I stopped by Octavia Boutique today, and I was so impressed that I felt compelled to write a few…read morelines about it. The store is fairly large and sits in the Village of Cross Keys in Baltimore, an upscale open‑air shopping destination near the golf course. I've been a customer there for quite some time, but lately it feels as though they've shifted gears -- in the best possible way. What stands out most is the balance in their selection. They offer an appealing mix of evening wear, casual everyday pieces, and beautifully tailored clothing in rich, flattering colors. The pants are consistently good, the jackets are glorious, and the sweaters are the kind you want to touch. Everything is thoughtfully curated and priced sensibly, which is dangerous for me because I can always find something I won't be able to resist. Their jewelry selection has also taken a noticeable leap forward. They still carry small, affordable, easy pieces, but they've also added more distinctive designer items​ lately -- bold colors, contemporary shapes, and intriguing materials. I spotted exquisite Lucite pieces, leather designs in unexpected hues, and some very fashion‑forward clip earrings from Paris that are both chic and unbelievably comfortable. ​Visiting Octavia Boutique always feels like stepping into a space where style is taken seriously without ever feeling intimidating. What makes it truly exceptional, though, is how rare it is to find a fashion boutique that excels equally in clothing and jewelry. Their recent evolution has only sharpened that distinction. The apparel is beautifully curated, but the jewelry collection is nothing short of breathtaking -- a level of creativity and quality you almost never see under the same roof. If you enjoy thoughtful fashion, distinctive accessories, and a store that consistently surprises in the best way, Octavia is well worth the stop. Just be warned: resisting temptation there is nearly impossible.

This boutique is short of amazing. Called the store to inquire about styles. Instead of the lady…read morewho answered the phone cutting me off and saying she didn't have it. Not only did she recommend several stores that were able to accommodate. But she was fully invested and making sure that I received what I was looking for. Definitely 10 out of 10 customer service. I would go there to shop.

Mrs. Pivec, the store owner, is friendly and has cute merchandise. Not only that, the store is…read moretidy. Come here after you are full, so you won't binge shop... This place requires discipline because one can easily spend her whole bank account here... especially when one loves accessories and loves to look polished. I have only briefly browsed here, before going back to work, when it was incredibly busy... so I cannot say much about the boutique's staff. Looking forward to returning here again!!

From the owner: Panache is one of Baltimore’s most known women’s fashion boutiques located in its newest location…read morein The Village of Cross Keys. Our specially curated items are hand selected by Vanessa Fava , the owner, whose fashion career has spanned over 40 years. Our contemporary designers range from today’s latest emerging designers, both stateside and International, as well as our favorite tried and true brands we love. If you want to feel fabulous and elevate your style, Panache is the place to be.

This place is cute collection of all sorts of clothes…read more I was drawn in when I saw the skirt in the photo above (red and white stripes) and expected it to be a secret store full of clothing for ladies on the younger side of the spectrum. That's not really the case. I'd say a majority of the items they offer are flowy, natural-colored clothes for an older generation. That being said, they are still interesting... just not my style. There were a few dresses and skirts that were more for younger women. I also get the impression that this is the kind of place that you have to keep checking and can make some good finds there. I don't think they order more than a few items in each size/color. If you miss it, that's your loss! If you want to try something on, the workers close off the back corner of the store (there are little doors, but it's not quite a dressing room). Kind of adds to the eclectic feel of the store. Definitely worth popping into if you're strolling through Mt. Washington!

Something Else is an eclectic little Mt. Washington boutique that is absolutely stuffed to the…read moregills with treasures. My mom said that this is where all the cool hippie girls bought their clothes in the 70s. Cool hippie girls circa now will like it, too. You should be able to find a gift for any girl on your list here- there are modern, colorful silky and sexy blouses, tons of sparkly earrings, big sterling cuff bracelets, Indian tapestries, unique coats, and chunky knits galore. It's a boho feel overall (need a tie-dye onesie?) but its a pretty eclectic mix. Give yourself some time if you plan on stopping in here. After half an hour of browsing, I felt like I had barely scratched the surface. It is jam-packed with stuff and you will want to see it all. This is the type of local business that is worth supporting; it's been around forever and you are guaranteed to walk out with something unique. I had a bit of hit or miss luck with finding my size, and the return policy is exchanges or store credit only-- but hey-- it's not a department store--it's better!

Fun, quirky store with lots of household goods, clothing, jewelry, and books…read more Prices are high, but it's fun to browse and get ideas - and purchase, of course! The people who work here are very sweet and come up with great ideas, too.

I love love love this store, however the only thing that is keeping me from giving it 5 stars is…read moreone thing, well person (i'll come back to that later). First off, I agree, this is the closest that we get to the MoMA Store in Baltimore, but there is so much more to this establishment. The Store is broken into sections... there is a clothing section... very beautiful and a little out of my price range, a home wears section that has high-end, but also extremely affordable and beautiful items that are great gifts. There are also fun art books that live next to a little children's section. The "star" of the store is our local Jewelry Celeb, Betty Cooke's section (well actually she owns the whole store) that is devoted to her spectacular pieces. Do not go to tiffany and buy something boring... something that everyone else has... come here and treat yourself or a lucky friend to a beautiful pair of earrings, or a funky ring or any of her other pieces. I feel honored to own 2 pairs of her earrings and they are 2 of my favorite pieces. Ok, so address the non-5 star rating. There is one employee who works at the store, who simply does not belong in this environment. She is judgmental, opinionated and I have even witnessed her yelling at her co-workers while I and other customers were in the store. It's funny, but if you read other reviews of the store, the same issue comes up as well... so I know I am not crazy. Besides that little blip, this is a wonderful, locally owned establishment that all should frequent!!

Morgan and Gabrielle are extremely helpful. Grabbing sizes, suggesting styling ideas, upbeat,…read morefunny? GREAT questions to really figure out what I was looking for. Probably the best customer service I've gotten in a long time. Madewell is lucky to have them! Truly professionals. Thank you!

Not the largest Madewell, but a solid shop with very helpful staff. Tons of delightfully twee…read moreblouses and soy candles and all that good "I'm casual but still fashionable" young adult garb. I've found this store usually boasts a better selection and more attractive sale items than the Towson mall, maybe due to less foot traffic? During the holidays the Towson shop becomes crazy congested, but I've never seen this location remotely packed. The footwear selection here is probably 30% larger than Towson, which doesn't even carry many of the best-sellers(?) Staff have been attentive and kind; they've always inquired as to whether I'm eligible for a student discount and have eagerly replaced any item I've found a defect in (no matter how minor). Parking is meh; I usually just nip in if I'm down at Whole Foods and have their free 2h pass (the garage on Aliceanna). And yes, yes, shopping at Whole Foods and Madewell in the same day is appallingly bougie.

Sadly I continue to use this location only because it is close to Trader Joe's and About Faces…read more Usually I park and walk by the window and the clothes draw me in. Once inside the customer service is far from exceptional. I am pretty convinced at this point it is an age matter. I am younger than the normal Chico's shopper. I can walk in and shop around and NO one acknowledges my existence and I never leave without finding something to purchase. I have been to shop in business attire as well as dressed down Saturday and it does not make a difference. I cannot attribute it to race either all the associates ignore. I have commented numerous times via the online survey but sadly the service does not change or improve. I have began to shop via their website instead. The service is so rude and obvious prime example I was in today and walked by three associates and NEVER greeted. Another lady walked in and two associates nearly attacked her offering assistance and greetings. But for me the treatment that sent me over was at checkout when I was in the process of starting checkout and a woman walked up with some items in hand and the cashier turned to assist her and apologized for having to finish up with me. Online for my future I can always provide myself with great customer service!

From the owner: Women's clothing store that offers a curated collection of chic, unique women's clothing, jewelry…read moreand accessories. Your boutique features Style Experts, skilled associates who offer outfitting advice, fashion tips and tricks, previews of new collections and more and it's always complimentary.

Stepped in briefly on the hunt for a very specific type of jacket, but did not find it here…read more However, the rest of the inventory in this store was very cool and I'd like to go back and peruse everything more leisurely another time.

This a cute little shop on the Ave! I will admit right of the bat, I didn't purchase anything - but…read morewas with my sister-in-law who was in town and she loved everything in the shop. They have a great variety and very accessible dressing rooms. They carry the cutest sweatshirts with different themes. I loved the book one - and have seen strangers out wearing it and passed lots of complements their way. Great shop if you are shopping around or need a trendy new outfit!

The people working in this store were very nice greeted me when I came in,…read more but it was so HOT in there they had a couple fans blowing HOT air, stop being so cheap and get the air conditioner FIXED so that so we can comfortably shop in the store,.

Listen, this store is horrible! I ran into Madrag to grab a tank top for my trip, but really wished…read moreI had gone somewhere else. I couldn't get out of the store fast enough. The store is really poorly kept. The floors are worn and dirty, the racks are too close together and the back of the store is basically an empty shell. I am not sure what has happened to this store, as it was not in such poor condition when it first opened. There were four people working on the Wednesday when I went. Two were friendly while the other two stood in the middle of the store gossiping about customers, standing right in the way of the one rack that I came to the store from. When I tried to navigate around them, they acted as if I was inconveniencing them! One customer was on the phone screaming at her daughter. Another customer had her toddler son in the store who was also screaming. Needless to say, I got the tank top that I was searching for and exited the store immediately.

Amazing place to find traditional and modern African attire. Ziva has a wide selection of fabrics…read moreand new styles and helped me design the perfect piece for an upcoming wedding. No more do we have to go all the way to DC to get garments sewn or tailored!!! There's a good selection of purses, already made dresses and skirts and accessories to fit your need. Stop on in, see what she's got going on- she's got a beautiful spirit and is such a blessing!

Bottom Line: Men and women's clothing including vintage apparel and locally made items…read more I like boutiques like Doubledutch that have items for both men and women since its keep everyone occupied. Doubledutch also has a few things for kids too in really cute prints. I noticed a rack of vintage clothing and lots of accessories too. The store is well organized and has great décor. I absolutely love the original windows with the hardware in tact!

Stopped in today with my partner after visiting several shops in the area. For the entire 15…read moreminutes or so that we were in the shop, the woman at the register with red hair stared at us as if we were going to steal something. This made us feel so unwelcome that we ultimately left. Definitely consider if you're a POC!