Shopping About in the Southampton Area
Boutiques abound in this oh-so tony part of the world. Here,
money is no object and it shows in the high-end selection of goods sold in and
around Southampton. Fortunately, however, you can find something for everyone
even if you’re not working within a multi-millionaire’s budget.
Sport your best casual chic attire and stroll down Southampton’s
stately Main Street to experience fine shopping in a variety of forms. You’re
in for a classy experience within each space housed behind freshly-painted
white facades, some of which have existed for centuries. (The town of
Southhampton was settled in 1640.) In addition to big names such as Ralph
Lauren and Michael Kors, you’ll discover many unique shops full of local charm
and distinction.
Start with Hildreth’s Home Goods, a Hamptons favorite since
1842. Home décor items and gifts for you, your home and your children reign
supreme in this beautiful store that offers a glimpse of how the neighboring
“cottages” are decorated. Drive or pedal down Meadow and Gin Lanes before or
after your shopping foray to take a gander at the exterior of these
extraordinary homes. Note that you might need a very tall ladder to peek over
the super high hedgerows, which provide privacy. No worries though–you can
always crane your head around to catch a look of them at the driveway entrance.
Unless, of course, the gate is closed!
Back on Main Street Southampton, you’ll find some of the best
consignment shopping in the world at Collette’s. Shop at their main locale as
well as at their downstairs bargain basement a few doors down for fashion
forward ladies’ clothing and accessories at a fraction of their original cost.
The beautifully displayed merchandise within a glittering space (in the main boutique)
make it hard to believe you’re looking at secondhand goods. Once you realize
that the ladies in the area change out their wardrobes on a regular basis, it
all makes sense.
Before leaving this pristine town center, pick up some cheese
and other delicious products such as breads, salads, sandwiches and desserts at
The Village Gourmet Cheese Shop.
If you’re headed east Water Mill on the Hamptons Wine Trail,
make a stop at Duck Walk Vineyards to pick up some nice wines to accompany your
fine comestibles. (Be sure to allow time for tasting, too!)
So many museums, so much shopping. Some of the best gift items
can be found at museum gift shops and the Hamptons boast many, including the
Southhampton Historical Museum, the Parrish Art Museum and the Water Mill
Museum in Water Mill and The Sag Harbor Whaling and Historical Museum.
Like everything else, the shopping in Sag Harbor is more dialed
down. For more picnic provisioning, go to Schiavoni’s Market, a Sag favorite,
founded in 1941. Harbor Books, a fine independent bookstore, ranks as another
must-see. Have a cup of coffee here and linger over their fine selection of
books about the sea, the Hamptons, beach life and a tide of other nonfiction
and fiction titles on a swell of far reaching subjects and themes.
Farming has always been big on Long Island, so not surprisingly
the roads are dotted with farm stands and markets big and small. Serene Green
in Noyac is one that’s committed to selling fresh and local produce, baked
goods, dairy products, seafood and fish, grass-fed beef, a pantry-full of
prepared foods and more.
Travel to Flanders to visit The Big Duck, an iconic landmark,
listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in the form of–you guessed
it–a big fat duck. Originally built in 1931 by a duck farmer to showcase his
ducks and duck eggs, today it serves as an ode to the deep-rooted ducky spirit
of Long Island. Shop here for all kinds of fun and kitsch-y souvenirs. The kids
will love it!