The Kandy Store

The Kandy Store on South Street in Philadelphia is a long-running lingerie and costume shop (reviewers put it near 30 years) that leans handmade and one-of-a-kind, with lingerie, dresses, Halloween costumes, and custom pieces including special-order robes and made-to-last footwear. The owner runs it largely by appointment (Sundays are the walk-in exception), and regulars praise being remembered by name, the no-sales-tax pricing, and friendly help at the register. The cautions are real: several items, particularly custom boots, run well above other stores, and one shopper could not get a warranty repair honored without a saved receipt. One reviewer also relayed a secondhand claim that the owner is selective about who she admits, and another found the locked appointment-only door off-putting. A fit for shoppers who book ahead and want custom, handmade intimates and costumes.