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When Caitlin Keys’ father died unexpectedly, she, her sister, and their mother needed outfits for the funeral. But what started out as a somber hunt for the black dress you never want to buy soon turned into a much-needed moment of lightness. “I can’t remember what made us laugh, almost 10 years later, but I still remember how that shop made us feel happy again,” Keys says.
That experience helped to inspire Therapy, the women’s boutique Keys opened at Hale’s 9+CO last month. In addition to laid-back but luxurious clothing (the store’s motto is “Where slouch meets sophistication”), Therapy offers comfortable furnishings, wellness events, and a buyback program that ensures no woman feels stuck in her sartorial choices. While shopping is no substitute for actual therapy, Keys hopes she can provide a measure of relief to her customers—because sometimes fashion is about the clothes, but other times it’s about liking who you see in the mirror.
Of course, style is only one pillar of retail therapy, which is why we created a shopping guide for every kind of crisis.
Adorn
- Best for: Decor
- Why: Need help finding yourself?
- Where: 1671 Market St., Denver (LoDo)
If that futon no longer fits your fancy, find your new aesthetic at Adorn in LoDo, where an interior designer is always ready to help you graduate past your “this was on the curb” collection of furniture and home goods. “On one side [of the store], you will find playful picks,” store director Tina Pilger says, “and the other wall is more luxe and sophisticated.”
The shop prioritizes Colorado-made products—from Fenway Clayworks’ signature Adorn dish set to Peter Karner’s earth-toned bowls—so whoever you decide you are, it’ll be someone who supports local artisans.
St. Kilian’s Cheese Shop
- Best for: Food
- Why: Need a full-blown freakout?
- Where: 3211 Lowell Blvd., Denver (West Highland)
Upgrade your crisis at Highland Square’s St. Kilian’s Cheese Shop. The mongers here won’t judge you for stocking up on high-end comforts—like wild-caught Hackleback caviar that’s as salty as you are or Cultura chocolate bars with more backstory than your ex. Because if you’re going to have a moment, you might as well do it with a world-class Gruyère. And an aged cheese from Buena Vista’s Buck and Bloom Cheese Co. pairs nicely with thin air and denial.
Little Blue Pigeon
- Best for: Books
- Why: Need a mental escape?
- Where: 1413 Larimer St., Denver (LoDo)
Get lost at Little Blue Pigeon bookstore. The charming front doors of the new-in-April Larimer Square storefront open to a whimsical hand-painted mural of storybook characters. Owner Paige Dungan’s offerings are curated to enhance your literary universe, from a tight selection of books to novel-themed PJs (from Denver-based Storylines by Sav) to the children’s area, which lets the kids play while Mom finds her new favorite romantasy novel.
