Blackmail

A tiny boutique that practices the dark arts of fashion
Word to the wise: Make sure you check out the reasonably priced vintage cowboy boots hidden in the back of the store.

Trained at the prestigious Esmod fashion institute in Paris, Gail Chovan designs and manufactures her clothing creations right here in her shop. Open since 1997, her wonderfully moody boutique sells handmade dresses, Western shirts and jewelry.
As the name suggests, much of the clothing is black, but the generous use of lace softens the blackness. Chovan's avant-garde designs are built around texture and line, without the messy distraction of bright colors.

If you can't afford the designer prices, stop by to admire the ever-changing and elaborate window displays. The shop took the prize for Best Window Display in the 2011 'Austin Chronicle' reader's poll.