Everybody in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex (AKA DFW), knows there’s only one thing we like to do better besides EAT…it’s SHOP. And we have every option you can imagine from layout, location, price point…you name it! And in Southlake, the shopping goes down in a picturesque setting right out of the 50s appropriately called Southlake Town Square.

Equipped a post office, city offices, movie theatre, and several beautiful buildings all set in several “town square” units, you can spend days walking the area’s retail centers, eateries and even movie theater!  So just because it may seem like you’re walking through a page out of Patty Duke or Donna Reed, the 120+ stores here are  first-class fashion and food; and exclusive to Tarrant County or even Southlake Town Square!

Photo from 2014 Trending LIVE Fashion show at Southlake Town Square.

While you’ll find your favorites like Gap, Banana Republic and Anthropologie, you can’t miss some of these unique shopping and eateries.

1. Malouf’s //  website

With only two locations in Lubbock and Southlake, for 65 years Malouf’s has offered the finest merchandise from the top designers around the world. Full of all the top named brands for him and for her, the store also offers one-on-one consultations at your home, office or in the store with stylists will give you expert advice and make your shopping experience rewarding and effortless.

 2. Soft Surroundings // website

Soft Surroundings is a unique shopping experience. Rather than simply selling merchandise, Soft Surroundings cultivates a lifestyle of well-being and self-preservation. Today’s woman is learning the value of “me” time and the necessity of putting herself on her long list of things “to do.” She values contentment and simplicity. She commits herself to this lifestyle in everything she wears and everything she does, even while sleeping.

 3. HMK // website

HMK is a new Hallmark experience. If you are like me and feel like everything should be monogrammed; this is your store. HMK helps you create beautiful gifts, cards and accessories and discover something surprising. Need a gift, this is your place.

4.   Elaine Turner // website

Texas-born Elaine Turner created her first handbag selling it to Neiman Marcus. After 15 years and several stores boutiques, Elaine Turner has expanded to include clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories for an accessible luxury brand.

 5. TruFire // website The “Neighborhood Concept” presented by long time restauranteurs, David Kazarian & Jay Clark, with technology leader and retailer, Tony Weiss. The kitchen is the heart of the home and the engine of TruFire… With food and drink the best of conversations are had, celebrations erupt, alliances are struck and laughter can be heard for miles… don’t miss the artichokes, brunch or ahi tuna salad. Come and experience a unique and enjoyable atmosphere where “Life Happens In The Kitchen”

 6. Harkins Cine Capri Theatre // website

The Cine Capri® auditorium is the pinnacle of motion picture presentation with the largest screens and the very best in projection and sound technology. The Cine Capri boasts a 30′ x 70′ screen, towering before 600 stadium-style Ultimate Rocker® love-seats. The signature gold waterfall drapes open to unveil each performance in a truly dramatic fashion. And don’t miss E.Leigh’s Boutique and the ME SPA.

And since Southlake Town Square is always expanding, there are several new hot spots that are OPENING SOON!

SPIN! Pizza // website

SPIN! Pizza is an authentic Neapolitan pizza experience with flavor-packed, fresh ingredients that are roasted daily in a stone oven before topping the pizzas. Come solo or with a group and enjoy energetic, cool, and contemporary atmosphere. Salads are fresh, fresh, fresh, with homemade dressing. Cool, creamy gelato. Vino by the glass or bottle.

Kendra Scott // website

Kendra Scott is a leading fashion accessories brand inspired by the personal experiences, travels and sense of community of its CEO and designer.The 1,067 square foot space, located across from Sephora and J. Crew, will showcase the coveted Kendra Scott Color Bar™, offering shoppers a unique, interactive experience to create customized jewelry in minutes. The Color Bar features a touch screen display monitor, iPads and a kaleidoscope of gemstones and jewelry silhouettes in both gold and rhodium silver settings. The stores shelves will boast signature and seasonal jewelry collections in an array of rich hues that embody the Kendra Scott look.

vineyard vines// website

vineyard vines will be located in a 3,365 square foot space, across from Michael Kors and Apple, where it will bring its signature Martha’s Vineyard style to Southlake Town Square. Best known for its whimsical neckties and smiling pink whale logo, vineyard vines was founded in 1998 on Martha’s Vineyard when brothers Shep and Ian Murray cut their “ties” with corporate America to start making ties that represented the “Good Life.” In addition to signature neckwear, vineyard vines offers a variety of clothing and accessories for men, women and children.

bluemercury //website

Also opening is Bluemercury, a leading luxury beauty retailer offering cosmetics, skin care, makeup, perfume, hair, and bath and body lines. Products in the 1,138 square foot store located near lululemon will include well-known, high-end luxury beauty brands such as Darphin, Skinceuticals, Trish McEvoy and Scott, vineyard vines and Bluemercury NARS, as well as their proprietary skincare brand, M-61, all supported with personalized assistance from a team of highly trained beauty experts.

Stores also not to miss that are unique to Tarrant County found only at Southlake Town Square  include Boston Proper (upscale women’s fashion), Tyler’s (Active. Lifestyle. Apparel, Footwear, Eyewear & Accessories), and Whole Earth Provision Co. (high-quality products designed with Earth in mind.)

Southlake Town Square 
1256 Main St. Suite
100 Southlake, Texas
website

There are all kinds of bloggers, but basically it comes down to two classifications. There are the ones that are able to pull off runway looks walking through Walmart and then there are those who can’t because of all the kid crap (and more) that gets on us every day so we’re just happy we got clothes on at all.

Photo by Stephanie Drenka Photography

While we might all aspire to look like we some of my favorite fashion bloggers, but with all that a mom can go through in a day  from coffee to counting sheep – I can’t imagine doing most of it in clothes that I can’t move around in. But just because it’s comfortable, it doesn’t mean it has to be dull and boring.

 Photo by Stephanie Drenka Photography

And these shirts from the Katydid Collection are anything but boring. Not only does each design have a fantastic feel that you’ll love wearing all day, but also lots phrases to match the exact mood or occasion that you might be headed to. And for bloggers, there’s a whole line committed to your daily lingo…from #ootd to this one I love “Eat, sleep, blog and repeat,” you’ll make a bold statement without saying a word (that’s a great tagline for an ad campaign, right? wink, wink.)

Dallas-based apparel designer Katy Messersmith is founder and owner of Katydid Collection, the brand that transforms the basic casual sportswear tee into a fashion-forward staple of women’s closets throughout the South. Katydid’s designs are modern, flattering, and exude confidence. Katy is known for embracing saturated colors, mixed motifs, detailed embellishments, and incredible quality that endears repeat customers and continually captivates new audiences. Katy insists on the highest standards for her label, and the entire apparel line is made in the USA.

The label is sold in more than 5,000 boutiques across the nation and can also be purchased online at www.katydid.com.

Once a year I (coincidentally when my insurance coverage kicks in for the next year in January), I go in search of my frames for the year. I’m not a contact wearer, so for me frames are a part of my look and style.  Unfortunately, the selection process takes a while…like three hours as I look through the frames, try them all on and then proceed to keep trying them all on over and over again until I get tired, just pick a pair and go home.

But it can be a lot easier (and have a much better result) when you pick the right frames for your face based on what is best for your face shape. Just like a pair of jeans, certain styles will look better on you when you take your shape into consideration…face shape that is!.

Choosing the Right Frames

Square Face
Strong jaw line, a broad forehead, and a wide chin and cheekbones. The width and length of the face are close to being equal. Frames should be selected to make the face look longer and to soften the square angles of the face. Choose frames that are slightly curved (like an oval shape) and that have more horizontal than vertical real estate.

Oval Face
The oval face is identifiable by its balanced proportions. The forehead is slightly wider than the chin and cheekbones are high. Frames should complement the natural proportions of the oval. Choose frames that are wide or wider than the broadest part of the face and that follow your brow line. Often, diamond or rectangular shapes work best for oval shapes.

Oblong Face
Although fairly similar to an oval shape, an oblong face is longer than it is wide. The ideal frames will shorten the face by creating a break in the length of the face. Choose frames that have depth and a low bridge to shorten the nose. Try frames that are round, deep, have low-triangle shapes, or that have strong vertical lines.

Round Face
A round or full face is characterized by having the same width and length. For round faces, frames that add length to the face often work best. Frames that lengthen the face are typically angular, narrow and are wider than they are deep. It is best to avoid round style frames as these will exaggerate the roundness and curves of the face.

Heart-Shaped Face
A heart shaped face looks like a heart or a triangle with the point facing down. The forehead is very wide and cheekbones are high while the face narrows towards the chin. Counterbalance the narrow chin by choosing frames that are wider at the bottom. Generally, light colored and rimless frames work best, although aviator, butterfly and low-triangle styles also work well.

Diamond Face
A diamond shaped face has a high, dramatic cheekbones with a narrow eye line and jaw line. Frames that are soft in style typically work best to highlight the eyes and cheekbones. Select frames that have detailing, distinctive brow lines,are rimless or a cat-eye shape for best results.

However, at Visionworks they make finding the right pair event easier.  Whether you’re the type who needs to touch and feel the frames or would rather do your styling from the comfort of your couch, Visionworks has you covered. I decided to do a little of both to see which one took less time. And with selections from DVF, Guess, Michael Kors and Candies, you have options to fit your color and styles. 

After about two hours in store, which had tons of frames available at my fingertips, I found a few options that I liked. But I wasn’t going to make any decisions until I went online to the “A Better You Frame Finder.” In minutes, I had uploaded my own photo, picked a few different frames, tried them on and was even able to share them on Facebook to get feedback from friends.

1. Upload your photo. 

 2. Select a frame based on your face shape and your favorite style. 

 3. Pick the pair that looks best on you, save to your profile and then come in store to pick them up! 

Which pair do you like best? Left or right?

See which ones I chose? I’m kinda in love with these tortoise shell frames from Guess. Aptly named Pink, I actually love these frames even more in person than I did online and exceeded my expectations. And I didn’t have to spend three hours picking them out.

Make sure you check out the Visionworks website for what current offers and promotions are available in your area. For instance right now, BOGO is on so you can get two pairs of frames for yourself OR choose to share with a friend and you both get a pair!

Let Visionworks help you create A Better You.