Shopping in Mint Hill

Laura James designs and handcrafts each piece in her award-winning collection, ensuring each owner an eclectic piece. Her vintagelike designs have appeared on the Today Show and in Lucky and People magazines, and they currently adorn the bodies of celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Rumer Willis, and Jessica Szohr. Her new designs and vast collection of other pieces can ramp up your own star-studded style and cause onlookers to provide you with on-the-go red carpets for quick trips to the supermarket. Shop online for Laura's creations, which include vintage marcasite black marquis cut rings ($78), vintage front-hinged bracelets ($78), and small angel and rose earrings ($72) perfect for adorning the lobes of loved humans and beloved pet dragons.

At The Last Word, wheat-hued shelves lead in all directions, weighed down with an enormous selection of gently used books, as well as a collection of DVDs, and gaming consoles. Authors such as Cormac McCarthy and Ralph Ellison peer from racks of employee selections beneath the vinyl records that adorn the walls, and glass cases packed with trading cards glint in the sunlight. Strict quality standards govern the state of all the items. Most are 50-80% off their normal retail price despite being in good condition, and the staff makes a conscious effort to purchase a variety of quality media rather than pamphlets entitled Thee Faxe Machine is an Entirely Infuriating Devil. The shop is peppered with floral armchairs, in which patrons curl up, sip coffee, and browse book recommendations with their laptops on free WiFi.

Linda Minor, a member of the North Carolina Society of Goldsmiths and the former fashion buyer for J.C. Penney and Belk department stores, sells handmade creations and teaches jewelry-making classes within Bead Me’s spacious 1,200-square-foot shop. She draws from her style expertise to create necklaces, earrings, and bracelets with pearls, coral, turquoise, Swarovski crystals, and semiprecious gemstones. In many of her pieces, she use copper—an eco-friendly metal that’s fade- and bacteria-resistant.

During fun BYOB classes, she imparts her beading know-how to students of all skill levels, giving them hands-on practice with metal-manipulation techniques such as fold forming and reverse psychology.

SoBo Loft Boutique & Gifts adorns ears with handcrafted jewelry, slips handbags by Hobo over shoulders, and brightens interiors with the flickering light of aromatic candles from Olivina. Within SoBo’s exposed-brick interior, eyes gravitate toward chic women’s apparel and hands unfold brightly patterned stationery ready for writing love letters to valiant postal workers. The mixed metals, vintage buttons, and gems of necklaces and bracelets, including pieces handcrafted by local artists such as those from Halo, beg to clasp around necks.

After traveling to cities outside of Charlotte, earth enthusiasts Fiona and Marley began envying the other towns' stockpiles of eco-friendly stores. Back home, they could always buy green products on the web, but since they had no opportunity to sample or even look at them before delivery, they were frequently disappointed with their purchases. They decided to take matters into their own hands in January 2011 by establishing ecolicious—a one-stop market for vegan and eco-friendly wares.

Each item at ecolicious bears a product tab with a review by staff members, who personally test the goods they shelve. Jewelry crafted by local artisans hangs near vintage clothing, raw snacks, and cleaning supplies made from humanely harvested soap bubbles. Within the store's bright blue walls, Community Supported Agriculture members can also pick up their seasonal shipments of local produce.

Jewels hang like icicles from the ankle strap of salmon-pink stilettoes. A crystal-studded strap traces an infinity symbol around the ankle and arch. Delicate yet eye-nabbing, Trendy Heels to Totes’ shoes by Johnathan Kayne and Carlo Fellini don’t just complete the outfit—they define it. The boutique’s staff recognizes the power that well-matched accessories command over an outfit. In that spirit, they furnish fashionistas with complimentary swatch consultations and even dye jobs. Additionally, they strive to stock shoes that suit feet of all shapes, sizes, and grape-stomping techniques, carrying up to a size 13 on select styles. If clients still can’t find their desired size or color, the boutique can custom order the item and procure it within five days.:m]]