Insider: Shopping
Channeling Sarasota’s arts colony heritage, a handful of boutiques in historic Burns Square have been opened recently by artists, designers, crafters and more. Creativity entices at every nook and cranny, and products of the imagination are valued as much as status brands. This quaint little shopping and dining district starts to bustle at lunchtime and delivers serendipitous delights at excellent restaurants and its very own art cinema in the heart of Burns Court.
Curious? Trawl for handmade treasures in a Dickensian-style curiosity shop brimming with old English botanicals framed and printed on site, stunning suzani pillows (from $63), jewelry and much more at Tortoise & Pearl, 539 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, (941) 735-7602.
Beeline to the newest spa in town, where Cheryln Van Kirk’s proprietary potions include a Royal Rose Enzyme Mask ($30) that’s made for collagen renewal with food-grade royal jelly, raw organic honey and Bulgarian rose oils. Starflower Organic Spathecary, 415 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, (941) 554-4292.
The Hottest Pink The signature aesthetic at L. Boutique is resort casual, and flirty one-shoulder styles like the graphic print Vivi dress from Alice & Trixie are making waves ($338). L. Boutique, 556 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota (941) 906-1350.
Talent Show Sigrid Olsen’s many talents converge at this tiny gallery, the epicenter of a creative vision expressed in everything from hand-painted notecards and pottery to colorful, flowing resort clothes like this sequined cardigan ($270). Sigrid Olsen Art Gallery and ISLA Beach House, 407 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, (941) 312-5826.
Sculptural Serendipity rules at Jack Vinales’ new gallery, which is now twice the size and brimming with discoveries, from vintage Haywood Wakefield nesting tables ($2,500) to mid-century Carl Jacobs chairs (above; $1,800 the pair). Jack Vinales Antiques, 500 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, (941) 957-0002.
Clean Sweep High-quality German-made brooms and brushes tackle every imaginable task from horse grooming to computer dusting. Badger hair shaving brushes (from $89) vie for attention with a smattering of marionettes and collectibles. Nessentials, 532 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, (941) 928-9048.
Bohemian Chic dresses are fashioned with love by owner Delight Cash from garage-sale fabric finds. This adorable dress is made of silk and metallic fabrics attached to a peek-a-boo vintage bra ($115). Delight Couture, 537 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, delightcouture.com.
Luxury for Less is the new buzzword at Gia Ventola’s self-titled boutique, where a summer expansion is already under way to make room for even more clothes and accessories set to sell at insider prices (handbag, $190; elsewhere, $1,200). Gia Ventola, 610 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, (941) 373-1980.