Checking In: Shopping destinations

Fall is much more than pumpkin spice lattes and foliage. It’s also the best excuse to revamp your wardrobe. Hit the road this season for these stylish escapes.

Wealthy Victorian families migrated to Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square in the 1850s, establishing the neighborhood as a fashionable enclave. Today, the Rittenhouse Hotel is a nod to the district’s lavish history, with a grand marble foyer, rich mahogany furnishings and a Belgian stone courtyard. Stay at the Rittenhouse Hotel and you’ll be within walking distance of the area’s best shops, like Aoki Boutique, which is inspired by Philly street style and owner Alina Alter’s world travels. Then there’s Arcadia for its vintage jewelry, denim and shoes, and Joan Shepp, a high-end retailer with threads from international designers like Phillip Lim and Alexander McQueen, as well as local ones such as Aso Damisi.

Ace Hotel in Portland, Oregon, hosts CONTENT, a series of installations highlighting the city’s designers. On deck this year are pieces from approximately 25 local brands (past highlights include Julia Barbee and Honeyfox Jewelry) which are available for purchase in a pop-up shop Nov. 9-10. Continue your buying spree in the West End, where one-of-a-kind shops reign, and a good alternative to the Pearl District’s big-box retailers. Start at the charming Radish Underground for simple and cute clothes and accessories, and then head to Flora, Canoe or Alder & Co. for unique decor. Meanwhile, Pinkham Millinery will make you wish you had Kate Middleton’s social calendar so you’d have a reason to wear some fabulous hats.

Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix, Hotel Palomar is a mix of Southwest chic and Mad Men-modern. Sure, it draws plenty of hungry travelers with the imaginative comfort food at Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails, but fashion enthusiasts will love the contemporary hotel just as much. It’s a part of downtown’s CityScape district, where local must-shop stops include Brooklyn Shoes and West of SoHo, and just a short walk from some of the area’s other intriguing boutiques like the Duce, a quirky combo of restaurant and boutique set in a historic 1928 warehouse. If you’re renting a car, make the quick drive to Union at Biltmore Fashion Park for even more locally owned, independent retailers.

Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighborhood is trendy and fun, known for its restaurants, clubs and, yes, shopping. For a quintessential stay, book a room at El Tres Silver Lake Inn, an apartment-style hotel with modern Mexican decor that borders on the avant-garde. El Tres is right on the corner of Sunset and Hollywood boulevards, so you’ll be in a prime position to explore the area’s retail offerings. There’s LA Mill Merch for a curated collection of jewelry, soaps and candles, or YOLK, with its funky home decor items for all. Nearby Lake is pricey but beautiful, and Grace Ellay has more affordable clutches and flowing bohemian tops.

Will Smith attended the most recent Montreal Fashion Week, causing quite the excited stir among residents. Is it a sign that the Canadian city is the next style hub? Not sure. But what’s really cool about Montreal are the local boutiques and designers found in the neighborhood of Old Montreal. A hideout of several of the city’s top designers like Denis Gagnon and Michel Brisson, the district’s stores are varied. At Cahier d’Exercices, you’ll find everything from international runway threads to up-and-coming talent, while SSENSE is all about the urban look with influences of Italian and Spanish style. For a fashionable stay, check out the LHotel, owned by Georges Marciano of Guess.

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