Shopping in Carrollton

A tie-dyed maxi dress billows to the ankles. A sheer white camisole bunches at the back, framing shoulder blades in a bright red “x.” Luxe Contemporary Apparel’s collection of women’s fashions combines vibrant colors and eye-catching silhouettes for a striking effect that's both elegant and flirtatious, like Versailles' annual single's mixer. The boutique's fashionistas recruit pieces by designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Show Me Your Mumu, which boast floral patterns and embroidered flourishes. They also enhance ensembles with delicate teardrop pendants and glistening chandelier earrings.

The shop itself strives to match the delicate charm of its wares: dresses hang from carved wooden wardrobes, and dressing rooms ensconce customers amid heavy white curtains, gilded mirrors, and crystal chandeliers.

Mothers who prefer to keep their child's gender a secret can browse Babytique's stock of neutral gifts or await pink or blue garments from the Not Finding Out product line. To keep babies' secret identities confidential, expectant mothers can ask doctors to covertly tick off the correct gender on a Shhh! Card and mail it to the store, where gift items take the forms of pink blankets or blue pickup trucks. Gender-neutral items such as plush-toy pacifiers, eco-friendly organic cotton-and-soy onesies, and business-school admissions tests are also available, as well as an array of toys, apparel, and bedding in gender-matching colors and designs.

After nearly 30 years in an intimate boutique across from SMU, the owners of Cotton Island decided to expand their eclectic lineup of women's clothing from small, progressive designers, opening a second location in Plano and cutting the virtual ribbon on an online store. At all locations, they welcome women of every age and fashion proclivity to update their wardrobes with vibrant, seasonal apparel.

Cotton Island's inventory has made the shop a darling of local press, even garnering a feature in D Magazine. Racks hoist vintage-inspired threads and limited-run articles from smaller indie labels, such as JWLA, Free People, Michael Stars, Splendid, Ella Moss, and Lucky Brand. Designer denim by 7 For All Mankind, Miss Me, and Citizens of Humanity, and Current Elliot pair easily with accessories from Kendra Scott, Chan Lu, and Big Buddha, or a multifarious collection of shoes cobbled by the likes of Bernardo, Yellow Box, TOMs, Sam Edelman, Steve Madden, and the village farrier.

Wood Sense Furniture showcases sustainably built furnishings inside its showroom. To do this, its carpenters work with newly grown acacia, sheesham, and mango woods from plantations and reclaim wood from shipyards, buildings, and lightly used Trojan Horses. Each piece is hand-finished with water-based lacquers, and the finish, tone, texture, and grain varies based on the wood used. This variation allows for collections ripe with rustic-looking pieces, modern clean lines, and an array of colors and textures.

After more than 35 years, the walls at Paperbacks Plus in Mesquite couldn't cope with all the books. So the owners expanded into the city proper, setting up two new shops under the name Lucky Dog Books. Shelf after shelf of volumes greets the eye at each location; alongside the paperbacks and hardbacks sit myriad other forms of media, from used CDs and DVDs to LPs, magazines, and comic books young and old. Chairs dot the landscape at all three bookstores, inviting customers to flop down and flip through the pages of a novel or pretend to read a comic book that conceals a history textbook. In addition to selling its wares, Lucky Dog Books also offers cash or store credit for used items and takes its services on the road with a Books at Home program.

Metro Piano North's massive showroom invites savvy and aspiring musicians to sample its quality instruments. The store stocks its eponymous instrument in digital, grand, and upright models, and Metro Piano North's dedicated teachers instruct students throughout the week on how to play instruments and which chords can be used to summon an adorable gathering of woodland creatures.