Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.
We could ask her advice on the best times to visit the Barnes or the Liberty Bell, but today, we've tasked Philly tourism expert Caroline Bean with something a little more...extracurricular. Here, the Social Media Director at the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC)—the folks behind those With Love, Philadelphia XOXO billboards—takes us on a fantasy Philly shopping spree, sharing where to splurge on everything from designer apparel to custom-made bicycles.
Shop for fashions by the likes of Peter Som and Stella McCartney at Adresse, which also features accessories, formal wear, and home accents. It’s the only shop in town that sells The Row, Proenza Schouler, and Bouchra Jarrar. Make an appointment for a personalized shopping experience.
If rock-and-roll is more your style, head to Fishtown’s DiPinto Guitars, a showroom for (sometimes bizarre) vintage guitars, as well as owner Chris DiPinto’s own creations. You’d be the company of musicians like The White Stripes’ Jack White, who swear by DiPinto.
Here, you can seek out the latest designs from Ann Demeulemeester, Balenciaga, and Y-3. A helpful sales staff and onsite tailoring ensure that you’ll leave this fashion-forward boutique with knock-out outfits.
If your home is just not complete without Ted Muehling candlesticks, you can find them at Egan Day, a simple yet luxurious jewelry shop housed in the parlor floor of a Civil War-era townhouse.
A private factory in Naples, Italy fashions many of the suits that dwell in this gentlemanly shop, a Philadelphia tradition since 1983. Distante’s in-house tailors gladly and expertly perform alterations and adjustments on pieces purchased elsewhere and have become known for their same-day turnaround—not to mention their ability to reproduce favorite pieces, seam for seam and button for button. Pssst...it’s by appointment only.
No fine shopping spree in Philadelphia would be complete without a trip to Boyds. For the greater part of its more-than-75 years, the polished tiers of this Rittenhouse Square family business catered to men and only men, with a battalion of salesmen and dozens of tailors known for their take-charge, can-do philosophy. Today, there’s an equally polished women’s department, but men still rule via power suits, shoes, and refined sportswear from vaunted labels such as Trussini, Brioni, Armani Collezioni, Canali, Hickey Freeman, Etro, Prada, Ferragamo, Paul Smith, Montcler and Lanvin.
Stylish, museum-quality jewelry created by internationally-known local artist Steven Lagos fill this gem of a boutique on Walnut Street. The perfect souvenir? A Hear t of Philadelphia necklace inspired by iconic Philadelphia architecture.
Build your art collection at the Snyderman-Works Gallery, where you can find contemporary studio crafts representing selected artists working in figurative, narrative and functional ceramics, glass, jewelry, fiber, and wood. Don’t skip the stunning collection of custom jewelry in the lower gallery.
Whether you want a cruiser to tool around town or need a super slick cross bike, head to Bilenkey Cycle Works in North Philadelphia for a completely custom, hand-crafted bicycle.
Shop for fashions by the likes of Peter Som and Stella McCartney at Adresse, which also features accessories, formal wear, and home accents. It’s the only shop in town that sells The Row, Proenza Schouler, and Bouchra Jarrar. Make an appointment for a personalized shopping experience.
If rock-and-roll is more your style, head to Fishtown’s DiPinto Guitars, a showroom for (sometimes bizarre) vintage guitars, as well as owner Chris DiPinto’s own creations. You’d be the company of musicians like The White Stripes’ Jack White, who swear by DiPinto.
Here, you can seek out the latest designs from Ann Demeulemeester, Balenciaga, and Y-3. A helpful sales staff and onsite tailoring ensure that you’ll leave this fashion-forward boutique with knock-out outfits.
If your home is just not complete without Ted Muehling candlesticks, you can find them at Egan Day, a simple yet luxurious jewelry shop housed in the parlor floor of a Civil War-era townhouse.
A private factory in Naples, Italy fashions many of the suits that dwell in this gentlemanly shop, a Philadelphia tradition since 1983. Distante’s in-house tailors gladly and expertly perform alterations and adjustments on pieces purchased elsewhere and have become known for their same-day turnaround—not to mention their ability to reproduce favorite pieces, seam for seam and button for button. Pssst...it’s by appointment only.
No fine shopping spree in Philadelphia would be complete without a trip to Boyds. For the greater part of its more-than-75 years, the polished tiers of this Rittenhouse Square family business catered to men and only men, with a battalion of salesmen and dozens of tailors known for their take-charge, can-do philosophy. Today, there’s an equally polished women’s department, but men still rule via power suits, shoes, and refined sportswear from vaunted labels such as Trussini, Brioni, Armani Collezioni, Canali, Hickey Freeman, Etro, Prada, Ferragamo, Paul Smith, Montcler and Lanvin.
Stylish, museum-quality jewelry created by internationally-known local artist Steven Lagos fill this gem of a boutique on Walnut Street. The perfect souvenir? A Hear t of Philadelphia necklace inspired by iconic Philadelphia architecture.
Build your art collection at the Snyderman-Works Gallery, where you can find contemporary studio crafts representing selected artists working in figurative, narrative and functional ceramics, glass, jewelry, fiber, and wood. Don’t skip the stunning collection of custom jewelry in the lower gallery.
Whether you want a cruiser to tool around town or need a super slick cross bike, head to Bilenkey Cycle Works in North Philadelphia for a completely custom, hand-crafted bicycle.
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45355868/2013_01-adresse-philadelphia.0.JPG)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62450810/2013_01_adresse-philadelphia_6.0.0.jpeg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62450811/2013_01_Germain-violins-philly.0.0.png)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62450812/2013_01_dipinto-guitar.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62450813/2013_01_joan-shepp.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62450814/2013_01_egan-day-storefront.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62450815/2013_01_distante-bowties.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62450816/BOYDS_20Mens_20belts_20shoes.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62450817/2013_01_heart-of-phila-lagos.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62450818/2013_01_snyderman-jewelry.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62450819/2013_01_bilenky-bike.0.0.jpg)