Wardrobe

Plum Clothing

I’ve been meaning to do a write up on Plum for a very long time. I think I haven’t done one yet in part because it’s sort of my best-kept secret store, in calgary anyways. Most women/clients I speak with have never heard of Plum. Thats too bad because it’s a pretty great store for many reasons. I guess I should start sharing my best kept secret and tell you all the reasons you should check them out for yourself.

1. Plum is a canadian company. Their head office is in Vancouver.  The have an in-house/exclusive line which is designed and manufactured in vancouver  (3 actually – Plum, Simone and Tobias). They also carry other lines as well, most of them canadian-based and manufactured in canada. Read more about how Plum is proudly canadian here.

2.  Department -store shopping experience. Sort of. I like taking clients to Plum because they have everything – cool jewellery (usually canadian designers), shoes, belts, accessories, handbags, clutches, scarves, under garments like sheer tank tops, leggings – clothing styles range from business clothing to party dresses, mavi jeans, yoga  jeans, blazers, sweaters… Yes. They have all this under one roof.

3. Price points are very reasonable, given the made in canada designation.

4. Customer service. Is always fantastic, at every location. (I’ve been to all of them) Never any pretension in these stores.

5. Plum is a mother/daughter type boutique which really just means age appropriate for all women.

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The Boutique vs The Mall.

You don't get this kind of experience at the mall.

I’ve had a pretty amazing and busy month full of wardrobe appointments – mostly personal shopping with my clients. I’ve had some great experiences shopping in independent boutiques that I want to share with you all. I also had an aha! moment recently in my business that I’d like to share – I can’t stand the mall. So, I decided that I don’t need to take my clients to the mall, anymore. (unless it’s to The Bay downtown, which everyone knows I love)  I’ve never enjoyed going to the mall in my life, so why would I take my clients there? Especially when I’m interested in independent fashion, boutiques and clothing lines? It’s always been most important to me to support indie fashion and boutiques and I love exposing my clients to stores they never knew existed.

[I won't say that I will completely rule out going to the mall, especially if I'm looking for value, I'm on a time-crunch, or if a client specifically suggests so  - then of course, yes.]

I’d like to talk first about Mariah Contemporary Clothing located in Aspen Landing Mall (my favourite suburb of calgary if I had to pick one)  I only just found Mariah but they have been around for 10years or so, in a different location. I loved everything I saw – really. It’s an extremely well-edited selection of merchandise, the opposite being my number 1 pet peeve in a store (besides terrible customer service). It’s the kind of place where you can shop side by side with your mom and everyone leaves looking appropriate. The ladies working on the sales floor were helpful, personable and respected that I was there with my client – which is truly tops in my wardrobe consultant book.

I’ll be taking more clients, my mom and myself back to Mariah very soon

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It is SO important to support these independent businesses, especially in a city like Calgary. Big box and chain stores go hand in hand with urban sprawl which plagues our fine city. Support the little guy (or gal) whenever possible.  You vote with your money.

This isn’t your mothers Bay…

I’m going to make this short and sweet:  I love the Bay.

Have you been recently?  This isn’t the Bay your mother used to shop at.  They’ve modernized and are now very 21st century department store. the Bay has a new fashion director, Suzanne Timmins, who used to be a buyer at Holt Renfrew and I’m sure she is pretty much responsible for this new direction.  Thank you Suzanne Timmins. (I should also mention Bonnie Brooks, the new CEO of the Bay. The mastermind behind the transformation of the Bay)

Thank you for recognizing that clothing lines and brands like Beyond Vintage, Clu, See by Chloe, Comrags, TopShop and so many more can thrive and live beside established brands like Lord and Taylor, Jones of NY, Nygard etc.  It’s the marriage of the old with the new, the past with the present that really excites me about where the Bay is going.  Unfortunately, the flagship store in Calgary is not slated for The Room, the Bays high-end upscale designer floor. (Alaia, Jason Wu, Proenza Schouler, Erdem, Sonia Rykiel – I could go on) Look for The Room in Vancouver & Toronto stores.

and The Room – now…

The Hudsons Bay Co’s HBC Collections  have also re-designed their signature line, which happens to be very on-trend right now. Think heavy duty canvas bags, mens heavy wool peacoats, wool toques and mittens and shearling trapper hats –  all designed with the Hudson’s Bay Collection iconic stripes.  Designer collaborations on the HBC collection line include Pink Tartan, Smythe, Todd Lynn and others. Everything looks contemporary and old-fashioned all at once.

Klaxon Howl for Hudsons Bay Co

Did you know?  that the Bay is one of the oldest retail institutions in north america. It’s over 4 centuries old!  so I feel like it’s our duty to support this store.  Even though it’s not wholly canadian-owned… It’s a part of our tapestry and canadian heritage.

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john fluevog store [finally] opens in calgary

YESSS!

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Shopping a go-go :: Blush on wheels

The concept is simple:  a really cool boutique on wheels.  I love this idea so much, I wish I had thought of it.  I would love to do something like this, traveling around with my wares for sale. I think it’s the gypsy in me.  Stopping in small towns and cities, summer festivals and markets and remote areas with some well-edited lines for sale.  Brilliant concept.  And so much fun!

Blush is a retail store in Guelph, Ontario that offers this great service, and they call it BOW [Blush on Wheels].  Blush Boutique hits the road a couple of times a year and stops in cities in and around southern ontario. Maybe your city is next.

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