Shopping in Gulfport

The Classy Closet reinvents the garage sale: helmed by a mother-daughter team, the consignment boutique stocks new and gently used clothing and accessories from top designers that are smoke-free and stain-free. In the showroom, you’ll scope out purses, shoes, jeans, and dresses by Louis Vuitton, BCBGirls, Betsey Johnson, and Coach, each marked at a reasonable price. Sellers can stop in as well—you have the option to trade unwanted goods for store credit, consign them for 50% of the sell price, or chuck them at the wall for no charge.

For the staff at Uniquely Yours Boutique, fashion doesn’t mean exotic runway costumes; instead, they treat clothing as an everyday means of stylish self-expression. With that in mind, they curate a boutique filled with feminine dresses, blouses, handbags, and handmade jewelry as wearable as it is chic. They also welcome visitors to create artful fashion of their own during one of the shop’s painting workshops, which cover the art of painting silk scarves, pillow covers, and portraits depicting customers as a member of the House of Windsor.

The eclectic mélange of clothing and baubles at Little Brooklyn Vintage sends shoppers back in time without the use of plutonium. Amidst the always-changing selection of men's and women's items, fringed flapper dresses mingle with belted bohemian frocks, and cowboys boots kick around with strappy sandals. The staff stocks mid-century dishes atop unique café tables and protects midsections from kitchen debris and explosive butter churns with old-fashioned aprons.

Greenpiece Collectables' owner, Tina McIntosh, goes to great lengths to forge friendships with members of the community visiting her sunny storefront by assembling a spread of fresh-baked bread, coffee, and tea every morning for passersby to take delight in. The shop's friendly staff members––many doubling as working artists––guide treasure hunters through an ever-changing trove of new and vintage wares and even accept requests to track down particular antique heirlooms or long-lost left socks. In the evenings, Tina transforms her shop into an event space for public soirees, including a weekly Girls Night Out.

Fashionistas at Florida Jean Company, a boardwalk clothing outlet, stock shelves with casual designer duds for guys and girls. The friendly staff specializes in denim, slinging labels such as Lucky Brand and True Religion to provide maximum durability and versatility. Equipped with styles from skinny to flare, staffers can dish advice on wash and cut, suggesting light fades for a casual luncheon or dark washes for nighttime cat burgling. A broad selection of beachwear includes brightly colored bikinis and maillots by Kandy Wrappers as well as sandals from Rider, Ipanema, and Havaianas. Since the outlet's inventory changes frequently, gals and guys can regularly check in for a replenished collection of board shorts, hats, jewelry, and sunglasses.

Designers for Two Coconuts Swimwear stitch together bathing suits and sundresses from top-shelf fabrics and threads. They regularly debut fresh styles on local runways before bringing them to the shelves of their boutique. At the shop or at customers' homes (home fittings are an additional fee), staffers fit patrons to ensure beachwear hugs and flatters curves. Suits come in a range of cuts and fabrics that include colorful solids and floral prints, or customers can start from scratch and work with designers to draw up custom bikinis or one-pieces. Those who order at home may request a free swatch of fabric before completing purchases to guarantee it complements skin tones or the color of a favorite pool noodle.