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NEIMAN'S LITTLE SISTER Last Call Studio by Neiman Marcus, 2315 Post Oak Blvd., 713.993.0929; lastcall.com/postoak FRESH SPOTS TO SHOP GAZE AND GRAZE , WE'RE THINKING CUSTOM GUAYABERAS … GLAMPY EATS … SWEDE STYLE H&M, Baybrook Mall, Friendswood, 281.280.0051; hm.com The time has come: Houston finally has an H&M (i.e., Hennes & Mauritz) to call our own. Yes, the Swedish retailer famous for its fast-fashion steals at rock-bottom prices — and coveted designer collaborations with Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Versace, Marni and Jimmy Choo, when hundreds of shoppers in London, New York and Miami spent the night in line to be first to grab the goods — has opened its firstever store in the Houston area. The whopping 20,500-square-foot space at Baybrook Mall, near J.C. Penney, stocks collections for women and men, accessories and lingerie, along with H&M's new plus-size line, H&M+, and on-trend styles for children, newborn to eight. Think women's summer dresses in spring's vibrant neons starting at $12.95, tank tops a cool $4.95, men's swim trunks $12.95 and so on. Beyonce, Michelle Williams and Drew Barrymore have all been spotted in the NY H&M, as have the editors at PaperCity. H&M's second Houston location, a 25,600-square-foot space at Willowbrook Mall, is set to open this year, but a date has not been announced. We can't get there fast enough. TRADING UP Trader Joe's The Woodlands, 10868 Kuykendahl Road; traderjoes.com LATIN CUSTOM Dos Carolinas, 2626 Westheimer Road; 713.529.3298; doscarolinas.com You may have met Caroline Matthews, the San Antonio–based owner of Dos Carolinas, at one of her trunk shows at a local boutique or at the River Oaks annual holiday market, where she takes thousands of orders for her coveted custom guayaberas. For those who aren't from around here, a guayabera is a man's shirt, popular in Latin America, that's worn loose, with large pockets and intricate embroidery. Matthews offers hundreds of fabric options, from 1506 W. Alabama St., 713.529.1313; sicardigallery.com One of the leading North American galleries to espouse the importance of modern and contemporary Latin American art, Art Basel Miami Beach-exhibited Sicardi Gallery (founded in 1994 by Maria Ines Sicardi, with partners Allison Ayers and Carlos Bacino), Allison Ayers, Maria Ines Sicardi, Carlos Bacino opens a gleaming new building that makes other white cubes look like mere stores. The 5,800-square-foot space (designed by Argentinean-born, Houston-based architect Fernando Brave) is more kunsthalle or foundation than bodega for dealing art. The double-decker, metal-clad structure possesses natural light aplenty, thanks to 16-foot ceilings and extensive fenestration. Along a landing, broad windows boast a screen that can be lowered for viewing videos, which can be projected inside or shown outdoors — a cool take on a drive-in theater. These dealers have come a long way from their days in a micro space adjoining a hair salon on Kipling, then a free-standing space adjoining McClain Gallery. What remains unchanged is their commitment to the work of the South American continent, including chromatic king Carlos Cruz-Diez; kinetic master Jesus-Rafael Soto; Pop/conceptual photographer Liliana Porter; Thomas Glassford, whose light-enveloped project for a Mexico City university is one of the most exciting public-art pieces of the decade; and Oscar Muñoz, a Colombia–based, Venice Biennale–exhibited master who is Sicardi's opening act (June 7 – August 25). Watch for Muñoz's photographs, a video and a compelling series of recent drawings, "Paístiempo," based on fading newspaper headlines. Seven years before the Latin American department was started at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Sicardi began introducing its progressive programming to Houston audiences, and this handsome new temple, across from the Menil's main parking area, stands as an emphatic mountain on our art landscape. Catherine D. Anspon JENNY ANTILL We've been counting the days since we first heard that happy, hippie-chic grocer Trader Joe's was moving into Texas and opening a few stores in our metroplex — including one in The Woodlands. Now we have only days to wait until the doors swing open on June 15 and "Captain" Josh Leto and his "Crew Members," dressed in bright Hawaiian-print shirts, beckon us inside. There are sure to be lines when The Woodlands locale debuts (followed in short order by two stores in Houston: 2922 S. Shepherd Drive in the former Bookstop space and 1440 S. Voss Road). If you've never experienced Trader Joe's, expect a campy good time with serious worldly eats ranging from artisan Burrata cheese and organic heirloom tomatoes in the height of summer to wine and beer (who can forget the famed Two Buck Chuck variety) and frozen-food goodies that run the gamut from Kung Pao chicken to ready-to-rise chocolate croissants that will inspire you to rise and shine Sunday morning. Travel to Trader Joe's, and you can roam the world on a plate (or in a glass). Laurann Claridge A BRAVE NEW WORLD Sicardi Gallery, Caroline Matthews broadcloth, pinpoint oxford, seersucker and piques to linen, silk and wool, plus more than 30 embroidery options (which can be customized as well), all made in San Antonio. Lucky for us, now you don't have to wait until her next trunk show, as she's opened a 700-square-foot boutique above Armandos at Westheimer and Kirby. She stocks guayaberas for purchase off the rack or will customize shirts for your entire family. She also sells dresses and tailored shirts for ladies, shirts for boys and dresses for girls, both starting at size 2. Planning a destination wedding to Mexico? Gift custom guayaberas to the groomsman to complement the bridesmaid gowns. Muy bueno! Custom guayabera shirts from $135 for adults, $45 for children. Kate Allen Stukenberg JUNE | PAGE 12 | 2012 JENNY ANTILL FAST FASHION … FRESH ART … OFF-PRICE, ON-TREND Neiman Marcus has opened its fifth Last Call Studio — a new retail concept launched in Dallas in 2010 — and its first in Houston at Post Oak Shopping Center, next to Sports Authority. But don't think this is a typical Last Call clearance center where you can expect to clock in quite a bit of time filtering through past seasons' styles. This shop is much closer to home and stocks in-season merchandise exclusive to Last Call Studio, for at least 30 percent less than you'll find across the street at the mother lode. Look for men's and women's clothing, shoes and accessories from such designers as Hugo Boss, Hickey Freeman, Michael Michael Kors, Rebecca Taylor, Ports 1961, Rachel Zoe, Seven For All Mankind BCBG Max Azria, Ali Ro and many more, all in a constant flow of newness, which will certainly keep us coming back. Kate Allen Stukenberg