Shopping in Irondale

Hannah Paige cloaks babies and toddlers in cupcake-like couture, little pieces lovingly embellished with pastel bugs, oversized bows, and cheery sashes. Count on finding brands such as Flap Happy, Keds, LeTop, and Secret Wishes. Bailey Boys Peter Pan collared blouses ($26.95), pink flower patch shoes ($32.95), and lace ribbon socks ($6.50) prepare girls for a picnic or parade, while brown three-piece suits ($66.95), navy seersucker shorts ($20.95), and plaid button-downs ($15.40) make boys dapper enough to start barbershop quartets. Hannah Paige's bright and loopy bows, made with grosgrain or satin ribbon, are sought after to adorn hats, skirts, and helicopter blades across the nation. Any outfit can be customized with a monogram ($8–$10).

Dedicated to a next-day turnaround for many assignments, Thompson's encases everything from diplomas to completed jigsaw puzzles within the ornate borders of more than 2,000 customizable frames. Guests can also peruse a collection of 300 ready-made frames that will fit snugly around standard-size pictures, or commission custom tabletop frames to showcase unconventionally sized posters. More than 100 framed, beveled mirrors further populate the store, silently reflecting the reversed T-shirt graphics and snarky grins of each shopper's personal doppelgänger. Frames and mirrors are complemented by a collection of original oil paintings, which help homeowners adorn their walls with a colorful still life, a muted landscape, or an unflinchingly honest portrayal of the human condition.

At seven locations, shoppers can peruse Mission Possible Bargain Centers' inventory of new and gently-used clothing, furniture, and household items. All proceeds benefit the ministries of the Jimmie Hale Mission, a nonprofit that has worked to help men, women, and children in need since 1944.

Urban Cottage's whimsically upscale stock contains treasures of all varieties, including jewelry, bags and purses, home décor, creative gifts, and various other sundries of singular charm. Gently swaddle an infant with muslin baby blankets ($30), or gift a piece of local artwork such as an angel face made of hurricane debris ($38). No two pieces of folk art are the same, so pawing through Urban Cottage's richly appointed shelves is like catching snowflakes with a tiny butterfly net. Designer items, such as O-N-E stationery ($18), Uglydolls keychains and dolls ($7.50–$22.50), and Anne Taintor napkins, creatively complement any party. Hand-picking your favorite piece is the only guaranteed way to make it match your style and basement full of nutrias.