Rock the Runway

Leggings, leather and lots of layers: Mockingbird Station tells Dallas what towear

Orange voile top, orange metallic sweater and felt floppy hat from AmericanApparel.
Photo by Sylvia Elzafon
Photo by Sylvia Elzafon
Photo by Sylvia Elzafon
Photo by Sylvia Elzafon
Photo by Sylvia Elzafon
Photo by Sylvia Elzafon
Photo by Sylvia Elzafon
On her: yellow jeans, leopard sweater and canvas colorblock bag from Gap; onhim: denim shirt, striped sweater and red carryall from Centre.
Photo by Sylvia Elzafon
Steve Kemble (far left) led the panel discussion among Lulu Amin, JenniferChininis, Tammy Theis, Jackson and Rhonda Sargent Chambers (not pictured).
Photo by Sylvia Elzafon
Leather textured pants, yellow tank and leopard-print jacket from Movida.
Photo by Sylvia Elzafon

The weather may have been a touch warm, but the crowd was definitely cool at Mockingbird Station’s What to Wear fashion show September 20. Fashion fiends gathered outside the Angelika Film Center for pre-show cocktails by Ketel One and nibbles by soon-to-open Herrera’s while my fellow panelists Steve Kemble, Tammy Theis, Lulu Amin, Jackson and Rhonda Sargent Chambers surveyed the scene to identify their picks for Best Dressed and Most Stylish. But more on that later.

The evening’s festivities served two purposes. First order of business: to show off fall fashion trends in looks pulled by stylist Abby Gregory from Mockingbird Station retailers like the Gap, Centre, American Apparel, Loft by Ann Taylor, Urban Outfitters, Movida, Francesa’s Collections and Relativity Outdoors. But perhaps more important, the event raised funds for Junior League of Dallas charities, and many Junior Leaguers were spotted in the seats.

As the models headed down the runway, the always entertaining Kemble, a.k.a. America’s Sassiest Style Guru, engaged the crowd and his fellow panelists to talk about the season’s big trends: bold brights, luxe layers, with the band, new traditionalist and enviably embellished. Colorful scarves, fringed and color-blocked handbags, statement necklaces, chunky sweaters, animal prints, and lots of leg-hugging pants were among the most popular pieces.

After the show, the panel recognized Lisa Pellerito as Best Dressed for her Top Shop blouse and H&M skirt, both flowy and sheer and fabulous. Ralph Boaz — sporting a Boy Scouts shirt, short shorts and a gold statement necklace of his own (so on trend!) — got the nod for Most Stylish. Those on the scene included Mark Brinkerhoff, Lisa Petty, Devin White, Leon McKenzie, Gustavo Aguirre, Heather Lettieri, Priya Rathod and Grishma Shah.

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Department store closure

Plano-based JCPenney to close 50-year-old store in North Texas

Courtesy photo

JC Penney at Ridgmar Mall is closing its doors for good.

The JCPenney store at Fort Worth’s Ridgmar Mall will close November 1, 2026, the Plano-based retailer says.

“Regretfully, we are unable to continue our current lease terms for this store location and have been unable to find another suitable location in the market,” JCPenney says in an emailed statement.

Going-out-of-business sales have begun.

JCPenney has been a fixture at Ridgmar since 1976. Dillard’s remains open, but anchor tenants Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, and Sears vacated the mall years ago.

Tentative plans call for the 75-acre, 1.2 million-square-foot enclosed mall to be redeveloped as a mixed-use property.

After JCPenney closes the Ridgmar location, 13 stores will be left in Dallas-Fort Worth, including the location at Fort Worth’s Alliance Town Center. Other Fort Worth-area stores are in Arlington, Burleson, Hurst, and Weatherford.

Nationwide, JCPenney operates roughly 640 stores but continues to shed locations. The current store count is down from a little over 1,000 in 2016.

In 2025, JCPenney merged with SPARC Group to form Plano-based Catalyst Brands. Other retailers owned by Catalyst are Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Lucky Brand, and Nautica.

Retail expert Robin Lewis has offered a blunt take on the Catalyst merger: “Bundling a group of loser brands in loser malls doesn’t make for a winning formula.”

Weighed down by billions of dollars in debt and amid a sales decline, JCPenney filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2020 and later that year emerged from bankruptcy. Analysts generally say JCPenney has stabilized since then but note the retailer’s turnaround isn’t finished.

Still, JCPenney seems to remain popular with shoppers. This year, USA Today’s 10Best awards program named JCPenney the best department store chain in the country, based on input from shoppers and readers.

“This recognition underscores JCPenney’s ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional value, quality, and service to shoppers across the country,” JCPenney says in a news release about the No. 1 ranking. “Earning the most votes nationwide in a field of 20 retailers, this win is all about our customers. Their loyalty and love for JCPenney keep us at the top, and we’re proud to deliver unbeatable value, style, and service every day.”

closing jc penney ridgmar mall shopping retail store closings