In the age of internet hauls and subscription boxes, the notion of an in-person shopping date seems downright quaint. Shopping in real life (or IRL, as the kids say) where you can interact with other human beings (and shop dogs and cats), see, touch and try on potential purchases, take in the fragrance of scented candles and, if nothing else, just get out of the dang house, is a blissful antidote to screen time. Also, as the saying goes, it’s cheaper than therapy. (Just joking, don’t stop seeing your therapist.) You can’t go wrong if the destination is in one of New Orleans’ many shoppable neighborhoods. For this year’s installment of New Orleans Magazine’s annual shopping feature, we’re highlighting women-owned businesses. (Note: We couldn’t fit all of the women-owned businesses in New Orleans in this feature, so consider this a start.) This is your cue to hit a few boutiques, grab a mani, a bite and a beverage, or all of the above, with someone whose company you crave, that one friend who has an eye for the coolest finds or your favorite bargain hunter. We call that a great way to pass a few hours — no subscription (or prescription) required.
Metairie Merrymaking
Fuel up the car and bop around Metry for cute outfits and gifts, plus some spa time and a stop for breakfast, lunch or a snack.
Lucy Rose
3312 Magazine St., shoplucyrose.com
Lucy Rose, owned by sisters Kaitlyn Tufts and Lindsay Laws, is the place to go for the perfect dress for your friend’s wedding, cute shorts for a picnic or a chic ensemble in LSU, Saints or Mardi Gras colors. Bonus: There’s another location on Magazine Street and you can shop online in advance. Gifts and accessories also abound.
Fleurty Girl
Multiple locations, fleurtygirl.com
No one does New Orleans “spirit wear” better — especially for the ladies — than Fleurty Girl. Lauren Haydel’s empire includes two Metairie locations, as well as shops in the French Quarter, on Magazine, in Mandeville, Baton Rouge and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Find signature T-shirts, earrings, gameday flair, home decor, gifts and more.
Phina
Multiple locations, phinashop.com
Phina, owned by Jennifer McGuinness, has two Metairie locations and a shop in Lakeview. If you need a gift, you’ll find it at Phina. There’s always a wealth of New Orleans-centric merchandise, but you’ll also find stylish clothing, a huge selection of body products, jewelry, home decor and, well, pretty much everything.
Earthsavers
Multiple locations, earthsaversonline.com
Schedule an appointment at Earthsavers (also in Uptown on Magazine), co-owned by Karen Adjmiand Jackie Palumbo, for a little pre-, mid- or post-shopping pampering. From massages and facials to mani-pedis and waxing, you’ll be relaxed and ready after an hour (or a few). Bonus: Get beauty and body products, essential oils and more in the on-site shop.
Evolve Coffee + Matcha
400 Harrison Ave., evolvecoffeenola.com
Whether you are in Metairie or Lakeview, a stop at Evolve Coffee + Matcha, owned by Yvonne Pichoff, is a must. Refuel with single origin coffee and ceremonial-grade matcha drinks, teas, delectable pastry, sandwiches and biscuits. You’ll want to come back often for the chicken salad croissant.
Algiers Point Insiders
You don’t have to take the ferry, but isn’t that half the fun? An afternoon in Algiers Point can start with a walk amid gingerbread Victorian houses and end in a charming wine garden.
Bargeboard Mercantile & Millshop
530 Powder St., bargeboardnola.com, bounyfulgreenmarket.com
At Bargeboard Mercantile & Millshop, owned by historic renovation professional Kristin Gisleson Palmer, is a vintage- and antiques-lovers paradise. What started as a millshop and architectural salvage business has grown into a shopping destination for all of the above, as well as locally made bath and body products, candles, ceramics and more. Located on a large lot across from the levee, Bargeboard also hosts weekend events (listed on social media), such as the Bounyful Green Market farmers market, neighborhood garage sales and more.
Faubourg Fresh Market
541 Bermuda St., faubourgfreshmarket.com
Kelly Guerra opened Faubourg Fresh Market with her son Nick Guerra to bring local and regional gourmet goodies and convenience grocery items to Algiers Point. French Truck Coffee, St. James Cheese, New Orleans Ice Cream, local craft beer and local produce are just a few of the items on offer. There’s also a deli with sandwiches and breakfast.
The Little House
640 Bouny St., @littlehousenola
After shopping or ambling the neighborhood, sit outside and sip a glass of wine at The Little House, owned by Hillary Hanning. This charming wine garden also serves beer, and you can nosh on small plates and appetizers. (Opens at 4 p.m. and at 2 p.m. on Saturday).
Beatrixbell Handcrafted Jewelry
337 Morgan St., 831 Chartres St., beatrixbell.com
Beatrix Bell followed her dreams to become a jewelry designer and open her own boutique. Beatrixbell Handcrafted Jewelry is a place to find not only Bell’s work, but also that of other artisans. One boutique also became two, so you can get your fix for fanciful and fine jewelry and gifts in Algiers Point or the French Quarter.
Uptown Girls
Don your most casually chic attire (it is Uptown, after all), acquire the season’s musts, clock an infrared sauna sesh and fill up on cheese with your bestie. It literally doesn’t get any better.
Home Malone
629 N. Carrollton Ave., 4610 Magazine St., homemalonenola.com
Artist Kristin Malone opened her first Home Malone shop in Mid-City in 2016. The space showcased her work alongside other Southern artists and makers. Later the Uptown shop opened on Magazine Street and has become a first stop for many when buying fun apparel, jewelry and gifts for the home.
Pilot & Powell
3901 Magazine St., pilotandpowell.com
When Kathryn Bullock Joyner and Coeli Hilferty Boron opened Pilot & Powell in 2016, even Vogue took immediate notice. The two spent decades in retail fashion (Joyner was a buyer at Saks Fifth Avenue and Mimi, and Boron a publicist for Mignon Faget). With fashion-forward brands like Marni, Proenza Schouler and Giambattista Valli, it’s like shopping in your coolest and most chic bestie’s closet.
West London Boutique
3952 Magazine St., westlondonboutique.com
Fashion and retail pro Mariah Walton Bencik opened West London Boutique on Magazine Street in 2017 and expanded her fashion offerings in 2024 to include a Lower Garden District lingerie boutique La Marais (which focuses on Parisian brands). Bencik describes her botique’s wares as romantic, feminine and dramatic. This is the place to shop if you want to stand out from the crowd.
St. James Cheese Company
5004 Prytania St., 641 Tchoupitoulas St., stjamescheese.com
Disenchanted with their careers in public relations and banking, respectively, Danielle Sutton and her husband Richard Sutton (who met while attending Tulane) moved to London. While there, Richard worked at the more than 200-year-old Paxton & Whitfield cheese shop, known for supplying cheese to the royal household. After their stint in London, the couple returned to New Orleans and opened the cheese-lovers dreamscape, St. James Cheese Company (named after the neighborhood of the Paxton & Whitfield shop), which has locations on Prytania Street in Uptown and on Tchoupitoulas Downtown, and supplies cheese to some of the city’s best restaurants, gourmet markets and your belly.
Garden District
Any shopping trip ending at Commander’s or Le Petit Bleu is a success. Full stop.
Sosusu Boutique
3427 Magazine St., sosusuboutique.com
Susan “Susu” Stall opened Sosusu Boutique in 2016 to bring global style to New Orleans. Chic and feminine, every item at Sosusu is curated by Stall. Many of the brands are exclusive to the boutique (in New Orleans), too, so you know you’ll stand out amid the stylish masses.
Azby’s
5531 Magazine st., azbys.com
For decades Azby’s, owned by Kerry Morgan, has provided everyday-, resort- and special occasion-wear to New Orleans women. Effortless style is the vibe and shoes and accessories abound.
Judy at The Rink
2727 Prytania St., judyattherink.com
Martha Calire Breland became the fourth owner of the stalwart Garden District gift shop and gallery Judy at The Rink when she took over the lease in 2019. The shop is the go-to for many New Orleanians for wedding gifts, local art, loungewear, body products and home and fashion accessories.
Uptown Wellness + Aesthetics
4712 Magazine St., uptownwellnessneworleans.com
Lawyer-turned-real estate agent Sasha Area started Uptown Wellness + Aesthetics with business partner Jacob Tramontin, whom she met when the duo worked together as insurance defense attorneys. Area says her interest in wellness took off when she had kids and realized she was no longer prioritizing herself and her health. The business is a way for her to get the services she wants and needs, while also providing them to the people in her community.
Commander’s Palace and Le Petit Bleu
1427 Washington Ave., @lepetitbleucafe, commanderspalace.com
Commander’s Palace and its bijou counter service bistro Le Petit Bleu, represent a powerhouse of women in the culinary space with owners Ti Martin and Lally Brennen and Executive Chef Meg Bickford delighting diners daily. The legacy of Restaurateur Grand Dame Ella Brennan is alive, well and lively as … heck.
LGD Dreams
You can buy yourself flowers, sip champagne and trick out yourself and your home all without leaving Magazine Street. Don’t forget to save time for spring rolls.
The Flower Shop
2036 Magazine St., theflowershopnola.com
Rockstar floral designer Kim Starr Wise opened The Flower Shop in 2020 as an extension of Kim Starr Wise Floral Events, which she has helmed for over three decades. The gorgeous shop specializes in charming bouquets and sophisticated arrangements, but also offers floral subscriptions
Peony
2240 Magazine St., peonynola.com
Friends Jennifer Atkins and Cricket Lapeyre became business partners over 10 years ago when they opened Peony, a European-style clothing boutique for women and children. Expect one-of-a-kind finds at this charming shop, plus champagne! Ooh la la.
Lekha
2025 Magazine St., shoplekha.com
Designer Trishala Bbansali founded Lekha in 2017, naming the business in honor of her grandmother. The lifestyle brand focuses on women and children’s clothing in breezy muslin and linen fabrics, accessories and home goods all handmade in India, working with groups that help empower women and girls.
Merchant House
1150 Magazine St., merchanthouse.co
Merchant House, owned by Rosa Dunlap, isn’t your average vintage market. The expertly styled warehouse space features a host of (predominantly women) merchants, presenting each piece of furniture and accessories with curatorial panache. Ooh and ahhh your way through the goods and feel good about nabbing brilliant pieces for your home.
Lilly’s Cafe
1813 Magazine St., @lillyscafenola
Lilly’s Cafe, owned by Thrinh Vuong, has a cult following. Vuong opened the casual Vietnamese eatery known for its purple color palette and floral decor in 2011. Get spring rolls, pho, banh mi and other traditional Vietnamese favorites in a welcoming, family atmosphere.
French Quarter Finds
Ambling through shops and clinking glasses in the French Quarter is the most New Orleans thing you can do. Cap it off with a visit to the milliner.
Effervescence
1036 N. Rampart St., nolabubbles.com
Effervescence, owned by Crystal Hinds, opened to much excitement among champagne lovers in 2017. The “ring for champagne” doorbell dominated Instagram feeds for years and happy hour, brunch and festive holidays continue to be but a few great excuses to belly up to the bar for bubbly and bites.
Forever New Orleans
700 Royal St., shopforeverneworleans.com
Forever New Orleans, owned by Lisa Saladino, has locally made kitchen ware, home decor, fashion, accessories and gourmet gifts and lots of it. With three locations in the French Quarter (the first of which opened in 2007), this one-stop-shop is a treasure trove.
Trashy Diva
Multiple locations, trashydiva.com
Designer and owner Candice Gwinn opened Trashy Diva as a vintage boutique in the French Quarter in 1996. Gwinn has a knack for fulfilling the wishes and dreams of her devoted customers and soon began reproducing vintage looks. Known for catering to sizes 0 to 24, the company has continued to grow with multiple locations, including the original dress shop and lingerie shop in the French Quarter, as well as the flagship dress shop and lingerie shop on Magazine Street and, true to the brand’s vintage roots, a vintage shop in both the Quarter and on Magazine.
Fleur de Paris
523 Royal St., fleurdeparis.shop
In 2021, Caroline Pies took over the iconic millinery and boutique Fleur de Paris, which was founded in the 1980s by Joe Parrino. Many Kentucky Derby attendees have donned (and continue to covet) Fleur de Paris chapeaus over the years and you can too. They also have you covered for dresses, gowns and accessories.
