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

W2WW News Flash - Joie store open on Newbury Street!

One of WW2W’s favorite go-to brands just opened a stand-alone last Tuesday in our backyard!  Though I was rushing to a hair appointment, I had enough time to pop in and snap a few pictures at the new Joie store, at 141 Newbury Street.  It is inviting and beautifully done.  

For those of you in the market for slides (ahem, Jennifer), these black and camel ones were cute.  

I really liked this blue Montserrat tunic top.  Over white jeans, or a suit at the beach, it’s an easy go-to piece for summer.  And they have in matching kids sizes too, a new line they’re just introducing this season.

Come here my pretty canvas and jute tote   When you’re not accompanying me to the beach on the weekends,  you will tote my laptop and shoes to work during the week.  

This picture has all my favorite colors and patterns, though I’m not sold on big florals just yet.

The first thing I looked for when I walked in was 'soft joie', which is their “comfy” line of very wearable and affordable pieces.  There was a pretty good selection - I hope they beef it up this fall.  That, and a 3-way mirror to see what’s going on in the back, and it’s all good.  Welcome to the neighborhood Joie! ~ LB

All images from Lisa Bida.

An old friend, rediscovered.

I had some time to troll around Newbury Street before a hair appointment last week and wandered into Steven Alan.  Thank goodness!  I always forget how much I LOVE this store, and I hope that by writing about it, I'll remember to visit every time I'm close by. 

Images from Jennifer Houston.

Why do I love it?  They describe themselves well:  "Steven Alan is a multi-brand retailer carrying a curated collection of clothing, accessories, apothecary, and home items for both men and women".  VERY well curated at that.  They carry some of my favorite designers - Clare Vivier, Band of Outsiders, Isabel Marant, and their in-house brand, Steven Alan.  They carry lots of designers that are new-to-me - which I love.  They have great basics.  It's a very cool vibe.  Clean lines, great materials.  Fantastic staff (at least at the Newbury location).

What did I check out this visit - these brogues by Rachel Comey.  I didn't think I was a brogue shoe girl, but maybe I am?  They are hunting for my size and I hope they find it.

Image from Jennifer Houston.

This cool dress.  It was a little short for me, but oh how I loved it.  With the shoes. 

Image from Jennifer Houston.

Image from stevenalan.com.

Next time you find yourself on Newbury, wander in.  You'll be glad you did. ~ JH

Our May Obsession - a Cross-Body Bag.

Lisa and I had the good fortune to escape for 36 hours of shopping and relaxing last weekend.  We hit some new stores (Viola Lovely in the South End) and some tried and true favorites (Calypso, Saks).  All the while...obsessively looking for the perfect cross-body bag.  What do we want in this bag?

• Small enough to be light, but big enough to hold our wallet, iPhone, sunglasses, and key.
• Maybe a pop of color.
• Chain or leather strap - doesn't matter to us.
• We would prefer to have a discreet logo - ok, Lisa would prefer that; I'm ok with a logo as long as it works into the bag.  Like that Gucci cross-body.  I'd be perfectly happy with that.

We found a couple of good ones, but nothing that jumped out and said 'Yes! I'm the one!  Pick me!'  Here is what we are contemplating - any thoughts on our choices?!

We spent a lot of time in Marc by Marc Jacobs on Newbury - good price point, fun colors.  Logo was an issue for Lisa on some of them, as was a flap that would make it tricky to get in and out of the bag.  While we loved the colors this bag came in (Prussian Blue and Soccer Pitch Green) and the TASSEL, the flap wasn't completely accommodating.

Image from marcjacobs.com.

This one was great too - comes in a ton of colors (in store and online at various retailers), was light weight.  But, I fear it was small for me; only my wallet fit in the bag. 

Image from marcjacobs.com.

Over at our new haunt, Viola Lovely, deep in Boston's South End, our friend found (and purchased) a great bag by Clare Vivier.  Cross-body and shoulder friendly, great colors, good price, and fit more inside than either of the Marc bags did.  The Moyen Messenger bag really fit the bill, but there was only one, and she saw it first.  We love the pop of color and the separate cross-body and shoulder straps.  

Image from clarevivier.com.

Over at Neiman Marcus, we found these Tory Burch bags, the Thea bag.  Yes, of course we were drawn to the tassels.  And the color.  But not the logo, and they were a little wider than we would like to have.  Ok, maybe I could get over the logo.  That orange one is pretty fabulous.

Images from nordstrom.com.

We played with the Chloe Marcie Round Cross-Body bag (both small and medium sized) at Saks.  Loved the shape, lack of huge logo, comes in 11 different colors (online)!  But the small wasn't big enough and the medium might have been too big.  

Image from saks.com.

Like Goldilocks; we couldn't find one that was 'just right'.  The search continues while the obsession remains.  We'll let you know what we find.  And let us know if you find anything worth looking at. ~ JH

W2WW Around Town - Warby Parker open in Boston.

Last year, Lisa wrote a great piece about Warby Parker and their cool new eyeglass frames that you can sample in your home; you select up to 5 frames, they ship them to you for free, and you have 5 days to check them out.  $95 for prescription glasses - can't really beat it, can you?  

After success with pop-up shops and at 2 other brick-and-mortar locations in New York, Warby Parker opened at 83 Newbury Street, between Berkeley and Clarendon, this past Friday.  (Conveniently upstairs from Georgetown Cupcakes.)

Image from warbyparker.com.

I was in the city this weekend with a friend for a mini-break, and we happened upon the 'grand opening'.  Yes, we were lured in by mini, blue velvet cupcakes with eyeglass motifs on them, but we really loved the offerings.  The store was packed! 

Image from Jennifer Houston.

My friend, in need of new sunglasses, discovered that all sunglasses were $95 and prescription sunglasses where $150.  Excellent!  After trying on about a dozen pairs, she went back to the first ones she tried on, these cool Boyd sunglasses.

Image from warbyparker.com.

Out we walked, new sunglasses in one hand and a cupcake in the other.  Perfect Saturday afternoon, no?!  If you find yourself on Newbury Street, stop by to check them out.  ~ JH

W2WW News Flash - rag & bone opens store on Newbury Street.

It seems as though the empty storefronts on Newbury Street are starting to fill up.  One of the latest stores to open is rag & bone, at 111 Newbury Street (former home of Pierre Deux).  A brand favorite of ours, Lisa and I first came upon rag & bone through their jeans - the RBW8 jeans were our favorite skinny jeans about 4 or 5 years ago.  Since then, they have expanded their offerings, including shoes.  I like that the majority of their clothes are produced in the US, starting in Kentucky back in 2002.

Their fall 2011 line was amazing and what we have seen so far for spring 2012, we like.  Can't wait to check out the new store.  Have you?  Please tell us what you think! ~ JH

Photo from boston.com.

...your watch is 'in the shop'.

I found myself in the Cartier boutique on Newbury Street this Saturday.  My Tank Francaise watch (ahem, 'Timepiece'), a 35th birthday birthday present from Dear Husband, had seen enough and needed a tune up.

Photo from Kaboodle.com

Too many sweaty spin classes, drops on the floor, and near submersions had damaged it - the metal bracelet was mangled and (unbeknownst to me) the stem was chipped.  I wear this watch EVERYDAY, so giving up for weeks of service was troubling.  Now, I have other watches I could wear in it's absence.  Lovely ones, in fact.  But this one can be pared with everything, any outfit, from jeans to a dress.  It simply works.  Alas, I patted it goodbye, and asked the sales woman to take good care of it.

The sales woman sensed my distress and asked me "Do you want a loaner watch?".  My jaw hit the counter.  Bien sur!  Bring out the 'loaner'!

And she did.  It's the large Tank Francaise timepiece, with a black, rubber bracelet.  She called it ugly, but I thought it was super cool.

Personal Photo

I signed a release, strapped it on, and, with a spring in my step, hit Newbury Street.  Note to self:  When purchasing a watch, ask if loaners are available! ~ JH