Ask someone from anywhere else in Texas about shopping in Dallas, and the first words out of their mouth might be Neiman Marcus, the name of the pricey, upscale department store chain with the annual Christmas catalogue that features must- have women's fashions plus other trifling items such as sports cars or llamas. The flagship Neiman Marcus store (1618 Main Street) has been around since the early 1900s and has a fifth-floor museum to prove it. You may not be able to afford most of the items here, but it is fun to look, and pick up something impressive for less than a mortgage payment, perhaps a scarf for your wife or girlfriend.
The second stop on your shopping excursion – even just for the voyeuristic people-watching factor – would be the gigantic urban Galleria Mall (North Dallas Tollway at LBJ Freeway) featuring a staggering array of designer-label storessuch as Tiffany, Versace and Coach, where the shoppers dress to be seen and the fresh-faced high school students all aspire to look like Paris Hilton. There's also a hotel and an ice-skating rink inside this ode to Texan largesse.
The West Village (Blackburn at McKinney) features speciality shops while perhaps the area's highlight for browsing is the McKinney Avenue Antique Market (2710 McKinney Ave.) where you can find everything from rare books to Majolica plates and Staffordshire knick-knacks. Highland Park Village (47 Highland Park) lays claim to being the country's first shopping centre, dating back to the 1930s and features upscale outlets such as Calvin Klein.
The West End Marketplace (603 Munger Ave.) warehouse shopping and dining area has an interesting collection of speciality shops, including the place for that aspiring cowboy or cowgirl on your shopping list, Wild Bill's Western Store for cowboy boots (even custom-fitted), and big ol' belts and buckles.
North Park Centre (at Northwest Highway, only eight miles from downtown, light rail connection at Park Lane Station): Quirky artwork and sculptures are part of the attraction in this upscale mall with more than 100 shops and restaurants. If you're looking for intimate apparel for a wife or girlfriend, try Victoria's Secret, or for a hard- to-match gift that merges art design with fashion and home decor, try Anthropologie. Here's your secret tip: locals have an absolute favourite store to visit. It's Sam Moon Trading Company (11635 Harry Hines Blvd. in Dallas or 2449 Preston Rd. in nearby Frisco), a huge outlet store literally crammed shoulder-to-shoulder with shoppers scooping up watches, jewellery or designer fashion accessories such as good quality Gucci lookalike handbags that are not of the counterfeit variety and are at very reasonable prices.