so cool for the summer

9 haute Houston boutiques for breezy dresses to beat the summer heat

À bientôt's red-hot Daughter Kaftan is perfectly cool for that coastal, beachy summer vibe.

Photo by Kate Robinson

While August for fashionistas means looking forward to fall, the relentless Houston heat means we’re still thinking cool looks for hot temps.

Fortunately, comfort has been the forefront of summer 2022 style, with dresses being the ultimate wardrobe staple to elevate style, day and night. From maxi to mini and everything in between, these styles span a multitude of styles.

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up nine local boutiques with the perfect summer dresses for every occasion. From the quintessential coastal granddaughter aesthetic to some sexy summer spice, these stylish Houston spots keep it chic and cool in those three-digit days.

Abejas Boutique
Those looking for the ideal Western woman ensemble should look no further than Abejas. Located off of Kirby, this boho-based boutique offers uniquely vintage apparel that reimagines minimalist fashion. Studded with beads, fringe, tailored lines, and effortless coolness, Abejas dresses are a must-grab for any neutral yet spunky western-inspired wardrobe.

à bientôt
Over the past 16 years, this River Oaks boutique has been a hidden haven for every coastal granddaughter connoisseur. Outfitted with colorful hues and beach-bound patterns, à bientôt’s dresses are the perfect preppy pairing for waterfront excursions and sandy shore festivities this summer.

Alchemia Style
Nuzzled in the heart of River Oaks, Alchemia boutique serves nothing but glitz and glam to Houston fashionistas. Founder Jen Grigsby’s curated dress selection incorporates luxury looks at a reasonable price, leaving customers to dazzle the night away one dress at a time.

Beehive
Good vibes and happy times are a guarantee when shopping at this oh-so colorful boutique. Open in Rice Village, Beehive’s vibrant dress collection offers everything from crochet cover-ups and puff-sleeve shift pieces, to sassy satin slip dresses at an affordable price.

Favor the Kind
Here, effortless hipster chic meets upscale fashion. This oh-so-popular shop is the hub of playful boho dresses at bargain cost. Customers can expect vibrant pieces perfect for summertime.

Forth & Nomad
This rendition of farmland fashion incorporates neutral linens and textures with contemporary lines, elevating the countryside aesthetic to modern day chic. Consider these designs the perfect to wear while frolicking in a field of daisies.

French Cuff Boutique
Whether it be a weekend wedding, yacht club soiree, or backyard barbecue, French Cuff Boutique’s looks are flirty yet timeless. Open in three locations around Houston, French Cuff Boutique’s acclaimed dress collection includes trendy brands such as Vince, MISA Los Angeles, Generation Love, Velvet, and Love the Label and offer one-of-a-kind dresses that will have you claiming best dressed at any event.

Hemline
Open in five Houston locations, Hemline boutique offers an exotic assortment of apparel sure to appease any boho-chic fanatic. Hemline’s lust-worthy dress collection includes popular brands such as For Love & Lemons, MISA Los Angeles, Love Shack Fancy, ASTR The Label, and many more.

Katia Boutique
This one-of-a-kind, appointment-only retail store is tailored for Houston’s elite fashionistas. Clients can anticipate a personal stylist to outfit them to the nines with racks of sophisticated yet trendy designer dresses.

Flower power mini dress at Favor the Kind.

Favor the Kind Houston mini dress flowers

Favor the Kind/Instagram

Flower power mini dress at Favor the Kind.

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COWGIRL CORE

Western boutique Flea Style rides back to Houston with rodeo-ready looks

Photo courtesy of Flea Style

Founder and CEO Brittany Cobb brings Flea Style back to Houston, returning to the city where she first began at The Houston Flea.

Just in time for rodeo season, Flea Style is making its long-awaited return to Houston, giving shoppers a new River Oaks destination for boots, belts, and beautifully decorated hats.

The Texas-born brand will officially open its newest storefront in River Oaks on March 7, which is a full-circle moment for founder and CEO Brittany Cobb, who got her start in the Bayou City at the Houston Flea at Silver Street Studios. Since then, Flea Style has become a nine-location retail brand worn by celebrities including Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Leon Bridges, and Post Malone.

“I’ve been looking for a Houston location for about five years,” Cobb says. “Each visit, I just never found the right spot that worked for the business at the time. Last fall, I visited, determined to find something, even if just a pop-up, to open by rodeo season. That’s when I finally found a location that checked every box and truly felt like our long-term Houston home.”

With the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo attracting stylish crowds to NRG Stadium through March 22, Cobb made sure Houston shoppers would have access to exclusives. The River Oaks location is launching with a small collection of vintage women’s cowboy boots, a special collection of kantha quilt capes and jackets, and 30 custom-decorated hats.

Flea Style’s new River Oaks storefront opens March 7, just in time for rodeo season.Photo courtesy of Flea Style

“We’re offering an incredible selection of vintage women’s cowboy boots,” Cobb says. “It’s only our second location to carry them, and we’re launching with about 40 pairs. We’re also bringing our fan-favorite Belt Bar, featuring blank belts and vintage buckles. Our Houston customer loves vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces, so I specifically shopped at the market with them in mind.”

Cobb tells CultureMap returning to Houston feels like she never really left. “The Houston shopper is so special to me, and to the company, because they’ve been a part of my story since before our first retail location,” Cobb says. “We go way back to my days as a collector, early entrepreneur, and a young mom starting my business. I’m so excited to be back in Houston to continue our story, face-to-face, and help our shoppers and fans create unique styles with pieces that aren’t offered anywhere else in the city.”

The Houston opening also coincides with a huge milestone for Cobb. She will release her debut book, How To Style A Hat, with a foreword by Miranda Lambert, on April 21.

Flea Style, 1963 W Gray St. 7019, Monday - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Flea Style

Founder and CEO Brittany Cobb brings Flea Style back to Houston, returning to the city where she first began at The Houston Flea.

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