KEY SHOPPING
FOR ADDITIONAL OPTIONS, VISIT WWW.FORTWORTHKEY.ORG CAMP BOWIE DISTRICT - If you’re a person who likes women’s fashion, you’ve found the motherlode. With cool names like You Are Here and Keeping Up with the Joneses, I counted at least ten boutiques filled with a bounty of clothes, accessories, and gifts, all with different buyers, of course, so all with different stuff! Other retail favorites are Archie’s Gardenland, run by probably the nicest horticulture-savvy people you’ll ever meet, and Carter Bowden Antiques, an everchanging ocean of one-of-a-kind pieces. Hours and phone numbers vary by store, so be sure to check the website: www.campbowiedistrict.com/shopping. PRIPPIE - “A pop of preppy with a hint of hippie” creates this adorable boutique’s portmanteau, so it’s got a little something for all different styles! Prippie’s a clothing and accessory hub, of course, but they also sell seasonal decor and gifts like Texas-themed and hand-painted Topo Chico stationary, candles with scents named things like “If you were a spice girl, you’d be pumpkin spice,” punny dog toys, and beautiful notebooks. Basically, if you’re going to a party and need a gift and something to cute to wear, Prippie’s a one-stop, affordable shop. Tues.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Sun.-Mon. 4829 Camp Bowie Blvd. 682-708-7777, www.shopprippie.com. With over 200 vendors, THE MERCANTILE has a wealth of everything from handmade jewelry to oneof-a-kind furniture to hostess gifts to home décor. It’s also home to the Rose Garden Tea Room, which means you can shop all morning, refuel, and then carry on all afternoon. If you don’t need to marathon, that’s fine, I’m just saying The Mercantile has your back, okay? Each booth is like entering a completely different store without having to go outside- ideal for Texas’ erratic weather. There are baby gifts, original paintings, vintage place settings, serving bowls and, of course, plenty of TCU gear. The Mercantile was started by philanthropic businessman Holt Hickman, and the antique mall reflects his values by holding special events that benefit local causes. Go get lost in the booths; it’s a treasure hunt. Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.6 p.m., Sun. noon-6 p.m. 7200 Camp Bowie Blvd., 817-377-0910, www.the-mercantile.com. MULE ALLEY - A fairy-light strung concourse inside of The Stockyards, Mule Alley is composed of barns that have been standing for over a hundred years, now gutted to outfit retail and restaurateurs aplenty. The quaint street dead ends into another exciting destination, too: Hotel Drover. Mule Alley is the place to be! Every week there seems to be something new swinging its doors open: shops, restaurants, bars and, for some lucky people, even some office spaces. 122128 E. Exchange Ave., www.mulealleyfortworth.com. Hotel Drover: more than a place to wine, dine, and sleep! Inside the lobby are two shops, one of which is LUCCHESE CUSTOM COLLECTION AT HOTEL DROVER, the only Lucchese boutique of its kind in existence. At WIDE BRIM BY FLEA STYLE, western sensibility meets coastal relaxation in a shop carefully curated by locals. So, there you have it. Style that’s both bespoke and cool, all achieved in one lobby. 200 Mule Alley Drive, 817-755-5557, www.hoteldrover.com/ stay/stockyards-shopping.
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Amanda and Matt, the creators of KIMES RANCH, have taken their fashion background to create a more thoughtful jean. With details like a special pocket for a knife, flattering pocket placement, and womenswear with a high enough rise to cover up while riding but not so high as to sacrifice style, they’ve managed to make the sartorially pleasing utilitarian. Yeehaw! 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. Suite 120, www.kimesranch.com. KING RANCH SADDLE SHOP was established in 1853, and boy is it tenacious. During the Reconstruction Era the ranch had to get back on its feet, and part of that was hiring in-house craftsmen to create their very own saddles. After mastering that craft, King Ranch output expanded into more leather gear, all branded with King Ranch’s iconic “W.” Due to legend-fueled demand, they began selling products outside of the ranch and King Ranch Saddle Shop was born. Suite 530, www.krsaddleshop.com. In regards to a classic outfitter in the Alley, look no further than LUCCHESE BOOTMAKER, home of your bespoke forever boot. It all started when Lucchese brothers Salvatore and Joseph emigrated from Italy to Texas, bringing their father’s cobbler legacy with them. With fans from Prince Harry to Sandra Dee, Lucchese boots are canonical. Simply put, it’s where elegance meets western practicality. Party trick: It’s pronounced lu-kay-see. Mon.Sat. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Suite 500, 817-918-7999, www.lucchese.com. In mid-2023 OLD GRINGO BOOTS sidled up to the Mule Alley party, offering another strong option for handcrafted boots made of the finest leathers. You’ll be fitted by some of the nicest sales associates in town, to boot! (See what I did there?) At PH BARN DOOR you’ll find the American Paint Horse Association’s official store featuring clothes, accessories, and some home goods like picture frames, all as unique as the Paint Horse itself. Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Suite 420, 817-222-6411, www.phbarndoor.com. PROPER SUPPLY CO. is the latest store to open its swinging saloon doors to shoppers in Mule Alley and features western wear with their crown jewel: Stetson. The store describes itself succinctly on its Instagram as an outpost of carefully curated, American-made, story-driven merch, all with exceptional service. They carry gorgeous, silversmith-crafted jewelry for everyone, belt buckles galore, and boots. Many, many boots. There are also things like sterling silver martini glasses and exclusively designed clothes for the bougie cowboy in your life. Suite 550, 949-874-1281, www.instagram.com/propersupplycofw. TUCKER BROWN knows fashion, and he’s here to stay. Partnering with his sister, he opened his first boutique in Lubbock nearly 30 years ago before branching out to Fort Worth. While the merchandising errs young, there’s truly something for everyone among the seasonal, on-trend pieces throughout the store. Also to be found are fun Fort Worth gifts like glasses and pillows featuring maps of the city and beautiful, watercolor stationery. Suite 130, 806-4384512, www.tuckerbrown1986.com. Dolly Parton famously pleaded, “Why’d you come in here lookin’ like that, with your cowboy boots and your painted on jeans, all decked out like a cow-