12 years ago by
Here is a Dallas city guide by Amber, who lives there and welcomed me like a princess… We’ll talk more about her soon !
I had a great time in Dallas – the people and the food are amazing, and the lifestyle is so sweet, I am not surprised a lot of really cool people chose to stay there.
Thanks for having me Dallas !
This was my first time in Dallas, how would you describe it to someone who has never been?
Dallas has great shopping, food and drinks. The people are surprisingly fashionable and right now there is a major movement towards supporting the arts. (Within the last few years, we built the Winspear Opera House, the Perot Science Museum, the Dallas Contemporary, the AT&T Performing Arts Center and the Wyly Theatre- to name a few.) The weather is incredibly warm year-round, and you will need a car to get around the city. Everyone in Dallas is polite and wants to be your friend.
What is your favorite boutique?
VOD is my absolute favorite boutique. Jackie and her team always have the best new labels before any other store even knows they exist. They see clothing and accessories like pieces of art– just like me.
Where do you find your vintage?
I have found some of my favorite pieces at Archive Vintage. They recently packed up and moved to Austin, TX, but their stock is online so everyone can shop the store.
Your favorite museum?
The new Perot Science Museum designed by Thom Mayne is not yet open, but the building itself is one of my favorite landmarks in Dallas. I dream of hosting an event at the space once it opens.
What is the one Dallas clothing essential?
Sunglasses. It is almost always sunny.
Hair in Dallas seems crucial. Where do you go to get yours done?
The best color and cuts in Dallas are at Osgood O’Neil Salon– a cut from Bruce and color from Molly.
Your favorite spa in the city?
The Crescent Spa is iconic. I would head up to the rooftop pool for cocktails after your treatment.
The best place for an easy day trip from Dallas?
Fort Worth. People are always surprised when they get to Dallas and no one is wearing cowboy boots. Fort Worth is about 40 miles west of Dallas and it has more cowboy than you can stand. The stock yards are a must visit.
The best restaurant for southern food?
Everyone who comes to Dallas must eat at Bubbas. For breakfast: a biscuit egg sandwich. For lunch or dinner: #5 (fried tenders) with fried okra and mashed potatoes.
I’ve already eaten fried squash, fried okra, fried chicken … What is the one fried thing I really shouldn’t miss while we’re at it ?
Fried bacon at the Texas State Fair. Nothing tastes better than this healthy treat.
Where is the best place to get Tex-Mex?
I have two haunts:
1. For a low-key hole-in-the-wall, I love Rafas. Be sure to eat in the bar section (the right portion of the restaurant). You can usually find me at Rafas, wearing a ball cap and watching the Dallas Mavericks.
2. For more of a Dallas scene, go to Mi Cocina in Highland Park Village. Drink a mambo taxi (or 2) and order the Sunset Fajitas (chicken).
And the best place or café to people watch?
There is great people watching at Highland Park Village. You can sit at Starbucks, Bistro 31, Mi Cocina or Marquee and enjoy the view.
What about the best place for a good cowboy experience?
Billy Bobs, “The World’s Largest Honkey Tonk.” Enough said.
And the best place to get cowboy boots?
Dolly Python has a great selection of vintage cowboy boots. You can find new boots all over the city, but I prefer vintage- they have far more character.
Where do you like to exercise?
(Do I have to do that?) The Katy Trail is a 3.5 mi track that stretches from Victory Park (near downtown) to SMU. Everyone in Dallas goes to the trail for a safe and beautiful place to walk their dogs, rollerblade or find a date.
Somewhere super touristy you still like to visit?
Reunion Tower is one of the most recognized features of the Dallas skyline. I like to go have a drink around sunset- the restaurant does one revolution per hour and you can see the entire city in the most beautiful light.
What’s the best way to get around the city? Bike, bus, car…
Dallas is a driving city. Our public transportation is underdeveloped so you will need to have a car.
What is your city’s philosophy?
Comfort.
Describe an ideal day in Dallas…
My favorite days in Dallas are in the late spring or early fall. I like to meet friends and family for brunch at one of Lombardi’s restaurants, sit on the patio with my dog and relax with a bottomless brunch beverage. In the afternoon, I like to go to one of Dallas’ rooftop pools and lay in the sun.
More City Guides:
Olympia / Paris
Joana / Rio
Rei / Tokyo
Laure / Miami
Dianna / New York
Lauren / Paris
Kate / New York
Anouk / Sydney
Melodi / Istanbul
Luisa & Tine / Rome
Alexandra / Paris
Giorgia / Milan
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Avec une telle couleur de cheveux (je meuuuuuurs!!) ce prénom est vraiment celui qu’il lui fallait!
Elle fait sa couleur elle-même !
C’est Molly qui l’a briefé?
En même temps c’est pas important, là je suis amoureux.
Superbe photo !
http://www,younglington.wordpress.com
Amber a l’air adorable…
Cela dit, une ville qui a le bien-être comme philosophie mais n’offre que des trucs frits et qui oblige a avoir une voiture, bof, ça ne m’inspire pas trop …
je pensais exactement la même chose ! Une ville de 1.2M d’habitants sans organisation, c’est pas compatible avec une bonne qualité de vie…
Love this interview!
And what a great photo! She is gorgeous!
X
http://dipitblack.com
TU RIGOLES???!!!! Non mais je veux la marque et la teinte! Elle est SUBLIME! <3
Et le meilleur endroit pour une soirée cowboy typique ?
Billy Bobs, « Le plus grand bastringue du monde ». Rien à ajouter.
J’ai juste envie d’y aller du coup…
À chaque fois ces posts donnent envie de voyager!!
Ça tombe bien un week-end londonien entre copines est prévu dans mon agenda…mais pas d’article sur Londres chez Garance??
À quand les bonnes adresses dans la capitale de sa Majeste??
Xx
i’ve never been to dallas but i have only heard fantastic things! thank you for sharing this interview.
xx, http://wordbyjessie.com/
Love Amber!!!!! Fabulous photograph.
She’s very kind, but most of those places are in the guides. I’m sure Bubbas and Billy Bobs sell their own t-shirts.
Best to ask about “their city”, rather than “the city”.
Glad you liked our town, and I must admit Amber seems darling. But her city guide is pretty white-bread. She mostly mentions the part of town where Southern Methodist University is located, and that’s fine. (I grew up there, and like it.) But there’s a lot more to Dallas — and a lot more interesting parts — than Highland Park Village and SMU. I’d recommend that any visitor check out North Oak Cliff for Bishop Arts District stores, Bolsa, Oddfellows, and Lucia (three restaurants), the Kessler Theater (an intimate music venue with great acoustics and wonderful bookings), The Foundry bar and beer garden, and lots more. Then there’s also old East Dallas, Lakewood, the Design District, Cedar Springs, and downtown. Anyway, I’m glad you picked up on the sweetness of Dallas. It’s an easy town to live and play in. As we say to visitors on their way out of town, “Don’t be a stranger!” Come back soon.
Yeah the guide is lackluster and Katy trail isn’t exactly “safe.”
Of all of the amazing places for tex-mex in Dallas she suggests Mi Cocina? A chain restaurant?!
Hey guys ! I think this IS Amber’s Dallas, and I am happy if you give us your Dallas, everybody has their own way in every city ! xxxoo G
Je VEUX la même couleur de cheveux (et le même teint, et la même chemise)!!!
Please!!
J’veux partiiiiiiir à Dallas! J’veux la même couleur de
cheuuveuux! Bon ok il est 17h et chuis toujours au bureau….. Craquage.
Mais cette ville semble très attirante et comme d’hab tu nous
donne envie
I love the fact that the skirt match her hair….so beautiful!
Lens&anythingElse
So lovely to see you again last night Garance!
You continue to inspire me in so many ways. I’m excited to share your styling pics and sound bites with my amazing team at Neiman Marcus in Willowbend (North Dallas).
Continuez à rire et bien. xx
@ Toppham: I really appreciate your comment. I don’t know Dallas but I guess there are so many aspects. Hope coming there one day :) …
@Garance: merci pour ce nouveau city guide :)
x
Uh, now I totally want to visit Dallas. I’ve heard about people being super nice and welcoming there but all the spots Amber listed just seem amazing. Plus with this dreary weather we’re having here in Prague… makes me want to book a flight! xx
Howdy Garance!! ;-) It was so wonderful to meet you and Emily on Wednesday at SMU. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing your thoughts on fashion blogging and thanks so much for your thoughtful answers. It was not at all disappointing to meet you in person!!
Too bad you won’t be able to make it to Fort Worth. While it has more cowboy flair than Dallas, there’s some other pretty cool stuff out this way too. Maybe next time!
Also, I couldn’t help but notice that Amber mentioned Osgood O’Neil Salon… the guys who designed that space are friends of my and I profiled them and their work space on my blog this week! Here’s the link to their story: http://hilaryinspired.com/2012/10/24/breckinridge-taylor-ambassadors-of-style/
The salon’s interiors are stunning! Check it out here: http://breckinridgetaylor.com/osgoodoneil.html#4
Authentic Tex Mex food! What beautiful hair!
Beautiful photo! I like her colors!!!!!!
http://stylebeginsatforty.blogspot.it/
Quelle chevelure. Amber a des cheveux magnifiques. Elle est rayonnante
Garance, tes photos sont tellement belles, celle-la l’est aussi!
Au fait, je voulais te dire que ce matin j’ai eu une grande surprise au petit-dej.. Alors, j’allume la tele et je vois une interview avec Scott qiu assistait au Festival d’Art&Fashion a Poznan, en Pologne..
Je vous adore tous les deux, je vous suis de Varsovie… Un grand merci!
I like this city guide!! she has something special!! the picture is beautiful
http://thestelstyle.com/
Great interview! I offer myself for Boston city guide / blogger, should you come to Boston :)
Cette fille est magnifique !!
Marie
xx
http://mariehnr.wordpress.com
this makes me want to go to Dallas even more! or anywhere in Texas for that matter!
check out my giveaway!
http://lavieenliz.com
Absolutely love this interview. Has me thinking of visiting Dallas and that’s something I never thought I’d say.
I saw you last night at Neiman’s – thanks so much for coming! So true about hair in Dallas… my sister just got back from NYC and when she told someone she was from here, they said, “But you don’t have big blonde hair!” I also second Amber’s suggestion of Dolly Python – it’s an amazing shop with tons of cowboy boots and vintage clothes. They even have two dogs and a parrot in the shop (and sometimes a fortune teller). As for Tex Mex, I love Mi Cocina as she suggested, and Gloria’s is good too. I’m glad we have a cool girl like Amber repping Dallas, she seems lovely!
Amazing smile!!
http://www.bonnieclydemarni.blogspot.gr/
Garance, nom d’un coq à cocarde tricolore : depuis QUAND ya une cédille au C de MERCI???
“je perds mon français” moui bon d’accord, mais là faut faire une cure de désintox, c’est plus possible!
(bon sinon, très belle photo, belle nana, chouette article, encore bravo!)
Bises,
C.
Love the city guide questions and answers of a stylish girl!!! If you ever need a guide for La Jolla …just ask :)
xxx
Nina
http://trendsurvivor.com/
An absolut beautiful photo. The colours are fantastic matched!
I love your city guides! They are a very sweet way of learning something about a city. And I never even thought about Dallas as a cool city to visit!
Love
Sophia
Superbe photo d’une superbe demoiselle !
Garance,
Dallas LOVES you {and so does Fort Worth}! Thank you so much for visiting us! You continue to be such an inspiration, and you are every bit as beautiful, charming, fun, and nice as I imagined in my head! It was such a pleasure to meet you (x2) and I hope that you can make it to Fort Worth one day. It has a different personality than Dallas, but just as fun and with that “Southern Hospitality”. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being YOU! Have a safe trip home.
xo, sam
Great interview! Love her outfit!
Theresa
http://bomamma.blogspot.com
This will be good information for the next time I hit Dallas. I was there and saw some good shopping & tried great tex-mex but nice to hear of some interesting places from an INsider. You’re lucky to meet so many wonderful people in your job.
check my blog today on Fashionable Foot Candy from St. Helena (Napa Valley):
http://intrigueimports.wordpress.com
Wow!!! Lovely!!
http://lapetiterobenoire-ale.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/lapetiterobenoire.ale
Chère Garance,
Tes city guides sont géniaux, tout est plaisant, beau, léger et réjouissant. C est ce que j aime dans ton blog : c est une vraie bouffée d air frais dans un monde pas toujours réjouissant.
Avec toi, on voit le bon côté de la vie.
À quand ton propre city guide sur New York (et celui de Scott) ?
Des bises
Emmanuelle
Repères et non repaires ;)
Pour la question du Tex Mex
Non non, repaire s’écrit bien ainsi quand il s’agit d’un refuge (d’animaux, de malfaiteurs).
Glad you enjoyed Dallas so much. I would recommend Austin as the next place you should visit in Texas should you come back. I like the outdoor/nature lifestyle, music, and food scene. The fashion falls into a weird blend sometimes, but that is their motto. ” Keep Austin Weird! “
This is the first time I’ve seen one of your City Guide posts and I love it! Amber has great style – I love her skirt!
Kate xo Petite-Adventures.blogspot.ca
Elle est magnifique!
Théa Unknown
http://theaisunknown.blogspot.fr/
Gorgeous hair!! (and smile)
Thank you for showing what our city has to offer! Dallas is a large city and Texas is a very diverse state. It’s much more than the negative stereotypes. I lived in Paris for a few years and people couldn’t believe I could be from Dallas because I didn’t look like a cowgirl.
Quelle est jolie cette fille ! J’adore son style !
http://veryfrenchie.blogspot.com/
C’est un peu une honte toutes ces villes américaines “cool” qui sont conçues autour de la voiture et qui ne développent pas, à l’aube de 2013, un réseau de transport en commun ! Ça ne me donne pas envie d’aller dans ces villes en tant que touriste !
Dallas does have a transportation system, as do other Texas cities. Although it is nowhere near European standards, it is quite extensive.
http://www.dart.org
Dallas est peu etre une grande ville americaine ou l’on doit se deplacer en voiture, mais je m’y sens 1000 fois mieux qu’a Paris. J’y habite depuis plus d’1 an et je confirme, c’est ville qui a le bien-être comme philosophie pour ces raisons:
Soleil presque toute l’annee, les gens sont gentils et accuiellant (pas comme Paris…), la bouffe est seine, il suffit de ne pas tomber dans l’exces mais c’est pareil partout dans le monde… les gens vivent en communaute, bcp de solidarite (pas comme a Paris ou c’est chacun pour soi!)… beaucoup de choix de lacs et de parcs tout au tour et dans la ville! Bref, un niveau de stress reduit compare a ma vie Parisienne…! Merci DALLAS!!!!
I have to say that I barely agree with this list, and I live and thrive in Downtown Dallas. I know she mentioned it, but at the time of this article the Wyly theater nor was the Ross Perot Nature Muesum (which i live a stone’s throw away) hasn’t even opened yet. No. Not EVERYONE in Dallas runs on the Katy Trail. The Katy trail in mainly utilized by the people who live downtown. Even then, most of them don’t go to the Katy Trail due to the homeless people that attack the runners. Throw another rock and you will hit a gym on EVERY CORNER in downtown.
Also, Dallas is not surprising fashionable, it is fashionable. I think Dallas (Texas in general) gets stereotyped by the media of being full of horses and cows. However, Dallas ranks third (after New York and LA) as being fashion forward. Furthermore, Neiman Marcus is headquartered here. They were the first Luxury retailer in the US and from Dallas. You all have to remember, many of the world’s top headquarters are located in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.
The main reason I did not enjoy this list is because the interviewee has a very narrow view of Dallas from a WASP perspective. This is accentuated when she stated the public transportation is underdeveloped, this is NOT the case. In fact, the city is so full they are expanding to have more of the smaller city in the metroplex connected by train.
I seriously could go on… but if you guys really want to the intimated details on Dallas, speak to someone who really knows the city… and knows people from all the neighborhoods in the city. Not one who only hangs out in Uptown and Highland Park… and the lowest south they go is Victory Park.
Dear Dallas Night : The blog is a blog, it is supposed to have a subjective perspective, which is why I ask the people who live in the cities to tell me about how THEY live in their city.
I don’t like the tone of your comment, it’s a very bad way to start a conversation that could be very interesting about a city that is very interesting. Surprisingly for you, or not.
Amber’s Dallas is lovely & so is she….it was “my” Dallas for 13 years and I couldn’t agree more. Of course I’d throw in a few other goodies but where does one start when it comes to Dallas?!!! My dearest sweetest friends are Texans.
Sorry Garance, but I have to agree with Dallas Nights’ comment. It might be the places Amber likes to go, but it’s a very limited version of the city and I’d hope that readers wouldn’t be misled by this. It’s clear she hasn’t spent much time in Fort Worth. Aside from the Stockyards and the history, it’s no more cowboy than Dallas. Yet, the list mentions Billy Bob’s as if that’s in Dallas as well. And to pick Mi Cocina, a chain restaurant, no less, as good Tex-Mex is quite misguided. I appreciate your efforts in having these city guides, but I feel that if a reader went to Dallas looking for these things, their visit would provide a particularly limited and inaccurate experience of what the city is really like.
You need to come visit New Orleans & do a city guide for us!