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.
- AimeeÂ
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.
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.
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
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Here in New York City, it seems that spring is finally here. A few weeks back, we had a couple teaser days, only for the chill to roll back in. But this week, it seems we are finally feeling the warmth.
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Social media has definitely changed how we interact with each other on a daily basis. Our world is now operating much faster so it’s easy to forget that there are still basic rules of conduct that should be observed.
As with any trend I discuss, there are many ways you can incorporate it. I've been seeing a lot of denim in shoes - such as sandals - to bags. And, if you have been following the Adea blog for awhile, you'll know where I'm going with this - accessories. Yes, you can layer and layer denim this season. You can begin with accessories and work your way to your entire outfit or vice versa.
Whichever route you choose, be sure to save room for an Adea Layering Top - an Adea Spaghetti Strap Camisole can always be layered under your denim sleeveless or your multi-wash denim overalls. Yes, I did just say the latter.
For years, I had been hearing about the Burning Man Festival that’s held annually in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, but I had never talked to anyone who had actually been there. My overall impression was that this was an event attended by 5,000 hippies wearing leather Birkenstock sandals while eating kale adorned with alfalfa sprouts and sprinkled with wheat germ.
The thought of having plastic surgery sends chills down my spine. But, for some, it seems to be a professional necessity – look as young as possible or risk the loss of your career and the ability to earn a living. In the February 2017 issue of Allure magazine there’s an article titled Secrets of Celebrity Plastic Surgeons by Kristin Perrotta who gives both a humorous and realistic account of what really goes on in this world. Here are brief excerpts:
At every turn, it seems any brand that was solely brick-and-mortar is looking to find a way to be online. And, in order to increase profits, there comes a point where they look to cut out the middleman and build up their own online presence.
I’m sure everyone has memories of music, art, movies and books that made an indelible impression. To be more specific: music and art can hit one very fast while movies and books may take a little longer. But usually, once the initial reaction happens, you remember when and where you were for years afterwards. Let’s explore:
