Dallas takes its shopping very seriously. Although it doesn’t have many well-kept little secrets offering bargain leather goods or Mexican imports like some other Texas cities, it’s brimming with trendy boutiques and big-name department stores.

In fact, Dallas claims to have more shopping centers per capita than anywhere else in the United States. Regardless, there are several alternatives to the generic shops found in most American cities.

Fashion and Department Stores

The mecca for serious shoppers is the original Neiman Marcus store in downtown Dallas (1618 Main St., 214/741-6911). Although it offers the same standard high-quality Neiman Marcus fare as others across the country, the items are housed inside the original department store building, and walking out of its doors onto the hustle and bustle of a busy downtown street is a rare New York City–style experience for shoppers in the South.

The Galleria (13350 Dallas Pkwy., 972/702-7100) is impressive for its mammoth size and its shopping options. A multi-level center with a hotel attached, the Galleria includes four-star restaurants, a year-round ice rink in the center, a five-theater cinema, and nearly 200 stores including Saks Fifth Ave., Tiffany & Co., Gucci, and Nordstrom.

High-end stores are also the featured attraction at NorthPark Shopping Center (8687 N. Central Expwy., 214/890-0908) one of the country’s first upscale indoor malls, completed in 1965. NorthPark Center still continues this tradition, offering a mix of luxury retail and fine dining with spacious courtyards and lush landscaping.

Western Wear

Not surprisingly, Dallas has several stores offering Western wear, and the following locations provide plenty of options for a night out at a local honky-tonk. Although some of the city’s larger chains have closed, there are several smaller shops worth exploring for authentic cowboy gear. Chuck Norris and Larry Hagman endorse Wild Bill’s Western (311 N. Market St., 214/954-1050). On the upper end of the scale is the glitzy and high-quality Cowboy Cool (3699 McKinney Ave., 214/521-4500). Also worth visiting for affordable yet well-made cowboy gear—brand-name boots, shirts, hats, and jeans—are Cavender’s Boot City (2833 LBJ Frwy., 972/239-1375), and the venerable Shepler’s (18500 LBJ Frwy., 972/270-8811).