Goodbye, Favorite H&M

It's the end of an era: the store that brought me fabulous jumpsuits, fabulous designer collaborations, and endless fabulous dressing room moments, is closing down. This Sunday is the last day for the old H&M Herald Square at 34th Street and Sixth Avenue, which has been usurped by the new, biggest H&M in the world flagship H&M Herald Square at 34th Street and Broadway. Confused? Just remember, the Broadway bowtie at Herald Square is one seriously busy retail intersection. For a time, H&M operated two stores practically across the street from each other. 

Me and H&M in 2012.  

Why so nostalgic, you say? It's just another H&M, you say? Because it is by no means just another H&M to me. It's the H&M I cut my blogger teeth on, it's the store that helped me shop for New York Fashion Week, it's the H&M I first waited in line for my first designer collaboration (Commes des Garcon), and it's the H&M that emotionally saved me from a deep dive into hormonal depression during pregnancy.

Me and H&M Herald Square, 2010. I could post these photos for years. Don't tell me you have never bought anything striped or polka dotted from H&M, because I won't believe you.

 If you didn't gain 50 pounds during your pregnancy and have complete strangers ask you on the street "How many you got in there?" then move along. But if you remember that day when suddenly nothing fit and you had five months to go, and you called in pregnant and late to work because you had to find clothes that could actually get on your body, and you went to H&M Mama in Herald Square, and the first thing you tried on were drop crotch leggings that made you feel adorable and stylish, and you sat down in the dressing room and cried, well, then you understand why I have strong ties to this particular H&M. What ensued were cute maternity leggings, dresses, sweatshirts with hoodies, and super cozy pajamas. I went almost nowhere else for maternity clothing, because why would I spend $$ for kind of not very pretty maternity clothes when I could shop for a lot less at a store that made their maternity stylish? Oh, Old H&M Herald Square, I will never forget you. I practically had my baby in your store, I so lived in your maternity department, and I'm pretty sure if I had gone into labor in the dressing room you would have wrapped me in a cute maternity robe and I would have named my baby Hennes, or Mauritz. But not Hennes Mauritz, I'm not that in love.

Then, of course, post birth, there was the baby clothing shopping. Cute baby headbands, adorable ensembles, and the best pack of organic cotton onesies in town. Also, yes, drop crotch baby leggings.

Not a dressing room photo, but that's all H&M Herald Square. 

Adieu, old H&M Herald Square, Hennes and I are going to miss you.


Old H&M Herald Square
47 West 34th Street and Sixth Avenue
Closing Sunday, January 17
Entire store is currently on sale

34th Street Weekend Sale Picks: Labor Day Fun & Fall Goodness!

Intern LCogs writes up sales on 34th Street for the weekend...


#1. H&M

Because they're having a Labor Day sale on an assortment of fall items! This jacket I tried on is only $30... so those of you in need of a sophisticated fall jacket, head over to H&M this weekend. The jacket comes in pink, tan, maroon, green, navy blue and black. Make sure you check out all their other various sale items as well. There's a lot to chose from! 47 W. 34th Street.

#2. Banana Republic 

Because they have clothing with reduced prices and tons of sale racks on the second floor! The lace tank and tan cardigan are on sale, and that's the softest cardigan on the block.  17 W. 34th Street. 

#3. Forever 21 

Because they are having a Labor Day Sale, Buy 1 Get 1 Free! And for those of you participating in the extravagant Electric Zoo festival this weekend, Forever has a ton of really cheap neon pieces to create the perfect ensemble. 50 W. 34th Street.

#4. Who.A.U

Because they have great sale racks hidden in the back by the fitting rooms! There are comfortable v-necks, neon tanks, pencil skirts, crop top hoodies, nice fall sweaters and much more. 22 W. 34th Street.

Have too much fun this weekend! :)

H&M's Metallic Chic

I had the great pleasure of visiting the H&M showroom last week, and I've now got two reasons to look forward to shopping H&M in November.

Have you chosen your favorite metal yet? I have, and it's wrinkly silver. The above is from a new H&M line. It's so new, there's no official name yet, but as you can see this is way up there on the chic scale. So while I'm eagerly anticipating Versace for H&M November 19th, I'm also going to be pounding on those 34th Street doors as soon as all this comes to town.

H&M Herald Square

34th Street and Sixth Avenue 

&

H&M 

34th Street and Seventh Avenue

Kimono Jsuits, Really

It's jumpsuits like this that make me think perhaps I should just pack it all in and start a 34th Street H&M Tumblr.

This is from the Herald Square store, first floor, front middle section. Even though it's small for me, and even though the shoes I was wearing yesterday don't go with, it's still freaking awesome. This is a GREEN KIMONO STYLE JUMPSUIT. If there was a size 10 I'd say bury me in this. But there are no 10's, just this lone 8 (as of yesterday afternoon), several 2's, 4's, and a couple 6's.

This will go down in my H&M lore with drop crotch baby pants (below, 0-3 months, from September 2010) and, of course, the drop crotch maternity pants I still wear now for the gym, and to bed, and maybe sometimes to work.

H&M Herald Square 34th Street and Broadway

Looking Forward to Spring at H&M

Lindsey is moonlighting as a fashion blogger while Tricia is out of town.

I’m in my wellies, I’ve got the rain-hair fro, and I’m layered up for cold weather days. In my head, I am planning for those gorgeous April days where I can bike to work and school. I went over to H&M wanting to find a few “refresher tops” for just this Spring Awakening. I need things that can handle movement on my cruiser bike, but translate over to the office, etc.

The magic number of the day was $24.95. All three top combos were at that same going rate…a steal for everything I could do with them! I watched Pretty in Pink last night and perhaps the peaches, paisleys and prints had an influence on today’s choices:

First, a lovely little throw over button-down sweater that can be dressed up with a little dress, down with some shorts and boat shoes, and just plain comfy with my yoga pants. It's casual with a tee, and would look great tied with a little dress under it.

Second, a nice little print top in navy that I have seen more expensive variations of just about everywhere recently. Dress it down with jeans, khakis, or shorts. Dress it up for work with that navy blazer we all have sitting in our closet.

Finally, I came across a little white blouse with lovely ladylike detail. It’s in, and I am happy. This can also be done in a number of ways, a true wardrobe essential. 

H&M Herald Square, 34th Street and 6th Avenue

Lightweight Jackets: Get Them at H&M

The Oscars may be over, but you still have time to enter our Oscars-themed $50 gift certificate giveaway! Click here to enter and win.

Are you feeling the need for a lighter jacket these days? I actually walked out today with just a heavy sweater to grab a latte. H&M always has cute options for jackets, and I like the 80's shoulder detail and the black piping on this one I tried on in store earlier this month.

From H&M Herald Square, $49.95.

H&M Herald Square, 34th Street & 6th Avenue

Elle's Picks From the Past

I tried on Elle's picks for H&M at the 34th & 7th Avenue store just days before Fashion Week, and now, looking at the pictures, I'm regretting the loss of the leather top ($79.95). And the horsey cardigan ($34.95), how could I have passed on a tongue-in-cheek horse cardigan?

Adore these knit tights, $29.95.Too small for me.

These pants are amazing, fit like a glove. Got them for fashion week. Look for "Super Sqin" denim, $29.95.

Blue peasant top was $19.95.

Top $14.95, pants $34.95.

Top $34.95, pants $34.95. Don't think I'd pair these, though!

I was a little unsure if all of these were Elle picks. They were mostly grouped in one section of the store, and some had tags, some didn't. It didn't really matter to me, as it all looked pretty good and I was happy to run through a section of well-edited looks. I'd definitely shop more H&M Elle picks in the future.

H&M, 34th Street and 7th Avenue

GLORIOUS NEWS.

Whoops, forgot to publish this over the weekend, so today we'll let Intern Craig gush about H&M's new collaboration while Fashion Herald attempts to put together a last minute Fashion Week wardrobe on 34th Street...

I don't think I have ever been so excited for a designer collaboration in my life. I was initially disappointed with the early rumors of who H&M decided to collaborate with this time around but I was ever so wrong. Just listen to Alber Elbaz discuss this beautiful pairing:

I think I'm most excited about Alber's mention of H&M becoming luxury. While I love H&M and I completely respect their business model, fast fashion has a tendency to lack in the quality department. Now, I've had good and bad experiences with H&M pieces. I've had a gray wool sweater from H&M for almost 4 years and it is still in top condition. On the other hand, I've had t-shirts fall apart after months of usage.

Yet, the most exciting part is that IT'S FREAKING LANVIN. I had a fantastic opportunity to visit the Barney's Warehouse Sale and pick up a gorgeous overcoat from Lanvin's last collaboration with Acne Jeans. My friends, as well as my boss here at Fashion Herald, are all quite sick of hearing about it. I, however, plan on wearing it every single day this fall. I know this doesn't have much to do with this post but, I just wanted you all to know about my coat. Plan on seeing many pictures of it during Fashion Week.

Don't get your hopes up too soon though. The collection won't be in stores until the end of November. To kill some time, look at this teaser video from H&M which has brought me many laughs because of the unbelievably incorrect guesses it created. Carolina Herrera?! When would Carolina Herrera ever wear anything close to that?!

Ed. note: Now the question is, will the H&M's on 34th Street carry this collaboration? I'm hoping, of course, that both of our H&M's will be involved, but I'll take the Seventh Avenue shop, as it usually gets all of the designer collaborations.


H&M Herald Square, 34th Street & 6th Avenue
H&M 34th & Seventh Avenue

H&M's Style Eye: Get Two on 34th Street

Have you all seen the H&M Style Eye video on YouTube? It's a cute shoot of three friends with different style shopping at H&M, and relevant for 34th Street as our two H&Ms tell a similar story. I love how I get a total different vibe at each store, but to make sure I wasn't way off, I got a quote from fashion blogger/sample sale shopper extraordinaire eeps (sorry, her blog is no longer public), who once worked and shopped in the 34th Street district and was very familiar with both our H&Ms.

"The 7th Ave. H&M always seemed more fashion-forward and risk-tasking than the Herald Square one, and I think the average age of shoppers in that one shows it. There's a lot more people in their late teens and 20s who help move the merchandise quicker. I always went to the 7th Ave. store first, and go to the Herald Square one if my size had sold out of the 7th Ave. location already."

Excellent assessment, thanks eeps. I shop the 34th Street H&Ms opposite from eeps, as I always seem to be near Herald Square and not as often down by 7th Avenue. Unless I need some Garrett's popcorn or a cheap Bruce's Burger fix. Speaking of popcorn, enjoy the flick:

Maternity Outtakes #I

Tricia Lewis, our Fashion Herald blogger, is on maternity leave. Below is a post she prepared before leave.


I thought I'd show a couple of the H&M Mama pieces that didn't make the cut during one of my maternity trips.

The bandage skirt. Yes, ouch, poor bambino! I so appreciate the spirit of this, but IRL it was too binding. And no, it's not zipped up all the way. I recommend this only if you are carrying small. $24.95.




















The cropped jacket. $49.95. Again, in fashionable spirit very impressive. IRL, not so great on me. Hello, bump, and the jacket appears so shrunken I should be laughing in that photo instead of looking so depressed!




















H&M Mama, available on 34th Street in the Herald Square store @ 34th & 6th

Going 80's at H&M

Favorite subject line of all emails received last week: kati goes 80s at h&m.

And attached are photos of some not-too-80's looks Kati tried at H&M on 34th & 7th.

Pink top with exaggerated shoulder, $12.95. Love. Green pants with modified drop-waist, $49.95. Almost love. I want the waist to be higher, and, as Kati pointed out, the side view is all "mom jeans." Bad 80's.


















Two dresses, the ever-present black bandage dress ($24.95), and a really great winter white dress. Click to check out the cool rope pattern on the shoulders ($34.95).


















Kati was a little horrified by all the 80's styles in H&M. We commiserated on how "it's everywhere" and wondered "how are we going to wear this?" By "we" I mean "her" because I'm hoping maternity leave will help me escape from fall/winter 80's, and by spring we'll be onto some other decade. I don't hate the 80's, I was just expecting it to die already. And all 80's all the time is, in my grouchy, post-holiday weekend opinion, yuk. But I was comforted by Kati's reaction to the 80's takeover in H&M, as our 80's experiences vary greatly: hers being the decade she was born in, and mine being the decade I discovered black rubber bracelets, big hair, Naf Naf, and really tight jeans.

H&M, 435 7th Avenue @ 34th Street

H&M Mama is Listening

H&M Mama in Herald Square again did not disappoint when I dropped by last week, and certainly not when it came to stylish, fun dresses:

This is a little Patrick Starfish, again, yes? Those look like they may be pockets, but sadly, no. I like this for a baby shower ($34.90).

















A really adorable plaid dress ($29.95). I'm going to have to go back for this one.

















I've also got an eye on these maternity skinny jeans ($34.95). Yes, a little oxymoronic, and maybe not so tempting in this summer heat, but these are stretchy and have the belly panel so they're more comfortable than they sound. Also, don't forget, these will be perfect post-delivery before you once again fit into your beloved, normal-waistband skinny jean.

Yikes, must read new camera manual, sorry about horrid lighting. The jeans are not purple but dark blue denim, are gathered at the ankle, and have the belly panel. I'd go up a size as they fit small, like regular H&M jeans. The top ($29.95) is white, sheer, and perfect for summer heat.

















But what's this? Prices now hover round $34, not the standard $24.80 I was raving about a month or so ago. Is it me and my big mouth? Perhaps I reminded the H&M Powers That Be to raise the Mama prices?! Still, it's difficult to find a better deal, except perhaps Target's Liz Lange online clearance section, which is great for work and pretty dresses but not for trendy pieces like drop-crotch, skinny jeans, plaid, and Patrick Starfish. Or denim minis ($34.95):

The pink top is $24.90 and a great cut if you're growing through the summer like me. Belly panel!

And it is such a joy to be able to get a little on-trend when you're feeling extremely off-the-scales-trend. I've never loved shopping H&M more. But I'm still waiting on my maternity jumpsuit. Camon, H&M Mama, I know you're listening.

H&M Herald Square, 34th & 6th Avenue, has H&M Mama and H&M Kids

Killing Me

I think the world stopped rotating briefly for me today when I spotted drop-crotch maternity pants in H&M Herald Square.

There are POCKETS!
















$24.90. Almost everything in the maternity section is $24.90. Of course I snatched up a pair, which is funny as I was a little reluctant to get this Hammer style pre-pregnancy. But now I'm so thrilled to get a trendy look over my belly I didn't hesitate. Not even this angle stopped me:

This explains why the drop-crotch doesn't really drop as long as it should.


I'm an enormous, giddy genie. Next up, jumpsuit. I need a maternity jumpsuit, please.


H&M Herald Square, 34th & 6th Avenue

Maximum Love

I've convinced Kati she should get a maxi dress this summer. Well, I should really credit Desigual, as we couldn't resist this dress ($142) when we walked through the "Summer of Love" collection in Macy's Herald Square on the 2nd floor. You may have noticed the Summer of Love windows on 34th Street. Be sure to check out the collection, a fun and colorful boutique full of perfect, flowing dresses and hippie bags for summer.






Although it's a crime to cover up that beautiful neckline, I made Kati try the Francis crest vest ($147) with the dress. I am a little obsessed with that vest. These two don't exactly go together, but I love pairing a long dress with a vest. If you really want to emulate the Summer of Love, you'll need a long fringed suede vest swinging alongside your maxi.

Check out some more Francis by Christian Francis Roth in Macy's Herald Square here. Don't forget to visit the sales section to the left for a Macy's savings pass, and to print up an H&M Friends & Family deal.

Macy's Herald Square, 151 W. 34th btwn Broadway & 7th
H&M Herald Square, 34th & 6th, and H&M, 34th & 7th Ave.

The Men's Never Fail to Please

I dropped by H&M Men's on 34th Street the other day with Jeffrey (his pictures to follow), and was pleased to once again find a hat I couldn't resist:

Major sun-visorish straw hat. If I remember correctly, $7.90?










And these boy shorts had my name on them. Well, if I was in Run DMC, that is.

For real boy shorts, Brooklyn style.














Don't ever pass up the Men's while you're in H&M, ladies.

H&M Herald Square, 34th & 6th
H&M, 34th & 7th Avenue