So I guess this has probably been asked a zillion times but....what are the best US brands/items to buy from the States from personal experience? Usual suspects I'm aware of are MK, Kate Spade, Couch, Levi's, Fossil, Ralph etc. But any particular brands or items really worthwhile to wallop?

I'm going to L.A for 4 days and about 8 days in Houston. Planning to head to Citadel and Katy Mills outlet malls respectively for some shopping.