Shopping Target at Barneys (Confused?)

Why is Diva seeing Target’s red and white bull’s-eye logo in the window at Barneys New York? Now we have all heard of pop-up stores, but this is something all together different. A pop-up [discount] Target, inside a [high-end] Barneys fashion boutique. Last weekend--Friday through Sunday--Target introduced its brand new Rogan Gregory-designed, eco-chic, 100 percent organic cotton, cheap chic fashions in New York at Barneys on Madison Avenue, and the prices--$39.99 for a leopard-print frock--were more Minneapolis than Manhattan. So is it green that makes strange bedfellows--or the recession [you decide]? Barneys' shoppers save money, and it’s all good: as in Green. After the New York debut, Target will launch the fashion line in its own stores.

So how did all this come about? Barneys' fashion director, Julie Gilhart, was searching for eco-friendly products and came across Target's new line designed by Rogan Gregory. She arranged to bring the line to Barneys to create some buzz and to give Barneys’ green-friendly image a boost, while giving Target a weekend in the Big Apple.

In case you don’t know who the dickens Rogan Gregory is, he is a celebrated eco-designer, according to the PR, referred to as Rogan (of Loomstate and Edun), better known for his $300 eco-jeans. And yes, Barneys does carry his more expensive designs. There goes that clever Target again. Even if you don’t know Rogan from Smogan, it’s an excuse to shop at Barneys--and to feel good about being green, while saving mucho bucks.

--Diva

Photo: Rogan Gregory

For the Germaphobes Out There...

I'm not a fan of "touching" things in the bathroom. If I could press a button and have the door swing open for me, toilet seat come down (yes, I'm referring to my husband) and door lock behind me, I'd be in heaven. Thank goodness for the proliferation of automatic soap dispensers, because trying get the soap out by using my elbow has been a fruitless effort many, many times. (I've also been known to flush a toilet or two using the sole of a stiletto, and not thought twice about it...better the shoe than me.)

Chick-fil-A, aka "the only fast food I'll eat and not hate myself afterward," is doing more to get me inside their doors. The chain is testing a new L-shaped door handle, which can be pulled open with the wrist or forearm. While this may sound silly to some non-germ freaks, listen to this: In a 2007 Kelton Research survey, nearly half or respondents won't use their hands to open a public restroom door--they either use a paper towel or their elbow. I'm an elbow girl, generally, but have kicked a few doors open in my time when applicable (again, blame the stilettos). But this L-shaped door handle could have something there. One step closer to the touch-free bathroom experience!

And if you think public bathrooms are bad, don't try thinking about the germs swaddling on the handlebars on those grocery store shopping carts. Bring on the hand sanitizer, please!

--Alison Embrey Medina

Lipstick Rules During Economic Snooze

Gas prices are closing in on $4 (what, are we living in Europe now?!), interest rates are increasing (and not for our savings accounts) and in general, people are freaking out about the economy. So, what's a girl to do? Apparently, go buy some lipstick.

Recent reports indicate that when the economy gets tough, the tough head straight to the cosmetics department. While consumers may not be able to buy that luxurious SUV or $2,000 handbag, they can buy smaller items that make them feel good, such as lipstick and other cosmetics.

According to Steve Ogden-Barnes of the Australian Centre for Retail Studies at Monash University, ""When things get tight, people might put off buying the new plasma or the new sofa, but there is no way a woman is going to leave the house without her make-up on," he says.

While I don't completely agree with Ogden-Barnes interpretation--I have zero problem leaving the house without make-up on for crying out loud!--I do agree that as the R-word frenzy continues, consumers are purchasing less larger-ticket items and are instead drawn to low-priced luxuries.

The lipstick theory even has its own name. The "lipstick indicator" was developed by Leonard Lauder, chairman of the Estee Lauder Group after 9/11, when lipstick sales alone doubled in the United States. The psychology behind this is intensely fascinating (because, c'mon, does lipstick really make us feel that much better?), but for our retail-oriented purposes, this is good, solid information to have right about now.

For example, on a recent visit to Nordstrom Rack, I saw the low-ticket purchase increase in action. On a sunny Saturday, the store was jam-packed. The lines were 10 to 15 people long and there was that frantic energy in the air, you know that uncomfortable feeling that someone is going to find your deal and take it from you? Women and men alike were stocking up on summer gear, accessories and winter mark-downs. In addition to a bevy of beauty products, such as lotions, bath gel and the like.

According to the lipstick indicator, cosmetics are virtually economic downturn-proof--with sales regularly increasing during tough times. And that makes me wonder, did I just buy that new lipstick at Rite Aid because I needed it, or was it because it was something I could buy effortlessly?

Ladies, what do you think of this--are you buying more cosmetics during these times? Leave your comments here.

--Heather Strang