The Fall fashion season is in full swing, but please note that Dolce & Gabbana does not accept Diamond Dollars. Where, then, do Temple students turn to for retail therapy?
Winter is coming, and it doesn’t look pretty, but that doesn’t mean students can’t.
Are you looking for that perfect vintage blazer to fit in on grassy knolls surrounding the Bell Tower? How about for the contempo-casual sweater and low-rise pants look to strut in the Fox School of Business?
Here is a quick tour of the city’s best offerings in apparel and accessories. For winter 2003-2004 collections, the boutiques in the Walnut Shopping District offer trend-setting buys.
Dotting Walnut Street between 14th & 16th streets are an array of fashion houses any label-lover would adore.
The district offers designer names such as Kenneth Cole, Puma, Diesel and Urban Outfitters.
Don’t forget the garment Mecca two blocks north. The Shops at Liberty Place, 16th and Chestnut streets, features Express, J.Crew and Coach.
Retrospect, located at 6th and South streets, is key for a vintage look.
This vintage fusion shop carries the best of both worlds: time-capsule duds and new accessories. The racks hold everything from brand names like Lacoste to high fashion finds like Halston blouses and Edward Duarte jeans.
Still on South Street, but two blocks east on 4th St. is Philly Vintage. This is a great spot for 80s trucker hats, messenger bags and outrageous eyewear.
Denim, T-shirts, sneakers, black sweaters and scarves are staples of most wardrobes. And, frankly, who can beat the convenience and cost of finding these at local malls?
Retail, however, is all about location. For an Old Navy alternative, try the dirt-cheap but ultra-chic H&M in the King of Prussia Mall.
Along with institutions like The Gap, Banana Republic and department stores like Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s, KOP also offers Bang Bang, an affordable solution to satisfying clothing necessities with a seasonal flare.
Competition is fierce in the accessory game. Today it’s the red-hot initial bag that’s heating up Hollywood starlets. Halle Berry and Hilary Duff both sport personalized Vuitton bags. Tomorrow it might be another Playboy Bunny pendant.
For consistency in the world of accessories, try French Connection.
Season by season, they reinvent bags to belts to caps in innovative designs while maintaining their trusty FCUK acronym. The flagship on South is best, but the Cherry Hill Mall in South Jersey also houses a boutique.
All the effort spent on coordinating a well balanced wardrobe must also allow for the best in personal care. For hair, skin and bath products, Kiehl’s is a superior supplier.
Located at 1737 Walnut St. at Rittenhouse Square, is this one-stop for pampering. From coconut leave-in conditioner to the mountain climber-approved Ultimate Man collection, these products are a lab-made tradition since 1897.
From Philly to Jersey, city to suburb, White Hall to 1300, here’s to wishing consumers happy spending and self-expression through style.
Matt Donnelly can be reached at mattdonn@temple.edu.
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