Cats Like Us

You don’t have to be a rockabilly pinup queen with tats and a Betty up do to appreciate this sweet little shop in the up-​and-​coming shopping district of Tonawanda.
It’s an expertly merchandised, immaculate shop with unique, well-​made dresses inspired by the 50s and 60s. Check out their web site for a good look at the goods!
The sales person (owner?) was sweet and helpful.
I hope this business not only survives but thrives. I, for one, will be buying a dress for summer, intent on giving Betty Draper a run for her money.

I love this store — it’s fun, unique and constantly rotates what is available, always pulling you back in for more. The style is a modern take on vintage — typically 50’s and 60’s — with a strong pin up/​rockabilly/​goth/​psychobilly influence. In a world where 99% of alternative fashion has slunk back to the internet, this shop has seemed to thrive… in Tonawanda of all places (recently rated one of the most conservative cities in the state in the same poll that ranked Buffalo among the top ten most liberal). Maybe it’s that it is perfectly positioned along a strip of the CoT that contains a decent array of businesses and is close to the excellent Smoke on the Water, with a fairly fun strip of NT right across the bridge (American Skin Art, Yummy Thai, a cool antique shop, Elmwoody gift shop, Riviera not far, etc).
From the hairflowers and earrings they make in-​house to the small-​quantity sourced shipments they get from all over the country, this is THE place for fun accesories. Chain of bakelite-​esque red skulls as the front piece on a 50’s inspired beaded necklace? Check. Fishnets in hot pink and sky blue? Check and check.
They source a lot of their clothing from small-​batch designers and a huge amount of it is from the US which is nothing to sneeze at in a) today’s sweatshot-​based clothing market and b) a store whose dresses are $ 75 – 200 — similar shops in TO visited recently were charging $ 400 – 700 for US and Canadian sourced dresses. They also have a large, reasonably priced clearance section all the time. Yes, this place is pricey for clothes versus mall stores, but quality and style are infinitely better and the accessories are very reasonable.
I’m personally not a huge fan of many of their men’s clothes, but the whole bowling shirt/​graphic T with random rockabilly influenced image is just not my bag. If you are into a rockabilly/​greaser/​Guy Fieri look, I’m sure it is the tits. My bf was also very impressed with some of the men’s grooming products he bought there. Frankly, I’m not shopping for men’s rockabilly inspired wear, so I deducted nothing for this.
My lone complaint — I’ve noticed in general «plus size» doesn’t mean what it used to. Whether it’s Target or H & M an XL is the equivalent of a 1990’s M-​L at best and while I am still wearing M & L 80’s and 90’s clothing regularly, I find I can’t fit into much in modern stores (especially juniors) that isn’t a XL or 1x. But that said, I felt this store’s supposed non-​junior sizing as another reviewer commented is somewhat deceptive. If you are up to about a size 12 or 14 (and really, what does that even mean anymore, because sizes seem so arbitray?) you will unquestionably find something you love. But a 14 isn’t plus sized, not by any definition I’ve ever seen. A XXXL fit fine everywhere but over my relatively meager 40C chest — what 3x person has a chest smaller than that? A 2x at most stores is a tent on me but I could barely squeeze into a XXL here at all — even with a mildly stretchy fabric it was like paint. Am I crazy — does XXL and 2x not mean the same thing? I have to seriously question what size a person who is over 200 lbs with large breasts — what I would think of as traditionally plus sized — would need if I, being under said size, can’t even wear a XXXL here.
I will say, the owner stated emphatically that their clothes all run differently. They are from different lines and often made by very small businesses (one line was made by a mother daughter team, presumably out of their home). You can shop by size on their website and their size lists all of the measurements for every item, laid flat — not the ones the manufacturer claims they have, but the measurements the owners have taken. So, maybe I have just been unlucky and tried on a few things from brands that ran small.
So, in a nutshell, I would suggest this store to anyone who likes something «different» from most of the fare offered around here, particularly at the mall or the increasingly hoity-​toity city botiques who have forgotten their artsy roots BUT if you are a bigger girl don’t get your hopes up that you will walk out with a ton of clothing. If anyone else who is thick has had a different experience, let me know!

This store tempts me at least weekly on fb with ads for their newest items. Sadly, I always want the ones that are out of my price range. But that hasn’t stopped me from shopping there twice and buying two dresses. I’m posting a photo of me wearing one in the pics here.
I have never met Andrew but co-​owner Julie Ann is a sweetheart and super helpful. Some of their items are higher priced ($ 100+) but you can certainly find less expensive items here as well, including their sale rack (but with limited sizes). They also offer a great variety of great accessories and at good price. If I had more money to spend, I’d go on crazy shopping sprees at this store.
A definite «must visit» for anyone a fan of the rockabilly or pin-​up styles.

A couple weeks ago I found another great sundress for a late-​summer wedding with the help of a salesperson who truly understands my style. Co-​owner Julie Ann helped me decide on a patterned cotton swing dress (with pockets!) and it worked out perfectly.
Cats Like Us is a brick and mortar boutique shop. «Retro clothing, accessories and gifts» sums it up. Given that they have a gillion Facebook friends I’m presuming their website is how they built such a huge following.
All the clothing is modeled on the website by the store’s owners, which makes you love shopping at the store even more. The great thing about having a unique retro/​rockabilly clothing web store in town is that I can browse from home, then pop in to purchase. The program they use tracks inventory instantly, so you can be sure your size is in stock. Speaking of sizes, most of these pieces run in adult, not juniors’ sizes. Hepcats, indeed.
Many of the accessories are under $ 20, even some really unique pieces. I’ll be back at Christmastime for sure. While the prices don’t quite compete with Hot Topic, the items seem to all be made well. A few of the casual dresses can run in excess of $ 100 and some cardigans and garage shirts over $ 50. Still, anyone on a Buffalo Budget could find a few pieces at Cats Like Us.