Not to worry, once the awards frenzy culminates in the Oscars and Fashion Month comes to a close in Paris, the fun keeps right on going with festival season. Aw, yeah. But before all the It girls rock their flower crowns, overly cut-off denim cut-offs, and white lace dresses atCoachella in April, South by Southwest kicks off the music-filled extravaganza in Austin, Texas. The interactive and film portions start on March 11 — with a keynote by President Obama — and the musical performances begins on March 15 with a diverse roster of artists, ranging from country legend Loretta Lynn to indie Brits Bloc Party to Japanese arena rockers [Alexandros].

Clearly, Austin is the place to be this week, not just for all the tech-y and entertainment culture you'll soak up at SXSW (or "South by," as they like to say), but also for all the excellent shopping Austin has to offer. From the hipster-cool South Congress (or "SoCo") strip to tony specialty shops on North Lamar—forget your SXSW panels or waiting in line at Franklin BBQ, play hooky and hit these six stores, instead.