REI now has two locations in the metroplex, one in their original location just off 635 and one now in Plano by Park and Preston. They have everything you need and more for backpacking, traveling in general, hiking, camping, kayaking, and anything else you can think of that’s “outdoorsy.” They also sell Vibrams (those toe-finger running shoes) and it’s a great place to find ski supplies and down jackets for a city that is nowhere near slopes of any kind and usually isn’t below freezing. The staff is also knowledgeable when it comes to what you need and what you don’t need for just about every outdoor activity.

If you’re ever in dire need of a belt, bag, any jewelry, luggage, faux fancy flip flops or a tiara, go to Sam Moon. Sam Moon is a warehouse of every accessory under the sun and …

Oh, Two Buck Chuck. How I pine for thee. Well pine no more; Trader Joe’s has finally made it to Texas! Get organic goods at rock bottom prices at the ever popular Trader Joe’s. The Fort …

White Rock Market is a great little non profit farmer’s market where local farmers, ranchers and artisans come together twice a month selling locally raised, farmed or crafted goods March through December. The second Saturday of …

The Shops at Park lane (located just across 75 from North Park Center) is a new mixed-use development with retail stores and restaurants that follows the trend of an open-air shopping space with big sidewalks and apartments towering above. The retail stores all have the common theme of fashion at a bargain, with stores like Nordstrom’s Rack, Sack’s Off Fifth, Home Goods and the Bloomingdale’s Outlet. There are also a few nice little eco-conscious boutiques like Reuse Jeans and Evol Society. There is also a Whole Foods and, while there are just a couple restaurants currently open, several more are “coming soon.”

The Dallas Farmer’s Market has been serving Dallas with fresh local produce for 60 years. The market is open 362 days a year (closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s) from 8 am to 6 pm. The vendors at the market offer all kinds of produce as well as meat, flowers and shrubs, and local honey. There are also some produce vendors from out of state (don’t worry, everything is marked if buying local is your cup of tea) in addition to eateries and gourmet food vendors. They also host all kinds of classes throughout the year ranging from cooking and fitness classes to more “how-to” classes (as in, how to pickle things).

The Dallas Design District, located just west of Downtown Dallas, consists of a series of shops, vendors and art galleries and is known as the go-to place for professional interior designers. In the past few years the showrooms have opened up their doors to the public, foregoing their former “strictly to the trade only” policies.

The Bishop Arts District is located in Oak Cliff, the neighborhood south of town trying to overcome its historically bad rep for being a “bad part of town.” Luckily, a little bit of gentrification has gone a long way without sucking the character out of Oak Cliff and the Bishop Arts District serves as the thriving central cohesion for this part of town. The Bishop Arts District is hands down the best area to find indie boutiques with one of a kind, hand made garments and the like. Picture a brick and mortar version of Etsy. A good collection of small, local restaurants add to this area’s charm as well as the Kessler Theater (a music venue) and the Texas Theater (an old movie theater playing flicks once again) make the Bishop Arts District one heck of a shopping destination.

Dolce Vita is a great little women’s boutique located in Fort Worth’s Montgomery Plaza. They offer scrumptious separates, dresses, intimates and accessories. They additionally carry a nice selection of unique gifts and novelties. This is a great place to find a nice little something special when you need a clever gift but are fresh out of ideas. The staff is friendly and never pushy, living up to their motto, “Always upscale, never uptight.” The best thing about Dolce Vita is that their clothes cater to the real woman. To sweeten the deal a little more, all regular priced items are 25% off the first Tuesday of every month. Sweet indeed.

No one has really had a shopping experience in Dallas without visiting Neiman Marcus’ historic flagship store in downtown. Opened in 1907, Neimans downtown location has all the latest fashions with that old-school, Chicago Mag Mile department store ambiance. In addition to their quality clothing, enjoy the classic window displays, their renowned excellent service and lunch at the Zodiac Room. Their downtown location is especially nice during the holidays, as they go all out with decorations and displays. Neiman Marcus is a staple both to Dallas and the fashion world at large, making their downtown location great for shopping and browsing alike.

As of late, we’ve turned into a DIY nation. Why buy a scarf when you can knit your own? The Shabby Sheep in uptown has turned your grandma’s boring hobby into a cool new-to-you past time that’s had a little resurgence with the DIY revolution. They carry your general knitting supplies as well as yarn made from the finest materials (including alpaca yarn and hand dyed materials). Don’t know how to knit? They have that covered too with a calendar full of classes. Right next door they also have a large workshop where you can try a spinning wheel or just sit down on a comfy couch and start (or finish) your projects.

The Galleria in North Dallas is upscale shopping at its finest. The Galleria is home to numerous designer storefronts, boutique shops, upscale department stores (Nordstrom’s, Macy’s and Sak’s) and even an art gallery. Perusing the window displays while strolling under the Galleria’s vaulted glass ceiling makes for a relaxed and enjoyable shopping experience. They also have one of the nicest ice skating rinks in town (you know, for the kiddos). After working up an appetite with a day of shopping you can then sit down to upscale casual dining or even treat yourself to some fine dining at The Grill on the Alley or Oceanaire.

Lula B’s is a spacious little antique mall in Deep Ellum touting “cool stuff for cool people,” and with good reason. Over 80 vendors specialize in items from the 50′s 60′s and 70′s and sell everything you need (and everything you didn’t know you needed) that’s vintage, retro, antique, collectible or just plain cool and funky. From farmhouse kitchen gadgets and designer clothes to vintage cowboy boots and vinyl, Lula B’s makes it hard to leave empty handed. A trip to Lula B’s is no “quick trip” kind of deal – make time to get lost amongst the brick-a-brack. As an added bonus, Lula B’s has expanded to two locations with another store in the Dallas Design District. Can we say oozits and whatzits galore?

Oh, outlet malls; you’d love to hate them and hate to love them but when it comes down to it all your favorite stores and designer labels are represented and the prices are all discounted, sometimes deeply. The Allen Premium Outlets live up to all that outlet malls promise and more. Charlotte Russe, Juicy Couture, Coach, even Le Creuset calls your name and whispers sweet nothings in your ear about lower prices and the current season’s trends. You can even join their VIP club to receive special coupons and promotions for over 100 outlet stores. They also usually have big sales around national holidays that yield three day weekends.

North Haven Gardens has been a plant and landscape shopping destination in Dallas for over 60 years. Whether you just need to spruce up an apartment, are looking to grow a vegetable garden or planning some serious landscaping, you can find what you need at North Haven Gardens. A friendly and supportive staff is always around to answer any questions and they offer garden coaching for those that could use a little extra help. The organic garden coaching is a particular favorite of patrons. North Haven also has a variety of free classes and talks of all things gardening every month from discovering heat hardy plants to floral design to gardening 101.

The upscale shopping in Uptown’s West Village offers a blend of boutiques and national brand stores to the tune of Ann Taylor and Banana Republic. In an afternoon of store-hopping, shoppers can come home with anything from artisan handmade accessories or a pair of cowboy boots to business attire and a bottle of wine. The West Village also has a variety of eateries to refuel after a day of hard shopping, as well as a few watering holes and the Magnolia Theater if an indie film strikes your fancy after all that shopping. A few excellent shops to stop into are Carito Caro, Cowboy Cool, Pitaya, and Club Monaco opens for Fall 2011.

Mockingbird Station is a great place to shop when you’re looking for a few of those “mall” favorites but don’t want to deal with the hassle of the mall. Pick up your necessities at Bath and Body Works, Ann Taylor, The Gap or Victoria’s Secret and then find that something extra special at one of their boutiques, such as Movida or Francesca’s collections. Mockingbird Station is home to several little restaurants to get a quick bite or post-shop cocktail, as well as the Angelika Film Center, great for checking out the latest indie flicks. It’s also conveniently located just north of downtown, right on the DART Rail stop.

Known for their extensive catalog and specializing in exotic imported furniture and decor, Wisteria has one brick and mortar in the form of an outlet store on Cedar Springs, just across from Love Field. The outlet store is a great place to look for deals and specials, or just to check out their merch in person before making a purchase. Their warehouse-esque location is a treasure trove of beautiful furniture and home furnishings from lands far away and bursts at the seams with that “world-traveler” aesthetic. From accent pieces to furniture, Wisteria is the perfect place to find that perfect piece that brings a room together. Expect exotic pieces like bone-inlaid dressers and tables from India, trunks and Buddha statues from China, and textiles from the world over.

Whether you are just visiting or live in the area, spending time in DFW often warrants a need for those western, Texas-themed goods, be it leather coasters for a souvenir, over sized wooden furniture for a man cave, or Texas-shaped anything. The best cluster of western stores and boutique style shops can be found around the Fort Worth Stockyards. The various shopping establishments at the Stockyards offer western goods such as Wranglers, western antiques, furniture, boots and even saddles. While some of the merch falls into the “Texas kitsch” category, that’s kind of the point. For your more typical souvenirs, check out the giant, obvious-placed assortment of souvenir shops. For something a little more unique (like leather coasters made by a real Texas inmate), check the side roads for consignment stores and boutiques.

Every vintage-clothing connoisseur goes through the same weary task of rifling through racks at vintage stores in hopes of finding that one little upscale gem that’s been overlooked. This treasure hunt can be frustrating and (pun intended) wearing. Look no further, my friends. Puttin’ on the Ritz in Snider Plaza specializes in vintage collections up to a hundred years old including 20th century wedding dresses and even some classic designer labels from collections of decades passed. This is no second hand store of hand-me-downs, Puttin’ on the Ritz brings you vintage shopping at its finest. While the vintage designer clothing can cost into the thousands, you can still find some good buys in the $20 and up range to give your wardrobe a nod to those fashion trends that keep resurfacing through the test of time.

Northpark Center is a staple for Dallas shopping. The store directory alone has its own bragging rights with representation from top designers such as Betsy Johnson, Versace, Gucci and the list goes on. Northpark Center …

This small, psychedelic thrift shop located off Greenville Ave (around the corner from the Libertine) is the place to go when you’re bored with all the other thrift shops. It’s jam-packed with curiosities galore, from …

The Big Day is approaching, and the one question on everyone’s mind is what the gown looks like. That’s where Warren Barron of Highland Park Village takes over. According to WB, “Never again will a bride …

When faced with the challenge of buying a gift for the person who has everything, there is one shop that has become the go-to for exactly this type of crisis.  Fête-ish features unique and anything-but-typical merchandise …