Best Vintage Clothing 2008 | Mint Vintage | Shopping & Services | Phoenix
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Best Vintage Clothing

Mint Vintage

This shop is kind of a two-for-one deal. Mint is located inside Red Modern Furniture, one of the best and most reliable places to find quality mid-century furniture in town. But, as that '70s chaise we have our eye on is a bit out of our price range, Mint Vintage is the real reason we frequent this address. The quality of a vintage shop depends a lot on the quality of the owner's taste. Too many vintage racks are packed with cheap, easy-to-thrift crap from the '80s. Yawn. That's why we're thrilled that the brain behind Mint seems to favor mod, disco trash and glam — as well as the occasional lovely '40s frock.

We also spied three pairs of "big e" Levi's and a jacket to match. It's heavenly. And, according to the Web site, Mint loves Pucci. You really can't go wrong there. It's a little pricier than what some AZ vintage shoppers might be used to, but consider this: the flawless silk green and yellow '50s party dress we were eyeing recently for $60 would have been double that in NYC or San Fran. See? There are perks to toughing things out in PHX.

Best Place to Buy Designer Jeans for Cheap

Goodwill

Wouldn't you like to see what recycled designer threads you could find at a Goodwill in Beverly Hills? Well, you don't have to fly to L.A. because we've got a Goodwill in Scottsdale that, yes, recycles the designer digs of trophy wives and trust-fund babies alike.

We know a wise man who used to say that anything worthwhile requires hard work. The same holds true for Goodwill's designer-jeans hookup. You must be willing to plug your nose and dig, but if you do, you may walk away with treasures ranging from $2 to $12. In addition to donating families, at least one Scottsdale dry cleaner drops its unclaimed (and cleaned) designer clothes here, too.

Of course, if money isn't a factor, you can head north to Scottsdale Fashion Square and pay up to $500 for the same brands. But if you've got some treasure-hunting blood in you, head south, young jeans buyer.

Best Place to Buy an Old Angora Sweater

Hollywood Regency

When it opened a couple of years ago, this wonderful antiques shop made its mark by offering the usual cool old furniture and wonderful mid-century housewares at rock-bottom prices. But not long ago, proprietress Heidi Owens opened up Hollywood Regency's back room and made space for a mind-blowing collection of vintage fashions from the last half of the last century, and now we're unable to stay away. We drop in weekly to ogle the near-mint '50s poodle skirt, and fantasize about making our mom wear it with the pair of sparkly spectator pumps, also on sale here, that someone wisely dyed to match. We're also enamored of the shiny '70s platform heels that make us long for our old Angel's Flight disco-wear, and the frankly fabulous hand-knitted poncho trimmed in sequins we saw on our last trip there. All the items can be mixed, matched, and accessorized with neatly displayed bags, wraps, and jewelry that will scream, well, "Hollywood Regency!" to anyone who spots you sporting them. Oh, and we bought that angora sweater, but there were two more there the last time we looked, so head on over to Hollywood Regency, where you can be outfitted in genuine fashions of almost any era for next to nothing.

Best Place to Buy a Gas Mask and a Pair of High Heels

Fetish Falls

This new fetish and fashion shop has everything a sexy freak needs for a night out, from glittery hair extensions and spiked bracelets to vinyl bustiers and straitjackets. But the shop's most impressive merchandise is its selection of gas masks, and we're not talking about some cheap-ass, generic imitations. Fetish Falls stocks the real deal, from Israeli black gas masks and German M65 gas masks to Russian Youth gas masks and East German gas masks. Prices are reasonable, too (anywhere from $25 to $45), so shoppers can save some green for important accessories like shoes. Fetish Falls carries a small but impressive assortment of high heels, from the classic hooker red vinyl pumps to new platforms with skull-and-crossbone designs. And if you're worried about how your legs will look in that rubber mini-skirt, Fetish Falls has got you covered with a wide variety of hosiery, too.

Best Place to Buy Spy Gear

Spy Headquarters

Maybe you're hunting ghosts and you need an electromagnetic field detector. Maybe you want to spy on your significant other with a hidden camera made to look like a desk clock. Perhaps you're the parent of a stoner teen and would like to find an EZ-5 disposable drug test. Maybe you're the stoner teen and need a safe designed to look like a soda can in which to hide your stash. No matter your espionage needs, Spy Headquarters has your back. The shop carries a variety of gear, including police products (such as fingerprint kits and lock picks), computer surveillance systems and counter-surveillance devices (like phone tap detectors and voice changers), personal protection devices (everything from air Tasers to stun guns), and plenty of books and badges, too, making Spy Headquarters the perfect place to be cool and go covert.

Best Spa

Golden Door Spa at the Boulders

It probably would be therapy enough just to visit the Boulders, an elegant resort set in a particularly lovely part of Carefree, on a landscape with massive clumps of brownish-red rock and lush desert life. But once we've driven that far north, there is no way we're not going to make a stop at the Golden Door Spa. The massage and treatments are beyond compare — our companion swears that he's never had such a good Thai massage, and we couldn't stop raving about the citrus scrub. Even if you're not a spa junkie, it's worth it to sign up for a treatment just to get pool access. Lying on a soft towel, giant rocks and desert all around you, you might even trick yourself into thinking you've made it to Heaven — without that nasty dying bit.

Best Budget Spa Event

Spa Week

Forget Disney World. The first thing we'll do after we win the lottery is head straight to the spa. The unequaled bliss of a day of pampering, fortified by a chorus of angels trilling "aaaaahhhhhhh" in the background, beats standing in line for the Pirates of the Caribbean any day. Unfortunately, the cost of that kind of pampering heads straight up to the stratosphere and could, quite possibly, rival a mortgage payment (or a Park Pass). That's why we're in a lather over Spa Week. Launched in 2004, this annual event aims to bring resort day spa pampering to us regular folks at a budget-friendly price: $49 for nearly hourlong treatments at 22 of this year's participating spas. How about facials at the Arizona Biltmore, Swedish massages at the Mondrian, pedicures at the Valley Ho? We've only two regrets — that it happens once a year, and only for a week. But tick tock, we're already counting the days 'til next year, and you can, too, by checking the Web site.

Best Boutique Pedicure

Sundrops Nailspot

Don't get us wrong: We're all about the cheap mani/pedi. We've scoured the city for low-end (but not dirty!) spots to get our toes polished for under $20. But sometimes, a girl's just gotta have a little primping, and that's when we head to Sundrops.

Not in the hoity-toity spa category, this pretty little spot has a cute "nail bar" and comfy spa chairs (that aren't falling apart!) and sparkly pink touches everywhere, from the clothing and accessories available up front to the shiny-tiled bathroom in the back. Your feet will sparkle right up to your heels with our favorite, the "Down and Dirty," $55 for an extra-long foot massage and the only method in town (something about walnut shells and seaweed) we've found that actually softens our calluses.

Cheaper options are available, like a mini-pedi for $26. But we like to splurge so we can stay as long as possible.

Best Alternative to Sending Flowers

Nothing Bundt Cakes

We'd sent brownies and iced cookies to just about everyone we know, which is why we were so happy to find a sweet new alternative to flowers. The folks at Nothing Bundt Cakes have turned the humble bundt into a work of art, starting with a moist, rich cake in your choice of flavors, and pouring on a sinfully thick cream cheese icing, then festooning the whole thing with a huge sunflower or another equally adorable theme.

With Nothing Bundt Cakes, you can have your flower and eat your cake, too. Tasty!

Best Trophy Shop

Award Mart

We've used this mom-and-pop shop just off the McDowell exit of the 51 for years — and never once experienced a bad attitude, a missed deadline, or even a typo. And we know we're not alone in appreciating Award Mart's charms: Just about every time we're in there, we run into a cop or a politically connected attorney picking up a plaque or trophy. They clearly enjoy the place's friendly vibe and professional work just as much as we do.

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