Ah, Las Vegas. City of bright lights, tall buildings, crowded streets, and out-of-this-world fashion.  You can walk down the street and get your picture taken with a female Elvis, an early-1980’s Michael Jackson, a goth fairy, an M & M, or just about anything or anyone you can imagine!

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fashion is, in a word, eclectic! People come from all over the world, crowding the streets with every kind of style. I saw a plethora of Rockabilly types, with swooping hairstyles, dramatic makeup, and rocker/goth/vintage clothes all woven together with attitude! Boise locals don’t have a lot of access to this style, but Record Exchange, Lux, and Hot Topic are fabulous places to search for Rockabilly treasures. Online, check out the Lucky 13 brand, and websites like http://www.modcloth.com/ and http://www.bettiepageclothing.com/. In Boise, we are fortunate to have access to the Bettie Page line at Belle Boutique, downtown on 9^th.  (See my previous article on Belle Boutique!)

Vegas has so many malls, you’d need a week to visit them all! The Fashion Mall is a giant labyrinth of shops; from the massive Forever 21 to Neiman Marcus, there is something for everyone! On the weekends, a runway rises out of the floor for hourly fashion shows. The Miracle Mile shops at Planet Hollywood are just as fun, and a little less overwhelming. The outlet malls just off the strip require a cab ride, as do the plethora of consignment & vintage boutiques. Every hotel has their own brand of shopping; yours truly enjoyed drooling over the high-end couture shops at the Bellagio: Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, and the dearly-departed Alexander McQueen, just to name a few. Are you drooling yet? 😉

Betsey Johnson is another favorite designer of mine, so I was thrilled to find her boutiques in multiple malls. Her 80’s-punk-princess-meets-Alice in Wonderland looks are brash & whimsical, from unique skull totes to poufy prom dresses! Several stores around the area carry her jewelry & bags; be on the lookout for that iconic pink tag!

The biggest trend I observed in Vegas was the leggings/tunic/layered look. Start with long, fitted leggings or jeans; top with a tunic, t-shirt, tank-top, or blouse; and add a sweater, long vest, jacket, belt, long necklaces, etc.; finish with a huge tote or purse, a pair of statement sunglasses — and people might just mistake you for an undercover celebrity! Leggings are everywhere these days, but it takes a certain panache to pull the look together. Stop by Fancy Pants downtown (and check out their great pictures on Facebook!) These gals know how to put the legging look together, and have a fantastic array of unique tops & jackets for every style & body shape! Fancy Pants also carries some of the hottest designer jeans around, including my personal fave Serfontaine.

Another noticeable Vegas trend is the rock-inspired t-shirt. Yes, this look is still very popular! (Check out my previous article on local brand 208 Industries!)  Ed Hardy is an obvious staple, but anything with rhinestones, wings, skulls, and tattoo-type designs dominates Vegas store windows.  For summer, this look pairs well with skinny/destroyed/cropped white jeans, and also mini-skirts, or super-short shorts. Proportion is key; booty shorts worn with platform heels can come across as “too much/too cheap!” Save your sexy bombshell looks for the nightclub; confident femininity is the best everyday look!

If you are interested in booking a guided shopping weekend in Las Vegas, email me for rates & available dates. If you prefer to shop locally, then put on your sunglasses and get hunting, because fabulous style is everywhere! Spring is the perfect time to get outside, enjoy the sunshine, and look for “treasure” around the Treasure Valley.  Whether you prefer the bustle of urban shopping downtown — or out-of-the-way retail gems like Urban Exchange on Chinden or Ruby Lou in Eagle — style abounds in this town! Get shopping; I’ll see you out there!

 Las Vegas is an inspiring city, full of flash, dazzle, and style. But if you are not planning a shopping excursion to Sin City anytime soon, don’t despair; most of the fashions I observed there are accessible to us right here in Boise!