Are you there retail? It’s me, Margaret.

I have wanted to write something about retail for a few months now, but the thoughts wouldn’t form and the ideas didn’t gel so I have been letting it simmer on another burner. But today I read a little article about the (defunct) Boston store Design Research and it came together for me.

In the summer while I was in Europe I found very few retail stores that spoke to the place that they operated in. If you were looking for an Isabel Marant dress, J Brand jeans, See by Chloe or Phillip Lim you were in luck because every city has a tasteful boutique outfitted with white walls and a chandelier that carries those lines. But now that we all travel and we all have access to the same things, what makes us identify a store with its location? Or more specifically, what makes a store in Barcelona a Barcelona store?

Every city has heritage stores that are delightful (Barcelona has espadrilles makers La Manual Alpargatera, I’m not sure what Vancouver has that could compare but I am open to suggestions), but what about the next generation of retail? What is an example of a new store that is so intrinsically linked with a city’s culture? I know that stores do not exist just for tourists but what does it say about a city when there is no new development of a retail culture that is unique and self-supporting?

So, back to Design Research. This is a store that speaks to me in the way it approached design holistically (clothing/furniture/house wares) and with humour. Too often I find retail stores are either too generic or so rarefied they forget that design can be an experience shared by all. And you don’t have to carry only local products to be a local store that could not exist anywhere else in the world. You can offer a lot to people in your city that is useful, well made and original and do it in a way that captures the imagination of visitors as well. Design Research seems like a very optimistic American store where groovy families could go buy new cutlery and Mom could get a Marimekko dress. Could that happen now? Would people find it Utopian and flaky? Too European perhaps? Or just too middle class?

Another store that I think achieves a level of retail greatness that is unique to it’s location is Vinçon in Barcelona (below, some of their shopping bags throughout the years).

This post brought to you by: self loathing

Here are three things that I think would make me more attractive, more successful,  more fun to hang out with. And if you don’t believe me, just ask my bathrobe. It’s always telling me that I can do better.

Picture Julianne Moore

About the shows (sort of). I always really love A Detacher’s collections but they are never shown on style.com (bad blood?) so I often forget about the line. But when I am in New York it is always one of my favourite stores- the visual merchandising is outstanding.

Here’s a few pictures of the Spring 2010 collection (2010 makes everything sound like the olympics to me. 2010 has olympic taint. Ask any Vancouverite. You even say 2010 and you feel like VANOC is right behind you serving you a cease and desist order.)

Anyways… this collection is not going to blow your mind but it is very wearable and cheeky. I just watched the show on the website and it made me laugh, it’s got this very Valium induced muzak that devolves into noise and drone at the end. It’s exactly opposite what everyone else is doing this season with very UP UP UP (everything is fine!) cokey music. I think she really nailed how many women feel in general.

Fur trimmed dresses, gold nail polish. Be still my Russian heart.

Do you like my new layout? A little ugly no? I am too lazy to do anything custom, so this will have to do. The last format looked very 2006. Am I allowed to say that yet? Did they say things like that in 1909? That swash font is so 1905.

I was going to write about the shows but I was distracted (as always) by Anna Dello Russo (she of the Leopard wallpaper). Garance Dore took some pictures of her at the Ritz and Shazaam! She looks amazing. Everything is very rich and sparkly. The thing that makes it work for me is the bare face;  a lot of make up would make this very predictable. She definitely lets the clothes do the talking. I also love when people are unabashed with their enthusiasm. Take a picture of me trying on this dress! Now this one! Take a picture of my shoes!

Pictures from Garance Dore below.

RIP Gourmet

Gourmet magazine is closing down.  So depressing. How will I decide what to wear? The June “Fiesta Forever” spread was a real inspiration. Hibiscus coolers! Mango and watermelon spears with chile salt! Grilled corn! Can you see the outfit I’m putting together here? Conde Nast is keeping Bon Appetit instead. Down with Bon Appetit!