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Affordable Retail Therapy in the Hamptons

Feeling much better after a little retail therapy!

The summer is almost here and for me, that can only mean one thing – it’s time to hit the Hamptons! Now truth be told, I do not have millions of dollars.  Luckily, my amazing parents, who were super smart back in the day, purchased a home in Southampton a few years before I got married and never left. That means that my husband and I have had a summer home away from home where we were able to bring our kids and our dog practically every weekend.  I’ve loved getting the chance to visit my parents and one of my favorite things to do is to shop!

Now for those of you who have never been to the Hamptons, the sticker shock at some of those boutiques can be daunting, but if you are a savvy shopper like me, you can track down some amazing finds in between all those ridiculous prices and come back with clothes and accessories that will have your friends constantly asking you, “Where did you get that?” So today, when one of my favorite stores was closed (I’m crossing my fingers she’s not out of business), I found another great store that just moved from Jobs Lane to Main Street that is definitely going to be my new personal fave…Therapy Life & Style.

Day 1 – Therapy Life & Style

This boutique moved to a new location in Southampton. They are now at 38 Main Street and they have the trendiest tops, dresses, coverups, jeans and more and the prices are fantastic!!!!!

 

The minute I walked into this boutique, I fell in love with all their cute tops, dresses, jeans, sweaters, beach cover ups, pretty much everything.  But the best part about the store are the prices!!!!  I was totally expecting to see price tags that were out of my range and thankfully, everything in the store is affordable!  Take a look at my fabulous finds..

Love these two tops from Therapy Life & Style in Southampton – totally could have bought out the entire store!

 

Day 2 – Piccolo Bella, 49 Main Street, Southampton

The secret is out – every summer, without fail, I find the cutest tops, skirts, dresses and summer sweaters at Piccolo Bella, a fabulous boutique located right next to my favorite furniture store, Hildreth’s. This year, we stopped by the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend and the store was closed and I was afraid they may have gone out business, but luckily, they were just getting ready for summer season and when they removed the paper in front of the windows, the results were amazing. I picked up a beautiful white silk top that will be perfect for our upcoming trip to Paris to celebrate my daughter’s graduation.

Day 3 – Southampton Farmer’s Market

One of my favorite things I love to do in the summer is visit the Southampton Farmer’s Market which takes place every Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Farmer’s market is a foodie lover’s heaven featuring local cheeses, wines, baked goods, honey, gluten free items, flowers, pickles, chicken burgers and more.  But there’s more than just food – there’s also jewelry and today, I even found an awesome hat vendor. Take a look…

Check out this amazing new hat – super stylish in time for Paris trip!

Day 3 – Westhampton, Chic Boutique

While it’s easy to spend the entire weekend strolling the streets of Southampton, there are a ton of towns to explore and one of my personal faves is Westhampton. There are even more amazing boutiques to visit and today, I discovered Chic Boutique and it was love at first sight.  I picked up three gorgeous tops that are perfect for work, vacation and weekends too.  And best of all, the prices are totally affordable.

My new favorite shopping addiction in Westhampton…Chic Boutique

While my shopping adventure might be complete this weekend, there’s much more to come when it comes to the Hamptons.  Next up…my favorite restaurants. For now, I’m going to try on my latest fashion finds!

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The Southampton Shoppers Fave Five

I’d like to start this post by saying that I absolutely love the Hamptons. My parents have owned a house in Southampton for more than a decade and I look forward to visiting every year so I can dive back into my favorite summer past time…shopping!
Unfortunately, over the past few years, something strange has happened. Celebrities, models, wealthy Manhattanites and tourists have descended upon this charming village in droves and suddenly, the things I’ve loved about Southampton are being swallowed whole by the “I’m important because my parents told me so” generation.
The fact that you have to get dressed up to walk into town drives me nuts – not that I do (so I stick out like a sore thumb), but seeing waif thin women in pricey pumps pushing $1000 strollers along the sidewalk while they zip into boutiques and art galleries, will cause any bargain hunter like me to go into a state of shock.
July4.jpegDespite my frustration with the summer crowd, I have vowed not to turn my back on what I love about Southampton. I am here to share my hidden jewels – if you are ridiculously wealthy or just plain old pretentious, please don’t tell your friends about it.
1. Hildreth’s – This has been one of my favorite furniture shopping haunts for over a decade (and it’s been a fixture in Southampton for more than a century!) The store comes complete with items for every room in your house, including an adorable children’s section too. I’ve purchased gorgeous dining room pieces from Hildreth’s a nd nearly every piece in my mom’s house is furnished by their store. She visits so often, the ladies at Hildreth’s know her by name. 51-55 Main Street, Southampton, NY. (631) 283-2300
2. Primrose Lane – This clothing boutique is located adjacent to Hildreth’s and the owner is an absolute doll. Every time I purchase a dress, top or sweater from this boutique, I receive tons of compliments. They’ve got one of a kind quality items, friendly and attentive service and while their prices can at times be a little bit high (probably to entice the wealthier crowd), I always manage to find something I love at a price I can afford. 49 Main St Southampton, NY (631) 287-4565
3. Aimee’s Closet – Located on Job’s Lane, the owner of Aimee’s Closet is a staple in the community. She’s friendly, engages in conversation and has a very nice selection of summer skirts, bathing suit cover ups, tops and accessories. And her prices are incredibly reasonable. The operative word in a village where some of the boutiques are now charging more than $300 for a top and $1500 for a designer dress from Paris. I say, you can keep your Paris originals and give me more of the village charm. 67 Jobs Lane. Southampton, NY. (631) 283-7757
Screen shot 2011-07-04 at 10.19.00 AM.png4. Jildor – Hands down, the best shoe store in Southampton. While they do cater to the super rich, Jildor always offers reasonably priced sandals too and the staff is incredibly helpful. If you give them your price range, they won’t try to convince you to buy something out of the stratosphere (although you can find those shoes too if you’re in the mood to splurge). They have a wide selection of brands for day and evening occasions. While Jildor is always bustling, they always have someone ready to help you find the ultimate pair of shoes or sandals that’ll get you plenty of compliments all summer long. 30 Jobs Lane. Southampton, NY 11968 (631) 283-2450
5. Twist – Had to give a shout out to my daughter’s favorite store in Southampton. Twist is the ultimate boutique for tweens and teens. While their prices for adult clothes are a bit pricey, my daughter has always found something she loves and requests that whenever she accompanies us on shopping jaunts, that Twist is a part of the mix. Twist is your one stop shop for tweens and teens who are fixated on trendy fashions from some of their favorite brands. 46 Jobs Lane. Ste 1 Southampton, NY (631) 287-7990