Austin Style Everywhere

By George enters new era with South Congress transformation and virtual boutique

For 35 years, By George has been providing wardrobe inspiration for the well-dressed Austinite. Now, the retailer's coveted collection is available to those outside of the city limits with the launch of a new virtual boutique.

ByGeorgeAustin.com, which launched Monday, allows style-conscious shoppers from around the globe to explore the selection of contemporary and designer clothing for men and women. Curated pieces from the likes of Givenchy, Jason Wu and Suno populate the online store, which embodies the same sophisticated-cool vibe of the storefront itself.

"The launch of the new e-commerce site is an exciting step for By George and will allow us to reach a new group of customers that may not have otherwise had the ability to shop with us," says co-owner Katy Culmo, who's known for creating well-edited collections with pieces that outlast one-season trends. Because it's an extension of the in-store experience, the site will also feature regular styling tips from the By George team, guest blogs and more.

To properly execute this brand extension, By George is partnering with local powerhouse McGuire Moorman Hospitality (the folks behind Jeffrey's, Josephine House and Perla's to name a few).

"We have always designed much of our spaces, programmed our own music and even started to design and produce our own uniforms," says Larry McGuire. "This, coupled with my longstanding friendship and respect for Katy and Matt made this collaboration an enjoyable evolution as we strive to grow our Austin brands."

In addition to managing the virtual boutique, McGuire and his team will work with By George to relaunch its South Congress store with an updated concept. Expect a "thoughtful selection of home goods, art, gifts and furniture" along with contemporary clothing and an assortment of men's lines to redefine the space in early 2015.

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Dior and More

3 major luxury fashion brands move into famous North Austin mall

Zimmermann/Instagram

Zimmermann is one of the new stores at The Domain.

Three major luxury brands are now open at The Domain: Balenciaga, Christian Dior, and Zimmermann. The famous Austin mall has been angling more toward luxury in the past few years.

Although it is common for The Domain to add multiple shops at once, these are unusually big names to be packaged together. This is also a significant development because although items from these brands may have been available around town, these three stores appear to be the only standalone stores for their respective brands in Austin.

A press release announcing the openings gives the most information about the Balenciaga store, which is 6,137 square feet and will carry men's and women's styles, shoes, bags, accessories, eyewear, and jewelry. The façade is made of a composite material combining glass, porcelain, and quartz, and the release says "the store’s construction is careful to respect existing elements," which is to say they did not completely rebuild the storefront. This store is located at Century Oaks Terrace and Agave Lane.

Dior will also feature collections for women and men, as envisioned by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Kim Jones, respectively. Dior emphasizes timelessness and is located next to Agave Park.

Finally, the store fewer Austinites might be familiar with: Zimmermann. The Australian brand is known for flouncy dresses, often in pastels and florals. Its ready-to-wear items are usually priced lower than ready-to-wear by Balenciaga or Dior, but it is still a luxury brand with luxury prices. It is located on Century Oaks Terrace.

Despite a stated interest in attracting luxury brands, the most talked-about development for The Domain in 2024 was a new location for Loro, the casual "Asian Smokehouse" by Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue and Tyson Cole of Uchi. The mall is also welcomed a smaller Ikea store last year.