I Think I’m Only Going to Shop at Department Stores From Now On
PC: Pinterest
I’ve been a shopping writer for too long. I had forgotten the joys of visiting a department store. You know, touching clothes IRL and seeing items from brands like Monse and St. Agni—designers that don’t have their own brick and mortar locations. I had forgotten that I don’t need to order a bunch of items online when many of my favorite collections are housed in a Bergdorf Goodman or Saks. I’ve grown tired of virtual shopping, only to receive items that looked better in photos than on my body. And lastly, I absolutely abhor going to my local USPS to return items, especially since my location has a 1-star rating… I have (somewhat shamefully) held onto items I should have returned just to avoid the god-awful experience of going to USPS.
So I dragged my ass all the way to 5th Avenue from Brooklyn and did a little perusing at Bergdorf Goodman. The intention was not to buy anything, but to do a little field research. It had been ages since I saw fashion’s finest neatly lined up in rows. I sauntered from the Phillip Lim rack to the Rohé one, before making my way upstairs to the Brandon Maxwell collection, which was sandwiched between Khaite and Issey Miyake. I tried on clothes from Simkhai, which might just be a new favorite of mine now, and saw the fine stitchings of Ashlyn New York for the first time after writing about them on several occasions. Honestly, just the simple act of not needing to enter or exit any revolving doors to go from store to store was a real win.
Now that I’m 30, I think I can finally sniff out the cheap from the quality in a nanosecond. I’ve also curated a wardrobe that’s fulfilling enough to not need anything new. So anything I add onto it will be something high-quality that will last a lifetime. I trust in my tastes enough to know whatever I love now, I’ll continue to love until I’m 60. And for that reason, I don’t mind splurging on a Nour Hammour jacket or a Nanushka pullover.
I think we all need a little shopping refresh. We’re bombarded by HD images of perfectly styled models that do anything but tell us how a garment really feels. What looks like a sweet deal on an e-commerce image might be anything but. I was surprised at the kinds of items I picked up while eyeing the tops, skirts, and dresses lined up at Bergdorf—things I would have easily scrolled past on Instagram but loved in person.
Shopping at department stores is also a strategic way to get back in touch with your sense of style. I like modeling for myself in the mirror and working out what does and doesn’t look good on me. It’s almost like an act of self-care—precious me time where I get to know myself better and better. And because it’s a department store, you can try on different brands in the same fitting room, allowing you to compare and contrast the fit, stitch, and price in one go.
As convenient as shopping online might be, nothing beats seeing clothes in real life. And for anyone who doesn’t like the physical act of going outside to shop, I think department stores offer that sweet middle ground, as you get everything in one location and never have to spend too much time outside. So, from one shopping lover to another, I think it’s prime time we go back to our beloved department stores and don’t let another Barneys happen!
