Neiman Marcus, 1990s magazine ads and bedazzled Aquaphor.
I just found out that the original Neiman Marcus flagship in Dallas is closing at the end of March. I know the no stress club is supposed to be a happy place but this hits HARD.
When I was 14 years old I visited my first Neiman Marcus store. Online shopping did not exist in 1994 and the closest I came to a luxury store experience was the Pretty Woman shopping montage. I considered my trip to their Texas location a pilgrimage. I hate to sound dramatic, but I looked up the definition, and it absolutely is the right word choice. (A pilgrimage can be described as a journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life)
I LOVE luxury department stores. I think of clothing as art. I love walking around admiring all of the pieces. The window displays, the accessories, the smells, all of it. It may sound crazy but the right luxury department store can feel like a twirl around a museum to me.
I had a fancy aunt that lived in Dallas and the family lore was that she had her own personal St. John’s sales associate. My Uncle was an oil executive and she would tell us about all these dinners she had with heads of state. She wore exclusively St. John when traveling because their pieces never wrinkled. Swoooooooon. I still always think of her when I see their glorious knitwear. I should also add that “St. John” is a sneaky good Real Real search term. Tons of fantastic jackets and knits.
If you loved fashion magazines like me you HAVE to remember the St John’s ads from the 90s. They always featured this platinum blond woman with super short hair and 3-5 men following her around in tuxedos. Now that I think about, Michael’s Kors definitely pulled that swipe when he launched his brand.
During this same time period teenagers were collecting Absolut Vodka ads and my older sister covered the interior of her bedroom closet in them. Wild to think about it (hello parental controls!) but she made wallpaper out of magazines and my mind was BLOWN.
I love pop culture moments and it feels unfair that the Kendrick Lamar shuffle is happening when I am non weight baring. Which is why I bought a bedazzler kit on Friday. I heard the tweens are doing it and I saw a bedazzled Aquaphor on social media. My family uses way too much Aquaphor, I’ve got time on my hands and I can’t unsee it.
Hard hitting news
These adds live rent free in my head
https://www.wmagazine.com/story/fashion-nostalgia-st-john-ads-2000s-kelly-gray
St. John on The Real Real
https://www.therealreal.com/products/women/clothing/coats/st-john-fox-fur-coat-nx7g2
St. John glitter goodness
Bedazzled aquaphor
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1298516637/?ref=share_ios_native_control
