So Long Federated, Hello Macy's Group?

Iconic Federated Department Stores Inc. may soon be a name of the past. Yesterday, the company announced that its board of directors will ask shareholders to change the company's name to Macy's Group Inc. A vote to amend the corporation's charter to accommodate the new name will take place at Federated's annual meeting on May 18, 2007. If approved, the new name would be effective on June 1, 2007.

So why the name change? Terry J. Lundgren, chairman, president and CEO of Federated says  "Macy's Group" is a name that more accurately reflects the transformation of its business in recent years. "Today, we are a brand-driven company focused on Macy's and Bloomingdale's, not a federation of department stores. By aligning our corporate name with our largest brand, we will increase the visibility of the company with customers, leverage the world-famous Macy's brand name, and get more credit for our accomplishments in the marketplace," Lundgren said.

Federated Department Stores Inc. was originally chosen as the company's name in 1929 by a group of family-owned department stores that joined together under a corporate holding company umbrella. Federated became an operating company in 1945, and its portfolio over the years has included various regional department store names. We all know that in 2005 and 2006, all regional nameplates were converted to Macy's, and today the company operates only Macy's and Bloomingdale's stores. While Federated does have considerably more Macy's stores than Bloomingdale's locations, the Bloomingdale's brand is still an icon of its own. So will changing Federated's name to Macy's Group seem like the company is casting Bloomingdale's aside? I'm not sure yet, but I do hope this isn't foreshadowing something to come: Bloomingdale's stores eventually all becoming Macy's stores one day. As of yet, this doesn't appear to be the case at all. But then again, in the world of department stores, you never know. Do you think the name change would be a smart move? If not, what are some other possibilities? Tell the Retail Design Diva your thoughts!

--Jessie Bove   

Has Chico’s Forgotten Its Customer?

Chico’s has been the hero of retail balance sheets for many years--leading sales performance with impressive, consistent double-digit increases. Ranked in Fortune’s Scoreboard as the best 10-year performer in the 2006 listing (for 2005 results), Chico’s has hit a speed bump, dramatically falling to the “Worst one-year performer” this year.  Chico’s missed sales and earnings targets in 2006, and reported a minus 53 percent performance, according to a review in The Wall Street Journal. However, it still ranks No. 2 for the 10-year period, with an annual average return of 56 percent.

Perhaps buying up other retailers/fashion lines has been a distraction from the core Chico’s business. At any rate, driving multiple businesses is different from operating a single brand. Or perhaps the design staff is stretched too far and trying to do too many different things, trying to serve too many different customers.

Some boomer women are complaining to Diva that they can no longer find clothing they like at Chicos. Here’s why, in Diva's opinion--and here are a few helpful tips for Chico’s.

1) You have forgotten your core mission--to serve an audience of older women who like looser fitting, comfortable, but decidedly fashionable, clothes. You are cutting clothes too skimpy--this is not The Limited. You can’t chase younger, hipper customers and retain your core boomer shopper.  We’re not talking “large or plus sizes” here--just something a little looser and more generous in fit. Now, when many shoppers try on Chico's clothes, and discover that they don’t fit, those customers leave feeling bad about themselves. Chico's used to make them feel good because those stylish clothes did fit them. [If you have to add another larger size on your size spectrum, do so]. Get some fashion stylists who understand the human form of an older woman [no, not fat ladies, just mature figures] and get away from all those form-fitting, too close-to-the-body clothes Chico’s has become so saturated with lately.

2) Not everyone wants to dress like they are going to a Chinese masquerade ball--there are too many Chinese (and Indian) prints and styling, which has by now become boring. [After you buy three Chinese-inspired apparel items, why would you want yet another?] And some of the Chinese looks are far too literal, rather than being soft translations.

3) There are too many shiny and sheer fabrics for daytime. Sure this is [was] a fashion trend, but that too is getting tiresome. There are few clothes to wear to work or conservative styles for casual wear [all that embroidery and beading--those beads just fall off anyway] doesn’t look right in all settings. No one wants to look “dressed up” at work or on the golf course or shopping.

4) Make your jackets and tops a few inches longer. Sure it saves money by saving fabric, but nothing looks worse on a short woman than a cropped top--which makes her look even shorter. A longer line always looks leaner and is more flattering on a mature figure. And boomer women tend to get a bit thicker through the beam [derrière]--not nice to have that hanging out for all to see, especially if it’s in less than tip-top shape.

There’s Diva’s advice, for whatever it’s worth--or not.

--Diva

Rev Your Green Engines

Buying a hybrid car isn't the only way to cut back on your gasoline consumption. Newer, more environmentally friendly fuel solutions such as E85 Ethanol Fuel and Biodiesel Fuel are making their way to the mainstream as more Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) hit the market. But as more people become aware of these fuel alternatives and look to gas up, one repeating question arises--where the heck do I buy it?

You're in luck. USA Energy Independence Publications has just released the first ever directory covering both E85 Ethanol Fuel and Biodiesel Fuel retail stations nationwide. Hooray! Designed to help the flex fuel vehicle and diesel-powered vehicle owners find local retail outlets for these fuels, the directory also features a buyers guide for 2007 and earlier model flex fuel vehicles.

The directory, which will be updated quarterly, covers more than 2,200 retail locations nationwide, listed by state and city. For the alternative fuels novice, also provided is background information on E85 Ethanol, BioDiesel and Hydrogen Fuel cells, and explains their benefits and use in layman's terms.       

Go get your copy, find your local dealer, and get out and drive--green!

--Alison Embrey Medina

Runway Rocks for the Oscars

What better way to kick off Oscar week than with some glamorous, sparkling crystals--couture style! Swarovski has partnered with some of Hollywood's hottest designers to bring its glistening gems to the runway...just in time for the red carpet.

Swarovski's Runway Rocks, a collection of one-of-a-kind jewels created especially for the runway by leading names in fashion and jewelry design, debuted its latest version at The Ace Gallery in Beverly Hills. The new collection has a distinctive movie-style allure, as well it should. Styled entirely by costume designer Patricia Field ("Sex and the City"), the event was crafted from a pool of film industry design talent, and was full of Hollywood glam.

Emmy-award nominated costume designer, Cate Adair, merged jewels with a draped evening gown; Martin Adams conjured up a stunning showgirl creation, reminiscent of Hollywood '20s spectaculars; and Tarina Tarantino created a crystal-encrusted urban warrior. Leading Japanese fashion designer, Tae Ashida, threw torrents of crystals over a neck and shoulder ornament; Corto Moltedo dreamt up a dramatic crystal-wrapped American Indian feathered headdress; Milan, Italy-based jeweler, Betony Vernon, conceived a deep, curved and crisp collar fixed to a red crystal studded neck harness; and fashion's hottest newcomer this year, Christopher Kane, created a fluid jeweled bodice of crystal encrusted ring links.      

Swarovski, whose sparkling gems make an appearance in the recent hit "Dreamgirls," has reason to make an Oscar splash--singer-turned-actress Jennifer Hudson is up for Best Supporting Actress. To top it off, Swarovski will have an even bigger role in Hollywood's biggest night. Stay tuned on Sunday, Feb. 25, when the Academy Awards stage unveils a one-ton, 34-ft., custom-designed Swarovski crystal curtain sparkling with over 50,000 crystals flown in especially from Austria. Bravo!

--Alison Embrey Medina

Rum and--Knit Shirts?

You've got the jackets and the shirts, the handbags and the shoes, the fragrance and the ceramic dinnerware--so, what’s next? The purveyor of Paradise-themed apparel and fashion and home accessories Tommy Bahama thinks it's booze. A pair of light and dark rums will brighten Tommy's newest collection. Called Tommy Bahama White Sand Rum, the Caribbean elixirs are being introduced at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival in South Florida this week. Diva has always been fond of rum, from her very first taste of banana daiquiris and rum punch in Barbados and Jamaica [but, somehow, the fascination usually fades, once back on home turf]. Nonetheless, rum and fruit do seem to blend with the Tommy Bahama attitude. So kick back and pour some island spirits in the blender. After all, those palm and orchid print shirts of Tommy's don't seem to know it's winter anyway--so, why not get one-up on summer. [Now, if you want the real, real thing, Diva recommends Cockspur Rum, available only in the islands and at a few select outlets.] Cheers!

--Diva

Don't Fence Teens In

“If a barreling teenager knocks over a wooden fence in Deer Park and nobody is there to capture it for YouTube, is he still an idiot?”--So asks Lawrence Downes in a commentary in
The New York Times. If you haven’t heard, fence plowing or fence popping is the latest fad for teens, especially in and around Long Island. The molesting of fences seems to be great fun for the ill-focused teens wandering around on weekend nights with nothing better to do. The activity is part athletic and part technology-based. For after all, the whole point is to capture it all on video or cell phone and relay the images around the globe. Suffolk County police have arrested a number of youngsters for demolishing fences and have charged them with criminal mischief. One resident claims that his fence--which was recently installed new for $3,000--has been reduced to splinters three times so far. Diva smells a fashion trend--padded vests and jackets, designed to take the impact; perhaps even inflatable for extra protection. [Tommy Hilfiger take note.] And next time you are booking a baby sitter, maybe you had better inquire about a fence sitter too. The Road Runner has nothing on these kids--Beep, Beep!

--Diva

Does Anybody Work Here?

Never again will I buy something from the Home department at the Macy's near my house. I was trapped in a shopping nightmare with no escape in sight. Think throngs of shoppers, busted-open packages, missing price tags, mismatched sets. Think 20 people standing in line, each with several items in tow, and only one cashier in the entire department. It was a madhouse; it was housewares hell.

Perhaps it was the Home Sale that drew out the crowds. If that is the case, then I wonder why in the world there was only one poor woman in charge of the cash register. There were three other registers, but no associates available to run them. When stores have sales, they are usually prepared to handle the extra traffic. Last weekend, the Macy's store was not only under prepared, but it seemed like they were understaffed for even an average shopping day. To top it all off, the cashier was moving in super slow motion. Watching her ring up customers was like watching the frame-by-frame mode on a DVD player--painful, slow and potentially seizure-inducing.

Sure I could have walked away, but I really wanted these glasses I found, so I sucked it up. Which proves that less-than-stellar customer service won't necessarily stop consumers from buying. What it will do, however, is stop us from coming back the next time.

--Jessie Bove

Happy President's Day

The Diva is out for President's Day, but she'll be back tomorrow blogging about a nasty shopping experience. Diva wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday!

Maternity in the Mainstream

I am almost 20 weeks into my pregnancy (halfway through!), and I've recently discovered the need for maternity clothes. With an expanding waistline, I find it impossible to button my "normal" pants, and the rubberband trick just doesn't do it for me. (Don't worry, this is going somewhere.)

Like many women, I was somewhat intimidated by my first venture into maternity retail. Having no idea where to start, I browsed racks of surprisingly cute, comfortable clothes. To my amazement, I wouldn't be condemned to fashion hell just because I'm a mother-to-be.

However, while I was shocked at all the fashionable maternity clothes out there, I recently began to notice how mainstream fashion now favors blouses with empire waists with adjustable, tie-back bands. I've seen a quite a few babydoll blouses and dresses, elastic-band dresses and tunics coming out as part of new spring collections.

A recent trip to Target points to my theory. While running some errands for last-minute Valentine's Day cards and cleaning supplies, a friend and I ran into Target during lunch. I decided to peruse the maternity section--featuring designs by Liz Lange--which had some cute clothes but not a large selection. So while heading back to find my friend, we both converged near women's apparel, where Target is now featuring its new Proenza Schouler collection. At first glance, I thought I might have missed a section of maternity wear. However, I realized I was indeed in women's apparel and both my (nonpregnant) friend and I were ogling the same blouses and dresses, most of which had colorful, graphic designs with elastic, empire waists. Even she recognized they could double as maternity clothes.  This opened up a whole new world for me, as I quickly grabbed a darling babydoll blouse off the rack for under $20.

So, I've decided it's a fashionable time to be pregnant. And that makes life a lot easier, which is exactly what I need at the moment!

--Rachel Brown

Your Office Is Filthy

Do you keep getting sick? Maybe that's because your office is teaming with germs--everywhere! Eek! According to a recent study led by the University of Arizona's Dr. Charles Gerba, germs are working overtime at the office. That doesn't surprise me much. What did surprise me was that the study found women's desks to be the worst culprits. How this is possible, I have no clue.

The study compared surface germs to determine whose offices are "germier": men's or women's, and evaluated a variety of surfaces from desktops, phones, keyboards and even purses and wallets. So what did they find? Study findings revealed that germ levels were gender-neutral on desktops and phones, but computer mice and keyboards had three to four times more bacteria in women's offices than in men's. What?! Sick!

And apparently the gap widened further when it came to desk drawers where women's desks held seven times more germs than men's. Eeww! The germiest workplace surfaces overall are: 1) phone; 2) keyboard; 3) computer mouse and 4) desktop. Men's wallets were the single germiest item in any office, four times germier than women's purses. Even grosser, mold was present on various office surfaces, most of which was isolated in the bottom desk drawer, a popular stash for lunch items and snacks.

Dr. Gerba's previous "Germs in the Workplace" studies have looked at the presence of viruses within the workplace and germiest professions. In one study, his research found that an infected person can leave a trail of viruses on every surface they touch--and viruses can survive lurking on surfaces for up to three days. (Yes, three whole days!) That's enough to make anyone want to run and hide. So maybe it's not just your imagination after all, your office really is making you sick!

--Jessie Bove

Roses Are Red

Forget shelling out $60 or $80 for a dozen roses today. Whole Foods Markets, Publix Supermarkets and discounters have come to save the day--and your wallet. According to a story in The Miami Herald, florists are seeing increasing competition from grocery and discount stores. Specifically, Whole Foods Markets is offering two dozen roses for $24.99, and a dozen for only $17.99, which is just $2 less than the nonholiday going rate.

So how do they pull it off? A spokeswoman for Whole Foods said it is because of the volume of flowers it orders (plus the bouquets are no frills, with greenery and baby's breath available for an extra charge). Publix Supermarkets also offers up quite a bargain: a dozen roses with baby's breath will cost you just $19.99. Publix said it keeps its prices low by working with a variety of suppliers.

While independent florists can offer a much larger range of options and designs, it often comes with a high price tag attached. Do yourself a favor and skip the fancy $60 arrangements, a simple, dozen red (or pink or orange or yellow or whatever color) roses from a grocery store or discounter will do just fine. Besides, they're going to die in a few days anyways. Happy Valentine's Day!

--Jessie Bove

Where Do You Weigh In?

The recent deaths of several South American runway models have become the catalyst for a debate on what is the acceptable weight for fashion models worldwide. Those super-skinny human coat hangers have long been the envy of normal females. Ten or so years ago, clothing in size four or six was deemed ideal for models; today--as pointed out on a recent episode of the TV show “Ugly Betty,” anything bigger than a size two is considered “fat.”

The issue was brought home last week as fashionistas gathered in New York for the annual fall Fashion Week. The Council of Fashion Designers of America issued some guidelines, but did not mandate weigh-ins. In Europe, the Spanish have banned underweight models--both Zara and Mango will not use clothing under size eight in their window displays--and the Italians are planning to require that models be over age 16 and have a body mass index of 18.5 or higher.

No one will deny that there is incredible pressure on models [and movie stars--and the rest of us] to be thin. Being thinner makes models appear to be taller and makes the clothing hang better. It is also no secret that the camera adds at least 10 pounds to a person’s physical appearance, so this is even more of an issue for photographers’ models.

Pressure to be thin has long been connected with illegal drugs, which are frequently used in the fashion industry to make the pounds melt off faster--when the lettuce and water diet isn’t working--or when dieting is just too difficult or inconvenient, or when people get older and dieting does not work any more. The prospect of “a little extra help” further puts fashion industry employees’ health at risk. Drug related deaths have also been closely associated with fashion modeling.

Clearly fashion designers [and their stylists] are responsible for selecting the models who will present their clothing to the public--both for runway shows and in advertising photos. [Those photographers who want to make their photos as "strange" and shocking as possible are also a factor.] The media must also take responsibility for the photographs it publishes. Those photos ultimately influence [impose] the universal criteria of beauty. A brief glance through the ads in any fashion magazine today reveals an arsenal of whisper-thin, waif-like females who look like they have been living on nothing but celery sticks for the past five years. [Interestingly enough, many of the photos used today also look like the models are in drug-induced stupors--draped across a bed or sprawled on the floor, semiconscious. See the last issue of "W."] Frankly, this trend has been around so long, it’s beginning to become a bit of a bore.

Weight is a very personal and emotionally charged subject. For many people, a conversation about weight can dredge up major feelings of guilt and depression. How very sad to be 18 and worried that if you eat a single donut, you might be on your way to the dust heap of “has been” fashion hotties. Diva says: take those models to Craft and buy them a good steak dinner.

See what Simon Doonan of Barneys had to say on this topic by clicking here.

--Diva

Here Comes Valentine’s Day

There is no subject nearer and dearer to Diva’s heart than chocolate, and Valentine’s Day provides just the excuse to indulge. Diva has even been known to go out and buy herself a box of chocolates to celebrate the occasion, if chocolate gifts are not forthcoming. Given her choice, chocolates from Teuscher (flown in daily from Switzerland to their own stores), Martine’s handmade chocolates--made on the spot at Bloomingdale’s, 59th Street in New York--or wonderful, old fashioned See’s Chocolates top Diva’s list. Lindt is another Diva favorite, also from Switzerland. Whole Foods Market carries an excellent assortment of Lindt bars in various intriguing flavors.

Money magazine just published the results of a chocolate taste test it conducted, determining the top five best Valentine chocolates, as selected by a group of women, ages 20 to 70. Interestingly enough, Harry & David ranked highest, with an A- [that was surprising to Diva]. A one-pound box of 38 pieces is $29.95. Second was Vosges Haut-Chocolate’s Exotic Truffle Collection, including chocolates filled with spices and unusual flavorings [these always seem a bit gimmicky to Diva, with the emphasis on the flavoring instead of the quality of the chocolate). The ranking for Vosges was a B, and the price for a box was a splurge at $73. Next came Godiva, also with a B. Then, the old reliable Whitman’s (rated a C) followed by Target’s Choxie, with a D [no argument from Diva on that].

Whatever your preference, go buy and enjoy. (In case you need help, just try any of the chocolate links above and order online.)

Diva wishes you a chocolate-filled Valentine’s Day.

Love and kisses: XOXOXO

--Diva

Oh Lord...& Taylor

Whatever happened to Lord & Taylor? For years it seems like Lord & Taylor has been in a slump. The Lord & Taylor in the mall near my house closed quite some time ago, and the building remained vacant and lonely. I often wondered why a Nordstrom or Bloomingdale's didn't swoop in a claim the prime spot. Now, after reading a recent press release from Lord & Taylor, I'm thinking maybe the department store was holding on to the building as it prepared for a comeback--and now is the time.

Jane Elfers, president and CEO of Lord & Taylor, announced several partnerships that are aimed at repositioning the iconic brand. David Lipman, Y&R's BrandBuzz, Randall Ridless and Mancini Duffy will all be joining forces with Lord & Taylor, which was recently purchased from Federated Department Stores by NRDC Equity Partners LLC (NRDC). David Lipman has joined as a creative consultant and will collaborate with the other creative partners, and Y&R's BrandBuzz will develop and execute a creative platform for the Fall/Holiday 2007 campaign. Even more exciting, Randall Ridless will redesign the stores' interiors, while architectural and design firm Mancini Duffy will help execute the redesign.

Lord & Taylor also said that more changes would be announced in coming months. As the oldest American specialty retailer in the United States, I bet they've still got some tricks up those sleeves. What do you think Lord & Taylor will do with this opportunity to reposition itself? Will they pull a 180 and completely shift gears? Will they implement small changes? Will they surprise us or disappoint us? For now, they've certainly intrigued us...

--Jessie Bove

Restaurant on the Cutting Edge

Diva has seen it all. But the concept of dining under the blade of a guillotine holds little fascination. Well, not exactly a guillotine. Actually there are 2,000 blades and they are Samurai swords, suspended from overhead, blades pointing down directly over the [unhelmeted] heads of diners. This bizarre restaurant is the new Kobe Club, 68 West 58th Street, in New York. And yes, it is the site of the previous, failed restaurant Mix. The project is the brainchild of restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow, who is also responsible for the popular China Grill and Asia de Cuba. Kobe Club is a dark pit--the all-black interior stands out in dramatic contrast to the prior all-white interior of Mix. Critics describe it as a “Goth Pit,” filled with chains and daggers. As to the food--the “Emperor’s Flight,” a platter of all-Japanese steaks, costing $295, may carve a hole in diners’ purses. The Kobe beef is rumored to be excellent and cheaper versions are available. So if all those knives pointed at your head don’t make you too nervous, and you are into New York’s steakhouse moment [lots have opened recently], this could be worth a try. it's definitely for those who like to be on the cutting edge.

--Diva

Get Buff in the Buff

Have you ever wondered where nudists workout? (yea me neither) Well in case you now want to know--and I know that you do--there's a Dutch gym planning to introduce "Naked Sunday" for all those clothes-hating gymrats. According to an article by the Associated Press in USA Today, Patrick de Man, the owner of Fitworld gym in the town of Heteren, said he got the idea in part from two of his customers who are avid nudists. The response had been overwhelmingly positive and negative, de Man said. He also added that Fitworld customers were asking whether it would be sanitary.

Hello! Sanitary?! Think of the sit-up mats, the leg curl machine, the bench press! Think of...(gasp)...the inner/outer thigh machine! If that's not enough to make you twitch with repulsion, think of the stationary bike.

De Man said nude exercisers would be required to put towels down on weight machines and to use disposable seat covers while riding bikes, adding that all the machines would be cleaned and disinfected afterward. I have news for de Man--that is still sick! Hasn't he seen the endless exposés on TV that reveal all kinds of atrocities lurking on the neighborhood gym's equipment?

In any case, the first "Naked Sunday" is scheduled for March 4. So if you dare to bare (and happen to be in Heteren), bring a towel, and remember to schedule a doctor's appointment for the very next day.

--Jessie Bove

Guerrilla Marketing Gone Awry

By now everyone has heard about the Boston brouhaha involving those Lite-Brite-type advertising boards that were attached to bridges and other municipal and private buildings in sly hopes of generating buzz for a guerrilla marketing campaign for the TV cartoon show “Aqua Teen Hunger Force.” A couple of dudes [one kind of scary sort, with dreads to his waist, oddly only wanted to talk about his hairstyle, when interviewed for TV] snuck around all night installing the devices. A company, Interface Inc., which had been hired by Turner Broadcasting, hired them. The pair stealthily placed 38 of the units around Boston, and according to the news, other devices were either placed (or were planned to be placed) in additional cities around the country. The devices contained a computer circuit board and lit up with tiny lights in the crude shape of the cartoon character making an obscene gesture.

The Boston police, who received reports of the suspicious devices, investigated and subsequently shut down major parts of the city while they did so. Unsure what the devices were, the police thought it best to consider them suspect. The police have now been attacked for their “unhippness”--or not immediately recognizing this as a sophisticated and ingenious scheme to promote a consumer product in the Land of Conspicuous Consumerism. According to a quote from one interviewee in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the police were “silly and insane” (I guess, for not recognizing this for what is was). Well, some of us have better things to do than watch TV cartoons--sorry if we do not instantly recognize these characters--including one named Meatwad.

Some people have forgotten that we are living in a post 9/11 world, where our public guardians are supposed to be ever vigilant and protective. Here’s the fact: any electronic device that shows up where it shouldn’t be--especially attached to bridges and tunnels (common terrorists’ targets)--and includes computer circuitry (no matter how simple), could be used as a tool to detonate a bomb [just ask the British]. Sure these were advertising gimmicks, but what if the terrorists were smart enough to deliberately disguise components of their bomb equipment as advertising devices and place them all over town? A circuit board like this, if connected electronically to a bomb, might be easily engaged from a remote location, perhaps even by cell phone. The police were smart--they took no chances. I for one, would rather they be suspicious of such devices rather than simply assume they are part of some slick Madison Avenue advertising campaign--guerrillaed down to street corner locations.

Diva will sleep better at night knowing that the police in Boston did their job. Madison Avenue can just go stuff it. However, the mission did achieve its goal of creating some buzz. It's a new world we are living in.

It also seems that some of the devices have ended up in civilians' hands and have now made their way onto eBay, where sales have been recorded for as much as $1,000 each.

--Diva

Paris says “Non” to H&M

One of the most popular retailers of fashion apparel for young women was rebuffed in the City of Light, when city fathers, aiming to stop the “banalization,” as one government official put it, on the Champs-Élysées, told H&M to pack its bags and head for home. The famous avenue, one of the best-known streets in Paris, was originally designed as an approach to the royal palace at the Tuileries. That ever-popular tourist attraction, the Arc de Triomphe is at the other end of the street. During the first part of the last century, the street was lined with chic cafés, shops, hotels and residences; then following World War II, a slow decent began. Lower class commercial establishments, movie theaters and music halls moved in. Then, in the '90s, sidewalks were widened and landscaping was improved to the tune of $45 million. Today, popular chain stores--the largest Adidas store in the world is here--stand side-by-side with auto dealers and McDonald’s. A few years ago, upscale retailers, including Cartier and Louis Vuitton, and a few better hotels, started moving into the district, which still requires heavy policing due to crowds and a high crime rate.

According to an article in The New York Times, the French government is stepping in to try and monitor the mix, so to speak--to assure that the megastores do not obliterate all of the local flavor and that there is a balance of different types of businesses. As deputy mayor, Francois Lebel put it: “We were losing our sense of balance.” One report on the subject speculated that the Champs-Élysées might become “as tacky as Oxford Street.” Evidently, as city officials saw it, “drastic action was needed.”

Unfortunately, Swedish retailer H&M got caught in the crossfire. The company was told it could not move into the former Club Méditerranée building there, which it planned to renovate (H&M already has nine stores in Paris, in other locations). H&M had already lined-up French architect Jean Nouvel to redesign the 37,000-sq.-ft. retail space. According to the Times article, one official proclaimed, “We don’t have anything against H&M. It just happened to be the first victim.”

Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time———

--Diva

Would You Like Some Pasties with Your Coffee?

Yes, PASTIES--not pastries--it's not a typo in the title. I'm referring to several Seattle-area coffee shops that have recently taken an affinity for showing some skin. According to a story by the Associated Press, several coffee shops have started offering up java via scantily clad baristas, including Cowgirls Espresso in the Seattle suburbs, Moka Girls in Auburn, The Sweet Spot Cafe in Shoreline, Bikini Espresso in Renton and Natte Latte in Port Orchard.

The AP reporter described the fierce competition in the coffee market of Seattle and went on to depict the outfits of two employees at a Cowgirls stand with details like "a black bra that didn't quite cover her shiny purple pasties" and "a skimpy halter top, see-through red lace panties and chaps." Apparently the bare-it- (almost) all trend began four years ago when Lori Bowden, the owner of Cowgirls Espresso, opened her first stand and employees suggested doing "Bikini Wednesdays." After Bowden approved, the stand immediately doubled the amount of money it was taking in on Wednesdays. Now, additional themes have been added on such as "Fantasy Fridays," "School Girl Thursdays," "Cowgirl Tuesdays" and "Military Mondays."

After seeing Cowgirls' success, Steve McDaniel opened Moka Girls last summer, and Sarah Araujo opened The Sweet Spot two years ago. "Most guys like to see pretty girls when they get their mochas," Araujo said. "We just figured we'd be honest about it." (I don't even know where to start to make fun of that comment...the possibilities are endless, so go ahead and entertain a few yourself for a quick laugh).

Now maybe I'm just out of the loop, but when did coffee shops turn into new age strip clubs? Okay, maybe strip club is a little harsh, but these naughty coffee stands merit at least a Hooter's equivalent on the classiness scale. Are Seattle retailers really so desperate to gain an edge over the competition that all they can come up with is this? I guess they are. So, next time you're in Seattle, go ahead and order a "pastie" with your morning brew (just don't forget to bring some $1bills).

--Jessie Bove

Photo: The logo on The Sweet Spot's Web site