St. Barth does it right for both sexes. There's enough shopping for everyone. And although you can opt for Hermes or Ralph Lauren, we like the small boutiques you can't find back home.

Blue Coast is a small shop full of sorbet-colored linen. And although there are some women's clothing represented, it's the men's shirts that are the big draw here.

Think blue, like Paul Newman's eyes. Think yellow, like butter crème icing. Think watermelon, like the fruit. And green of a cool mint tea. Not gaudy. Just 20, refreshingly tropical colors that Martine, the owner, has picked for her Caribbean customers. The shirts are very soft Irish linen that have just enough nubbiness to the weave. The shop is in Gustavia, near the restaurant, La Route des Boucaniers.

A great place for women's shoe shopping is at Paradoxe St-Barth. Here you can meet the very talented Catherine, who designs simple, yet stylish slip-ons for the shop, marketed under Shoe Bizz for St. Barth. Her python shoes have a wonderful iridescence to them. Changing colors with the light. Choose pale, pearly cream or gray. Or the brighter pink & purple toned models. They are elegant and comfortable. And come in two heel sizes. Catherine's collections change with the seasons, as she works to create new versions of her savvy shoes.

Find the designer at the Gustavia location of Paradoxe, located right across the street from the landmark restaurant, Le Select. A smaller collection is available in their Villa Creole store in Saint Jean.

Both shops have great sales (soldes) during shoulder season (June is a great month for this). Shirts run about $45.00 USD & shoes about $50.00 USD. That's 50% off. Enough reason to buy lots of shirts for you & at least several pairs of shoes for me. Right?