"Ooh, this is just like the one I saw at Neiman's," said a blond holding up a Gucci-monogrammed hobo in a draw thick as Texas Tea. Partners, welcome to Gucci, Texas-style. The luxury brand's fourth outlet store in the world held its grand opening yesterday in San Marcos, Texas, a pit-stop of a town nestled between Austin and San Antonio and home to the massive Prime Outlets center (sort of a Branch Davidian compound for discount shoppers). Straying from the typical warehouse-like interiors of other outlet stores, Gucci's luxurious-feeling, 6,172-square-foot space is smartly turned out in warm chocolate browns and divided into intimate nooks for bags, shoes, womenswear, and menswear. Imagine a Fifth Avenue boutique with pickups and minivans out front. The prices, however, are pure outlet—40-60% off floral-print and sequined carry-alls, fur-coated evening bags, and vibrant patent heels forgotten from past seasons (many of them rightly so). Still, we managed to hone in on a handful of fall-appropriate pieces; a fitted denim shirt for $219, black patent booties with gold color-block trim for $319, and diva tortoiseshell sunglasses for $169. Yee-haw!
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