September is notably a big month for the fashion world. The industry’s top designers showcase new collections while fashion enthusiasts line the runways and hit the stores. It's traditionally a month where new stores open, so they'll be up and rarin' to go for the holiday rush that is just around the corner. Here are 12 places to shop 'til you drop for everything from fine jewelry to beauty products.
New Store: Madewell in Highland Village
The jeans-maker and women’s apparel store, a subsidiary of J. Crew, focuses on denim and all the things you wear with it. Think: leather jackets, boots, tees and bags. It's the third Houston store for the brand, which has outposts in The Galleria and The Woodlands.
New Store: Disney Store at Memorial City Mall
Hit up the Memorial City Mall outpost of the kid's specialty store for all things Disney including toys, clothing and collectibles featuring your favorite characters from superheroes and Disney Princesses to Mickey Mouse, of course.
Derek Lam Collection: Athleta
Gap Inc.’s fitness brand introduces its first ever-designer collaboration with Derek Lam, who is known for feminine fabrics and clean silhouettes. Available at two Houston stores (Town & Country and Rice Village), casual athletic wear collection (priced from $69 to $495) offers tank tops, workout shorts, leggings, jackets and the likes in fabrics from cotton to leather and cashmere.
New Store: Kit and Ace in Rice Village
The luxury retailer specializing in machine washable cashmere has opened its first location in the Bayou City. The Rice Village shop incorporates local elements in its design including artwork and installments created by Houston-based artists and designers.
Sinnerlig Collection by Ilse Crawford: Ikea
Swedish furniture giant Ikea has teamed up with London-based designer Ilse Crawford for the hip new Sinnerlig collection that centers around three main categories: working, dining, and lounging. More than 30 products, ranging from settees and tables to tablewear and lamps, use natural materials to produce "simple, useful forms that fit into everyday life" (think: cork, glass, bamboo and rattan).
New Store: Lily Rain in Tanglewood
The Houston-based clothing and lifestyle store, with stores in six states including five locales in Texas, has headed to The Woodway Collection in Tanglewood to open its second Houston-area shop. Items range from women’s fashions and beauty products to gifts and home decor from designers like Kate Spade and Red Engine.
New Stores: Michael Wiesenthal and Sarah Pacini at Cotton Club Collection
Cotton Club Collection has gone all-out with the addition of a store-within-a-store. For men, the M. Wiesenthal mini-shop offers sportswear, tailored clothing and accessories for men. Women haven't been left out: The River Oaks shopping gem was able to score enough of Italian designer Sarah Pacini's contemporary dresses, cardigans, coats, jeans and jewelry to fill a small room.
New Store: Cartier at River Oaks District
The Cartier boutique is the first to open in the luxe River Oaks District mixed-use complex. Megawatt merchandise from the high-end jeweler ranges from one-of-a-kind vintage pieces to a large selection of engagement and wedding rings, watches and more.
Christopher Nemeth Collection: Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton presents its men's fall/winter 2015 collection (priced from $158 to $4,400) inspired by the late London fashion designer, Christopher Nemeth. Ready-to-wear pieces, leather goods and accessories feature Nemeth's signature rope print.
New Store: Louboutin Beauty Shop at Neiman Marcus
While Houstonians will have to wait a little longer for French footwear designer Christian Louboutin's stand-alone boutique (it opens fall 2016), you can now shop at the first U.S. location of the Christian Louboutin Beauté. Located at Neiman Marcus, the beauty shop boasts products from the brand's Lip Colour collection.
New Store: H&M at CityCentre
The Swedish fast fashion retailer launches at CityCentre, marking the global brand’s fifth Houston-area location. The 20,000-square-foot store features apparel, accessories and athletic wear for adults, plus a children's collection with clothing for newborns through children age 14. The shop will also offer a line of new denim styles, available for men and women, made using recycled cotton.
Vamplify Collection: MAC Cosmetics
The lip gloss line from the New York-based cosmetics company is loaded with high-powered pigments and a combination of natural oils polish and moisturizing color. Glistening shades frame lips in 17 long-lasting colors like mauvey nude and intense true red.
Gap Inc.’s fitness brand has launched its first ever-designer collaboration with Derek Lam.
Texas-based artist Kyle Steed adds to the local appeal of the new Highland Village store. Photos courtesy of Lululemon 
