GoShoppingNashville.com

Shopping in the Gulch

I don't know whether you have been in the Gulch lately, but things are really starting to get interesting. Loads of lofts and condos are going in, great restaurants are already in, and soon, retail will hit the area. Urban Outfitters has announced that they will be opening a Nashville outpost in early 2009. The store will be located on 12th Avenue South in the current location of popular music venue, City Hall....never fear concert-goers, City Hall owners are seeking a new location with better acoustics and parking in mind. OK, back to Urban Outfitters....

What a cool place! This store is always so much fun to check out and I am glad that they will be here soon. The shop offers trendy clothing, shoes, and accessories for men and women. I always find great graphic tees or something a bit offbeat, even subversive. More fun than the clothing are the objects of interest and accessories to be found in the store. I am impatient and already shop UO online and found an awesome set of 2 branch hooks for $18. I'll use them to display my necklaces. I also found hilarious Star Wars USB flash drives, and even a heavy metal activity book - too funny. At any rate, Urban Outfitters will definitely be a breath of fresh air with its eclectic offerings with a sense of humor. If you can't wait until 2009, be sure to check them out on the web at Urban Outfitters.

Flip for Men's Fashion

Since I spent a large part of the last week going on and on about beauty products - mostly for women - I decided that I needed to get in some posts for the guys. With that in mind, Mr. GoShoppingNashville and I headed down to Flip on 8th Avenue South. Flip is not your ordinary boutique, it is a resale shop. Wait, it isn't your typical resale shop either. Many of the clothes here are actually new and have been purchased from other retailers (original tags still attached). The clothes that are used are used lightly at best and are in perfect condition.....not good condition - BRAND NEW condition. Be on the lookout as you head that way, the sign isn't very noticeable if you are a newbie. When you enter the store, you will see a selection of sport coats, belts, ties (great ties!), and dress pants. The back section contains the more casual wear and suits. The staff claims to be hands off, but may insist that they know you when they do not. Let that not be a deterrent, as there are some great finds here. The prices are higher than your typical resale shop;  let me reiterate, this is not your typical reseller. Brands include everything from Adidas and Gap to Armani. Our favorite finds included new with tags Juicy Couture polo shirts for $39.99 and Juicy plaid shorts (also new with tags) for $59.99. For the man who is looking to purchase or resell, Flip is well worth the stop.

Affordable Edge

Dressing for work is one thing, but when I am dressing to suit my own taste, I prefer a little edge. In Nashville, edge is a bit difficult to come by if you don't have a huge budget. I have learned to use my imagination and creative combinations to achieve the style that I like. If you are in need of a little attitude in your closet, then Smack Clothing Company at 2201 Elliston Place is your kind of place. For ladies, there is a good supply of denim from MEK, Miss Me, and Sang Real. These have the detail of some of the higher end denim lines with a much more wallet friendly price tag. Smack also has a large supply of unique dresses and tops for a night out on the town. I found some great country meets urban shirts from English Rose as well - a tongue in cheek take on the western vibe. Though there is a good selection of stuff for the ladies, this shop really shines when it comes to the men. They carry a larger supply of denim from MEK, Monarchy, Prangster, and more. The racks are filled with cool shirts from Monarchy, 7 Diamonds, Fender, Black Hearts Brigade, and Roar. My favorites, however, had to be the loaded with attitude shirts from Rebel Spirits - perfect for attracting attention out on the town or up on the stage. The men are in luck, as there is a carefully edited selection of shoes including some great boots from GBX with penchant for punk. One of the things that I love about shopping is that you never know where you are going to find your next favorite thing. For me, I found them at Smack....Roar long sleeve shirts for the little guys. They were pretty much the cutest things that I have ever seen; they were just mini me versions of the men's line!!! Know any little guys with attitude and style??? I know that I do!

His & Her Shopping on West End

When the man in your life agrees to shop with you, does he hover? Come on, you know what I am talking about. He doesn't really want to go shopping, but he wants you to be happy and agrees to go. But then, he is hot on your heels, breathing down your neck, fidgety and ready to go. Takes the fun out of shopping, doesn't it? Well, if this sounds like you, I have a solution. Head over to the Park Place Shopping Center at 2817 West End, where there are his and her boutiques in the form of Boutique Bella and denHim. Both stores are owned by the same folks and both offer outstanding quality items.

Ladies first, so let's start with Boutique Bella. Their new location is larger with more space to roam around, house wares and they now have more and bigger dressing rooms - a definite plus. Inside Boutique Bella, you will find tees by Michael Stars, C + C, Juicy Couture, and Velvet. If denim is your taste, well, you will have just entered paradise. Denim lines come from People's Revolution, William Rast, Rock & Republic, Rich & Skinny, AG Adriano Goldschmeid, and Hudson. There are many, many more, but these were some of my favorites. Bella carries collections from Trina Turk, Joie, Sanctuary, and Alice & Trixie. Don't forget to check out the intimates from Hanky Panky & Underglam. While you are artfully working your way through high end fashion, so can your friend next door at  denHim.  He will find belts, hats, and  loads of contemporary casual fashions. Mr. GoShoppingNashville found shirts from Juicy Couture, Fender, Modern Amusement, and English Laundry. As the name suggests, there is a ton of denim here as well. denHim carries all of the labels that Boutique Bella  does so we took note of some others like Earnest Sewn, Genetic, Southern Thread, Howe, and Tavernini.

If you are a shopper, you can tell that this is no bargain basement. But if you know what you like and you are looking for something high end, you can find a fantastic selection for you, at Boutique Bella, or for your man, at denHim. Enjoy your co-ed clothing consumerism................

High End Fashions - Sample Sale Pricing

If you find yourself on West End, you absolutely must stop in at UAL (United Apparel Liquidators) at 2918 near the Apple Market. This place is a little crazy and you need to be willing to look through all of the racks like a true bargain hunter. It is easy to get overwhelmed, but pick a rounder and go for it - I promise that it will be worth rummaging around in the hectic atmosphere. Within 5 minutes of entering the store, I found dresses from Chloe, Moschino, Juicy Couture, and Betsey Johnson to name a few. Oh, here is the twist, UAL offers all of these high end labels at way (and I mean way) less than retail....think sample sale prices. Though there was not a huge selection of shoes, I found Jenni Kayne, Hollywould, Valentino, and some crazy miu miu platforms that I have also seen on runway and in magazines this year. Not into dresses and shoes? OK....have a look through leggings, tees, and denim. We found Blu Jeanious, worn by stars like Halle Berry, for just $29.99. We also scored some genetic denim for a mere $59.99. Who else wears genetic? Oh, just Lindsay Lohan, Sienna Miller, Jessica Biel, Fergie, Ashlee Simpson, and Paris Hilton....maybe you have heard of one of them. OK, if I haven't given you enough to cause you to run to your car and head to West End, they also have kids clothes including Juicy Couture, Diesel, and Quincy. Did I forget to mention that there is more? Yes, more - including sunglasses, jewelry, and swimwear. The guys selection is not as large in quantity, but is still larger than life in the brands represented. Needless to say, I will be going back to UAL again, and again, and....well you get the picture.

Shop Like a Tourist

Today was a beautiful day in the Music City - just perfect for a little shopping and some exercise. So, Mr. GoShoppingNashville and I headed downtown to Broadway. One of our first stops was American Apparel as we were in search of some cotton basics in great summer colors. They were definitely not in short supply in the Nashville outpost of this LA based brand. Since we were there, we decided to enjoy the gorgeous weather and stroll up and down Broadway, taking in local 'tourist' shops followed by dinner at Jack's Bar-B-Que. Jack's is one of our favorites before taking in a Predators game at the Sommet Center during hockey season so why not after a few hours of shopping as well?

Along the way, we had a lot of fun going in and out of the various store fronts filled with Nashville wares. Though I won't list every one that we visited, I will give a brief rundown on our findings. On Legend's Corner (across from the Sommet), you will see the cool guitar statue called Honky Tonk Heroes - great spot for a touristy photo. So that is where we will start...Legends Gifts. This store is filled with Nashville t-shirts and novelties. We found snow globes, spoon rests, magnets, thimbles, shot glosses, mugs, and more. A highlight in the shop was a nice selection of Jack Daniel's goods including praline pecans and the famous tipsy fudge cake. We also found an interesting supply of onesies for the little ones - be forewarned...some of these were pretty ornery.

Bogey's On Broadway was the next stop on our list. Here we found a nice selection of Nashville t-shirts. There was also a pretty heavy supply of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash tees. Looking for a cowboy hat while you are in town? Bogey's has those too and lots of them. Then we decided to jump across the street to visit the other side and found DixieLand Delights and the legendary Ernest Tubb Record Shop. At DixieLand, I fell in love with a kitschy Elvis Presley guitar serving tray. This tray comes in three pieces and would be great for serving chips or veggies and dip. I love offbeat serve ware for gatherings and this one definitely fits the bill! DixieLand Delights also has a large selection of Nashville, Elvis, and Johnny Cash t-shirts. You can find western wear, Harley Davidson blankets, and more novelty items than I can even mention, including the ubiquitous guitar shaped fly swatter! So, we finished up our afternoon by heading to Ernest Tubb Record Shop  - definitely the coolest on the street. This shop has a great vibe right from the front door. You walk in and there is a small but good selection of Nashville souvenirs - we actually bought our first ever Nashville souvenir today (surprising that it took so many years!). Move through the souvenirs and you will reach the music section where there is vintage vinyl, country music DVDs, and a large selection of Cd's new and old. In the back, the stage is roped off as a museum where actual outfits worn by greats like Ernest Tubb and Marty Robbins are carefully displayed. Every Saturday night at midnight, Ernest Tubb still has a live audio broadcast of the Midnite Jamboree, the 2nd longest running radio show. As you wander around, be sure to look up and see the vintage record covers from many country greats lining the walls and further adding to the unique Grand Ole Opry vibe. Whatever your typical shopping pleasure....whether you are a native or just a visitor, take a break from your norm and head to Broadway to shop like a tourist - even if your a local! It is a fun way to enjoy some good weather and look around at the rapidly changing Nashville skyline. 

Cool Consignment

Well, it seems as though we have featured some luxury locations lately. My Sister's Closet is also a luxury location of sorts in the form of a high end consignment shop which I found quite by accident at 4012 Hillsboro Road. I stumbled across the shop while parking to check out Pet Clawset. Though the shop is fairly small and crowded, it is loaded with fab finds. There are shoes, jewelry, handbags, and clothes of all sorts. The shop only accepts fashions from within the last two years and high end looks or designer labels. The Green Hills shop leans more toward business attire while the Music Row store, located at 1200 Villa Place #114, has a trendier vibe and even has pieces formerly owned by country music and Hollywood celebrities. The owner, who was onsite and very helpful, said that the Music Row location is now starting to carry men's apparel as well. On my visit to the Green Hills store, I found great chinos from J. Crew, denim trousers from Level 99, a lot a business pieces from Tahari, and more. There are also great handbags from Kate Spade and Coach. If you are looking for designer items without the designer price tag,  head to My Sister's Closet, where the ever changing inventory is bound to have something for you.