What to Wear for a Night Out in Scottsdale

Between high-end designers, vintage boutiques and Western wear shops—not to mention Scottsdale Fashion Square, the Southwest’s largest shopping destination—Old Town Scottsdale easily answers the age-old question of “what do I wear?” for a night out in Scottsdale. Most establishments have a fairly relaxed attitude when it comes to dress codes (though there are exceptions), and you’ll see a range of diverse fashion choices no matter where you go, from designer dresses at a dive bar to cowboy boots at a nightclub. Whatever your style or the occasion, here are some of my favorite Scottsdale shopping spots.

For Luxurious High Fashion

If you’re transitioning from a fancy dinner to a night out at a club or cocktail lounge, you’ll want a sophisticated look. Luckily, luxury brand options abound in Old Town Scottsdale. Vintage by Misty is a local favorite for chic vintage finds, curated by the owner Misty Guerriero’s regular trips through Europe for high-end designer finds like John Galliano dresses and Dior handbags. And at Fashion by Robert Black, you can browse their breathtaking vintage gems, from gala-worthy dresses to one-of-a-king jewelry. Both stores are by appointment only, but don’t let that dissuade you from these truly remarkable shopping experiences.

Need more luxury fashions? Head over to Scottsdale Fashion Square where you’ll find every designer brand your heart desires, including Balenciaga, Gucci, Versace, Dior, Prada and many (many) more.

For Western Wear

If you’re planning some two-stepping at the Rusty Spur Saloon or Handlebar J (or just want to embrace the Western style), you’ll find some beautiful silk dresses at Norde Western Boutique, as well as bejeweled boots and cowboy hats. To accessorize, Sunrise Trading Post showcases an expansive collection of Western earrings, bracelets, necklaces, belts, bolo ties, and traditional boots.

Top off your look at one of Scottsdale’s hat bars, where you can grab a group of friends and create your own high-quality, custom Western or trucker hats. At Rancher Hat Bar, choose from dozens of hat styles and colors; add adornments like chains, ribbons, feathers, hot branding, pins, charms, and more; and then watch its creation right before your eyes. And at Maverick’s Hat Bar you can customize hats, design boots and browse top-quality Western wear like suede fringe jackets, pearl embellished jeans, ruffled dresses, and leather vests.

For Low-key Casual

Learning how to balance comfort and style (especially in Arizona summers) is an art. If you’re heading out to a casual setting—live music, bar patios, karaoke—there’s lots of places to grab something simple and stylish (think trendy jeans, artsy T-shirts and sundresses).

Scottsdale Fashion Square boasts a bevy of stores that offer comfortable, yet stylish, outfits. Find classic affordable styles at places like H&M, Abercrombie and Fitch, The Buckle, Forever 21, Hollister, Travis Matthew, UNTUCKit—and don’t forget to browse innovative jean store 7 For All Mankind. There’s also leading fashion retailers Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy’s and Dillard’s.

Or grab a coffee and wander the boutiques along some of Old Town’s streets. Browse the playful tops, bottoms, dresses and accessories at Leela Market; contemporary and retro clothing at ALI by Alixandra collections; and Southwest-inspired jewelry and flowing sundresses at The Merchantile of Scottsdale.

For Boho with an Edge

While Scottsdale Fashion Square offers boho staples Anthropologie and Free People, you’ll find many more options in Old Town. Carmen on 5^th offers an array of Arizona-themed gifts and jewelry, as well as fun finds for a night out like a snake-skin patterned mini dress and cheeky tees. At FOMO, seasonal items like cozy fall wraps and edgy summer tees. Carine has a range of patterned, flowy tops and dresses, as well as flashier leather mini dresses and leather jackets. Old Town Gypsy is a bohemian’s dream with its crystal jewelry and chunky cozy sweaters. Iron Rose is a goldmine of accessories, like vintage Chanel clutches and sunglasses, jumpers, and edgy jackets. And at Viola Boutique, vibrant pieces are the name of the game, with a focus on women feeling great in beautiful pieces like flower-adorned jackets, patterned dresses, reversible shoes, and graphic tees.

Curated Shopping Experiences

If you’re looking to take the guesswork out of where to shop, there are a few ways to have the experience curated for you. When the weather’s nice, JoyRidesAZ Scottsdale Tours’ professional local guide will chauffeur your group around in an open-air vehicle  a handful of local unique boutiques and specialty merchants, as well as swing you by a Scottsdale wine tasting room for a flight and small bites, a Western saloon for a brew, or a café for a refreshing nonalcoholic beverage and shared appetizer. You’ll also learn about history, culture and art along the way.

For the ultimate luxury shopping experience, you can’t beat Scottsdale Fashion Square’s Fashionable Luxury: The Story. The Style. The Spirit. After your red carpet welcome and champagne toast, you’ll gain early access to three luxury stores for a private in-store shopping experience and gifts, all while fashion industry experts share the history of the brands and latest runway trends.