H&M Herald Square: Shorts, Minimalism, and Fruit

If I haven't been to H&M Herald Square in a while, I suss out the ground floor to find where they've moved their trend section, or the place where I find: 

Perfect minimal looks;

Great orange maxis and orange slice tops (or grapefruit slice tops, whatever you're craving);

And excellent shorts.

This is the section I often have to walk by with eyes shut, or I'll end up dropping $100 on a couple things too perfect to resist. This is also the section I always go to when I need an event outfit. Currently it's immediately on your right as you enter the Herald Square store, but its location changes often, so it might be further back in the store on the left (clever tactic...). You'll know you're there when you suddenly find yourself with an armload of clothes, praying there's no dressing room line. Just try to shop before noon and after 2pm!

H&M Herald Square

47 West 34th Street just east of Broadway

Hour Passion on 34th Street: The Watches, The Tour

We've got the perfect gift for that impossible person on your list, and it's going to be a memorable little (or big) something from one of the best watch boutiques in town: Hour Passion.

Swatch Group, the world’s largest watchmaker, recently opened their first Hour Passion concept boutique in the United States at 112 W. 34th Street, and last week we got the grand tour. The store offers collections from the Swatch Group’s brands in one location, and it is one wonderful location to browse.

There is a lovely lounge on the mezzanine, and an exhibition space on the top floor, which is now showing an historic Tissot exhibition of Swiss watches and lingerie from 1873-2013.

What I love most about Hour Passion on 34th Street is its impressive selection and price-range. Need a special stocking stuffer for your child? Get them a Flik Flak watch for $50. Looking to get your husband that gorgeous timepiece he's been coveting for years? Hour Passion has the largest collection of Tissot watches in the U.S.

The boutique also carries Mido, Balmain and Certina (exclusively in the U.S.), has an impressive selection of Rado watches (popular with professional tennis players), and Calvin Klein watches and jewelry. Hour Passion's Longines collection, the store's prestige brand, has truly impressive depth in luxury steel and gold timepieces.

And don't forget the Swatch watches. I have a soft spot for a Swatch watch, as mine back in the day lasted forever. There is nothing like a Swatch for putting some fun and color on your wrist. Currently, Hour Passion is featuring the 2013 limited-edition holiday watch released by Swatch Company. Its red woven knit band perfectly complements its shiny red dial with a glossy gold-colored reindeer. This collector’s model is presented in a snowy white gift box, with a decorated hot water bottle.

Big bonus for watch lovers and collectors: Hour Passion hosts an on-site watch-maker who performs repairs on any brand represented in the store, no matter where the timepiece was purchased.

Aren't we lucky to have the world's largest watch manufacturer showing off its breadth of style and price on 34th Street, just in time for the holidays?


Hour Passion

112 W. 34th Street just west of Broadway

Holiday hours: 9am – 11pm Monday through Saturday, 9am – 10pm on Sundays 

Touring Zara 34th Street: Perfect Spring Stories

Enjoy today's store tour of crowd favorite, Zara. The 34th Street store looks better than ever after its renovations. Everywhere a shopper turns, she sees perfect little fashion stories hanging on the racks.

A denim story, with optional cobalt tote...

 The more office-worthy skirt story, with awesome funky blouse and optional cobalt tote...

The orange story; I'll take the flowy pants...

The caftan story. If you don't die for a caftan, we're probably not friends.

One brilliant story after another at Zara 34th Street.

Zara

39 West 34th Street just east of Sixth Avenue

Tour the New Lane Bryant on 34th Street

I recently stopped by the new Lane Bryant on 34th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues to check out the flagship's new digs, and it's truly a beautiful store. Let's take a little virtual tour. 

First, note the classy new signage:

Then walk into an open, airy floor plan with sweeping staircase and balcony:

By the staircase please enjoy browsing the Lane Collection, available in only 11 Lane Bryant stores:

Now go up the escalator and enter Cacique's Seriously Sexy zone. Adore the neon-accented lingerie!

Feeling sleepy? Pick up some lounge wear:

Then take in the view:

Take the staircase back down to the ground floor, and enjoy the new Lane Bryant logo:

We heart you , too, Lane Bryant. Congrats on the beautiful new flagship on 34th Street NYC!

Lane Bryant

225 West 34th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues