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.

For those outside the Midwest, Kansas City has a pretty indistinguishable reputation; in most people's minds, it's a flyover state, if it's anything at all. But the rest of the country would be wise to pay attention, because Kansas City has some serious style.

The City of Fountains is made up of distinct districts that reach from the River Market (located on the Missouri River) to the Country Club Plaza, an outdoor shopping space with architecture modeled after Seville, Spain; there's also the more industrial West and East Bottoms. Each neighborhood has its own character reflected in the eclectic mix of boutiques, shops, and general stores scattered throughout.

Here, we've put together a guide that shows off the best stores "Paris of the Plains" has to offer, from homegrown denim brands to vintage emporiums and design stores. Put it to use next time you decide to stay over, instead of just flying over.