Shopping in Grosse Ile

The quaint, mother-and-daughter-owned Royal Oak knitterie offers an eclectic selection of knitting, spinning, and crocheting tools for everyone from the novice knitter to the experienced threadmistress. A wide array of fibers, from Merino silk ($25) to dyed wool ($30), are offered for any of your sock- or shawl-making needs, alongside popular needles such as the Addi Turbo circles needles ($13.50+) and the Lantern Moon silk-needles case ($30+), handmade by women in Vietnam. The house of knits also boasts a friendly and knowledgeable staff that is ready to assist you in finding the right fiber for your knitting needs and to help new and experienced knitters navigate the yarnerie.

If Detroit is the Paris of the West, then Paris of Royal Oak is the Versailles of Detroit, replete with enough fashionable fashions, accessible accessories, and antique antiques to tempt even the restrained, nun-like tastes of a somber Marie Antoinette. With a dazzling blend of new and vintage wares, Paris presents a browsing vortex for flamboyant fashionistas and reclusive heiresses alike. Wearable wares include an ever-changing roster of vintage threads, whereas new glad rags keep things young and modern with graphic tees ($24–$32) and funky skirts, such as the Desigual Sofia ($99). New jewelry ranges from retro glass cocktail rings ($24) to kimono-fabric bangles ($18), and antique jewelry ($12–$50) and accessories add a distingué touch to the wardrobe of any attic-dwelling madwoman. Purchase a slew of vintage handkerchiefs ($5–$12) to toss out of the Amtrak window to a bevy of besotted beaus, and reward the one who catches the most with a summery straw fedora ($24).

Meig’s selection of on-trend clothes and accessories suits women of all ages who cultivate a young, carefree, modern-bohemian aesthetic. The store’s racks turn over frequently to reflect seasonal changes, but shoppers might find Wooden Ships knitted ruanas in bone white and emerald green, or breezy tie-dyed and print dresses from Gypsy 05. Designer denim by DL1961 flaunts daring prints that were featured in Vogue, and the store’s in-house cashmere line blends classic silhouettes with luxurious textures. The store’s selection of accessories sparkles and shines from inside vintage display cases or the nests of squatting magpies. Light-hearted accessories from Ornamental Things boast details such as gilded feathers and lightning bolts. Many of the accessories are culled from the staff’s international travels, such as fragrances from a small beachside perfumery in Mexico.

The jewelry designers at Heartwear Designs have been at it since 1971. Since that time, the talented local artists have been stringing and molding hundreds of idiosyncratic accessories from gold, platinum, and gemstones. The work has been sold to national retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Fortunoff, but now Heartwear Designs showcases the distinctive work.

Heartwear Designs jewelry includes earrings, pendants,rings, and bracelets,,available in 14-karat gold, 18-karat gold, or platinum, as well as yellow, white, rose, or green gold. Custom engagement rings and birthstone pieces, along with fashion jewelry from sterling, pearls, and gemstone beads round out the entire inventory. Heartwear Designs also offers repairs for customers' broken jewelry, restringing pearls and beads, and they polish up guests’ tarnished pieces for free.

Nestled in the Kerrytown Market & Shops, Elephant Ears swaddles babies in a bevy of fair-trade, organic, and sustainable apparel and accessories made from natural fibers. The store seeks out manufacturers with ethical business practices, and a large portion of its inventory is crafted outside of the United States, in countries such as Israel, Canada, and New Zealand. Bright colors, interesting patterns, and comfortable fabrics set apart Elephant Ears' cloth diapers, wearable blankets, and baby slings perfect for sneaking extra buffet portions.

English Gardens began as a single, family-owned nursery in 1954, and has since blossomed into a full-service landscaping and garden center with multiple locations, all owned and operated by second-generation family members. Each location facilitates both indoor and outdoor gardening projects with a large selection of gardening tools, seed packets, and transplant-ready plants extracted from their original soil by renowned surgeons. Garden accents such as bird feeders, patio furnishings, and lounge chairs dress up outside spaces with comfort and design, and the florist department brings the outdoor flourish inside by arranging fresh-cut floral bouquets and gift baskets for all manner of occasions. Workshops and in-store presentations also allow the green-thumbed experts to impart advice on common gardening and decorating topics such as building a kitchen herb garden or housetraining a dogwood tree.