With temperatures dropping and frost on the morning grass, it is time to pick up some new winter clothes, right?.
A survey by Advance America polled 3,002 shoppers to find “the independent clothing stores most beloved for affordable winter fashion.” One Connecticut shop made the top 10.
Where should you head for affordable winter fashion? Red Door Boutique in East Hampton, according to Advance America. Additionally, another Connecticut store just barely missed the top 10 at 11th overall: Hope & Stetson in West Hartford.
As for the top choice in the nation, the honor went to Alice & Wonder in Chicago, Illinois, according to Advance America. Check out the full top ten below, as well as an interactive map of each state’s top store:
- Alice & Wonder, Chicago, Illinois
Alice & Wonder is a boutique in Chicago, Illinois, offering a curated selection of women’s clothing, accessories, and gifts. Their winter collection features cozy sweaters, stylish outerwear, and elegant accessories, perfect for layering during the cooler months. With a focus on providing unique collections and personalized service, Alice & Wonder ensures that every customer finds pieces that are both fashionable and functional for the winter season. - Mure + Grand, New York, New York
Mure + Grand is a boutique in Little Italy that offers a blend of fashion and gifts. Known for its floral displays and eclectic mix of items, the store provides customers with a curated selection of clothing, accessories, and gifts that reflect a bohemian-chic aesthetic. Each visit to Mure + Grand is an experience, with new finds and inspirations awaiting around every corner. The boutique has become a favorite among locals and visitors alike for its unique offerings and inviting atmosphere. - Apricot Lane Boutique, Moorestown, New Jersey
Apricot Lane Boutique in Moorestown is an independently owned store that’s part of a larger brand family. It offers a wide range of women’s fashion apparel, jewelry, handbags, accessories, and gifts. The boutique prides itself on providing flattering, timeless, and fun clothing and accessories that are high-quality and affordable. With a relaxed atmosphere and expert staff, Apricot Lane ensures each customer finds the perfect look for any occasion. Their commitment to community and customer satisfaction makes them a beloved local business. - Inspyre Boutique, Denver, Colorado
Inspyre Boutique is a locally owned women’s boutique with four locations throughout the Denver, Colorado, metropolitan area. They are dedicated to finding the most incredible fashion, accessories, and gifts for women. The boutique offers a wide range of stylish options suitable for Colorado’s winter season, including cozy sweaters, chic outerwear, and versatile layering pieces. With a focus on providing a comfortable, fun atmosphere, shopping at Inspyre Boutique feels like shopping with a trusted friend. - Prism Boutique, Long Beach, California
Prism Boutique is a California-based boutique with locations in Long Beach and Palm Springs. Known for its curated collections of women’s clothing, accessories, and home goods, Prism offers a blend of modern and classic styles suitable for various occasions. Their offerings include cozy sweaters, stylish outerwear, and versatile layering pieces, perfect for California’s cooler months. The boutique’s commitment to quality and style ensures that shoppers can find pieces that are both fashionable and functional for the winter season. - On Second Thought Consignment, Forest, Virginia
Spanning nearly 10,000 square feet, On Second Thought in the greater Lynchburg area is one of Virginia’s largest independent consignment stores. Locals trade and shop here for cold-weather essentials, like coats, boots, knitwear, furniture, and home decor, keeping costs manageable through reuse. The shop hosts community-based consignment events that extend the life of garments and reduce textile waste. It embodies the Blue Ridge region’s winter mindset — practical warmth, hometown connection, and sensible spending. - Red Door Boutique, East Hampton, Connecticut
Red Door Boutique is a woman-owned shop featuring women’s apparel, jewelry, and gifts from small designers. Each collection emphasizes comfort, texture, and affordability. In Connecticut’s colder months, Red Door’s cozy knits and casual layers fit the quiet rhythms of small-town life, where warmth and value matter equally. - Dirt Chic Resale Clothing, Burlington, Vermont
Dirt Chic is a consignment boutique located at 67 Main Street in Burlington. They carry women’s, men’s, bridal, maternity, kids’, and baby apparel — all secondhand — with the motto: “where it’s cheap to be chic.” Because their inventory is preowned, customers often find winter coats, flannels, and layering essentials at a fraction of retail costs. In Burlington’s winter climate, many turn to Dirt Chic to build insulated wardrobes affordably while supporting reuse. - Still in Style, Austin, Texas
Still in Style is a consignment boutique in Austin that offers women’s apparel, accessories, and gently used pieces. The shop’s consignment model helps keep prices accessible; consigned sweaters, coats, and layering items often arrive at much lower costs than retail. For Austinites facing cold snaps, Still in Style provides a budget-friendly option to layer up without overpaying — a practical route to warmth via resale rather than full new price tags. - Beloved Boutique, Breckenridge, Colorado
Nestled in the heart of downtown Breckenridge, Beloved Boutique has been a trusted destination for women’s fashion since 2013. Known for its curated selection of cozy sweaters, stylish denim, chic boots, and accessories, the boutique offers pieces that seamlessly transition from the slopes to après-ski gatherings. Emphasizing quality over fleeting trends, Beloved Boutique provides timeless styles that cater to both locals and visitors seeking warmth and style during Colorado’s winter months.
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“This list really reflects how people are redefining value this winter,” said Laura McCutcheon, VP of Marketing at Advance America. “It’s not about spending less for the sake of it — it’s about spending smart. Independent retailers have become the heartbeat of that shift, blending local style with practicality in a way big-box stores can’t match.”