For as long as I’ve loved shopping, I’ve longed for a store with the perfect mix of products and brands. A department store carries what appeals to the largest volume demographic in whatever geographic area the store sits…for men in Tampa, that means Theory, Robert Graham, Burberry, True Religion, and a whole hell of a lot of Hugo Boss. Apparently in Chicago too – where they replaced men’s John Varvatos Collection with a dedicated Hugo Boss wing in the Saks on Michigan Avenue!
Now I know not everyone is as discerning as I…and profit margins play into the merchandising decisions that big box luxury stores make every day. But…what if in a perfect world…I could curate my own store, with a mix of brands I decide embody the discerning shopper, independent of the balance sheet? Instead of a big box filled indiscriminately…a bix box made smaller with varying volumes, spaces, sub-spaces, kiosks, stores-within-stores, and more cohesively branded corners? I wouldn’t be the first to attempt such a concept…
In any case…here are some of the brands I wouldn’t want to forget when stocking my store. Non-exhaustive…
Fragrance (Personal & Home) Corner: Bond No. 9, Jo Malone, Dayna Decker, Voluspa.
I see…neutral walls, wood and metal accents, a visual richness of textures and gleaming bottles from floor to ceiling lit by clean white LEDs. Or multicolored LEDs.
Sportswear: Lululemon Athletica, Aether
Electronics: Apple Computer
Jeans: Diesel, Levi’s
Casualwear: John Varvatos Collection, Spurr, Vince, Theory
Outerwear: Marni, Bottega Veneta
Leathergoods: Balenciaga, Hard Graft, Lanvin, Makr, Valextra
I feel that these brands and lines represent my aesthetic. Refined, understated…a mix of textures and finishes. Not too buttoned up or polished but not too rustic or matte either (a touch of both!). Comfortable but well-fitting and ALWAYS the appropriate pairing of color and cut.
More categories to come in the next post!
