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Highfalutin' Utah
No longer a fashion desert, Salt Lake makes shopping fun with its trendy and one-of-a-kind retailers.
By Christa Zaro

In truth, Salt Lake City was a bit of shopping desert when I moved here from the East Coast 30 years ago. There were just a few department stores or one-off shops to visit back then—places like Mervyn's, ZCMI, Contempo Casuals, Chalk Garden and Nordstrom (at the original Main Street location).

Salt Lake City has since grown into a mid-size city, with high demand for new designers and out-of-state retailers. I'm happy to report that Salt Lake City is blossoming into a fertile oasis of retail stores and city style that I'd always hoped for. Here are some of my favorite haunts:

The perfect gift at O.C. Tanner Jewelers
Founder Obert C. Tanner wanted to create the most beautiful jewelry store in all of America, and this downtown flagship fulfilled his desires. O.C. Tanner's 1904 landmark building was the city's first public library and later became the Hansen Planetarium. The classic Beaux Arts building has a breathtaking spiral staircase with a 26.4 foot chandelier with over 4,000 fiber optic strands. No need to be a bride-to-be to shop here, although let me mention their heritage brands, including Kwiat, Messika, Rolex, Patek Philippe, Breitling, Cartier and Omega. The real gems are on the third floor in the home and lifestyle department. Qlocktwo timepieces that spell out the time, Baccarat crystal, alpaca throws, picture frames from L'Objet and Reed & Barton and Italian pottery from Rina Menardi. This is the place for gifts to mark the special occasions of your life—weddings, births, retirements as well as hostess and client gifts. Or simply find ways to zhuzh up your own personal space. 15 S. State, SLC, 801-532-3222, octannerjewelers.com

Ah! Cashmere at Zenzee Boutique
A Maven District clothing boutique featuring signature ultra soft cashmere sets in the prettiest pastels. Small-batch clothing made by a team of female designers and sewists at their Park City workshop. Functional women's wear (think sets) that are comfy yet luxurious. Hand-dyed cashmere, deadstock fabrics, deconstructed and embellished crewnecks, tie-dye beanies and socks, supercool pool slides emblazoned with a peace sign and heart. When you wear Zenzee, you are wearing an original design crafted right here in Utah. Enjoy being unique! 156 E. 900 South, Ste. 101, SLC, 425-985-2777, shopzenzee.com

Manly and modern: Curriculum
If a San Francisco lifestyle boutique hooked up with a Brooklyn men's store and had a love child, Curriculum would be the offspring! Located in the 9th & 9th district, Curriculum is moody and sultry and, if it had a signature scent, it would smell like vetiver, moss and wood. The vibe is industrial and masculine with a touch of modern home goods: socks and beanies from RoToTo, Samuel Zelig embroidered sweatshirts, Lowercase sunglasses and Taion Japanese utility clothing. The men's jewelry, watches and leather goods ooze sex appeal. You won't find a selection of candles of this magnitude anywhere in the city. The standouts are D. S. & Durga, Sydney Hale and Mad et Len from France. You'll find accoutrements for your home bar like cocktail glasses, brass trays, shakers, bitters, incense holders, coffee table books, arty playing cards and Oxford Pennants. There's a barbershop inside, too! 865 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-200-8747, curriculum.shop

Spice things up at the Colombian Marketplace
It's endless summer at this apparel boutique in The Gateway. Owner Andrea Zambrano shows off her Colombian pride with her country's beachy fashions. You'll find floral bathing suits, Waimari lace cover ups, tassel and fringe bucket bags, light and flowy skirts and tops in vibrant colors. This store shares space with eight Latina vendors under the umbrella W.O.S.B. (women-owned small business) Collective. Here, your shopping experience connects you with brands from around the world, with lots of stories to tell. Artist Paula Rojas makes exceptional crochet items like gold handbags, tops and coverups. At Cempoala, you'll find colorful hats from Mexico with beaded bands that evokes the spirit of Frida Kahlo. Jewelry, shoes, local handcrafted art and more. The Gateway, 136 S. Rio Grande St., SLC, 786-603-8838, thecolombianmarketplace.com

Classic style at Coach Play Store
This NYC-based leather-goods company was founded in 1941, and recently opened their second concept "play store" in the nation (the first is in Chicago) in Salt Lake City. The "play area" affords an interactive experience with the customer and lets you customize your Coach bag with monogramming, interchangeable straps, patches and charms to reflect your personal style. With a recent rebrand, Coach is making a comeback while still selling its archival silhouettes that look authentically American. The neon sign in the window beckons and was made locally by Brimley Neon. City Creek Center, 50 S. Main, Ste. 261, SLC, 801-532-3836, coach.com

Trendy, sleek fashion at Alo
Alo Yoga started as an e-commerce store in Beverly Hills and grew quickly to 60+ stores with a new one at the City Creek Center. Men's and women's lifestyle clothing in monochromatic elevated styles with new drops by color every two weeks that regulars anticipate. This "studio to street brand" is always ahead of the curve, setting trends that are guaranteed to sell out quickly. Their hoodies, leggings, trousers, biker shorts, tanks and more are designed to make you look gorgeous whether you're taking a Lagree class or brunching. And don't overlook their yoga accessories, sneakers and a clean skin-care system. City Creek Center, 50 S. Main, Ste. 178, SLC, 385-339-0399, aloyoga.com

Get your hat on at Gigi Pip
A premier women's hat brand founded and designed in Salt Lake City. Each hat goes through 70+ quality steps while remaining affordable for a custom. Many silhouettes to choose from fedora, rancher, pencil and wide brim, western and Panama straw in beautiful neutral colors. Available at retailers, but why not visit this downtown store and to get the right fit. Customize your hat at the Band Bar with embellishments like bandanas, beads, feathers and leather. Women wear many hats in life, and Gigi Pip can fulfill all the iterations of your authentic self. Now, the gentlemen of the world can also have a finely crafted hat with Gigi's new hat company for men called Two Roads. Showroom: 360 W. 300 South, SLC, 801-203-0903; HQ: 571 Deseret Drive, Kaysville; gigipip.com

Boot scoot on over to Tecovas
A Western wear company headquartered in Austin, Texas, that started as an e-commerce brand has opened in City Creek Center, and now you can get your Yellowstone vibe dialed in. The cowboy boots are affordable, and the designs are a perfect balance between cowboy and fashion, not too pointy and not too trendy. Designed in Austin and handmade in Leon, Mexico, the leather capital of the world. There are leather accessories like wallets and belts and bags, Western denim snap shirts, cowboy hats that are customizable and rugged denim jeans for men and women. There is even a leather polishing station where team members will polish any boot in any type of leather. Tecovas wants the boot fit to be right, and they go out of their way to help. City Creek Center, 50 S. Main, Ste. 170, SLC, 307-269-9533, tecovas.com

What's Old Is New
Hone your personal style at SLC's vintage and consignment stores.
By Christa Zaro

Salt Lake City vintage clothing and pre-loved furniture shops are popping up all over, and the prices aren't as overblown as you'd find in LA or Dallas. As the former "Shop Girl" columnist for City Weekly, I find there is nothing like the thrill of the hunt, and of finding a cast-off designer item at dopamine-inducing low prices. Not only is it environmentally prudent to reuse clothing and household goods, but the act of shopping locally circulates more dollars in our community and encourages meaningful connections with store owners. Come discover these pre-owned and vintage shops in the city—then keep looking for others (there are many).

Vantage: Coats of many colors Levi's to bomber to Carhart jackets
This is where all the cool kids shop for '70s to '90s threads while enjoying great tunes on rotation (Olivia Rodrigo loved shopping here while filming High School Musical at East High School). This place for sure has a vibe with two massive disco balls overhead and featuring goods like Doc Martens, Polo rugbies, jean jackets, camo and graphics tees from the '80s and '90s—much of it LA sourced. Super curated and organized, the shop rocks new arrivals every day. Check out the summer $5 sale in the alleyway that draws the crowds. 774 E. 800 South, SLC, 385-315-1848, IG: vantageslc

Shop Vintage: Add nostalgia to your style
Step back in time to a selection of clothes curated by color and sourced from SLC and LA. Open about two years in Sugar House, here is the place to find Woolrich, Dickies, Carhartt, iconic 501 Levi's and Realtree. Shop the decades from the '80s through early 2000s. The vibe is Druski meets Napoleon Dynamite. 1115 E. 2100 South, SLC, 801-839-2209, vintageclothingsaltlakecity.com

Crewneck Vintage: Get in here, dude!
A gem tucked in the back of Village Vintage Interiors in Sugar House. This little space is brimming with mostly men's stuff from the '80s and '90s like old trucker hats you'd find in offbeat places like Reno, Waco, Wendover and Buffalo. Vintage sports apparel is in high demand, and Crewneck has it with Utah Jazz jackets with the old school purple mountain logo and '90s-era Chicago Bulls tees. You'll find a second outpost of Crewneck Vintage inside Annata Collective. 1100 E. 2015 South, SLC, IG: crewneckvintage

Annata Collective: Molto bello!
"Annata" means "vintage" in Italian, and I'm already sold on the name. This dreamy store is filled with retro home goods, apparel and shoes. Owner Nicole Jensen sources daily in and around SLC, and her merchandising is design-magazine worthy and will inspire you to re-do spaces and closets. There is a denim bar, poster wall, kid's shop and even a cowboy boot section. There are also nine unique vendors inside featuring their own vintage finds in home and apparel. Things I want so badly: brass storks, tall brass flower candlesticks, '90s era Camel cigarette ashtray and a McCoy 1940s black lion men's dresser. 362 E. 900 South, lower level, SLC, IG: annata.collective

Name Droppers: Designer duds
This is the holy grail for women's upscale consignment apparel. In fact, Real Housewives has filmed here several times. Owner Tiffany Colaizzi and her team of stylists know what looks fabulous and remember their customers' personal styles. You'll find gently used and brand-new apparel with tags from Gucci, Chanel, Prada, Celine, Isabal Murant, YSL and more. Plus, look for accessories like designer sunglasses and jewelry from David Yurman and John Hardy. New designer clothes and accessories arrive daily, and it's a windfall when a professional closet cleaner drops off the likes of a celebrity's closet. There's a men's section and an outlet located on Parleys Way. 3355 S. Highland Drive, SLC, 801-486-1128, shopnamedroppers.com

Village Vintage Interiors Home is where the vintage is
Here's a treasure trove featuring 26 different vendors of throwback home goods and clothes. You could easily furnish an entire apartment or home with early American antique home furnishings from this location alone. Vintage glasses, original art, mushroom coffee mugs, colorful Pyrex bowls and dessert dishes your grandma would be proud of. This collaboration of vendors affords style on any budget. 2015 S. 1100 East, SLC, 801-510-7717, IG: thevillagevintageslc

Shadowplay: Mix up your styles
Located in "furniture row" on Broadway (300 South) in downtown SLC with an emphasis on '80s and '90s post-modern furniture, here you'll find pastel candy-colored couches and curved Italian lacquered side tables mixed with organic desert-inspired accessories like pottery, barn shelves and travertine tables from Santa Fe. The glossy pizazz of the '80s is evident in mirrored pedestals and Lucite coffee tables. Who says you have to commit to only one style of home design? There are no rules here! Also, a unique collection of vintage clothes and cowboy boots. 171 E. 300 South, SLC, shadowplayslc.com

Green Ant: A modern design haven
Anchored on the corner of 300 South and 200 East, the Green Ant is the OG of resale mid-century furniture. Owner Ron Green, aka the "mod father," knows his mid-mod. He's constantly sourcing rare, one-of-a-kind classic modern furniture with clean line esthetics like Saarinen tulip tables, Platner easy chairs and the Eames lounge and ottoman. Resellers shop here from bigger markets like LA and San Francisco because the selection is so pristine. You can also find an excellent selection of mid-mod art and lighting. The Green Ant replenishes its inventory weekly, so don't sleep on this store. 179 E. 300 South, SLC, 801-595-1818, thegreenant.com

The Post Trading Co.: Let there be light!
A newcomer to furniture row with an emphasis on lighting. This store blends the Danish aesthetic of modern simplicity and natural elements with original art prints from Ojai, California artist Real Fun, Wow! Natural and simple Danish pendant lamps, brass and smoked glass etagere, Modeline lamp and Henredon leather woven chairs. Ethereal and warm, this store says, "let go and be free." There are treasures waiting for you here. 169 E. 300 South, SLC, 801-232-0527, thepostslc.com

Strawberry Mansion Vintage Furniture: Weirdly wonderful vintage finds
The Bossert sisters grew up in the Philadelphia area surrounded by art, design and furniture. Lucky for SLC, Strawberry Mansion opened three and a half years ago, and they haven't stopped sourcing the valley to bring us furniture from antique to modern. Credenzas, burlwood dining tables, retro ceramic lamps and groovy outdoor mosaic side tables. There is something for everyone, a mixture of high and low, and they have an affinity for art making this an excellent destination to decorate your walls. This store proves that aesthetic objects bring immense joy. 265 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-694-2715, IG: @strawberrymansion_slc

Store House: Eclectic furnishings, art and objects
Vintage furniture with an emphasis on modern luxury pieces and one-of-a-kind accessories blended with an industrial aesthetic. You'll find Milo Baughman armchairs, George Nelson side tables, Gaetano Sciolari chandeliers, Knoll coffee tables and one of a kind Eames lounge chairs in cork. Located in the Central Ninth District, this shop is for the discerning customer. Store House reveals that furniture can be a form of architecture that is both functional and gorgeous. 933 S. Edison St., SLC, 801-655-3102, IG: @storehouseslc

Urban Vintage: Quirky designer pieces
Super-curated mid-mod furniture and accessory store with a wall of chairs stacked three rows high for you to select from. You'll see items like a French leather sofa and dining chairs, Brutalist lamp, velvet bench and Swedish lounge and ottoman. A sincere collection of European and local art. Owner Josh is knowledgeable and super choosy about what he brings into his store and how fortunate we are to have an eclectic mix in furniture row. 177 E. 300 South, SLC, 801-674-5437, urbanvintagesaltlake.com

PETS

Fur Babies Wanted
More and more Salt Lake households claim pets as their family members.
By Babs De Lay

A 2017 survey found that 22% of Salt Lake City households reported having someone under age 18 living with them, while 38% reported owning a dog. Word has gotten out: Pets outnumber kids in Salt Lake City.

Beyond that, during COVID, pet ownership skyrocketed as many sought companionship in the form of a pet (if you could find one!). Breeders and puppy mills began charging exorbitant prices, driving would-be pet owners to local animal shelters and rescue groups, and even they ran short of pets for adoption.

It now appears that we're back to more normal demand when it comes to pets. In fact, many owners who returned to their office jobs found they needed to rehome their COVID pets! Tsk, tsk!

To discourage residents from purchasing pets from puppy mills, in 2018, the Salt Lake City Council voted unanimously to prohibit pet stores from selling animals not obtained from an animal shelter, control agency, humane society or nonprofit rescue organization.

I reached out on social media, asking pet owners for suggestions on best ways to adopt pets ethically, and for the benefit of our furry friends. These are some of their suggestions:

Adoptions and Fostering
Check out these organizations that are working to keep adoptable pets alive and find forever homes in the community.

The Humane Society of Utah: Utah's version of the ASPCA is located in Murray (4242 S. 300 West, Murray, 801-261-2919, utahhumane.org) where you can adopt dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits and more. HSU is a no-kill shelter that offers affordable spay/neuter programs as well as affordable vaccination/euthanasia services.

Best Friends Animal Society was founded in Utah in the early 1980s. It has become the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals. Their main sanctuary (5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, 435-688-2327, bestfriends.org) is home to almost 2,000 dogs, cats, horses, birds, rabbits and potbellied pigs living at their facilities. Best Friends also has a Salt Lake City pet-adoption center (2005 S. 1100 East, SLC, 801-574-2454). The Kanab facility utilizes volunteers coming from all around the country; it also hosts more than 30,000 visitors each year.

Salt Lake County Animal Services (511 W. 3900 South, Murray, 385-468-7387, slco.org) is the largest no-kill municipal shelter in the state, offering adoptions of puppies, kittens, dogs, cats, bunnies, critters and more. They also operate a monthly Pet Crew Pantry for those struggling to purchase pet food. In addition, they assist with online licensing and microchipping.

Other organizations that work on behalf of animal adoptions, fostering and more include:

Herding Haven rescues "unadoptable" dogs from other shelters and finds homes for dogs with special needs. (herdinghavin.org)

Ruff Haven crisis sheltering, offering temporary safe haven for companion animals in order to keep pets and people together. (ruffhaven.org)

Caws or Community Animal Welfare Society (caws.org) is a volunteer-run rescue organization. Animals are placed in a foster home until a forever home is found.

The Utah Animal Advocacy Foundation: a nonprofit specializing in the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of homeless animals. (uaaf.org)

Rescue Rovers Dog Adoptions accepts dogs from high-kill shelters and places them in foster homes to work on behaviors and prepare them for adoption. (rescuerovers.org)

Numerous breed-specific dog-rescue groups, such as Arctic Breeds Rescue for Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes (arcticrescue.com), Utah Friends of Basset Hounds, Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue (rmgreatdane.org).

Celestial Zoo Pet Rescue (celestialzoo.org) Created in 2018 to service the feline needs of Utah County, Celestial Zoo programs include adopting out only fixed, vaccinated and microchipped pets, a Utah County Pet Pantry and trap-neuter-return programs.

Tinkers Cat Café (302 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-519-2287, tinkerscatcafe.com) offers coffee, tea and sweets while you play with cats up for adoption.

Feral Cats
Like most places, we have a feral cat problem. Salt Lake County Animal Services has a trap/neuter/return program as does the Humane Society of Utah with their Community CATNIP program. Murray Community Kats (IG: @murraycommunitykats) is a nonprofit that helps feed over 250 feral felines with donated food. West Valley City also has a feral cat program.

Care and Feeding
Once you adopt your new companion(s), you'll want to make sure they are vaccinated, licensed and microchipped in case they are lost. There are many vets who come highly recommended but it's not possible to name them all. Just ask your friends who have pets where they take theirs for health services.

Pet owners have realized in the last few decades that dogs and cats need better food than local grocery stores offer. You'll find natural pet food and supplies at Salt Lake locals like Healthy Pets (multiple locations, healthypetsslc.com, healthypetsmw.com); Dog's Meow (2047 E. 3300 South, Millcreek, 801-468-0700; 866 E. 12300 South, Draper, 801-501-0818, dogsmeow.com), Pet Spawt (4898 S. Highland Drive, Holladay; 1533 W. 11400 South, South Jordan; petspawt.com), and many more. Some shops also have a dog/pet wash facility attached to their store.

Do yourself a favor and check out the Salt Lake blog dogfriendlyslc.com. You'll find information on dog-friendly businesses and ideas on how to enjoy your pet while living your best life.

Dog Parks
Want to take your dog for walkies? Parley's Historic Nature Park (often mistakenly called Tanner Park, 2740 S. 2700 East, SLC, slc.gov/parks/parks-division/parleys-historic-nature-park) is the No.1 choice of those interviewed, located at the mouth of Parleys Canyon, just below the Interstate 80 freeway. It's an off-leash park of 13 acres of trails and another 10 acres of on-leash sections open all year-round. Parleys Creek runs through it but much of it is fenced off. However, there is a small area of calm water where dogs can get their wet and shaky-shaky on.

For traditional city-style dog parks, check out Herman Franks Park (1371 S. 700 East, SLC) on the east side; Pioneer Park (350 S. 300 West, SLC) downtown; and Cottonwood Park (300 N. 1645 West, SLC) on SLC's west-side. For more information on Salt Lake City off-leash dog areas, visit www.slc.gov/parks/salt-lake-city-off-leash-dog-areas

Salt Lake County has several dog-friendly areas, including the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (on leash), Millcreek Canyon (off leash, odd days; on leash even days), Emigration Canyon (off leash but watch for private property "no trespass" signs), City Creek Canyon below the water treatment plant with an off-leash designated area, and finally, Jordan River Parkway, which is on-leash.

What About Exotic Pets?
Pet shops that stock rats and mice, hamsters and gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, ferrets and hedgehogs as well s fresh and saltwater fish, reptiles and amphibians, birds and such (even tarantulas and scorpions), visit Pets and Such (3680 W. 3500 South, West Valley City, 801-966-8605, pets-and-such.com).

Pet Euthanasia
Finally, even though we strive to keep them healthy, our pets won't live forever. There are a number of services that help with euthanizing pets, funerals and more: Dr. Dustin Durfee (435-979-0017) will provide euthanasia services in your home and leave you with memorial products (urns, jewelry, paw prints). Major Street Pet Services (majorstreetpetservices) works with Dr. Durfee, offering pet funerals in a lovely Victorian cottage. Cottonwood Canyons Pet Memorial Garden (memorialutah.com) is a pet cemetery as is Best Friends Animal Sanctuary's Angels Rest.

Family Animal Services of Utah (familyanimalservices.com) offers pet cremations in Salt Lake Valley.

There are so many benefits of owning a pet: They can get you off the sofa to go for a walk; playing with them can decrease a human's blood pressure. Pets help humans stave off loneliness and depression with their unconditional love and companionship. So—what are you waiting for? Your new friend is waiting!