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Photo: Whitney Mitchell

Where to Shop in New Orleans

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New Orleans has long been home to some of the world's best restaurants, art galleries, and music venues, but over the past couple of years, the city has (somewhat surprisingly) become a prime shopping destination, too — if you know where to look.

Steer clear of Bourbon Street and leave the cheesy Mardi Gras beads and trinkets in the souvenir shops. Instead, head to the French Quarter's new crop of indie boutiques; the area's "old world" feel means these stores are just as jaw-droppingly beautiful on the outside as the local goods are within.

There you'll find every local vintage shopper's best-kept secret, Bambi DeVille, the best spot to shop affordable dresses and jewelry from the 1920s through the ‘50s. Just a few doors down is the hometown flagship for New Orleans native Stirling Barrett's cool sunglass brand, Krewe du Optic, where you can cool off with a cold brew in the shop's courtyard after picking up some handmade eyewear.

But the shopping doesn't end at the French Quarter. Don't leave before checking out the rest of the retail scene Crescent City has to offer, from the bohemian-inspired Stone Free in the Central Business District to accessories and homeware hotspot Neon Heart Uptown, and the trio of great stores all located right next to the new Ace Hotel. There's also a cluster of stores in the Lower Garden District that has something for both minimalist and maximalist shoppers.—Nia Porter

This story was originally published on September 6th, 2016. Additional reporting has been contributed by Ellen Kincaid.

For more on fashion and shopping in New Orleans, see our guide.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Krewe du Optic

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New Orleans native Stirling Barrett is already making a name for himself in the fashion world with his three-year-old eyewear brand Krewe du Optic. The company opened its flagship store on Royal Street in the French Quarter next to some of the city’s most vibrant art and photo galleries. Here, you’ll find Krewe’s curated selection of colorful, handmade eyewear served alongside a dose of New Orleans hospitality — a built-in coffee bar, a reading room, and complimentary access to the shaded courtyard.
Photo: Whitney Mitchell

United Apparel Liquidators

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United Apparel Liquidators has locations in Texas, Tennessee, and Mississippi, but the New Orleans outpost has a stellar selection of legit fashion at unbelievably low prices. All of the items within are purchased from brands with an excess in inventory — it’s where the locals go to get Gucci, Jacquemus, and Alexander Wang. You’ll also find expensive brands like Rosie Assoulin and Zimmermann here for around $100 to $300.
Photo: Whitney Mitchell

Neon Heart

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Located in New Orleans’ Uptown neighborhood, Neon Heart is a women’s and men’s boutique that carries a host of small brands you’ve probably never heard of, like jewelry lines Heathcock and Hunt + Moon. Husband and wife duo Chris and Ali have curated a perfect selection of eyewear, swimwear, and apothecary goods from brands like Malin + Goetz, Obeah NYC, and Minnow Bathers.
Photo: Whitney Mitchell

Defend New Orleans

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In addition to carrying local brands like Smoke (an artisan perfume and candle company), locally-made 'zines, and other Louisiana brands such as Pottery by Osa, T-shirt and hat maker Defend New Orleans hosts frequent pop-ups and collaborations and donates a portion of proceeds to community initiatives. There's a second location in the Garden District, but the downtown outpost, housed under the Ace Hotel roof, brings you right next to other cool shops like Friend and Freda.
Photo: Defend New Orleans

Bambi Deville's Vintage Clothing

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Walking into Bambi Deville's Vintage is an experience even seasoned vintage shoppers won’t be quite prepared for. Not only is its location like a secret hideaway from the French Quarter hotspots, but the interior and vintage selection are truly impressive: We’re talking gauzy gowns and pastel slip dresses, furs, silk blouses, and pants from the ‘20s and ‘50s showcased in a shotgun-style home that seems like it was frozen in time. (And as an added bonus, the prices aren’t crazy high, either.)
Photo: Whitney Mitchell

Re: Fresh

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Streetwear-inspired labels like Born x Raised can be found alongside high-fashion menswear clothing from Hood By Air and John Elliott at Re:Fresh. You’ll often find cool New Orleans skate kids hanging out front, and if you’re lucky, you could run into a rapper stopping in for a quick pre-show shopping session.
Photo: Whitney Mitchell
Friend is located in the Warehouse District, right next door to the Ace Hotel, and carries a variety of resort-inspired styles (like lightweight Hawaiian-inspired shirts and shorts) that are perfect for New Orleans’ tropical temps. Check out the shop’s collaborations with local artists and makers while you’re there, and don’t forget to take a peek at the amazing record and piano console — piano playing is encouraged.
Photo: Whitney Mitchell

Stonefree

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If you like Free People and Anthropologie, you’ll love Stonefree. The shop is situated in the heart of the Central Business District next to some of the city’s new, hip restaurants (John Besh’s Willa Jean is a few doors down). The clothing and accessories here are a little on the bohemian side, but you can find everything from Flynn Skye dresses to Blue Life bikinis.
Photo: Whitney Mitchell

Tchoup Industries, DVRA, Disko Obscura

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Three separate New Orleans-based brands share the space at 1113 St. Mary Street in the Lower Garden District. Tchoup Industries sells satchels made from resourced materials, while DVRA makes colorful guava and pineapple pouches. Rounding it out is Disko Obscura, a curated record-shop-within-a-shop that sells an amazing selection of records from underground artists.
Photo: Whitney Mitchell
Freda is another great Ace Hotel neighbor. The Marfa, Texas-based lifestyle boutique brings a little bit of the high desert life to the Big Easy with handcrafted jewelry from brands like Saint Claude and Mondo Mondo, and clothing and accessories from Brother Vellies and Ace & Jig. There’s also an extensive apothecary selection here, including perfume from Musc et Madame and Marfa Brands soaps.
Photo: Whitney Mitchell

Fifi Mahony's

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If you want to feel the essence of New Orleans, one of the most direct routes runs through Fifi Mahony’s. This funky wig shop on Royal Street in the French Quarter offers a large selection of colorful wigs and provides top-notch wig styling. Once you've determined that purple is the hair color you were always meant to have, the makeup and accessory offerings will take your new look to the next level. —Ellen Kincaid
Photo: Fifi Mahony's

Porter Lyons

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Local jewelry designer Ashley Porter draws heavily on the mysticism of New Orleans and the bayou to create cohesive collections featuring agate, precious metals, and gems. Voodoo-inspired earrings and fine jewelry based on the zodiac are on display alongside Porter’s dream catcher wall hangings. The French Quarter store also has a space that features local makers as well as kombucha on tap. —Ellen Kincaid
Photo: Porter Lyons

Saint Claude Social Club

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Saint Claude Social Club hits all the right notes with its glittering collection of vintage clothing, colorful head wraps, and dangly earrings. This accessory-driven shop is a purveyor of the sequins and fringe that are the mainstays of festive New Orleans fashion. The Lower Garden District store also features its own jewelry line, Saint Claude, as well as clothing and accessory labels by women from all over the world. —Ellen Kincaid
Photo: Saint Claude Social Club

Sunday Shop

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Opened by the pair of designers behind Logan Killen Interiors, this bright and airy lifestyle shop in the Lower Garden District is stocked with one-of-a-kind homewares, local pottery, and cult beauty products like Byredo fragrances. Intriguing lighting and unique textiles sourced by the owners sit alongside a build-your-own-bouquet flower bar. —Ellen Kincaid
Photo: Sunday Shop

Monomin

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This minimalist storefront carries on-trend, neutral clothing that gives off a cool and restrained vibe. Monomin sits on one end of Magazine Street, the six-mile stretch that houses some of the city’s best locally-owned antique shops, restaurants, and clothing boutiques. Monomin features brands like Just Female of Denmark, Third Form of Australia, and AG Jeans, as well as personal care products from Grown Alchemist. —Ellen Kincaid
Photo: Augusta Sagnelli

Pilot & Powell

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Pilot & Powell offers luxury clothing that pushes the boundaries of Southern fashion. This Magazine Street shop caters to the influx of fashion-forward New Orleans residents who moved to the city in the years following Hurricane Katrina. The storefront is filled with upscale brands like Marni and Tabitha Simmons while also featuring emerging designers from all over the world. —Ellen Kincaid
Photo: Pilot & Powell

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Krewe du Optic

New Orleans native Stirling Barrett is already making a name for himself in the fashion world with his three-year-old eyewear brand Krewe du Optic. The company opened its flagship store on Royal Street in the French Quarter next to some of the city’s most vibrant art and photo galleries. Here, you’ll find Krewe’s curated selection of colorful, handmade eyewear served alongside a dose of New Orleans hospitality — a built-in coffee bar, a reading room, and complimentary access to the shaded courtyard.
Photo: Whitney Mitchell

United Apparel Liquidators

United Apparel Liquidators has locations in Texas, Tennessee, and Mississippi, but the New Orleans outpost has a stellar selection of legit fashion at unbelievably low prices. All of the items within are purchased from brands with an excess in inventory — it’s where the locals go to get Gucci, Jacquemus, and Alexander Wang. You’ll also find expensive brands like Rosie Assoulin and Zimmermann here for around $100 to $300.
Photo: Whitney Mitchell

Neon Heart

Located in New Orleans’ Uptown neighborhood, Neon Heart is a women’s and men’s boutique that carries a host of small brands you’ve probably never heard of, like jewelry lines Heathcock and Hunt + Moon. Husband and wife duo Chris and Ali have curated a perfect selection of eyewear, swimwear, and apothecary goods from brands like Malin + Goetz, Obeah NYC, and Minnow Bathers.
Photo: Whitney Mitchell

Defend New Orleans

In addition to carrying local brands like Smoke (an artisan perfume and candle company), locally-made 'zines, and other Louisiana brands such as Pottery by Osa, T-shirt and hat maker Defend New Orleans hosts frequent pop-ups and collaborations and donates a portion of proceeds to community initiatives. There's a second location in the Garden District, but the downtown outpost, housed under the Ace Hotel roof, brings you right next to other cool shops like Friend and Freda.
Photo: Defend New Orleans

Bambi Deville's Vintage Clothing

Walking into Bambi Deville's Vintage is an experience even seasoned vintage shoppers won’t be quite prepared for. Not only is its location like a secret hideaway from the French Quarter hotspots, but the interior and vintage selection are truly impressive: We’re talking gauzy gowns and pastel slip dresses, furs, silk blouses, and pants from the ‘20s and ‘50s showcased in a shotgun-style home that seems like it was frozen in time. (And as an added bonus, the prices aren’t crazy high, either.)
Photo: Whitney Mitchell

Re: Fresh

Streetwear-inspired labels like Born x Raised can be found alongside high-fashion menswear clothing from Hood By Air and John Elliott at Re:Fresh. You’ll often find cool New Orleans skate kids hanging out front, and if you’re lucky, you could run into a rapper stopping in for a quick pre-show shopping session.
Photo: Whitney Mitchell

Friend

Friend is located in the Warehouse District, right next door to the Ace Hotel, and carries a variety of resort-inspired styles (like lightweight Hawaiian-inspired shirts and shorts) that are perfect for New Orleans’ tropical temps. Check out the shop’s collaborations with local artists and makers while you’re there, and don’t forget to take a peek at the amazing record and piano console — piano playing is encouraged.
Photo: Whitney Mitchell

Stonefree

If you like Free People and Anthropologie, you’ll love Stonefree. The shop is situated in the heart of the Central Business District next to some of the city’s new, hip restaurants (John Besh’s Willa Jean is a few doors down). The clothing and accessories here are a little on the bohemian side, but you can find everything from Flynn Skye dresses to Blue Life bikinis.
Photo: Whitney Mitchell

Tchoup Industries, DVRA, Disko Obscura

Three separate New Orleans-based brands share the space at 1113 St. Mary Street in the Lower Garden District. Tchoup Industries sells satchels made from resourced materials, while DVRA makes colorful guava and pineapple pouches. Rounding it out is Disko Obscura, a curated record-shop-within-a-shop that sells an amazing selection of records from underground artists.
Photo: Whitney Mitchell

Freda

Freda is another great Ace Hotel neighbor. The Marfa, Texas-based lifestyle boutique brings a little bit of the high desert life to the Big Easy with handcrafted jewelry from brands like Saint Claude and Mondo Mondo, and clothing and accessories from Brother Vellies and Ace & Jig. There’s also an extensive apothecary selection here, including perfume from Musc et Madame and Marfa Brands soaps.
Photo: Whitney Mitchell

Fifi Mahony's

If you want to feel the essence of New Orleans, one of the most direct routes runs through Fifi Mahony’s. This funky wig shop on Royal Street in the French Quarter offers a large selection of colorful wigs and provides top-notch wig styling. Once you've determined that purple is the hair color you were always meant to have, the makeup and accessory offerings will take your new look to the next level. —Ellen Kincaid
Photo: Fifi Mahony's

Porter Lyons

Local jewelry designer Ashley Porter draws heavily on the mysticism of New Orleans and the bayou to create cohesive collections featuring agate, precious metals, and gems. Voodoo-inspired earrings and fine jewelry based on the zodiac are on display alongside Porter’s dream catcher wall hangings. The French Quarter store also has a space that features local makers as well as kombucha on tap. —Ellen Kincaid
Photo: Porter Lyons

Saint Claude Social Club

Saint Claude Social Club hits all the right notes with its glittering collection of vintage clothing, colorful head wraps, and dangly earrings. This accessory-driven shop is a purveyor of the sequins and fringe that are the mainstays of festive New Orleans fashion. The Lower Garden District store also features its own jewelry line, Saint Claude, as well as clothing and accessory labels by women from all over the world. —Ellen Kincaid
Photo: Saint Claude Social Club

Sunday Shop

Opened by the pair of designers behind Logan Killen Interiors, this bright and airy lifestyle shop in the Lower Garden District is stocked with one-of-a-kind homewares, local pottery, and cult beauty products like Byredo fragrances. Intriguing lighting and unique textiles sourced by the owners sit alongside a build-your-own-bouquet flower bar. —Ellen Kincaid
Photo: Sunday Shop

Monomin

This minimalist storefront carries on-trend, neutral clothing that gives off a cool and restrained vibe. Monomin sits on one end of Magazine Street, the six-mile stretch that houses some of the city’s best locally-owned antique shops, restaurants, and clothing boutiques. Monomin features brands like Just Female of Denmark, Third Form of Australia, and AG Jeans, as well as personal care products from Grown Alchemist. —Ellen Kincaid
Photo: Augusta Sagnelli

Pilot & Powell

Pilot & Powell offers luxury clothing that pushes the boundaries of Southern fashion. This Magazine Street shop caters to the influx of fashion-forward New Orleans residents who moved to the city in the years following Hurricane Katrina. The storefront is filled with upscale brands like Marni and Tabitha Simmons while also featuring emerging designers from all over the world. —Ellen Kincaid
Photo: Pilot & Powell