STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

laken1 · Hermes

Dallas shopping...

sfclinevandy · Coach

Umm, I'm really not much help but there are so many cute boutiques in Highland Park and around Mockingbird Station. I don't know any names but I found a lot of cute places when I visited my brother a few months ago.

There's a really good Mexican resturant in that area called Blue Mesa... it's a little more upscale than typical Tex-Mex but is really good with great margaritas.

If you want to do serious shopping, I like the downtown Neimans the best.

lsubatgirl · Gucci

Well I haven't been to TJ Maxx or Marshalls in Dallas or Houston yet but based on my own limited shopping experience here in the Big BR I have noticed that you do find better things at those places in the Bigger cities. I always find current season French Connection, Coach, Kate Spade shoes, etc in the New Orleans stores. In the Big BR the best I can do most of the time is last years express!! Isn't there a great outlet mall in Allen??? Has designer outlets???

txgal · BCBG

There are several cute shops at places like Snyder Plaza, West Village, Shops at Legacy, and the Knox Henderson area off Central. I also like Elements which is at Lovers and the Tollway. I usually just browse there because it can be pretty expensive. If you go to Uptown, Krimson and Klover is a cute store that is in an old house. Also in Uptown is Ahab Bowen which is a great vintage store. There is a new Counter Culture at Mockinbird Station, but the original one in Deep Ellum is definitely the best. Metro Retro in the Lakewood area also can have some cute vintage finds. They also have house stuff so it is fun to browse.

The outlets in Allen always seem to be opening new stores so it may be worth a trip. As far as malls go I go to the Galleria for their HUGE Banana Republic that carries all of their clothes, including their limited edition stuff that only 2 stores in TX carry. And I also love Northpark because it seems to usually be less crowded and it has a great Neimans.

You also asked about Mexican food restaurants... Mariano's is great. It is a local place and it is where the frozen margarita was supposedly invented. I also like Uncle Julio's and Chuy's. If you want a more 'Mexico City' type place, Javier's is the best. A bit fancier but very yummy.

Hope this helps some. You would think after living here for over 5 years I would know more out of the way places, but I guess once you get in a routine it is hard to stray... I'll update if I think of anything else.