perceived character. “We always ying and yang with that a bit,” she says. She was involved in the creation of Cross Keys’ The Girl Next Door, a sister boutique that Mitchener had envisioned with curated brands that appealed to a younger client (her husband, Charlie Chiampou, of cW Design/Build, was even the lead designer). However, when the store moved to Kenilworth, The Girl Next Door closed. “Now I like to say that The Girl Next Door moved in,” says Chiampou. The Ruth Shaw shop at Kenilworth is more mindful of those younger patrons. “We’re trying our best to be more approachable,” she says. “Not everyone wants to spend $1,000 on a dress.” She knows someone walking in that door is also paying off student loans or private school tuition. “We all have to prioritize.” Mitchener sees Chiampou as the future of his shop—just like Shaw saw him. “It’s something that is exciting but intimidating,” says Chiampou. “His apprenticeship with Ruth was a long ride. And I definitely see us in the early stages.” She’s learning the business side of the shop, which is important, but she’s also enjoying the fun side of fashion. “I’m in a huge floral swing dress right now,” she says on the phone, “And a pair of dirty white Converse.”

That’s what Mitchener loves about fashion. “If you think you look good, you’re going to look good,” he believes. “We evolve constantly. I could talk about clothes forever. I seriously find it totally fascinating—why we wear what we do and how it changes our lives.” Even sweatpants.

Transitioning between seasons can be tough on your closet, especially when the weather feels like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. We put together some outfit options featuring our favorite fall trends to ease you into autumn.

Weekend Wear
Layer a loose-knit sweater with a bomber jacket. Everyone looks cool in a bomber jacket. Rag & Bone bomber jacket ($650) at Ruth Shaw. Willow & Clay sweater ($84) at South Moon Under. AGOLDE Los Angeles high-rise skinny jeans ($158) at South Moon Under. Kate Spade Devoe Street Tinley bag, ($278) at Handbags in the City. Sam Edelman Leya leather slides ($100) at Sassanova.

SFW (Safe For Work)
Embroidery is huge this fall. We paired it with a textured bag and comfy flats. Tory Burch Sadie rug shoulder bag ($498) at Handbags in the City. Restricted Jazzie flat ($50) at Poppy & Stella. Tanya Taylor Caro embroidered dress ($550) at
Ruth Shaw.

Formal Affair
Midi-length dresses are great year-round. Add a fun accessory and you are ready for a night on the town. Azalea dress ($500) at Ruth Shaw. Patti black leather round-toe stilettos ($98) at Poppy & Stella. Milly Bite Me acrylic clutch multi OS ($295) at Sassanova.

After almost 45 years of serving the Baltimore community with the latest designer fashion, iconic women’s boutique Ruth Shaw will be saying goodbye to The Village of Cross Keys.

But not to fret—customers can still count on Ruth Shaw to supply the latest styles to hit the runway in their new space opening in The Shops at Kenilworth at the beginning of September. The shopping center, which is already home to several establishments like South Moon Under, Stebbins Anderson, About Faces Day Spa & Salon (and most recently a brand new Trader Joe’s), is currently undergoing a $20-million dollar expansion.

“It’s time for a facelift,” says Ray Mitchener, co-owner of Ruth Shaw. “I think it’s really important to be in an area where there is a lot of service and stores that compliment each other. You can now get your hair done, nails done, pick up something at Trader Joe’s, grab a bottle of wine, and still shop in the same place.”

That doesn’t mean Mitchener and his team won’t miss their original Cross Keys store. “I did a lot of my growing up here,” he says.”I came to work for Ruth in 1977 after I left Stewart’s department store and it’s such a beautiful space.” Mitchener eventually bought the store from Shaw and maintained the well-known reputation of bringing high fashion and quality customer service to its customers. 

In 2014, the team launched sister store The Girl Next Door after a successful holiday pop-up shop. The store, which carried more of the youthful, contemporary lines, will still have a presence in the Kenilworth store but won’t be its own separate entity. “We will be introducing some new designers in the store this fall that are less expensive,” says Mitchener. “We are hoping to captivate a new customer from the Towson area including some of the students at Towson University.”

The new 3,100-square-foot space is being designed by Jay Jenkins of Jenkins Baer, who was a perfect fit for Ruth Shaw’s aesthetic. “He just gets us,” says Mitchener. “He understands our look and the store is going to be beautiful. It’s going to be very modern, open, and airy.” The team at Ruth Shaw is excited to provide more of an experience for customers—offering glasses of wine, cappuccino, and espresso while they shop. 

“It will just be great to meet new people,” he says. “I always tell people we are captive here from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., whether we want to be or not, so you guys are our entertainment.” 

In the never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of jeans, knowledge is power. So we put together a shopping guide full of tips and tricks for finding our favorite fall denim styles.

Skinny

Skinny jeans are the perfect year-round style. No matter if they are tucked into boots, worn with flats or sandals, or dressed up with heels, they are a pivotal staple in any wardrobe. This style of denim can be worn two different ways. If you prefer them to just hit the ankle, look for styles with a shorter inseam; if you like the bunched look at the ankle, search for a longer inseam.

>> Shopping Suggestion: Everyone is built differently. With so many variations of the skinny jean, make sure to try different styles and take note of the percentage of spandex used if you prefer a tighter, more legging-like style. Rag & Bone 10-inch skinny jeans ($195) at The Girl Next Door.

Straight Leg

Arguably the most versatile fit of jeans, the straight leg looks good on pretty much everyone and paired with pretty much anything. Known for being the more approachable friend of the skinny jean, straight leg denim doesn’t taper completely to the ankle, but is still slimmer at the bottom and looks great with any shoe. We love the mid or higher rise straight legs because of their leg-lengthening effect and slimming waistband.

>> Shopping Suggestion: Look for straight leg denim that is more fitted in the knees and follows the silhouette of your calves, leaving more room in the ankle. Paige Skyline Straight mid-rise straight leg jeans ($178) at Jean Pool.

Flare

This semi-intimidating denim trend, which originated in the ’70s, seems to drift in and out of fashion (its most recent resurgence was last fall). Well, here we go again, because flares are back in a big way this autumn. Best when fitted through the hips and thighs with a pronounced break in the knee, they look great paired with boho tops, romantic blouses, and chunky sweaters.

>> Shopping Suggestion: The most important thing to remember when shopping for flares is that they require extra length. The widest part of the jean should hit the floor—dust off those platforms!—not your ankle. Frame Denim Le High Flare jeans ($215) at Ruth Shaw.

Splurge

Watch: A well-designed, quality timepiece is a lifetime accessory staple. Marc by Marc Jacobs rose gold and taupe watch ($195) at Handbags in the City.

Classic Heel: Day to night, or weekend to workday, a classic pump is always appropriate. Gianvito Rossi red pumps ($695) at Ruth Shaw.

Jumpsuit: Even though jumpsuits are on the trendier side of things, fit is everything. It’s okay to spend a little extra if it fits like a glove. Mo:Vint Palm Leaf jumpsuit ($112.95) at Doubledutch Boutique.

Jeans: Denim never goes out of style, especially a dark wash that you can pair with anything in your closet. Paige Jimmy “Jimmy” skinny boyfriend jean ($200) at Jean Pool.

Undergarments: Again fit is everything, and well fitting undergarments will help to guarantee everything else looks good while adding a boost of confidence. Mimi Holliday Bisou Bisou Sugar bra ($110) at Polina’s Privé.

Blazer: Perfect over dresses or paired with jeans for a polished look. Helmut Lang ivory oversized silk blazer ($795) at Ruth Shaw.

Save

Slip-Ons: Your everyday summertime shoes endure all the elements and are typically replaced seasonally. DV black and white Deidre slip-ons (19.99) at Target.

Statement Necklace: Save your money for a classic diamond or pearls. When it comes to bigger pieces grab a fun costume piece for cheap. Sticks N Stones necklace ($28) at Punch!.

Hat: Taking a shot at this trend? Opt for a less expensive option to test the waters. Who What Wear straw hat ($14.99) at Target.

Printed Pant: Prints tend to change seasonally. Save your pennies. BCBG Generation blue multi print pant ($78) at South Moon Under.

Denim Shirt: While denim is classic, there are so many less expensive options of this style that will serve you as well as the pricier options. Merona denim tunic ($27.99) at Target.

Crop Top: Definitely save on this piece. After all, it’s only half of a shirt. Sady & Lu red crop top ($29.50) at South Moon Under.

Keep it simple

Condense your wardrobe! Instead of bogging down your closet with clutter, minimize it by cutting out pieces you don’t need or never wear. (Standard rule: If you haven’t worn it in a year, say bye-bye.) It will make your morning routine easier and laundry loads lighter. Once you purge, build it back up with basic neutrals and a handful of versatile special pieces. If nothing else, just be yourself. “I always think it’s great for someone to put their own stamp or twist on things,” says Ray Mitchener, the owner of Ruth Shaw and The Girl Next Door.

In neutral

Get ready to fall in love with fashion again. Trends like Normcore (a way of dressing that puts the emphasis on average, everyday pieces), homeless chic (think Kanye West), and athleisure will head out of the mainstream. Mitchener says bare shoulders, ruffles, and crisp whites are great ways to update your look, too. Keep an eye out for a new wave of denim, as well. “Denim is going to be a big trend in dresses, shirts, and jackets, as opposed to just jeans,” Mitchener says. And because gender fluidity is making waves, expect to see guys and gals rocking similar, gender-neutral styles.

Colors and prints aplenty

“This spring, expect to see pops of unexpected bright colors and even monochromatic looks,” says Thea Washington, a wardrobe stylist. Intimidated by color? Black is always in. It’s chic, flatters every frame, and is a subtle way to make a statement, Washington says. Punchy patterns, like florals and blue- and-white stripes, also will make their way onto blouses, blazers, and dresses this season. Mixing prints is still on-trend, so don’t be scared to pair your favorite printed pieces together for a fun and unique look.

Menswear reinvented

With the changing times, it’s no surprise that menswear is on a progressive path, too. Dudes, go ahead and mix and match those patterns and textures with reckless abandon—but make sure the fit is flawless. Tailoring, a must no matter the trend, will turn toward sleeker and slimmer-fitting shapes this season. “We are seeing a movement toward health consciousness, and it’s a full package,” says designer David Hart. “Men want to feel great and look great.”

Summer’s bright and lively color palette is a thing of the past. Time to fill your wardrobe and home with the rich jewel tones of fall. Not only do these hues look good on everyone, they instantly add a feeling of warmth and luxury to an outfit (or room).

It’s that time of year when everything outside seems to be coming to life again. But what about your closet? Does it still have the winter blues? Easily brighten up your wardrobe by accessorizing with vibrant pops of color paired with textured materials. It’ll give your closet a fun and fresh feel.

1. Wood ring ($88) at Jones and Jones. 2. Charles by Charles David Abacus leather wedges ($150) at The Little Shoebox. 3. Shaw Lux Shaw-London scarf ($148) at Trillium. 4. Kate Spade metallic Markey sandals ($175) at The Little Shoebox. 5. Parcel and Journey beaded cuff bracelet ($70) at Jean Pool. 6. Prada sunglasses ($285) at Handbags in the City. 7. White cork wallet ($78) at The Little Shoebox. 8. Pink wooden block ring ($14) at Poppy and Stella. 9. Natural hat ($55) at Ruth Shaw. 10. Turquoise earrings ($145) at Jones and Jones. 11. Oriley beige and navy paisley perforated ankle booties ($210) at Poppy and Stella. 12. The Birds & the Beads multi-color beaded bracelets with skulls ($45) at Jean Pool.

Within months of launching their jewelry-making business, Baltimore
born-and-raised sisters Jill Becker, left, and Jenny Benscher, right,
have already expanded it across the country.

Lema J Design is a
line of bracelets (mostly cuffs)—sold locally in stores like Treasure
House Accessories, Alice Jane, and Ruth Shaw, and stores in California,
New York, and Florida—made from shagreen leather (aka stingray skin).

“I
love the texture, pattern, and inherent beauty,” says Benscher, who
handcrafts the jewelry in her Orlando, FL, home studio, of the unique
material. Lema J Design is unique in its story, too. Becker (who splits
time between Baltimore and Florida) lost her daughter, Cara, to leukemia
in 2012.

Shortly after, Benscher made her sister an orange cuff
emblazoned with a protective eye. “I wanted her to know and feel that I
was always with her,” Benscher says.

After many people
complimented Becker’s one-of-a-kind bracelet, the two partnered as
vendors at a fundraiser. Their stock sold out in three hours, prompting
them to start a business.

Since then, the collection has grown to
offer various styles priced from $88 to $660, with a portion of all
proceeds benefitting the Karma for Cara Foundation, founded by Cara
shortly before her death. Each bracelet is marked with a signature red
dot.

“It represents the holes in our lives that we fill with love, empowerment, motion, and adventure,” Becker says.