Barber Boogie Woogie

Big Kat's tattoo barbershop rekindles lower Midtown renaissance

Big Kat's is in business.
Photo by Steven Thomson
The interior of Big Kat's.
Photo by Steven Thomson

Metallic silver seats, a busted jukebox and black and white checkered floors set the stage at Big Kat's, a tattoo parlor cum barbershop that has emerged in the pedestrian corridor at the intersection of Main Street and West Albama. The indie hub now offers an alternative to the Lower Westheimer drag, while capturing the spirit of Austin's SoCo and Fat Cats-era Washington Avenue.

A mere 17 steps from the HCC/Ensemble light rail station (I counted), Big Kat's is the brainchild of Edgar "Big E" Salazar, a live music booking agent and DJ who's worked with the across-the-street Continental Club for eight years. Big Kat's shares its building with record shop Sig's Lagoon, Natachee's and a duo of funky fashion dives.

After years doing the overpriced salon circuit, I walked into Big Kat's ready to forsake the plush atmosphere of yuppie-ridden, predominantly female spaces for a fair price and indie credibility. I was pleasantly surprised by my barber Bart's expertise. There was an undeniable rocker edge, but he had a heart of gold and is a resolute lover of Texas (word on the street is he smokes some boss ribs). And, unlike the stylists at more uptown places, Bart was more attuned to my hair than hearing about my personal life. After my cut, he headed upstairs to have an image of the Alamo embroidered on his left arm by Big E.

"I've always wanted a cool barber shop," Big E tells CultureMap, adding, "I love the whole '50s vintage culture thing. I've had this vision in my head for a long time."

To create the distinctive atmosphere, he scoured resale shops across the city with the help of his wife Crissy, who operates the adjoining hair salon, Kat's Meow. That salon also offers men's cuts in what may be an unintentional sexuality segregation (which I didn't fall for).

Big Kat's is a goldmine for old school indulgences, including the hot towel straight razor shave. For all of the topnotch service, the prices remain reasonable — that shave treatment is just a $10 foray, and haircuts ring in at $15. The three barbers ooze personality, as does the resident top hat-toting shoe shiner, Sir Charles.

Another bonus: Big E & Co. are in the process of converting a 1949 refrigerator into a fully functioning kegerator, which will provide the men with libations during trims. For the young lads, the machine will also have root beer on tap.

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FALL FÊTE

Texas luxury boutique collabs with Houston designer for new fashion brand

Photo courtesy of Saint Bernard

Saint Bernard teams up with Houston designer Lyndsey Zorich for Love Note.

River Oaks District boutique Saint Bernard is getting ready for fall with a new collection created with Houston style veteran Lyndsey Zorich. The fashion-forward retailer and the founder and designer of Mason's Daughter teamed up to launch Love Note by Lyndsey Zorich, a new Saint Bernard-owned brand.

Saint Bernard doesn't usually collaborate with local designers on its own brands, making this partnership with Zorich special. She was involved in everything from creative direction and textile development to fabrication and production. Shoppers can expect a feminine collection with a playful take on everyday dressing for women who want to look put together, but not too serious.

Love Note officially launches on Thursday, September 10 at Saint Bernard stores in Houston, Dallas, Southlake, San Antonio, and Austin, as well as online. Customers will have to be patient, because another unique aspect of this collaboration is that the entire collection won’t debut at once. Instead, the brand will roll out in a series of monthly drops, each having its own seasonal point of view.

Saint Bernard x Lyndsey Zorich Love Note by Lyndsey Zorich is available at Saint Bernard stores in Houston, Dallas, Southlake, San Antonio, and Austin, plus online.Photo courtesy of Saint Bernard

The Kick Off is the first drop in September. It is a game day-inspired collection with pieces designed for fall sports and weekend road trips. In October, The Lean In will debut with more feminine silhouettes, followed by Getting Comfortable, which focuses on the perfect layering pieces for Texas’s warm fall weather.

A longtime Saint Bernard shopper herself, Zorich's unique style and Texas perspective gave her a greater understanding of what Texas customers want.

“Getting dressed has always been one of my favorite forms of self-expression, and Love Note allowed me to take that idea from concept all the way through the finished product,” said Zorich. "Saint Bernard felt like the right partner, because I genuinely understand and love their customers. Love Note is meant to bring a little more playfulness to getting dressed, pieces that feel personal, special, and bring joy to everyday life.”

That individual connection is what Saint Bernard wanted in this project. According to Ashleigh Goyer, director of owned brands for Saint Bernard, the store wanted a new way for Saint Bernard to give customers something both recognizable and unexpected.

"She shares her perspective, her lifestyle, and her love of fashion, and she has an incredible ability to make getting dressed feel effortless and personal," said Goyer.

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