What's worse than leaving the warm embrace of your bed after a family holiday Feast and Football Day to return to work? Perhaps leaving that crib to shop, at any hour. Read More | Comment »

It's just too hot here to think about fall clothing, and no matter where one looks right now, whether in magazines or retail displays, we're faced with scratchy tweeds and dark jersey. We were thinking about just that when we burst into A Town Austin Lifestyle Store on Burnet Road this weekend to beat the heat. What a surprise! Read More | Comment »

When we last checked in with Blackbird Clothes and Curios over on North Loop, it was the new kid on the block, breaking in with the best store graphics on The Curve. Well, now it seems that while the rest of the local retail scene is scorched and drab, or droughty, as we've come to refer to it, Read More | Comment »

The august Scarborough Building at 522 Congress Avenue is no stranger to retail apparel, as it was occupied for generations by E.M. Scarborough’s & Sons, one of Austin's first fine dry goods establishments. Read More | Comment »

Beleaguered Highland Mall received what must spell the final blow to relevant retail presence there when it was announced yesterday that Macy's, the final department store anchor for the mall, would close its doors there in the coming months. Read More | Comment »

In May of 2010 the North Loop shopping district received a great gift when Juliana Azar and Stacey Breakall opened Blackbird Clothes and Curios on the curve. Juliana, a native Austinite, and Stacey, founder of Kitty Kitty Bang Bang Texas Burlesque, met eight years ago. Read More | Comment »

Hennes & Mauritz, otherwise known as H&M to legions on a budget who emerge with armloads of goodies, is finally opening a Texas store. Currently known for "fast fashion", the Swedish chain has more than 2000 stores in 37 countries, 200 of them in the U.S., but not so much as a South by Southwest pop-up shop for scorned Texas provinces. Read More | 1 Comment »

By now, most everyone knows that Atomic City, Austin's utterly unique l'il purveyor of collectible toys, punk-Ts, Fluevogs, and more is going out of business. But not as soon as everyone thought. Read More | Comment »

My interspecies dalliance has me all a-dither. And, yes, he was a he. I must re-think everything. I have so much to share about how, or more precisely, when to see Texas on the cheap. Now's the time to plan your trip gifts. The price is right. Watch this space and check for updates throughout the holidays. Come along and learn how you, too, may kiss a fish. Read More | Comment »

A suggestion for your unique gift quest: This jailhouse art rocks. Read More | Comment »

Dome you wanna give the coolest gift ever? Why not this awesome calendar? Or a big shot of shotcrete? Read More | Comment »

Don't get your manties in a wad. Buy some new ones as gifts, instead! May we suggest TapeLenders? Read More | Comment »

Would you give the shirt off your back to find the best gift? Well, that may not be necessary. Check out New Brohemia. Read More | Comment »

"Once upon a time, men wore the pants, and wore them well… " So begins the latest ad campaign put out by the good misogynist folks at Dockers. The message seems to be that it's time to put Dockers on and behave like real men, instead of disco dancin', non-fat latte sippin', salad eatin' sissies. Homo/queer/trans/metro/David Bowie men, take heed. Read More | 3 Comments »

Our own, always-dapper Brian Carr joins us this week for a guest appearance. Enjoy. There are three essentials the modern man needs in an overnight bag. A toothbrush, deodorant, and a pair of Stronghold Denim from Austin's own Luther's. Read More | Comment »

If you haven't started thinking about what to wear to all of those holiday parties coming up, Amy Schalk and Soigné Boutique have some ideas for you, as well as a chance to shop while helping a great cause. This Thursday evening, November 12th, Soigné will host a pre-holiday mixer and fashion show benefitting The Miracle League, Read More | Comment »

When a friend recently visited Toronto, I pretty much ordered him to snag a shirt for me at the mecca of fast, Euro-style fashion: H&M. Much to my dismay, the Swedish clothing giant – which operates more than 1,800 stores in 34 different countries – has yet to set up shop in Central Texas. Read More | Comment »

Jeanie Brown really loves fabric. When she needed a print jersey for a project and couldn't find it, it struck her how difficult it has become for home sewers to find apparel fabric. So she opened a fabric store. Make that "fabric gallery", because the pieces on the walls are bolts of fabric, simply displayed and eloquently curated. Read More | Comment »

If you've been too busy to listen to local shoppers' jungle beat this week, take note now: Texas' yearly three-day Tax-Free Holiday happens this weekend, August 21-23. The tax break is intended to ease the pain of the annual back-to-school bank-breaker, so qualifying merchandise includes clothing and footwear under $100, backpacks under $100, and finally, for the first time this year, most school supplies under $100. Layaway plans can be used to take advantage of savings, and all purchases must be for elementary and secondary school students. For a complete list of qualifying items see the Texas State Comptroller's news page. Both Lakeline and Barton Creek Square malls are planning activities that they hope will bring your sales-tax-dodging self in with the kids. Get informed at Red Cross' Family Health Fair, which promises live demonstrations, interactive activities, free giveaways, and workshops (Lakeline: Friday from noon-4pm; Barton Creek Square: Saturday from noon-3pm). On Saturday, from noon-2pm at Lakeline, and from noon-3pm at Barton Creek Square, let off some back-to-school steam at the Kidgit's Back to School Event. It features face painting and a bounce house (not to mention air-conditioning for Mom and Dad). In addition to special sales events meant to take advantage of your piqued willingness to spend this weekend, many retailers also have special, "tax-free shopping hours", so check with your favorite purveyors before heading out. Read More | Comment »

Friends and I have stumbled upon this brand a few times and finally looked it up after I bought one of their black hoodies at Hot Topic. I liked the upbeat but somehow stark graphics, and then I read their story. Started as a way to raise money for a friend's recovery by selling T-shirts, To Write Love on Her Arms states its mission is "to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery for those struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide." In this context the name of the brand becomes self-explanatory. Ever stood before the black hole of a loved one's (or your own) despair, frustrated that there is nothing you can do? Now there is. Plus the clothes are cool. Read More | Comment »