June 19, 2017
The French Riviera. The name alone makes me think about sunshine, bronzed skin and a laid-back lifestyle. My first trip to this area was sometime back. When I planned the trip, I got too excited and tried to cram too much into a short amount of time.
June 14, 2017
There are times when I can’t believe what I’m reading. I recently received a copy of Columbia’s Spring 2017 magazine (no one will ever accuse this school of not paying attention to their grads: I get emails + phone calls + snail mail on a regular basis) and I read and listen to all of it. Aquarians are very loyal.
June 09, 2017
Recently, I made a conscience decision to take advantage of some of my favorites spots - cue The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Right now, they not only have the Costume Institute's "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between" exhibit but also the "Irving Penn: Centennial" exhibit, which showcases over 150 photographs that include fashion, still life and portraits.
June 07, 2017
I recently came across an article titled, The Doctor Will Snap You Now in the April issue of Allure magazine that I read wide-eyed and, quite frankly, disbelieving. But, that doesn’t matter because it’s totally true and it’s happening right now in the year 2017.
May 31, 2017
Since I had never read anything about Chanel in America I was very surprised to come across an article on this subject in the Hollywood 2017 issue of Vanity Fair. Writer, Sam Kashner, has chronicled a fascinating piece on a very expensive misstep in “fashion coupled with cinema.” Take a look.
May 24, 2017
May 22, 2017
Living in Manhattan, it's easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of everything that surrounds you. Whether it's the honking of the yellow taxies or the various sirens going off or the realization you have over-booked yourself and left little time to get from one spot to the next, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of New York City.
May 17, 2017
May 10, 2017
May 08, 2017
The other night, I got treated to a lovely dinner at The Polo Bar - Ralph Lauren's restaurant in New York City. Everything at this restaurant has Ralph's touch on it, from the decor to the food to the smallest of details. Just when sitting at the table, I caught myself admiring the salt & pepper shakers!
The Polo Bar is right off of Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, and it was anchored by the Polo Ralph Lauren flagship. Before going to the restaurant, I knew this Polo store was going to close. In turn, I had to explore it one more time!
Little did I know, this really would be my last time...
It was the middle of April, so I thought I would be back the following week. I planned on meeting with a friend, and we would shop and then grab a coffee at Ralph's Coffee (the coffee shop inside the Polo Ralph Lauren flagship). Sadly, I missed the mark. The entire store - although the restaurant remains open - had already closed.
What I found so fascinating about this is that it was not the end of the month, which is when most retailers will close their doors since that is often when the lease is up. That's not all though. After sulking in the fact my go-to fashion spot was closed, I caught myself looking around Fifth Avenue - there were other stores that had also shuttered their doors.
This closing of retailers is not all that new, but it seems to be happening more and more. Some blame the Internet, others on Amazon and others on the Millennials, but I don't necessarily think that is the entire story.
Take my Ralph Lauren example. Ralph Lauren was creating an experience - from the restaurant to the store to the coffee shop. He was working to create a destination, a place for customers to go to get a slice of Ralph Lauren that was different from just purchasing something from his brand.
I do believe he was on the right track, although, his closing of this location is most likely due to other reasons, including over-saturation, which we are seeing in the marketplace where retailers were so focused on growth (and in many cases pleasing shareholders) they grew and grew without thinking or wanting to realize there would be a cap on expansion.
The other obstacle I see in the retail landscape is a loss of retailer identity. There are brands "drawing inspiration" from others, and it seems to be coming full circle where there isn't necessarily anything new in the stores just copies and interpretations of "interpretations".
The beauty of retail is that it is meant to be constantly changing and evolving - it has to in order to survive. In turn, I'm looking forward to what the next year, next five years will bring. Of course, I will miss enjoying a hemp milk latte and talking all things fashion with my friends at Ralph's Coffee, but I'm certain, something new and possibly something completely different will pop up.
Stay tuned - the next retail chapter is certain to begin soon.
- Aimee
P.S. With the first Monday in May having already come and gone, see what goes on behind-the-scenes of the Met Gala by watching the documentary The First Monday in May.
May 07, 2017
Back in the day, roommates used to be the same sex. But now, that’s changed completely and, according to a recent piece in the New York Post that appeared on 3/2/17 titled, Lease on Love and written by Christian Gollayan, there’s another factor that’s entered into this situation: roommates finding they’ve fallen in love.
April 26, 2017
We’re going to step back in time today and take a look at the Roaring Twenties when life in America exploded into an era of females kicking up their heels and having fun.
1920’s flapper in rolled stockings with garters