W2WW Around Town - Lots of New Kids in Town!

We here in Massachusetts are shoppers; what else is there to do with 10 feet of snow on the ground, I ask you?!  And, the retail world is starting to take notice.  

Opened last week is the first US location for Primark, an Ireland-based retailer who is competing with H&M and Zara for your super-trendy, disposable clothing dollar.  There are skinny jeans for $7, sweaters for $8, sneakers for $9 and a suitcase in which to carry it all home for $30-50.  I will pop over during lunch to see what all the fuss is about, but frankly, fast fashion, and all of the environmental no-nos that come with it, is not my cup of tea.

Image from theguardian.com.

Image from Cheryl Fenton.

Sometime this fall, COS will be opening it’s 3rd store in the US on Newberry Street. Jen and I discovered this little gem in Paris a few years ago. The better quality, classically designed, simple pieces are staples at this new younger sister in the H&M clan. (PS, Jen squealed with joy upon hearing the news!)  Check out a sampling of their goods.

Images from cosstores.com.

I think I'm most excited about Cost Plus World Market opening it’s New England location on September 20 in the vacated Office Depot space in Framingham. My friend Julie took me into one when I visited her in Florida and I was hooked.  Talk about a fun and affordable place to shop for everything from craft beer to home furniture and personal accessories to brighten up your spaces!  Here are a few favorites. 

Images from worldmarket.com.

Get ready for a shopping-filled fall!  Ladies, start your engines! ~ LB

Back in Paris?!

I took a mini-break this past weekend and jetted over to Paris for 3 days.  3 dinners, 3 lunches, 3 days to shop.  Oh wait, one of the days was Sunday, and other than in the Marais, there is no shopping to be done on Sundays.  Oh, and I was on a get-away with my dear husband, who didn't want to rabidly shop.  Not shocking.

How did I get any shopping done?!?  I consolidated the brands I wanted to look at (Massimo Dutti, Comptoir des Cotonniers, COS, Vanessa Bruno, Eric Bompard, Malene Birger) and figured that if I went straight to Galeries Lafayette, I could probably knock out a bunch of shopping in one place!  Brilliant! 

My tired husband and I arrived in Paris center on Friday morning around 9:30am, and headed straight to Galeries Lafayette after breakfast.  I was on the hunt for a couple of things and doing a little research as well.

With my research hat on, I wanted to visit Massimo Dutti, which is part of Zara's parent company.  I had seen an ad of theirs in Vogue, and liked the coat I saw so much that I started to check their stuff out online.  Price point was great, and I was really excited to see the store-in-store at Galeries Lafayette.

Unfortunately, in person, the clothing wasn't as fabulous.  It was the fabric (itchy) more than the cut of the clothing.  Maybe that's something to watch for in the future!  I'll stay tuned.

Then I put my errand hat on and raced over to the Eric Bompard section.  Yes, I love their cashmere, and this fall, I had been looking for a long, self-belted, black cardigan.  After more-than-a-little online research, I thought that the Kimono sweater was the one for me.  And sure enough, it was! (Please ignore the post-overnight-flight-room's-not-ready-ponytail.)

Image from eric-bompard.com.

Fitted sleeves, fitted at waist, and actually had an inside tie to keep the tucked flap of the sweater from shifting.  Dear husband made a face when I told him this was an investment piece, which it is.  I hope to wear it for years to come.  I had to continue my hunting there as Lisa wanted to expand her Eric Bompard v-neck sweater options; I picked up a light gray classic v-neck for her as well.

Image from eric-bompard.com.

After pawing a leopard coat in the Malene Birger section (didn't fit; was too boxy) and being disappointed with the fall lines of Comptoir and COS, I figured dear husband was running out of steam and patience, and a lunch break was needed.  I hated to leave Galeries Lafayette - the building is something else.

Over the next two days, I had some fun stops in random stores that yielded some good stuff.  While dear husband and I explored the Canal St. Martin area (beautiful!)...

... I wandered into an Antoine et Lili store.  Kind of whimsical for adults (there is a home and a kids line too), but I fell in love immediately with this cheap and cheerful, 28 Euro, silk scarf.  Totally useful!

Image from antonieetlili.com.

And later on Saturday, I found myself on rue St. Sulpice in the Vanessa Bruno store, fawning over their bags.  Again.  But for fall, they are SUEDE.  And I am a sucker for suede.  So I picked up a gray one of these. (The one on the very bottom is gray.)

Finally, I did a quick City Pharma run for Lisa's Nuxe lotion and yes, more Bioderma.  

OK, maybe I am a horder.  

I'm not sure when I might get back to Paris.  I kind of knew this weekend might come together this past summer, so I was definitely looking forward to it.  Going forward, who knows?!  Until then, I'll cozy up in my sweater(s) and scarves and every now and then, look at this photo from my run on Monday morning...

...or our walk through Luxembourg Gardens on Saturday afternoon.

À toute à l'heure! ~ JH

Unless noted otherwise, all images from Jennifer Houston.