Shopping in Sunnyvale

Both Ibiss locations are friendly, simple storefronts with whitewashed walls that allow the vibrant palette of clothes and accessories to pop like a paint-filled balloon. For those who enjoy the latest dresses, outerwear, and accessories, and savor the soft drape of a skirt or the telltale glint of a wrist-bauble, Ibiss provides a heaping treasure trove of affordable delights. Garment prices are under $100, and more often than not, form an irregular bell skewed toward the low end, similar to the ACT scores of howler monkeys. Tops range from $20 to $49, and jackets from $38 to $78. Dresses ($28–$78) cover the stylish gamut from full-length sequin affairs for peacocking at prom, to trendy daywear and demure church-going duds. Brands such as Kersh, Collective Concepts, BLANK denim, Audrey 3+1, and Minuet line the walls, while handmade jewelry ($5–$48) is draped alongside sandals, handbags, and other accessories. Take a look at Ibiss trends, including upcoming Parisian vintage finds, on Ibiss' Facebook page.

Established in San Jose in 2006, Premier recently moved to new digs in downtown Palo Alto. Premier offers premium footwear, clothing, and accessories in a range of well-known brands, such as Nike and Adidas, as well as newer brands such as Creative Recreation and Supra. Show your sports loyalty with the Nike Auto Flight High ($90) in Miami-Dolphins orange and white, or slip digits into boat-shoe-style Toms ($54), just right for sailing the world in a hand-carved dugout.

Regan Nursery is a full-service garden center that boasts a massive selection of roses alongside a wide variety of other plants such as hydrangeas, trees, water plants, fruits, vegetables, and more. Though science has already proven that violets are not blue (they're violet), Regan's more than 1,000 featured rose varieties (starting at $32.99) finally lay to rest the theory that all roses are red. The roses featured in the nursery literally take on a life of their own; they can spring up to greet you with an Aloha, glisten in the late afternoon like an Amber Sunblaze, or strike vivid flashbacks of that one April in Paris when you saw that guy do that thing.

Romi Boutique's wide range of head-turning garb spices up any wardrobe without dousing it in a chipotle marinade. As they shop, visitors will enjoy a charming interior packed to the brim with a variety of fashion-forward styles teleported back from the future, including designer selections such as Red Engine denim, Charlotte Tarantino sweaters, Kim Culture jewelry, Beryll sunglasses, and steel armor blouses. The carpeted dressing room's billowing curtains allow for dramatic unveilings as you model fetching scarves ($40–$250), edgy T-shirts ($30–$140), and sexy jeans ($150–$260). Romi's style-conscious staff of fashionable advisors will help customers discover the most eye-catching threads among its overstuffed inventory, and will also make sure less fashionably intuitive customers don’t leave wearing a pair of handbags as shoes.

Since opening its doors in 2005, cofounders Anthony Mazzei and Chad Hurley of Hlaska have crafted fashion from utility, dreaming up useful, understated accessories in their design studio before materializing products in a connected factory. Durable bags such as the men's Oceanist duffel ($295) or the women's Minimal shopping tote ($295) accompany everyday life while supporting the weight of large, useful items including laptops, notebooks, and 1990s cell phones. Smaller items include vegetable-dyed leather wallets—the women's Kaleidoscope small zippered wallet ($165) or men's Evergreen billfold ($145)—and practical goods including a brass bottle opener ($50) for jimmying open imported brass beers.

Charmelle 28 features high-quality lingerie from renowned European designers such as Aubade, Marie Jo, Lise Charmel, and PrimaDonna. Delicate camisoles, lacey bras, and seamless panties fill the store’s racks and tables at two area locations, where expert staffers are on-hand to make recommendations and take measurements. Charmelle 28’s stock of underthings also includes low-key sleepwear as well as hosiery and more risqué bustiers.