Believe it or not, I'm a terrible online shopper. It's very hard for me to feel compelled to purchase clothing online. I love to "experience" a brand as much as I possibly can. I find that I truly appreciate garments as much as I do paintings on canvas, interior design, and architecture. Just like going into a gallery, the atmosphere in the store inspires me and can take me away for a few moments. That is what I find valuable. I need to have all of my senses at play, therefore I've come to accept that "touch and feel" is necessary for me.
I lived in DTLA when the largest Acne Studios store opened. I had this ridiculous internship at a showroom around the corner at the time and needed to see what all the hype was about. I strolled down the street and first it was the building that caught my eye. The historic Eastern Columbia Building with its authentic Art Deco architecture made me gush (I have a thing for the 1920's. *refraining from going on a Hemingway tangent*). I walked in and was "taken away" for the time I was inside this unique space and atmosphere. Enticingly colored garments that were constructed in intricate, yet unexpected ways were encased in glass and displayed in what felt like an industrial gallery. I was hooked on the brand from then on, but being that ACNE is actually an acronym for "Ambition to Create Novel Expression", how could I not be enthralled?
This is one of my favorite outfits because I do believe the three brands i'm wearing embody "Novel Expression". The three are: Acne Studios, Opening Ceremony, and Japanese Denim brand - BONUM Denim. I was lucky enough to pick up my two Acne Studios pieces from an amazing boutique here in Seattle called Totokaelo when they were having one of their rare "garage sales". I wore this bag in my first post, but it was my graduation gift to myself from the Opening Ceremony boutique on my first trip to New York. The entire weekend with my family I kept whining because all I wanted to do was get to Opening Ceremony and when we finally got to the store it completely exceeded my expectations. There's nothing quite like the atypical curation of OC. Lastly, these BONUM jeans were featured in a recent denim pop-in shop at Nordstrom. I'm so in love with them. BONUM is a Japanese denim brand that appears to have taken the trend of "Americana" and added an offbeat Japanese twist to it. Every pair is unique as they are constructed from old worn-out jeans.
I guess the point I'm trying to convey here is that yes - garments most definitely can stand alone and be lovely, but shopping in a brand's own boutique is a special experience. You get immersed in the energy that the creator had felt while designing the clothing as well as the environment. That is what makes their items that much more desirable. It's amazing how a brand can identify itself in a way that gets us hooked. Try it, you online shopping fiends. Find a specialty store for those brands you love... and go inside!
Look:
Acne Studios Wool Sweater
BONUM Tokyo Reworked Jeans
Opening Ceremony Leather Lunch Bag
Acne Studios Suede Pumps
Nordstrom Sheer Anklet Socks
Location: Volunteer Park Conservatory, Seattle
photos by Elizabeth Podlesnik