Summer is usually sleepy in Boston. Between the Cape and the Islands, never mind New Hampshire and Newport, Back Bay streets are lonely roads. But while residents are away, shopkeepers will play - at least they have this summer. Six super shops have sprouted on Newbury Street. Read on, and hurry home.

Valentino
You likely can't afford to outfit yourself in such glorious Italian finery, but you can drool and dream. There are 3,000 square feet filled with perfectly constructed ladies' frocks and accessories (sorry guys, no menswear here). Brave the security guard and get inspired before heading off to where you usually shop.

MAC
Finally. After weeks of mysterious delays, MAC has opened its double glass doors. The boutique is perfectly placed, right beneath Kiehl's and just a jump from Shu Uemura. The space is a bit sterile, very white and black, but well-lit and with well-placed mirrors. The products are efficiently displayed, within easy reach for testing, though we would prefer more testing sticks and wipes. The staff is friendly and they give great, clean makeovers. All in all, the experience is a welcome departure from department store hell.

Maha Barsom
If your wardrobe embraces the European refinement of sophisticated staples, you must meet Maha Barsom, a Syrian designer with a Parisian pedigree. Her philosophy is that beautifully tailored white shirts made from the finest cotton are the core of elegant dressing. Her simplest piece is a sleeveless princess-cut design for $165. Our favorite is the versatile, large-collared, long-sleeved, fitted wrap shirt with tie for $199. It's amazingly chic under suits, atop slim skirts or trousers, or paired with skinny, dark denim.

Sabon
Sabon, which translates to "soap" in Hebrew, is a celebration of the senses. As you descend into this heavenly space you're not sure whether to close your eyes and inhale the subtle, delicious scents or to gaze at the glass bottles filled with potions in clear, bright hues. Our recommendation is to head to the stone sink encircled with jars of luscious scrubs. Just try and decide which to buy; you may end up with a few. Luckily, prices are reasonable.

Reiss
The opening of Club Monaco in the Prudential last year provided some relief from scouring Banana, et al for work-appropriate but night-worthy pieces you can actually afford. Now there's London-import, Reiss, which offers an array of men's and women's looks from head to toe, for work, play, and party. For women, look for retro '40s tailoring in modern fabrics for fall suiting, layered knits for weekend wear, and flapper silhouettes for dress-up time. They promise dashing looks for men, down to a polka dot handkerchief.

Johnny Cupcakes
Twenty-something, Hull-based hipster Johnny Earle got his start designing T-shirts for the band with whom he used to tour. Soon, the shirts were the stars. Here's how he introduces himself in his company's look book: "Hello. My name is Johnny and I make clothes with cupcakes on 'em. Everyone likes cupcakes." True enough. Our only wish is the store serve up cupcakes alongside the fun designs.

- Marni Elyse Katz

Directory:
Valentino, 47 Newbury St., Boston, 617.578.0300
MAC, 112 Newbury St., Boston, 617.267.0013
Maha Barson, 127 Newbury St., Boston, 617.247.1103
Sabon, 129 Newbury St., Boston, 617.236.1931
Reiss, 132 Newbury St., Boston, 617.262.5800
Johnny Cupcakes, 279 Newbury St., Boston, 617.375.0100