Park once and enjoy the sidewalks in this foot-friendly shopping neighborhood.

Pick up these Alessi tea bag catchers at Centro.

A NOTE TO OUR READERS:
"Perk Up Your Style: Three Fantastic Shops" is from the October 2005 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.

Explore the hip Central West End when you want to perk up your style. Come with us to three of our favorite St. Louis boutiques, each with its own personality and full of fun things to fit your own taste.

For the Eclectic Decorator
Rothschild’s may specialize in antiques, but we found nothing old or musty about this shop’s style. Artists and those with a penchant for eclectic decor will enjoy the hunt for distinctive pieces, from colorful painted ceramic lamps to funky throw pillows tossed on a Renaissance-style love seat. The prices and origins of the pieces range all over the map. Looking for a $1,500 medieval suit of armor? You’ll find it here. 398 North Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63108; (314) 361-4870.

For the Clotheshorse
Find your next great date-night outfit at Mezzanine, an independent clothing boutique known for its big-city style. "I have a friend from New York, and this is the only place she shops," one local told me. You’ll find adorable handbags, sportswear with urban flair, and unusual jewelry made by local and regional artists. Their designer duds carry designer price tags, but the eye-catching styles will jazz up your wardrobe, so plan ahead for all those upcoming holiday parties. 389 North Euclid Avenue; (314) 361-3777.

For the Modernist
Spruce up your home with colorful accents from Centro Modern Furnishings (pronounced CHEN-trow), a vibrant modern-furniture store. If you like simple and streamlined European designs, this shop is for you. Still, those with more classic tastes will find plenty of the smaller accent pieces, such as artsy light fixtures and colorful lamps, that would work in any traditional home. We love the household products made by Alessi, an Italian manufacturer that produces everyday objects (teapots, saltshakers, toilet brushes, etc.) and redesigns them into quirky, colorful creatures that add whimsy to boring household chores. 4727 McPherson Avenue; (314) 454-0111 or www.centro-inc.com.

GREAT FINDS Rothschild’s: Black leather Manhattan coffee table: $650 Two cute spaniels: not for sale Mezzanine: Early-20th century German glass necklaces by LA artist I. Ronni Kappos: $80-$250 Hand-dyed Ocelot scarves by Angelina DeAntonis: $55-$150 Centro Modern Furnishings: Alessi dental floss dispenser: $17 Vitra Algue room dividers, sold in pieces that snap together into a panel that looks like floating kelp: 6 pieces for $25, 50 for $200

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