the darkness in your soul, look no further than Western Evil, a label run by Neil Pres- ton Autry out of Maricopa. He screen- prints everything himself, including leggings adorned with mugshots of serial killers like John Wayne Gacy and Aileen Wuornos; T-shirts based on drawings by Misfits-era Glenn Danzig; and enamel pins that mash up Disney characters and cult leaders (“Mickey Manson” is a popular de- sign). Autry has built a following on Insta- gram and TikTok due to his black humor and bad-boy good looks — the better to ex- pose more people to his counterculture clothing designs. You might be able to catch him around town at conventions like Mad Monster Arizona, but if not, his web- site is always open for business. EEEEE Wang’s Vintage 3508 North Seventh Street, #145 602-346-0121 wangs-vintage.business.site We’re old enough to remember when wearing a shirt with a Warner Bros. char- acter on it was first the height of middle- school fashion, then later the absolute dorkiest thing ever. So it’s amusing to us that shirts of that kind are now a hot trend. If vintage T-shirts of the music, sports, or pop culture variety are your thing, then Wang’s Vintage will thrill your soul (and empty your wallet). Check out the store’s Instagram page if you don’t believe us — you’ll find everything from a 1980s ALF shirt to a Dragonball Z baseball jersey, or a 1970s Fleetwood Mac concert tee. You can purchase through Instagram, or head to the brick-and-mortar shop in midtown Phoenix, which is bright, well-organized, and stocked with shirts, vintage jeans, and a few other things. EEEEE Many Worlds 4524 North Seventh Street 602-698-8323 manyworldsclothing.com 104 Truth be told, we can’t afford a lot of the shoes in Many Worlds, but we still love to stop by the sleek black-and-white Phoenix storefront to drool over the high-end kicks on display. The store carries familiar brands like Nike, New Balance, and Adidas, but the merch is nothing you’ll find at Foot Locker. We’re talking Adidas Yeezy 350 V2s, Air Jordan 1 Metallic Gold 2020s, and New Balance 997 Aime Leon Dores. (And that’s just the goods on the shelves; the kicks locked up in cases are far more valu- able.) There’s also a smattering of streetwear for sale, including a badass Phoenix shirt in honor of the Suns’ playoff run. Many Worlds share its space with sis- ter business Reshoevn8r, which offers shoe cleaning and refreshing services, as well as products to help you keep your sneakers looking fresh to death at home. EEEEE Runner’s Den 6505 North 16th Street 602-277-4333 therunnersden.com We know people who run marathons, and we know people who struggled through their first Couch to 5K program. They all go to Runner’s Den for what they need. The unpretentious shop in uptown Phoe- nix has been serving generations of Valley joggers for more than 40 years, and whether your terrain of choice is trail, road, or treadmill, you can find shoes, socks, apparel, snacks, energy gels, sun- glasses, and more to make your runs better. But far more valuable than the store’s mer- chandise are the intangible things it offers: advice, online resources like calculators and articles, marathon training programs, group runs (when there’s not a pandemic on), and encouragement when the going gets tough. Runner’s Den is more than a store; it’s a community. EEEEE Mardi Gras Costume Shop 5895 North Granite Reef Road, Scottsdale 480-948-4030 mardigrascostumeshop.com Sure, Spirit Halloween stores crop up all over Phoenix come fall. But maybe you need a costume sometime other than mid- autumn. And maybe you’d rather support a longtime, locally owned establishment rather than a corporation whose entire business model is to swoop in and inhabit the carcasses of all the stores that failed that year. Mardi Gras Costume Shop in Scottsdale is our go-to any time of the year; the tightly packed aisles represent endless dress-up possibilities. Mardi Gras rents costumes in addition to selling them, and if you’re a theater professional or just really serious about your look, the store also of- fers professional-grade makeup. Whether you’re looking to make a splash at a theme party or Halloween bash, Mardi Gras is your go-to costume destination. BEST OF PHOENIX 2021 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2021.C0M | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 good s & s e r v i c e s B E S ST T RO U E R NNING B E T-S S T VHIR INTT A G E S B E ST S C O P HO ST U M E B E S T S NE AK ER S H OP
