2012 in Review: The Most Notable Events From a Wild and Crazy Year on the Dallas Shopping Scene

A few of the best (and a couple of the worst) moments from the Dallas shopping scene over the last year.

The name of The Pretty Kitty Brazilian waxing salon got tongues wagging.

GiltCity Dallas didn’t quite make it. We shed a tear for Barneys New York closing too.

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Where to Shop in Dallas This Weekend

Bargains and Bellinis on Lovers: From August 3-4, Elements, Elle, Mine, Hemline, and Lou Lou have banded together for an event you can’t miss. Shop spring and summer styles for 50-75% off, or peruse the sidewalk racks at Elements for designer pieces under the $100 mark.

Piermarini’s Closing Sale: You may have already heard that Piermarini is moving off of Hibernia Street. No need to fret, the boutique will  re-open in Snider Plaza soon enough, but don’t forget to say your goodbyes this weekend with some great steals. Most items are already 40% off, but through this Saturday, shoppers will receive an additional 25% discount, so check out all the amazing pieces before it’s too late!

L. bartlett Beat the Clock Sale: Get ready to watch the clock because L. bartlett is hosting a margarita fueled shop fest this Saturday, August 4. There are major discounts to be had on sale items, and the earlier you get there the better. Come by and get 70% off from 9 am to 12 pm, 60% off until 3 pm, and 50% off until close.

Sunday Funday at y&i Clothing Boutique: Make sure to stop by West Village this Sunday for great deals and colorful cocktails. In addition to a fully stocked mimosa bar, the store is taking 10% off of all full priced merchandise, so there’s plenty to go around.

Don’t forget F.I.G. Finale runs through Saturday.

Kelly Belter is a shopping intern.

Get Your Sip on at Flirt Boutique’s Margarita Monday Tonight

Skinny margaritas and discounts? Um, yes please. Stop by Flirt Boutique every Monday throughout the month of July to peruse hot sale items and sip on Nectar Girl margs. Each week, Flirt will have different items marked down 20% from their regular inventory. With two convenient locations in Uptown Dallas and Fort Worth, there’s always time for a little shopping happy hour.

Kristi McCann is a shopping intern.

Shop the Sale, Meet the New Goods at Forty Five Ten

(from left) Cédric Charlier, Jil Sander, and Ackerman, now at Forty Five Ten

On top of Forty Five Ten’s major once-a-year sale (as in 60 percent off both fashion and home) happening now, new lines have hit the racks. A warmest welcome to Jil Sander, Haider Ackermann, Cédric Charlier, Greg Lauren, Holmes and Yang, Junya Watanabe, Palmer//Harding, and Moncler Gamme Rouge, now available on McKinney Avenue.

A note from the shop’s owner, Brian Bolke, about the new merchandise:

I loved the way color, which is so important in spring, was interpreted in fall. It was less the typical grey/black/brown, and was all about rich, saturated color. I thought Haider Ackermann was the show of the season. He truly is a master colorist. Raf Simmon’s last collection for Jil Sander was amazing, and, the red coat from the runway was my favorite…and actually a Dallas weight! Cedric Charlier is a new designer that we think is the one to watch. His brushstroke print was literally a piece of art. I think that “artisanal dressing” is really on trend. Comme des Garcons and Junya Watanabe were standouts. They are clothes that belong on walls.

A Look at Krimson & Klover’s Makeover

They even polished up the exterior. Check out that punchy pink door.

In case you haven’t heard, Uptown boutique Krimson & Klover has gotten a bit of a facelift. New owners Emily Hayes and Lindsay Harrison have updated the boutique with a bevy of fresh pieces. What’s more, everything is  surprisingly affordable, so you can shop till you drop without a shred of buyer’s remorse.

Jump for a peek inside.

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Meet New y&i Boutique in West Village

The store appeals to college gals and young professionals, but a $59 white blazer looks good at every age.

Owned by a couple of Dallas-raised besties, y&i is perfect for upcoming graduation gifts. Most of the goods are priced under $200 (with the exception of a few special pieces). Owners Robin and Robyn (now do you get the y & i?) graduated high school and college together in Texas before heading their separate ways, one to Goldman Sachs and another to an extensive retail career. After a few years and the desire for more flexible lifestyles, the girls combined their finance and clothing backgrounds, and boom, opened up shop in San Fran. Their next stop was Austin (don’t pout about it), followed by the weeks-old West Village location. In it you’ll find pieces edited for young shoppers, like trendy blouses, silk dresses, and flowing maxi dresses that are perfect from office to happy hour, and colorful shorts, sunnies, and bikinis for summer weekends. A selection of lightly padded neon and neutral bandeaus (perfect for wearing under just about anything) ring up at $5 a piece, and the inexpensive jewelry, handbags, and Voluspa candles make wonderful gifts.

Gifty goodies include Love + Toast lotions and potions, beautiful, trendy jewels at even more beautiful prices (like geode earrings for $24), Kris Nations Zodiac sign necklaces, and simple clutches.

y&i's ready for summer with a handful of Bikini Joy swimsuits for $40 and sunglasses all over the store.

The French Connection Pop-Up Shop at Hemline Starts Today

photography courtesy of French Connection

Starting today and ending Saturday, May 5, Hemline is hosting an in-store French Connection “pop-up shop.” The latest arrivals include a lemon yellow maxi dress with pleats, lots of flowy silk chiffon, and statement-making cobalt blue. There’s apparently a free gift with French Connection purchase, too.

If you make it over to the Lovers Lane, boutique today, pop in at Lou Lou next door. They’re hosting a jewelry trunk show with the goods of Kristen Richards. Her Living Gemstones line features colorful stones and ornate beading on charm bracelets and dangling earrings. Mother’s Day gifts, perhaps?

What’s in Blinc Stylist Ali Burks’ Bag?

photography by Matthew Shelley, design by Charlotte Tobin

Remember when StyleSheet paid a visit to Blinc to spend some quality time with stylist Ali Burks, Blinc’s general manager and buyer? It was then, among the translucent, sorbet-hued hangers and her studded booties, that I knew we had to have her in to spill her purse. I suspected the contents would be as cool as she is, and, as you can see, they are. We laid it all out on her blue snake scarf by her all-time favorite scarf line, We Are Owls. (Carried at Blinc unsurprisingly.) Take a look.

Vin Baker bag. "I love the handles."

1. Prada makeup bag.
2. Earbuds. “These are the best ever. They’re guaranteed not to fall out. I have two pairs.”
3. Apple charger.
4. Thinning the Herd book by Cynthia Ceilan. “It’s kind of a morbid sense of humor.”
5. Tickets to Rain.
6. Nature Valley Granola Thins. “I love chocolate, and this is my way of making it a little bit healthier.”
7. Kilian “Love” perfume. “It’s easy to keep in your purse.”
8. Splenda packet as a reminder of boyfriend’s grandfather’s mantra: Be sweet and don’t talk ugly.
9. Advil.
10. Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas name tag for volunteer work. (“To honor the memory of my brother, 2nd Lt. Peter Burks, KIA 11/04/2007.”)
11. Business card case. Reads: I like my money where I can see it, hanging in my closet.
12. Hollywood Fashion Tape.
13. Kevin Murphy Sticky Business hair texturizing paste. “For my wavy, curly hair. Or, if I want to do it straight, it works for that, too. It’s nice to have a product that does everything.”
14. Mikal Winn earrings (top) and bangles (below). Gold nail bracelet from Scoop NYC. “I love to mix the metals.”
15. Tylie Malibu wallet. “It’s so easy and everything fits.”
16. (from left) Essie in “Lollipop” (“It’s my favorite red”), Bliss Lemon-Sage Body Butter, Burt’s Bees Honey Lip Balm, Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, and MAC lipstick in “Girl About Town” (“One swipe instantly makes me feel so chic.”)

Peek into more purses.

Take a Peek Inside Pieces in Snider Plaza

This coral knit top looks great with white, but it can easily be thrown over tailored capris for work and jean shorts on the weekend, too.

Alongside my wonderful Cicada safari, I stopped in Pieces to say hello and scope out the latest merchandise. Sister owned and operated, the colorful boutique outfits young moms and professionals looking for unfussy threads under $200 that can carry them from the office to errand running to happy hour to date night. On-trend separates can be paired with jeans or tailored trousers and flirty dresses can be paired with jackets for a more conservative look, flats for picking up the kiddos, and heels for cocktails. Check out some of my favorite, well, pieces in store now.

See more photos after the jump.

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See Why CABANA is One of Dallas’ Top Shops

I could take a decorating cue from the crisp white furniture and pops of colorful accessories. (photography by Alex Ham)

Take a photographic journey through CABANA with photos from Alex Ham. It’s not hard to see why the purple-doored oasis made April’s top 10 shops list, is it? (Or why it made the cover for that matter.)

Jump for more photos.

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10 Best Dallas Boutiques for Off-the-Grid Shopping

Original Octane (photography by Alex Ham)

I think the one of the best perks of being the shopping editor here at D Magazine is finding out about little boutiques hidden along the streets of mega shops. Yes, yes, online shopping is fun, too (and occasionally less expensive), but nothing compares to the glory of opening a shop’s doors into the sunshine and heading back out into the world with your bag full of new clothing wrapped in crisp tissue paper. I’m pretty sure it’s the same take-on-the-world feeling Bradley Cooper gets in Limitless. In any case, Kristin and I were thrilled to share with you our favorite under-the-radar shopping hot spots. They probably won’t be quiet for long, so shop now and shop hard.

Marfa Bound: New Art Inspired Jewelry at Fancy Pony Land

info (photography courtesy of Fancy Pony Land)

You may already know that Marfa, Texas is a bit of a hot spot for its off-the-grid cool factor. Fancy Pony Land, a funky boutique in the town, even made a top 20 shopping list for Vogue.  New art-inspired accessories have just hit the shop. You might not be taking a road trip this weekend (you should add it to your to-do list this year), but you can buy the jewels over the phone at 206-890-7658. Check out chunky metals by f. is for frank, cotton rope accessories from Seth Damm, etched copper gems by Alexis Babcock, and resin pieces with crystals by Miles Glyn. Perfect for making a statement this spring.

New Spring Merchandise Hits the Shelves at Merge

I love going to my chiropractor. For one, he’s relieving my shin splints, so I can get back to working on my buns of steel. (Okay, more like buns of caramel, but that’s neither here nor there.) Secondly, Merge is in the same shopping center on Preston and Royal (unfortunately next to delicious Pinkberry). With all the running I’ll soon be able to do, and therefore weight I’ll lose, it’s convenient to have a store nearby to pre-celebrate my success. (I can connect the dots between any situation and a necessary retail fix.)

Merge is unpacking and hanging up new spring merchandise everyday, so feel free to stop in more than once.

(from top) Locally designed python wallets and iPad cases, pastel skinny leg jeans, a sale rack of denim from white to dark wash, more python iPad cases and clutches, House of Harlow 1960 black resin necklace ($145),  Bella Dahl white blouse ($97), Ttee taupe jacket ($142), and Jamison sweater ($148), House of Harlow 1960 studded bangles ($138).

*If you deal with shin splints, your workout life isn’t over. I see Dr. Jason Rowenhorst at Premier Sports Chiropractic, and I’m healing. I can actually hit the treadmill again. (For, like, a minute before I’m out of breath.)

Society Lunch Alert: 15th Annual Attitudes & Attire

You might not have a half day like we do for Burmese Peasant’s Day on March 2, but it’s no reason not to treat yourself to a little afternoon of luxury while the rest of the city slaves away over their keyboards. I’ve got the perfect midday treat for you: the Attitudes & Attire Annual Luncheon & Fashion Show. A $125 ticket grants you access to this glamorous society luncheon featuring a fashion show by Elements, 2011′s best boutique in Dallas. (Have you voted for your favorite stores yet for the 2012 awards, by the way?) If a posh meal doesn’t blow your skirt up (ladies who lunch don’t eat anyway, right? kidding.), surely raffle tickets for jewelry, hotel packages, and autographed footballs will. Plus, of course, there’s the philanthropic effort. All proceeds from the day’s event will benefit Attitudes & Attire, a beautiful group dedicated to helping women become self sufficient by building confidence, teaching job search skills, and creating a positive image. Invaluable stuff. Buy tickets now and reserve your high-heeled self a seat.

Rory Ashton Has New Colorful Agate Trinkets

Rory Asthon "Slice" Geo Agate Collection (photography courtes of Rory Ashton)

And I love them.

Locally jewelry designer Rory Ashton, crafter behind the cluster earrings we’re always raving about, has released “Slice,” her new line of colorful geo agate pieces, which you can find at Melanie Gayle in Snider Plaza.