Savvy Fort Worth shoppers know that local museum gift shops are the best places in town to find distinctive, thoughtful, high-quality gifts. Fresh off a big renovation and pandemic pause, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame has debuted an all-new boutique shop called Desert Rose.
The new store opened its doors in early October, selling a carefully edited selection of Western chic clothing, home décor, tourist souvenirs, children’s gifts, and more.
A spokeswoman says the museum had wanted to expand and move the location of the existing store, update the name and branding, give the space a fresh new look, and refine the items offered to visitors.
To do this, they called on longtime Fort Worth retail and design professional, Leslie Distler.
No stranger to the Fort Worth retail scene nor the city's cowboys-and-culture ethos, Distler's resume includes time as a buyer and manager for Leddy’s Ranch in Sundance Square, then a partner in popular home decor and clothing boutique Feathers in the Foundry District (now closed). She had been concentrating full time on her interior design company, LES is More, when the Cowgirl Museum came calling over the summer.
"I was brought on to the museum because the hiring manager was aware of my past history that would allow me to jump right into this role," Distler says.
Distler wanted to make the Cowgirl store a destination for both museum visitors and Fort Worth shoppers looking for unique pieces, she says, so she brought in a wide selection of gifts, children's items, jewelry, and clothing that go beyond novelty items.
"We could work up an outfit for a special occasion or just for a night out," she says. "We are a museum driven for Cowgirls — women of power — and our boutique sells a great selection to stand behind this."
The Cowgirl will extend the "Desert Rose" brand to its inaugural Desert Rose Luncheon and Fashion Show benefiting the museum's educational programming efforts, November 10 at River Crest Country Club; tickets are $200 (email elprescott@cowgirl.net).
Previously known as the Old Bags Luncheon, the refreshed shopping event will include clothing, hats, custom handbags, home décor, art, jewelry, china, beauty, accessories, and more from the likes of Capello, Casey Marks, COLORES, Hadleigh’s, Noble 31, Riccio Italy, Kate Swail Designs, The Barfield Collection, and many more.
Before the Desert Rose luncheon comes the Cowgirl Museum's biggest event of the year, the 45th Annual Induction Luncheon and Ceremony, taking place October 26 at Dickies Arena. This year's honorees include country superstar Miranda Lambert, who will be on hand for her induction into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.
In conjunction with the Induction Luncheon and Ceremony, the Cowgirl is rolling out a new exhibition called "The Devils" by international award-winning photographer Constance Jaeggi, beginning October 22.
They're saddling up for a busy fall.
The Desert Rose boutique will be open for shopping during museum hours, 10 am-5 pm Tuesday through Saturday and 12-5 pm Sunday.
The new Desert Rose gift shop has opened at the Cowgirl Museum.
Carousel at National Cowgirl MuseumCourtesy rendering