Interior of The Grove by Jessica Gioglio
It probably won’t come as a surprise to the more frequent readers of this blog, but I adore charming little restaurants and boutiques. When traveling, I purposefully seek out places like San Francisco’s Fillmore Street that contain a mix of both. Delightful, yet not overly posh, this street is situated in the city’s beautiful Pacific Heights neighborhood, and is perfect for a lunch and shopping jaunt.
Boldfacers Stylemakers Pop-Up
Ever wanted to raid the closets of Boston’s most stylish women? On Thursday, January 27, make that fantasy a reality at the Boldfacers Stylemakers Pop-Up store at the W Boston Hotel. Featuring stylish garments from local trendsetters, the event starts with a VIP Reception with the Stylemakers from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.(tickets $25), then the main shopping soiree starts at 7:00 p.m. (tickets $10). Fabulous fashionistas participating include Channel 7’s Frances Rivera, Kiss 108’s Lisa Donovan, Boston Magazine’s Alex Hall, and more.
The W Boston Hotel is located at 100 Stuart Street. For more details, visit www.boldfacers.com.
Forever 21 by Jessica Gioglio
Have snow boots, will shop! While the weather may have postponed Forever 21’s January 8 grand opening event on Newbury Street, it didn’t discourage Bostonians from flocking to the trendy chain in search of fashion-forward bargains.
Located at the top of Newbury Street between Hereford Street and Mass. Ave., Boston’s Forever 21 boasts a whopping four levels, three of which are dedicated to the ladies and one at the very top to the gents. Upon entry to the shop, I was struck by something that I don’t usually see at Forever 21: well-done visual merchandising.
Have you popped into H&M lately? Is it me, or has the brand really been upping the fashion ante? While I haven’t seen the highly anticipated new Lanvin for H&M collection in person yet, I’m pretty impressed by the band’s array of tweed blazers, sparkly dresses and open cardigans. I recently bought the cool army green military inspired cardigan with silver chain detailing pictured above.
Also of note from H&M is a fabulous new fall/winter jacket, which has kind of turned into the new love of my life. Available in classic navy, this collarless jacket has a modern ruffle detail along the pockets and a cinched waist that creates curves in all the right places. At $99, this coat is perfect for a brisk fall or warmer winter day and looks fantastic when paired with a cute scarf and knee-high boots. It’s quickly turned into my new favorite ensemble to stroll throughout Boston in. Click here for a photo.
While I usually frequent the Newbury Street H&M, I’d like to give a special shoutout to the Downtown Crossing location. I recently went on a Saturday around lunchtime and the store was incredibly well organized and not terribly crowded, making for a much more enjoyable shopping experience. I loathe crowds, so the opportunity to shop undisturbed was a real treat!
H&M in Downtown Crossing is located at 350 Washington Street. The H&M in the Back Bay is located at 100 Newbury Street. During your visit, inquire about discounts for checking into Facebook Places on your smartphone to unlock a coupon.
During a fantastically long walk from the Back Bay to Harvard Square, I was delighted to stumble upon Anthropologie’s new store. Located in the old Crate & Barrel space on Brattle Street, the store may carry the same merchandise as its Boylston Street counterpart, but shopping in the airy, multilevel store offers customers an entirely unique experience.
I’ve always admired Anthropologie’s ability to create a signature retail personality; the interior of their stores go above and beyond to translate its hip, bohemian, feminine, stylish and worldly character. The innovative decor at the Cambridge store lives up to the brand’s quirky yet cool vibe, from the funky bed pictured on the left, to a pile of books and book pages glued upside down across a wide area of the ceiling – a work of art in its own right.
What differentiates the new Cambridge location from the Back Bay store are their layouts. The Back Bay store has a more distinct entrance marked with a dramatic, large door that’s very noticeable along bustling Boylston Street. Inside, there are two levels divided by a grand, sweeping staircase. In Harvard Square, the entrance is simple, but the store’s five levels are lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing for lots of natural light. Plus, wandering around the five levels made the shopping experience feel more like a treasure hunt, which I loved.
The more I think about it, the stores really are perfect for their respective neighborhoods. Definitely check out Anthropologie’s new Harvard Square store the next time you’re in the neighborhood and let me know if you agree or disagree. I personally can’t wait to go back and see how they each get decked out for holiday season.
Anthropologie is located at 48 Brattle Street in Harvard Square, Cambridge.