Austin Shopping, Austin Stores

Blackmail

Scarred by cheeseball all-black/all-white concepts we'd seen in suburban malls, it was with trepidation that we entered Blackmail. The funny skeleton playing a piano in the window, that put us right at ease. The concept comes together beautifully with random home items (black soap!), gorgeous jewelry, tableware, cowboy boots and...

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BookPeople

From the exterior, BookPeople looks just like a generic book chain. In the interior, all resemblance is lost. The 3-floored behemoth is not only the largest bookstore in Texas, but is also indepedent through and through. Rather than a subdued environment featuring classical music, try a hectic, bustling scene with customers and staff shuffling...

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By George

If a certain Texan named George is not known for his style and sophistication By George almost makes up for it--almost. The Texas institution carries the cream of the crop in American and European designers, the sort of stuff normally only available on the coasts. The look they present is young and stylish, distinct but not too out there. The...

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By George

If a certain Texan named George is not known for his style and sophistication By George almost makes up for it--almost. The Texas institution carries the cream of the crop in American and European designers, the sort of stuff normally only available on the coasts. The look they present is young and stylish, distinct but not too out there.

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Creatures

Creatures is what boutique shopping is all about. When buying a shirt the staff felt compelled to tell us the story of the shirt--how the art is drawn by a guy on fabric, that he later cuts and has sewn on shirts and how the guy also has a rock band that it's in town from time to time. Among the small selection of shirts from artists and...

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Electric Ladyland/Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds

Electric Ladyland / Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds is not so much a trip as a destination--you simply must see this store to believe it. First and foremost, this is one of the best costume shops you're going to see, full of outfits, huge numbers of masks (including two George W. Bush masks to choose from!) and a room full of all the...

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Eliza Page

If you're going to display your jewelry on suspended plastic shelves, you better make sure that some cool jewelry--lest you upstage your product. Luckily, Eliza Page has no shortage of cool. The jewelry salon brings together the best of local jewelry makers, with selected collections from across the country to present a cross section of...

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Fetish

Call it an obsession, an addiction or even a fetish, but some women have definite issues with shoes. Fetish is not exactly a step towards recovery, but it is a good way to recognize if you have a problem. The store brings together a variety of the hottest shoes for all situations--whether sleek heels for the office or summery sandals, or...

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Game Over Videogames

Reader Suggested: This store is the only place in Austin where you can find games, systems and accessories for old video games such as Atari, Intellivision, the original Nintendo, Sega, etc. It is basically a vintage video game store. It is a one-of-a-kind store owned and operated by an Austin resident of 20+ years. Game collectors and...

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Kick Pleat

The ladies of Austin understandably have a more laid-back, breezy attitude toward fashion, but that doesn't mean they can't wear the same edgy, hip clothes New Yorkers wear. Kick Pleat sorts through various small, well-regarded collections and picks pieces that will work (light cotton dresses and separates in amazing prints, chic...

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Motive 807

Tons of young, hip people, live music, plenty of local designers and artists, and not a cool sneaker shop in sight? Motive 807 is the sneaker store Austin so richly deserved. The gallery space displays the latest in exclusive sneakers on an impossibly long floating shelf, while another unit holds rows of shirts from street designers large and...

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Parts & Labour

It's amazing what it's possible to create, with the right parts and some labor. Oh yeah, talent helps too. Parts & Labour is a showcase of what's possible. Drawing completely from talented local artists and designers, the store brings together a fresh and funky selection of clothing, accessories, housewares and other random...

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Pieces of the Past

If one person's trash is another person's treasure, then architectural salvage/antique shop Pieces of the Past is like Tutankhamen's tomb. While other salvage stores are studies in faded paint and rust and funny smells, the store keeps its environs bright and happy. There' are plenty of typical salvage pieces like doors,...

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Sabia

Lots of bath and body stores woo you with their seductive smells and colorful products, but few have the knowledge and experience to back it up. Sabia is different. Among the intoxicating smells and mesmerizing jars and bottles is an air of seriousness and mission those other stores are missing. Rather than carrying just the sharply packaged...

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Service Menswear

Service Menswear does justice to its utilitarian name. The men's clothing store has among the best ratios of pretense to coolness we've seen. The store humbly presents men with laidback, stylish look. T-shirts, shorts and smart accessories fill the shop, with a mixture of new and vintage goods. The brands include established and up...

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Uncommon Objects

Uncommon Objects. We couldn't have described it better ourselves. A fabulous twist on the usual antique store, Uncommon Objects brings together the finds of over a dozen purveyors to make for some fun and interesting antique browsing. Expect to spend a good hour in the store, just wandering about, picking up this or that. Here's...

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Vivid

Vivid is a real life lesson in advanced merchandising. The bright general store arranges its store by color. On our visit the window was an explosion of green--a dashing green dress, green tableware and of course green plants hanging overhead. There are several such arrangements, for yellow, blue and other colors, that pull together an amazing...

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Waterloo Records

Generic music mega-stores: meet your Waterloo--Waterloo Records that is. The Austin institution has the music-obsessed staff, the personality, and obscure selection of a boutique record shop, with the volume and size of a corporate store. The end result: a store no chain can compete with.

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Yard Dog

Adding the word "folk" in front of art, too often serves as an excuse of sorts. As in, please excuse the generic, kitschy, poorly executed nature of this art. Go to Yard Dog to see what folk art is really about. The folk art gallery presents the genre at its very best--as the art of people outside the art world who had something to...

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Blackmail

BookPeople

By George

By George

Creatures

Electric Ladyland/Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds

Eliza Page

Fetish

Game Over Videogames

Kick Pleat

Motive 807

Parts & Labour

Pieces of the Past

Sabia

Service Menswear

Uncommon Objects

Vivid

Waterloo Records

Yard Dog

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