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Best Boutiques On The North Shore And In Merrimack Valley

Think you can't find great boutiques outside of the city? Think again. Throughout the North Shore and Merrimack Valley, more and more top-rate boutique shopping destinations are popping up. From seaside towns to historic mill cities, you can find plenty of shops that rival even Boston's best local boutiques. Whether you're tired of going into the city to shop or live in Boston and want an excuse to visit the rest of Massachusetts, here are some of the best little boutiques the North Shore and Merrimack Valley have to offer.
humanity
(Photo from Humanity/Facebook)


Humanity
128 Merrimack St.
Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 458-7467
www.facebook.com/Live4Humanity

Humanity is every fashionista's dream: unique clothing, great prices and a constantly revolving stock. In fact, the only downside to this shop is that every time you stop in, you'll find something new to fall in love with. The clothing is always on top of the latest trends. Since Humanity limits how much it carries of any one item, you can be sure that you're walking out the door with something everyone wants but can't get.

Related: Boston's Trendiest Boutiques That Opened In 2012

Viola Lovely
(Photo Credit: Viola Lovely/Facebook)

Viola Lovely
148 Main St.
Wenham, MA 01984
(978) 468-1775
www.violashoe.com

If you're looking for clothes, you'll find a few styles here. If you're a shoe fanatic, scarf hound or jewelry magpie, you will absolutely fall in love with Viola Lovely. This shop has a wide selection of accessories ranging from emerging designers to top-of-the-line designer brand names. This selection can't be beat. It has prices for every budget and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable about what is sold. Whether you're looking for an iconic brand name to wow your friends or trying to get the scoop on who the next big designer will be, Viola Lovely can steer you towards exactly what you need.

French + Italian
(Photo From French + Italian)

French + Italian
129 Washington St.
Marblehead, MA 01945
(781) 639-5129
www.frenchitalian.com

Admit it, you spent your last European vacation wondering how those women pulled off such effortless chic. If you find yourself daydreaming of bringing that same comfortable and classic tailored look into your own wardrobe, French + Italian is your new go-to clothing store. It brings together the best of - you guessed it - French and Italian fashion in one gorgeous boutique. You will find the prices here to be a bit steeper than the other boutiques on this list, but the quality can't be beat and is more than worth every penny.

The Boutique
(Photo Credit: The Boutique)

The Boutique
36 Front St.
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 741-4141
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Boutique

At The Boutique, you'll find everything from adorable party dresses to a friendly staff. But where this store really stands out is in its accessory offerings. The jewelry and other accessories you'll find here are fashion forward and more than affordable. Even better, it is much higher quality than you'll find at the same kind of price in any mall store. Whether you're looking for an everyday basic or an on-trend statement piece, there's a huge selection of both at The Boutique.

Related: 2013 Spring Fashion Tips From A Boston Fashionista

Markus & Leslie
(Photo from Markus & Leslie)

Markus & Leslie
4 Alpine Lane
Chelmsford, MA 01824
(978) 250-1856
www.markusandleslie.com

Markus & Leslie is a truly unique boutique located in Chelmsford. The store is part art school, part clothing store and part interior design firm. So of course, with that much creativity going on, you can imagine the one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories that line the shelves. Markus & Leslie is young, hip and uncommonly fun to shop at.

Renee Mallett is the author of several books about art, culture, and New England. She was the owner and director of an art gallery and has written about arts and entertainment on a national level for several print and online journals. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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