Last Friday the weather in NYC was amazing! It was sunny with
a gentle breeze and it was a day off for me. I took the subway into Soho to do some "competitive" shopping. By competitive I mean
I compare what I like and don't like as it relates to not only my own personal style, but what the world of fashion has to offer the variety of consumers in this find world we live in.
My first stop was a store on Lafayette Street between Prince and Spring that is new to me and a must remember going forward called INVENTORY. This store carries mens and womens clothing and accessories all year round at sample sale prices.
They basically take the leftover 'inventory' from small designers and showcase them in this 3500 square foot warehouse space in
a boutique setting. The store is very hip and very easy to shop.
Great store if you are on a budget and need/want something new and fashionable. I would say they are more heavily weighted towards clothing than accessories... which is good! There is a small vintage area in the back that is a delight to sift through as well... if you have ever tried to sift through a poorfly organized vintage area!
My next stop made my eyes burn and bleed and not because it was full of pollen and ragweed. The much anticipated opening of TopShop, the iconic British fashion store for both men and women made its delayed debut last month. I figured I had waited long enough for the excitement to settle down and today was my day to visit one of my favorite British stores on my own turf! Understand that when I shop at the TopShop's in London and Dublin, I leave with no less than 2 shopping bags full of fashion excitement to bring home with me. Make no mistake about the US version of the TopShop... it is just short of tragic! I walked in the front door and the wind in my sail was just taken from me when I saw the front and center merchandising of gross clothing. My friend Jen described the store perfectly when she said it was like H&M on speed. There is so much product in the store and it is so ugly. There is no other way to describe it. Not to mention expensive for what it is. A basic solid color knit dress (I think it was a dress) with a small zipper detail for $70.00? Why? There was a combination of things going on here that was something right out of fashion horror movie for me. It was a Forever 21, American Eagle, Deb (do people know what that is?) American Apparel, H&M stew... and the store was packed! There are 3 floors of this tragedy for the females and one floor for the men. I could not go to the men's floor... it was just too much for me. This is an ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK store. I would save your money. There are SO many better shopping experiences in NYC. Some people do say they have great shoes... again... I am at a loss for words on that section as well.
So I went to Madewell, Uniqlo and then Urban Outfitter. Madewell is such an interesting brand to me. It is owned by J.Crew and as I understood it was suppose to be a watered down version of the J.Crew girl and label in terms of product and price. Not so much I would say. They have the same priced v-neck tees and cardigans. The fit might be a little different and their assortment might have a few more boheiman styles. I do like it though and found a few additions to my summer wardrobe.
Uniqlo was a bit overwhelming for me by this point in the day but I tried on a pair of long shorts in two different colors... one fit perfectly and the other was so unfortunate looking on me that it was perplexing. Oh well... I saved $30.00. Cute basic short which is what Uniqlo is perfect for. Affordable basics for all aspects of your life, from work to play for you and yours!
I could barely walk through Urban Outfitters, but I gave it a once over and then went home. There was really nothing that jumped out at me there this time around. What a day! My visit to TopShop really stuck with me though. I could not get over how truly disappointing it was on so many levels. I was perplexed that a bunch of creatives could sit in a design studio and hang these assortments up in agreement that this was what TopShop USA should look like. I still sit here and shake my head. I will have to revisit the store again in the coming months to see if maybe it was allergies.
Note that all of these stores are on the east side of Broadway in Soho. I will have to do take another Friday and devote it to the other side of the street!
