Sartorial things to do in Austin, TX

[swiego]

I'll be there for a week and was looking for suggestions on,

(a) good places to window-shop, self-educate, etc.

(b) the places to go for discounts and deals. Being a Detroiter, I'm mostly used to NM Last Call and Nordstrom Rack. Where to the Austin folks go?

 

[airportlobby]

Prett slim pickings. There's a fancy new outdoor mall called the Domain with a Neiman, Ralph Lauren, Coop, etc.. Nothing too great - the Neiman has a fairly limited men's selection. As far as locally owned stores carrying good tailored clothes, very little. There are some very large outlet malls, one in San Marcos, one north in Round Rock - hit or miss. There's a Last Call in town, as well. The two best streetwear stores closed recently, so there is a dearth of options right now. One neat, unique sartorial thing to do in Austin, get handmade, bespoke boots, but it's prohibitively expensive.

Austin is still a flip flops and jeans town. Eat some Mexican food and BBQ, drink some beer, and forget about clothes for a few days. The weather is great right now.

 

[speedster.8]

Lots of excelent driving roads

 

[mbell]

You might have a look at Second Looks, a consignment store with two locations. One is in the Brodie Oaks shopping center right next to NM Last Call, so you can hit both at once. If you go to Last Call, don't forget to check the warehouse at the back of the store. They have more clearance stuff there. Second Looks is unfortunately not what it used to be, but you can still get some good deals on gently used clothes, particularly at the high end.

Definitely get some Tex-Mex and BBQ.

mike

 

[Vintage Gent]

I've had decent luck at the Prime Outlets in San Marcos. The NM Last Call is somewhat lacking, but the Brooks Brothers outlet is one of the better I've found, with actual stuff from the stores (as opposed to the 346 line). And the Polo store routinely has both RLPL and Made in Italy Blue Label Stuff. In fact, I picked up a pair of navy linen trousers there recently for $50.

 

[BABuckeye]

Forget clothes. The best thing [to buy] in Austin is the BBQ. Drive 30 miles to Lockhart and visit Smittys or Blacks.

 

[Vintage Gent]

Originally Posted by BABuckeye

Forget clothes. The best thing [to buy] in Austin is the BBQ. Drive 30 miles to Lockhart and visit Smittys or Blacks.

Nah, it's the vegetarian food. If you have any vegetarian sympathies (and no pox on those who don't), get thee to Mother's or Mr. Natural.

 

[airportlobby]

Originally Posted by BABuckeye

Forget clothes. The best thing [to buy] in Austin is the BBQ. Drive 30 miles to Lockhart and visit Smittys or Blacks.

You're opening a can of worms, here, ferner.

 

[DK Protagonist]

I haven't been blown away by the selection here. Austin is known for being casual (shirts and sandals), so looking for urban threads or classic fashion will a challenge.

Bows+Arrows carries a small selection of APC.
Keepers has a number of higher-end dress-shirts and suits, they're located in the heart of downtown. Nothing exotic.
Thrift is plentiful, even a few consignment places which mbell mentioned below.
The Domain has the largest selection at that highest available quality, so I might check that out.
The Premium Outlets in Round Rock have a few places worth checking out, but nothing you should be in a rush to see.

If I were you I would just enjoy the weather, and most importantly, the food!

 

[Texasmade]

Originally Posted by BABuckeye

Forget clothes. The best thing [to buy] in Austin is the BBQ. Drive 30 miles to Lockhart and visit Smittys or Blacks.

+1 on the BBQ. Find a Rudy's in Austin and get the moist brisket and creamed corn.

 

[airportlobby]

Don't go to Rudy's, it's a chain, and you can do better. http://www.texasmonthly.com/2008-06-01/feature.php My brother's restaurant is one of only two in Austin to make the top 50 this year, but if you want the old school, authentic experience, I'd hit either Smittys or Muellers. It sounds like you may be here during a football weekend (maybe the Missouri game?). Schultz's is a fun to place to catch the game, near the stadium. If you like country music, or are just curious, check out Dale Watson at Ginny's Little Longhorn for chickenshit bingo.

 

[crazyquik]

Cowboy boots.

Maybe hats.

That's about it.

 

[greyinla]

For a town of its size, Austin is pretty good for discount clothes shopping. One of the better NM last calls, I think. Outlet mall in San Marcos has a decent Off Fifth and a HF outlet as well. Some decent vintage clothing shops as well (citysearch's 2008 list is pretty representative). I don't think you'll be disappointed compared to home.

If you like country music, or are just curious, check out Dale Watson at Ginny's Little Longhorn for chickenshit bingo.

+1

 

[swiego]

Thanks everyone for the great advice as well as the vegetarian tips. (I am one.)

 

[sbbbjm]

austin is a colorful, laid back, outdoorsy hippy town. you'll see everything from birkenstocks and priuses, a lot of college hipsters, eclectic musicians and artists to fratty old money types. its a weird little mix of funky big city taste mixed with a down home texas feel.

you can go out in shorts and flips flops, but if you're dressed up no one is going to hate on you because we're a very 'come as you are' kind of town.

also, keep in mind austin is very much about homegrown business (which is probably why we don't have any mega malls like the Galleria) - mentioned earlier, the Domain is the closest we come to a high end mall - coming from houston this was a bit of change but once you find your little independent diamond in the rough stores, you'll really start to see the true vibrancy and personality of this town.

what i like about stores here is you see a lot more variety and progressiveness than you would se in any other city in texas. for example the huge neimans in houston is pretty conservative. you'll see your usual tod's and ferragamo fair maybe 1 or 2 barker black shoes. the tiny, mini neimans here though had a great selection of Barker Black AND Paul Smith last time i was there on the contrary. Samething for the Barney's Co-op here - smaller but way better selection.

the outlets are ok - they are about 45 min away and wreak of suburbia and really bad leftover ed hardy and LA trash.

that being said Bows & Arrows and Service are two of my fave stores. Service is neat in that everything there is prewashed and dried. as for more sartorial ventures you might have to lower your expectations. austin just isn't a dressy town.

there is actually a hat store here worth checking out called Hatbox on 6th Street.

BBQ though . . . . The Salt Lick, Rudy's (yeah, so what it's a chain, that creamed corn is enough for me to come back everytime) Smokey Moe's, Stubb's - just pick one you can't go wrong. Another Texas specialty is breakfast tacos - try Juan and a Milllion on the east side - i get the ginormous Don Juan with a side of guac, cilantro and lime and a big ole glass of horchata.

have fun! i love this city too much, and hope you do too!