The Shopping Bag
By Meda Kessler
Retail remains active, with new openings and changes of address for others. Plus, an iconic Fort Worth brand celebrates a very big milestone.
Check out everything from party supplies to accessories to swimsuits for your littles at Collins + Conley. Photos by Meda Kessler
Children’s boutique Collins + Conley gets a permanent space at Clearfork
Collins + Conley has successfully completed the path from an online shopping-only retailer to a pop-up boutique to a more permanent address. Celebrating their grand opening in The Shops at Clearfork at the end of June, owners and sisters-in-law Ashley Watten and Sarah Leafgren are thrilled to remain at the Fort Worth shopping center that gave them their first taste of brick-and-mortar. The children’s boutique opened as a short-term pop-up at Clearfork in the spring of 2021 and was able to build a local audience with its thoughtful collection of clothes and accessories for babies and beyond. They renewed their lease, took a smaller space, gave it the Collins + Conley makeover with its signature blue paint scheme and expanded its offerings to include more party favors, gifts and clothes for mom. While online shopping is still available, Ashley and Sarah are excited for in-person customers to see the details and workmanship of the clothing for boys and girls. They also are partnering with local creatives such as artist Catherine Cartie, who’ll have watercolors on display and for sale at the shop. And The Happy Lark has provided toys to occupy little hands and minds while moms browse.
The Shops at Clearfork, 5254 Monahans Ave., Fort Worth, 817-841-9156, collinsandconley.com
Athleisure on the move
Lululemon, the athletic and leisure wear store, has moved into bigger digs in Southlake Town Square. The 7,000-square-foot shop is located in the former Brooks Brothers and is considered a flagship store.
Southlake Town Square, 233 Grand Ave., 817-251-5589, shop.lululemon.com
Studio 74 Vintage is a go-to spot for everything from jewelry to vintage handbags and, of course, clothing. Photos by Meda Kessler
Studio 74 Vintage expands into a new space
Laura Simmons finds it difficult to pass up a good vintage collection, so she moved into a larger space instead of cutting back on her shopping expeditions. She’s still part of the Camp Bowie District, setting up shop in a newly renovated building that’s also home to the new office of Shauna Glenn Design. Look for clothing, including denim, and accessories from a variety of eras for men and women.
5926 Curzon Ave., Fort Worth, 817-343-3013, studio74vintage.com
Karl’s Fishing & Outdoors opens first brick-and-mortar
This unique concept based in Chicago got its start with “mystery tackle boxes” sold only online and featuring curated goods for a specific type of fishing (bass, freshwater, etc.). Customer subscriptions are carefully monitored to make sure no recipient ever receives duplicate goods. Prizes appear in select boxes; one “golden ticket” was a new bass boat. With the pandemic boosting the number of people fishing for the first time as well as those getting back into angling, Karl’s opted to expand with its first retail store. They chose Fort Worth for its access to water and the location in the WestBend shopping center for its close proximity to the Trinity River. You can buy the mystery boxes in-store, but there’s also a selection of outdoor clothing, rods and reels, lures, inflatable kayaks, gift items and more. Karl’s tech-savvy approach to sales includes interactive displays filled with different types of lures. Pick up one and a small video screen fills with images of how it moves in the water. Karl’s memberships also are available, offering discounted prices and other privileges. The shop is approachable and the friendly staff is knowledgeable about the merchandise.
WestBend, 1621 River Run, Fort Worth, 817-813-1117, shopkarls.com/fort-worth
Photos by Meda Kessler
Photos courtesy of Dickies
Dickies, durable and fashionable, turns 100
The Fort Worth company known for its utilitarian and no-nonsense work apparel celebrates its centennial with a nod to its real-world roots. While the fashion, sports and music worlds embraced and elevated Dickies to haute status, it continues to be a go-to for the not-so-glitterati, too. The Made in Dickies anniversary campaign features five such people, male and female: a long-haul trucker, a farmer, a server at a restaurant, an electrician and a cleaner. Browse the website, and you’ll see iconic styles reworked with a more fashion-forward look, including a women’s cropped Eisenhower jacket. Dickies’ 874 Work Pant, introduced during the 1960s, was one of the first to feature a polyester blend for durability and stretch. Thanks to TikTok and global influencers, the work pant is having a moment with wearers, mainly young women, who are folding over the waistband to give the printed “874” label a lot of visibility. The hashtag #Dickies874 has more than 50 million views on TikTok. Updated versions of the style include more colors and a popular leopard print that sold out immediately. The celebration continues through 2022 with new releases, a special-edition book and a digital maker marketplace.
521 W. Vickery Blvd., Fort Worth, 817-877-0387, dickies.com