Let’s go on a journey

Brain dump of today: Flickr picks, cars, fashions, and other things.

House in Rio Vista, Fort Lauderdale, overcast skies. (homeless one)

Canal Corner Lot, Venice, CA. (Ken Shelton)

Saks Fifth Avenue, Boston, and massive wall of office space. (Mark Jones)

Three Mercedes (C123, W123, W212) parked in Hamburg garage. (Michiel2005)

ShopStyle. Although I am an obsessed-shopper-in-denial, I fully espouse the idea of mass-searching online retailers from a centralized location. On the ShopStyle site (and the ShopStyle iPhone app), you can browse all types of item categories, refine your search by color, cut, brand, or store, and review item price, details, photos, and even set up a push alert telling you one of your favorites has gone on sale. The one thing that I haven’t discovered how to do is comparison shop; choose one item you’re interested in and search other sites for the same item, or slight variations of it. Nonetheless, I have had a ball browsing the blindingly large selection of watches, shoes, jeans…it’s a massive ‘database’ of clothes. Below is a screenshot of my ‘favorites’ on the iPhone app.

BMW 135i M-Sport. Even though the rest of the range is more modern, has more tech, and costs a lot more, I love the 1-series. It is quick, simple, and no-frills – the way a performance coupe should be!

BMW X5 xdrive35D. I was discussing high-end SUVs with a friend the other day and realized that the X5 stands out for its style, size, diesel engine option, and high build quality.

I am dreaming…of Miami

Every so often I feel a deep-down urge to live, work, and play in Miami. For me it is the height of urban fray, Deco and Mediterranean architecture, extreme wealth, South American influence, and great nightlife. Plus I love the tropical greenery – in Tampa we get a bit of Miami and a bit of Atlanta.

I would probably get sick of it after a period, but every time I’ve visited I have enjoyed every minute of the people-watching, the culture, and the lifestyle of “work hard, play hard.”

Here are some of my favorite photos of Miami, pilfered from Flickr.

Photo: Eric Demarcq

Photo: Jeffrey Guterman

The following photos I downloaded long ago, also from Flickr, but without owners’ names. If your photo is posted here and you would like it removed, please let me know.

Enjoy!

It’s like I’m dreaming

As I’ve made clear in my previous posts, I don’t care for the typical American mall experience…a tired, unsustainable, and generally unpleasant formula repeated hundreds of times across the landscape. However, I am not immune to the wooing of upscale malls, set in urban settings, and designed with fantasy and sensory overload in mind.

One example of such a place: the newest luxury mall in Las Vegas, built as part of a multi-use development of residences, offices, retail, and hotels…containing a well-edited list of the covetable and obscure. This place is called Crystals.

The clean, museum-like floors, coupled with the whimsy and bold strokes of color, glass, and metal make the indoor shopping area feel more like a museum. If you’re going to drop thousands of dollars on an outfit for the casino, you might as well be walking among some great visual fantasy.

Photos from Flickr: 180360, Brendan O’Connor, and wwcooper.

Life of Late

Someday I will be able to post more often than once every four weeks. I have been repeating that to myself since at least January. I think, once I pin down and purchase a proper domain name, I’ll be more active. Hold me to it! Ha (if there are others out there reading)…

I’ve taken some great snapshots with my phone the last few weeks that represent well what life has been like lately, and where my mind is. I have been crazy busy with work, especially before leaving for a week-long trip to New York. This week (post-trip) has been moderately manic, with expected ups and downs…and I’m easing back into a jam-packed schedule at JE.

In any case, here’s what I’ve been up to, what I’ve been thinking, and what I’m excited about.

Familiar with Manhattan? This is from Washington Square Park. Strolled through the park late one night while in the city and I was pleasantly surprised by how busy and full of life it was, even at such a late hour. Young people were playing in the fountain…older people were relaxing on benches. There were several competing musical factions in the area around the fountain – one was playing piano and the other was playing the saxophone. People of all ages were dancing to the music…reveling in the energy that is a New York summer. It was truly a beautiful sight. Wish I could have stayed longer to participate in the festivities.

The New York trip was, in total, lovely. I spent the bulk of my time walking, shopping, stopping for iced coffee, and taking leisurely lunches with the friends I was with (and who live there). One of my favorite parts of the city, now, is the Highline Park that runs along the west side of the island, mainly in Chelsea.

The elevated multi-use pathway is an elegant and thoughtful way of integrating greenery and recreational space into a busy cityscape. And it recycles an existing railroad line, to boot. You can’t beat mellow foliage, high-rise quality views of Chelsea and New Jersey, and sustainable design. Someday I plan on rollerblading on the Highline in the dead of winter, when high-speed exercise is the most exhilarating!

Towards the end of the trip, I spent a good amount of time bouncing from department store to department store, with my friends who were looking for nothing in particular. New York shopping is really the best in the world, and the spaces that have defined New York fashion and taste are an experience not to be missed. At Bloomingdale’s, we took in the M.A.C. makeup counter, where jars of pigment (I assume) were arranged so artfully. I couldn’t resist snapping a photo.

Color spectrum displays, whether in museum-quality art, printed on tee shirts, or arranged as these jars are, just have a harmony that I cannot express fully. I could stare at this photo, or have this wall placed in my home and never get sick of it.

Once back in Tampa, I did what most people do, in Tampa, in the summer. I lounged by the pool.

My friend Jillian is kind enough to let me use the pool in her father’s gated townhouse complex. I love this pool, in particular, because it feels secluded by lots of tree cover, despite being very close to downtown and directly across the water from the Channelside District of Tampa. And, the best part, it is usually empty on weekdays (when I need to take a mental health day). I am not so much a fan of tanning (prefer skin preservation), but I love the water and I love being outside, near the pool, reading or listening to music and pondering life. I would miss this if I moved.

In Tampa, my favorite lunch spot is Cafe Hey. Because I don’t work downtown anymore, I can’t get there unless I have a weekday off or I go on the weekend. For those unfamiliar, Cafe Hey is a decidedly un-Tampa-like cafe. The owner, the older sister of a girl I know, specializes in organic, vegetarian, and vegan menu items. And everything is prepared fresh, cooked daily, and created in a thoughtful way. My favorite menu item is the cold-brewed toddy coffee, which lends a bolder flavor to the iced coffee than most, which are brewed hot and then cooled. Costs a little extra but certainly worth the premium. Cafe Hey makes excellent salads and downright artisan sandwiches and pastries too. A big thumbs up.

The last great inspiration of the past few weeks, by far the greatest, is my double experience at Becky nail salon in Ybor. Part of the Tribeca Salon on 8th Avenue, Becky (Kay) specializes in using organic means to provide manicures and pedicures. The shop is also one of few (the only?) in the area that applies Minx nails…a new trend in nail art. Minx are heavy-duty stickers that are applied after buffing and application of an adhesive. The designs range from metallic solids to prints of Santa Clause…truly a design for anything you might want. To say I was excited after having mine applied would be a gross understatement. I visited Becky just before heading to New York…and I received far more compliments on them, in New York, than I had anticipated.

Once I returned to Tampa, I proceeded to peel all of them off. Their frayed edges, probably a product of my rough handling and occasional nose-picking, were starting to become annoying. When my friend Paul asked me to join him at Becky on Monday (he was having his re-touched), Kay kindly offered to give me a coat of nail varnish for free, because my Minx hadn’t lasted more than a week and they weren’t cheap. I was touched, and of course took her up on her offer. The result is below.

Wearing nail polish is a relatively new concept (novelty) to me…and I really like it. And when the color is applied so meticulously, I see it more as an aesthetic statement of my good taste rather than a sloppy, juvenile habit. Not sure if I will keep it up, but experiencing Kay’s generosity and mastery of her skill, I see myself going back soon. If you are a frequent manicure-er, I highly recommend Becky for anything you might desire for your nails.

Thank You for reading, friends!

Bay Area Decor

As Tampa and St. Petersburg ‘grow up,’ become more cosmopolitan, and attract transplants and influence from larger cities, the range of outlets for art, clothing, home decor, and all other things creative and beautiful has expanded. In particular, the South Tampa/Hyde Park/Palma Ceia and the St. Petersburg/4th Street areas have boomed. Here are some of my favorite spots for finding, in some cases the smallest piece for gifting, and in others, the statement item for a room.

Being – Only recently discovered this playful store. Items range from full furniture pieces and statement chairs to refrigerator magnets and greeting cards. Some items not my taste, but a good cache of elegant, unique items, and at affordable prices. Being also carries raw fabric, if you are planning on doing your own re-upholstering. 4th Street North, St. Petersburg

Bloom – South Tampa’s best indoor and outdoor plant shop. I’ve purchased a number of indoor plants and orchids here…all seeming of good quality and heartiness. South MacDill Avenue, Tampa

Casa Nova – Owned by one of Tampa’s influential gay couples (who are also real estate brokers), this store is full of interesting pieces. The color palate is wide, and pieces range in price. Bay to Bay Boulevard, Tampa

Fig – Another recent discovery, this store is a beautiful composition of monochromatic neutrals. Dominated by earthy tones (brown, taupe, white, cream), this is an upscale store that carries many covet-worthy items in wood, animal skin, linen, and other natural materials. My favorite pieces were a set of yucca plant stalks, that tower at 12 feet or more. Perfect for someone’s loft space, to fill a corner and add texture and volume. 4th Street North, St. Petersburg

Magnolia – Similar to Casa Nova and Fig, but fitting just about between the two in terms of uniformity and color range. Many beautiful items in this store, and many are far out of my price range. Housed in a gorgeous early 20th century storefront in Hyde Park, on a brick street. South Magnolia Avenue, Tampa

Marketplace – A catch-all for design stores and interior decorators, this warehouse-style emporium gives locals the chance to showcase, alongside others, under one roof. Full of beautiful furniture and thoughtful items…definitely a diverse assortment, for the eclectic shopper. North Willow Avenue, Tampa

Schiller’s – If you’re looking for raw, unfinished, found items…this is the appropriate place. Full of ‘junk’ to be discovered and rescued, Schiller himself is usually hanging around, ready to help move something or assist. Finds include: claw-foot bathtub, old theater fold-down seats, church pews, rusted theater spotlight, and vintage white cast-iron scale. West Cypress Street, Tampa

The Red Herring – A cross between Schiller’s and Being. Full of interesting, if completely obscure items that will give a room some character. Favorite find: fossilized coral bookends. I have a beautiful recovered wood picture frame from TRH. Bay to Bay Boulevard, Tampa

Wisteria – Full of more classic, expected ‘antique’ items, this store has lots of beautiful vintage furniture, jewelry, objects, and lamps. Not always my taste, but good for a browse any day. South MacDill Avenue, Tampa

Hopefully I can add to this list in a year!

Memorial Picks

Janelle Monae.

Ms. Monae’s second album (The ArchAndroid) is hard to describe. She is her own style (neo-jazz-folk), but has been compared and juxtaposed with Erykah Badu. I like both…this being more upbeat and hip-hop-y, and Ms. Badu working the smooth, relaxed, lounge-y side.

Best songs: Tightrope and Cold War.

LSA Milano Glass Tealight in Green.

For $40, this beautiful modern take on the tealights you find in cathedrals is a staple. Period. My parents have one in cobalt blue (that I gifted them); it’s candlelight cast is so delicate and peaceful, especially in blue or green.

Louis Vuitton Maison London, New Bond Street.

The Art of Travel by Louis Vuitton photostream from Flickr

Louis Vuitton has too many fabulous stores in the world to count anymore, but I absolutely love this photo. All of the mannequins are simply out of their heads for handbags. Awesome.

Wallpaper*.

Wallpaper* is quickly becoming one of my favorite magazines. Gorgeous and well-balanced photography, a range of topics, and worldwide perspective make this one a winner.

Los Angeles.

Photo credit unknown, from Flickr. Please contact me if this is your photo.

As much as I am trying to distance myself from having to live in an environment where the car is a daily requirement…I’ve been feeling very LA this week. This area is a massive settlement that attracts all kinds of people, which leads to tons of diversity. In actuality, there are a number of neighborhoods that are ‘walkable.’ They’re just very expensive. And the creativity and positive energy coming out of Los Angeles is tangible, and that is why I could see myself living there someday.

Tampa Flavor

I spend so much time focusing on and dissecting the shopping and fashion flavors of other cities…I tend to overlook what is going on directly in front of me. Growing up here, I have a good idea of the evolution of design and taste in the neighborhoods I grew up in and now know intimately. Tampa is a beautiful and diverse place, and tastes on design and fashion vary widely, now more than ever. We have the benefit of several water bodies and endless days of warm weather, so tropical influences abound. However, as Tampa attracts residents from the Midwest and Northeast, there are many different interpretations of what is ‘stylish.’

Here is a brief overview of what one could expect, moving here or just visiting:

Chic Neighborhoods –

• Downtown/Channelside. This area is still largely undeveloped and quiet, due in large part to the 1990s corporate takeover of the city center and flight of residents from the most urban areas to the suburbs. However, as in most cities, there is a revival! Downtown and Channelside include some of Tampa’s most recognizable and treasured real estate. The Tampa Theatre is on Franklin Street. It is a must-see (has a ceiling painted and lit to look like an open night sky). The three new museums (Tampa Museum of Art, Glaser Children’s Museum, and The Tampa Bay History Center) are all along the waterfront. Housing includes almost all entirely new developments. Skypoint, Element, Grand Central, The Towers, The Slade, The Place. All full of motivated, smart young people! Hooray! My favorite block is Franklin Street, north of Kay Street. It is very rough around the edges, but ripe for redevelopment. So many beautiful historic storefronts and buildings on this stretch. Best Bar/Night Spot: try Flybar on Franklin or Taps on Ashley Drive.
• Ybor City. This area is just adjacent to Downtown, but of an entirely different flavor and with a whole different historical significance. This area was home to Tampa’s long-revered cigar industry up until recently, when it shifted to a primarily residential and commercial/night-life district. It is full of beautiful old buildings, historic bungalows and shotgun houses…and is a good mix of lifetime residents and recent, young in-fill residents, living in the multitude of new condo or townhouse buildings. Centro Ybor is the main commercial attraction, with a movie theatre, shops, and restaurants. My family and I live in Ybor City, in one of the said townhouses, just out of earshot from the nightclub beats of Seventh Avenue. Best late-night munchies: Mema’s Alaskan Tacos, on 8th Avenue.
• Old Hyde Park. I grew up here! This is Tampa’s classic upscale historic neighborhood made up of about 40 blocks of majestic mansions and mini-mansions, all from the 1930s or earlier. It is prime real estate in Tampa, although not nearly as exciting as Ybor or Downtown. The Old Hyde Park Village is a retail development built in the 1980s that now houses stores including Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Brooks Brothers, and landmark Tampa restaurants like Cafe BT and The Wine Exchange. Best Martinis: Timpano on the corner of Swann Avenue and Dakota Avenue.
• Howard Avenue. This is just near Old Hyde Park, and is definitely the center of 30-something nightlife in Tampa. The popular stretch runs from Bayshore Boulevard up to Kennedy Boulevard, and includes numerous bars, restaurants, dessert spots, breakfast places, small shops, and other resources. I get my hair cut on Howard Avenue, frequent the Starbucks there, eat at Evo’s (healthy fast food) there, and occasionally brave the crowds to have a drink at one of the many crowded bars. Bern’s Steakhouse, a Tampa tradition, is on the corner of Howard Avenue and Marjory Street. Best optical shop in Tampa: The Optic Shop, on Howard.
• Westshore. Known as a popular neighborhood for offices, retail, and restaurants, there is little residential stock here. Both big malls (International Plaza and Westshore Plaza) are here, and upscale (and downscale) restaurants line Westshore Boulevard, Kennedy Boulevard, Cypress Street, and Boy Scout Boulevard. Traffic can be an issue in this area, as it is the apex of several major highways, the airport, the two retail complexes, and spillover from nearby Dale Mabry Highway. Best relaxed luxury shopping: Saks Fifth Avenue.
• Palma Ceia. This area was historically a suburb of Tampa proper, but is now a much sought-after primarily auto- and family-oriented area that is famous for homestyle restaurants, darling antique shops, and excellent schools. Housing varies, although single-family is the king here. There is a central golf course in the area, and many residents are members of its Country Club. Community assets include: The Red Herring (a chic salvage-decor store), Pane Rustica (a beautiful Italian restaurant famous for its breads), The Royal Tea Room, and Pinky’s (my favorite breakfast place in Tampa). Best power lunch: Pane Rustica.

The Royal Tea Room assortment

Styles –

• Most heterosexual men in their late 20s to early 40s wear jeans and button-down oxford (or other) shirts untucked, with leather loafers of some sort when they dress for the evening. Polo shirts are also very popular when the weather is warmer. Daywear is more varied, although Tommy Bahama-type things seem to pop up often.
• Embellished jeans and tee shirts are (unfortunately), a big thing in Tampa. Ed Hardy, Affliction, and others get lots of recognition here…probably why Ed Hardy recently opened an eponymous store in International Plaza.
• Gay men are more drawn to tee shirts and tight jeans. Diesel is popular, Zara and Express are as well.
• Womenswear is more varied overall in Tampa…some things like J.Crew are very popular, along with Lilly Pulitzer-type things, for girls with a preppy slant. Simultaneously, Urban Outfitters, GAP, and Anthropologie outfit the more adventurous or eclectic.
• My friends range from preppy (J.Crew, Levi’s, Sperry Topsider, and Ralph Lauren) to edgy (American Apparel, Diesel, and Urban Outfitters).
• In areas like Hyde Park and Palma Ceia, BMWs and Range Rovers are endless, and Chanel is a safe bet for a handbag or pair of flats.

Me and my friend’s Chanel Grand Shopping Tote with an Hermes Twilly garnish

• Louis Vuitton is a perennial favorite. You’ll see plenty of Monogram Speedys, Damier shoulder bags, and the occasional rare seasonal bag or pair of shoes, all over the city.

Stores –

• International Plaza includes most of the upscale brands one might expect: Apple, Burberry, Coach, Cole Haan, Diesel, Gucci, Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Solstice, Tiffany & Co., and Wolford (list non-exhaustive). Attached to the mall are mediocre and overpriced places like The Cheesecake Factory, Capital Grille, and Blue Martini.
• Neiman Marcus (at International) has shops-in-shop for Cartier and Chanel, and stocks lots of upscale brands that aren’t available anywhere else in Tampa. Some of my personal favorites: Armani Collezioni womenswear, Balenciaga handbags, Brioni menswear, and Christian Louboutin shoes.
• Nordstrom (at International) is right about in the middle of the range, between Macy’s and Neiman Marcus. It stocks things like Chanel sunglasses, Gucci watches, Marc by Marc Jacobs bags, Hugo Boss and Faconnable for men, Salvatore Ferragamo shoes, and St.John womenswear.
• Westshore Plaza is the former star mall in Tampa, that is still popular but slightly less upscale than International. It includes Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Bo Concept, Gap, and Old Navy. Attached in a similar way to the setup at International Plaza are such upscale chains as: P.F. Chang’s, Maggiano’s, and The Palm.
• Saks Fifth Avenue (at Westshore) is quite pleasant. It has several shops-in-shop: Chanel, Jo Malone, Louis Vuitton, and MAC Cosmetics. Aside from those, it stocks many of the same brands that Neiman Marcus does. Personal favorites: Longchamp handbags, Jimmy Choo shoes, Diesel menswear, and Oliver Peoples eyewear.
• Macy’s (at Westshore, formerly Burdine’s) still has the feel of a 1980s department store, but it seems to have held its own against competition from newcomers in the area. It stocks mostly mid-range brands, but does have a large Polo Ralph Lauren men’s section, a Gucci and Burberry timepiece selection, a large Chanel makeup counter, and a nice assortment of mid-level women’s handbag brands.
• Generally, I enjoy shopping at Westshore more than I do at International. I probably split my time equally, but Westshore is (understandably) quieter most of the time, and is less of a hassle to get in and out of. Plus, I have a friend who works at Gap and another at Saks, so I can visit them and chat while I shop.

Next time – design and aesthetic in Tampa!

Moment

Car: Mercedes CLS500 (or 550 of late). Why? It is a stylish, beautiful, and different Mercedes model in a time when Es and Cs are everywhere. I especially like the matte wood trim on some of the earlier (2006 and 2007) models. Very classy. I don’t know why more automakers don’t offer it (because it’s cool and different and nontraditional).

Shoes: Black suede Opening Ceremony desert boots. Can’t get enough of them. They are the perfect shoe for dark jeans, and the contrasting natural leather sole is beautiful against the black suede.

Magazine: WSJ – the bi-monthly magazine of the Wall Street Journal. It’s a nice mix of culture, design, fashion, and opinion. It is just a nice change from monthly glossies.

City: Amsterdam. Never been but very interested in going someday, to see canals, Gay Pride, and some of the beautiful real estate there.

pic: Claudio.Ar on Flickr

Book: Elements of Style Illustrated by Strunk and White. Something that every person, writer or not, should read and consider when writing even the simplest messages.

Story: NeoCountry restoration of a Brooklyn brownstone by Brooklyn Home Company. This house is just…unbelievable. It is exactly the kind of thing I would want to do with a New York brownstone. They usually feel so dark…and the BHC has brought beautiful light and space into the property.

pic: NYMag

Luxury Shopping – Ambiance at its best

I dislike malls. To me, they are the embodiment of many trends and customs that I would prefer to disappear. They are expansive, auto-oriented  complexes that are environmentally wasteful, economically unsustainable (how do you repurpose an old mall?), and they perpetuate the socioeconomic divide between rich and poor. It is for those reasons that I will always prefer shopping in an urban area, on a city street, to visiting a mall. On the street, you interact with all kinds of people, and not everyone is there to shop.

That said, I have a hard time avoiding malls. I live in Florida, which isn’t without its share of malls. And some malls are better than others, but generally, they aren’t inspiring – even the nice ones. Over time, I’ve developed a list of the malls that I think have managed to best downplay their ‘mallness’ while controlling their ambiance, so that the experience is pleasant, rather than a production. The non-surprise is that they are all luxury malls. With high sales-per-square-foot, mall owners and designers can afford to pay attention to the details.

Best historical “mall” – Highland Park Village in Dallas (1931)

ak5x photo from Flickr

I love Highland Park Village because it is meshed quite seamlessly into the fabric of the surrounding neighborhood. Highland Park is actually a separate municipality from Dallas, but is landlocked by the larger city. The shopping village is made up of several buildings that are spaced widely enough to allow vehicle traffic, but they are by no means separated by a sea of parking spaces and empty pavement. The sidewalks are generous, and interspersed with Loro Piana and Carolina Herrera is a grocery store, a movie theatre, and several locally-owned boutiques that are as highly regarded as their worldwide fashion counterparts. The architecture is unique too…all old mediterranean, common in Texas from that era.

Tenants: Anne Fontaine, Anthropologie, Avant Garden, Bang & Olufsen, Beretta Gallery, Bibbentuckers, Cafe Pacific, Calame Jewelers, Carolina Herrera, Celebrity Cafe & Bakery, Centennial Liquor, Chanel, Cole Haan, Cooter’s Village Camera, Dallas Healthy Aging, Deno’s of Highland Park, E. 61st, Escada, Frederic Fekkai, Gerald Tomlin Antiques, Hadleigh’s, Harry Winston, Haynsworth Photo, Hermes, Jimmy Choo, Judith Ripka, Kiehl’s, LAFCO New York, Leggiadro of Dallas, Loro Piana, Madison, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Mi Cocina, Molto Formaggio, Nail Sweet, Noble Boutique, Patrizio, Peeper’s, Pockets Menswear, Q Custom Clothier, Ralph Lauren, Robert Talbott, Rugby, Scoop NYC, Scoop Men’s, St.John, St.Micheal Women’s Exchange, Starbucks, Stephanie Anne, The UPS Store, Tom Thumb, Tory Burch, Village Barber Shop, Vince, Warren Barron Bridal, Who’s Who Burgers, William Noble Rare Jewels, and Williams-Sonoma.

Best midcentury “mall” (tie) – Bal Harbour Shops in Miami (1965)

Jeffery Guterman photo from Flickr

This is a space that I have actually been to in person. It is located in the village of Bal Harbour, which is one of the many suburb/bedroom communities of Miami. The mall was built with the intention of serving the local affluence of the area, so Neiman Marcus has been a lifetime tenant (the chain’s first store outside of the Dallas area). The design is unique – two levels, and entirely enclosed from the surrounding streets, but is open-air through the entire length of the courtyard. And all of the walkways are punctuated by life-size modern art installations and cooled by ceiling fans. In the middle of the courtyard, ‘below the sky,’ are koi ponds, which are both beautiful and pleasant to listen to. The entire effect is exactly what you might expect in Miami…very tropical and very relaxing.

Tenants: Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, 100% Capri, A Pea in the Pod, Addict, Agent Provocateur, American Express Travel, Anne Fontaine, Audemars Piguet, Bonpoint, Books & Books, Bottega Veneta, Brioni, Brooks Brothers, Brunello Cucinelli, Bvlgari, Calypso St. Barth, Carolina Herrera, Carpaccio, Cartier, Celine, Cesare Paciotti, Chanel, Chanel Joaillerie, Chloe, Chopard, Christofle, Custo Barcelona, D&G, D’Aven, David Yurman, De Beers, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Domenico Vacca, DVF, Elie Tahari, Emilio Pucci, Emporio Armani, Ermenegildo Zegna, Escada, Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo, Futuretronics, Galtrucco, Georg Jensen, Giorgio Armani, Guiseppe Zanotti, Graff, Gucci, Harry Winston, Hermes, Hublot, Intermix, Jimmy Choo, Judith Ripka, Just Cavalli, La Goulue, Lacoste, Lanvin, Lea’s Tea Room & Bistro, Loro Piana, Louis Vuitton, Luca Luca, Lulu, Lulu Couture, Marc Jacobs, MaxMara, Michael Kors, Mini Oxygene, Miu Miu, Nanette Lepore, Opera Gallery, Optica, Oscar de la Renta, Oxygene, Paul & Shark, Piaget, Pomellato, Prada, Pratesi, Ralph Lauren, Red Market Salon, Roberto Cavalli, Roger Vivier, Santa Fe News & Espresso, Santa Maria Novella, Segafredo Zanetti Espresso, Sergio Rossi, St.John, The Nail Spa at Bal Harbour, The Newsstand by Books & Books, Thomas Pink, Tiffany & Co., Tod’s, Tory Burch, Tourneau, Trina Turk, Valentino, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vera, Versace, Vilebrequin, Wolford, and Yves Saint Laurent.

Best midcentury “mall” (tie) – Americana Manhasset on Long Island (1956)

Damien Morys Photo photo from Flickr

Like Highland Park, I have only seen this area in photographs. It is an open-air mall where you can drive your car right up to the storefront, much like Highland Park…only the entire center is a rectangle with pedestrian-only pathways inside (like Highland Park turned inside out). Still, it presents an interesting hybrid. The surrounding neighborhood isn’t pedestrian-oriented, but like in most cities and with most stores and restaurants not in a mall setup, you can drive right up to the store you need to visit and the entire trip is less of a production. No garages, no long walks across hot pavement. And no entering the mall through a department store only to get to one within the main plaza. This architecture is all modern, with each boutique having a unique design.

Tenants: Anne Fontaine, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Bottega Veneta, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, Cartier, Chanel, Chrome Hearts (at Hirshleifer’s), CH Carolina Herrera, Cipollini Pronto Cafe, Cipollini Trattoria & Bar, Coach, Cole Haan, Concierge Store, Dani Lingerie, David Yurman, Dior, Donna Karan, Ermenegildo Zegna, Escada, Estee Lauder, Etro, Fendi, Frette, Gap, Gap Kids, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hermes, Hirshleifer’s, Hirshleifer’s ETC, Hirshleifer’s Shoe Salon, HSBC Bank, Ilori, Intermix, Jimmy Choo, J.Mendel, Juicy Couture, Lacoste, Leggiadro, London Jewelers, London Jewelers Watch Salon, Loro Piana, Louis Vuitton, Malandrino, Martin Viette Home & Garden Shop, MaxMara, Michael Kors, Morgenthal Frederics, Oscar de la Renta, Plumm Cosmetique & Apothicaire, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Salvatore Ferragamo, Shoe Box, Sneakerology Exit 36, Spring Flowers, St.John, Theory, Tiffany & Co., Toku Modern Asian Restaurant, Tory Burch, Van Cleef & Arpels, Versace, Vilebrequin, Wolford.

Overall, I think these shopping centers are superior. They blend the enclosed mall with varied outdoor experiences. And, they offer features and amenities that aren’t usually found in traditional malls, which have barriers to entry and other factors that make them more of a hassle to visit.

Thursday Musings

It’s been a while since I posted. I don’t like to be so sporadic with my updating, but lately I’ve felt frustrated with aspects of my life that are pointless to worry over because they are mostly out of my control. That is why I decided I just need to start writing. Be conversational.

My friend Hannah is in town this week, and we made plans to do some shopping in Orlando at the Mall at Millenia, which is very similar in scale and client base to International Plaza in Tampa. I had high hopes for Bloomingdale’s, a store we don’t have in Tampa and one that typically carries my favorite upscale sportswear brands (Diesel, Hugo Boss, Theory, Burberry).

Ended up buying a Diesel polo shirt…very light gray…very flowy and soft. An hour later, it was returned. I decided I’d made a mistake not realizing that, being a sweater, my armpits would be almost black the minute I wore the shirt outside.

I did make one other purchase – the Jo Malone I’d been eying. I bought Amber & Lavender, which I’ve had as a sample once before and absolutely loved. The salesman, Brian, called it ‘sex in a bottle.’ Not sure if I completely agree with that. Maybe ‘good taste and relaxation’ in a bottle.

With that, and Hannah not finding much, we headed back to Tampa, where we decided to do a little hometown shopping. I returned a shirt to Saks (a seafoam polo from Scotch & Soda that was an ‘8 out of 10,’ but not my color), a $50 credit to my balance.

After an hour at International Plaza, where I perused the Diesel store carefully (it’s been a favorite of mine lately), I ended up with a beautiful pair of their Italian-made Viker jeans…in 28/30! I usually wear a 30/30. I guess it was my lucky day. They are a deep blue wash, stiffer than most (which I like). My favorite details: the thick black leather patch on the back (where most jeans have a brand identifier), the button-fly, and the simple, un-embellished look in general. I rarely spend money on jeans…but decided it was appropriate since I also rarely find jeans I really like. $170 lighter, my dears! It was painful. But not for too long.

So, my day was an odd success. Two things returned, two things bought. And, as I’m trying to do more often, they are things I plan to use and wear for a long time, rather than impulse purchases that fade quickly. That kind of shopping can be done on $12 tee shirts at Urban Outfitters! (I say, don’t be afraid to return. It’s important to be happy with what you have and to spend your money wisely)

And a sidebar about Orlando and the Mall at Millenia in general: I really belong in a colder, more upscale, less resort-y city. Orlando is full of minivans (hate ’em), children (not ready to have ’em), parking lots (they’re like mirrors to the sun!), interchanges and wide roadways (take too long to drive across), and tourists from all over the world, acting extra trashy, as if that is the expected in Orlando. The only people in Louis Vuitton were all in a British family. They monopolized the time and attention of the salespersons…making the experience for everyone else a lackluster one. On the flipside, the salespersons at other stores were helpful and friendly. I was close to spending $250 on a  Salvatore Ferragamo belt that was a beautiful blue suede, egged on by the South American saleswoman. Almost, but not quite.

Generally, I don’t think I’ll be making the effort to go to Orlando again any time soon. Tampa is refreshingly compact in comparison to Orlando, and Tampa has a Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, and Saks Fifth Avenue all within 5 minutes drive of each other (if not under the same roof). Miami, of course, is a different story. Browsing the Barney’s Co-Op, Club Monaco, Tod’s, and Bottega Veneta stores is a real treat, when one is in the Miami area. The next time I’m down there I plan on finding the Tomas Maier store…I’ve heard it’s unique.