I post this annually on Facebook; I live in Lafayette Park so I mostly list shops nearby:
I love to shop and I shop in Detroit! Sometimes shops and boutiques in Ferndale, Royal Oak, or art fairs, festivals or artist venues like the RustBelt Market in Ferndale. I almost never shop at a mall. The Detroit is where I live, and I try to support those who support where I live.
New - Stef & Ty's!! The East Coast designers have made Detroit their home and are known for their funky hats and urban stylings. They just opened their new jazzy new space in the Iron Lofts.
New - Hugh! Joe Posch won the Hatch Prize and a lot of bucks to reopen his downtown pop-up as a new shop in Midtown. A sort of Mad Men era ambiance with men's haberdashery items and enough glass wear to open your own cocktail space.
New-Detroit Mercantile Company, on Russell in the Eastern Market district - Detroit themed vintage and antique whatnots, a sepia toned, rustic, elegant place.
Flo's - For the cool folks; Felecia has the place in the D for lagenlook Euro-style, high quality clothes, bags and hats. the only place in Detroit for the funky upscale, art-to-wear brands she carries.
The Peacock Room - For the girly girl in you. Rachel Lutz has exquisite offerings of clothes, jewelry and sundries; specializing in high quality vintage and new stuff. Like a new style room in the old Woodward Shops! At the Park-Shelton apartments, near the DIA. The Peacock Room is also in the Somerset CityLofts this holiday season. That leads me to:
Emerald: a NEW emporium of home sundries, gifts and men's haberdashery from the Rachel of the Peacock Room. Also at the Park-Shelton, but the Woodward entrance.
Offin River Boutique - before there was Flo's, before there was the Peacock Room - there was Offin Rivers. One of my very favorite clothing boutiques, I call it clothes for GROWN women. Lovely things for work, dress up and funky good times. Clothes and great accessories.
Savvy Chic - In the Eastern Market, on Riopelle [[That's 1 street east of Russell, on the block with the meat markets, behind Shed 3 I think). Karen has a lovely selection of beautiful things and gifty items. If you haven't been there you'll be stunned at this pretty place. Glass ware, home decor, vintage and cute stuff. Looks like a photo spread in Victorian magazine. It's been called a "bit of Paris in Detroit" [[cool, since Detroit was once called the Paris of the Midwest).
Soul Sisters - In Medical Center, on Canfield between John R and Woodward - A shoe store and a whole lot more - lots of bags, and jewelry gifts to be found; all kinds of accessories. My girl Powell Peabody in the house.
Mbad bead Museum - Beads and more for the creative, artsy person on your list, sold by the arts sage known as Dabls, at this internationally renown art installation of mirrored houses, on Grand River and West Grand Boulevard. I never miss a Christmas season without coming here [[or any other month, for that matter)
The Spiral Collective, on Cass and Willis includes:
Source Booksellers - Janet Jones book emporium; great books on many subjects, books are a great gift! - and she's getting ready to move across the street!
Tulani Rose - Sharon Pryors place for speciality soaps, small gift items, perfumes and body stuff, and
Dell Pryor - The grand diva of in arts and antiques in the D, art gallery and jewelry finds.
Avalon Bakery, of course; what's the holidays without sweets and treats?
Goodwell's health food store, next door, for a snack between stops
Djenne Beads - In Greektown, on Beaubien between Lafayette and Monroe, in the Atheneum - tall, elegant Mahamadou's place is an institution in Detroit - all manner of exotic beads, shawls, jewelry, clothes, African arts.
Interntational Institute: On John R. and Kirby, across from the DIA and CCS. A tiny shop in the International Institute, my friend Djana has opened up a place for her needlecraft and fiber art
International Bazaar - Those who know Geneva, know she has just moved, and is still in the New Center with her Art-to-wear and accessories.
Detroit Insitute of Arts Gift Shop - Always something beautiful to be found at the DIA museum shop. Other galleries - Center for Contemporary Crafts, in the Fisher Building; Detroit Artists Market on Woodward and Forrest. George N'namdi Center for Contemporary Arts, for the high-end collector.
Bizaar - High style clothes, shoes and accessories in the New Center One Building.
Dumouchelle Auctions - on Jefferson and Beaubien. I love this place, where you can find anything for auction, at about any price. Glorious, glorious stuff!
Textures: the elegant Nefertiti's natural hair salon that is also a day spa - with a facialist/aesthetician, masseuse and manicure/pedicures. Gift certificates available. A lovely place that rivals any shop in Birmingham for tasteful atmosphere and decor.
Spectacles - a pioneer staple of Downtown retail, Zana's little boutique on Grand River and Broadway, near Harmonie Park/Paradise Valley, has the coolest sunglasses, t-shirts, jewelry, sundries and funky clothes.
John King Books - old school used book store - one of the biggest in the US.
Rachel's Place - new! Cool, vintage place and in North Corktown area On Pine near 12th and Rosa Parks
Value World - used to be Value Village, quintessential grungy, no-bones resale store in the hood - but some gems can be found, for little 'a nothing.
Detroit Hardware Co. - This old fashioned hardware store place has been here forever, and has stayed long enough to be a part of the rennaissance of the New Center Area. On Woodward and Milwaukee; you can enter from the parking lot in the back. Lots of great housewares as well as fix-it stuff.
Somerset City Lofts - Experimental, pop-up shop, run by cool folks who want to see more high-style retail in the D; a collection of goods and goodies from Somerset Mall stores, on Woodward Ave across from where the old Hudson's building stood.
Style Gallery - although no longer in the New Center, Jackie has moved to Livernois' Avenue of Fashion and set up shop, some of my coolest things come from this place.
Sweet Potato Sensations - This is the FIRST bakery in the D where everything is made from Sweet Potatoes - and everything is good! On the "far west" side, Grand River and Lahser.
Noel Night - this year on Saturday, December 1, 2012. all the shops of Midtown and Downtown will be open and displaying their best.
I'm sure I left someone out, and if so, forgive me for an error of my head, not my heart. I've shopped at all of the; some I've left out because I haven't been there yet. All of these places are within 5 minutes or so from Downtown, and have items at very reasonable prices.
This list grows every year. Join me shopping in Detroit for the Holidays!