Shopping in Austin

For decades now, Austin has had a reputation as a funky, off-the-beaten-path sort of place that embraces the unusual. The Austin shops of today are diverse collections of artists and shop owners who are committed to “keep Austin weird”, offering items to the public that can’t be found anywhere else.

For clothing with a relaxed designer touch, explore Congress Street. From 11th Street down to Cesar Chavez Street, this Austin shopping strip is an indie boutique dreamland led by the Dress Shop, which offers simple clothes and accessories that are both modern and timeless. Meanwhile, Stag has a selection of men’s clothing with retro-hip appeal. For a semi-authentic Texas look, hit HEM Jeans, a specialty denim store, Heritage Boots for a pair of hand-stitched originals, and top things off with a Stetson from Hatbox.

If home outfitting is on the list, Finch on West 2nd Street  is one of the more unique home accent stores, while Mercury, also located in the 2nd Street arts district, has items from around the world. For larger home furnishings, The Khazana brings Middle Eastern-inspired furniture to the city.

Those with more eclectic tastes will find themselves drawn to Austin’s 23rd Street Artists Market, an open air arts and crafts showcase that runs every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. If searching for a traditional Austin mall, there are five located throughout the city with one of the most popular being Barton Creek Square Mall located off of Capital of Texas Highway. There are also several outdoor malls, such as The Domain and Hill Country Galleria, which include unique Austin stores as well as national chain favorites.

Whether it’s upscale clothing, special furnishing for the home, or a funky throw pillow in the shape of Elvis, the unique shops in Austin combined with the indoor and outdoor malls have multiple selections to give any home a Texas twist.