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The fountain, the trolley, the tourists! The Grove is king in the land of mall-ertainment. Get Into The Grove is where we get you there virtually. Get Into The Grove yourself—send us updates, tips and pics of your Grove experiences.
1) Walk into The Gap at The Grove and there they are, front and center: the skimmer flats; the platform heels; and the open-toe, ankle-strap sandals that shoe master Pierre Hardy (who's designed for Christian Dior, Hermes, Balenciaga) created, ranging from $78-$98. So, what's the problem? Why was nobody biting? Uh, perhaps because Pierre Hardy's name is nowhere in sight! Not on the shoes, not on the packaging, not in any signage. Marketing 101, people. Especially for a mass chain, a designer collab means it's time to plaster the designer's/label's name everywhere. One Gap employed commented: "Yeah, they're not that smart about stuff like that."
2) Dip into Victoria's Secret, which continues to add catalog selections into its stores, and find loads of swimwear, both from its Pink and Very Sexy collections. The itsy-bitsy bikinis and cut-out one-pieces just landed, so there's still a lot of selection.
3) There's a new shoe section at Anthropologie, replete with a small seating area of wood blocks to try pairs on. This is an excellent addition, since the shop has always carried a good and unique range of boots, heels and sandals online and in its catalog, making it a missing link in-store. Shoes are now stocked at select stores, including the 3rd Street Promenade shop. In other Anthropologie news, a store will be opening up in Glendale, slated spring '08. The boho feminine nexus is now hiring from store manager to merchandiser.
4) Meanwhile, JCrew has installed a number of display cases for its new Covet & Collect shoes and accessories line, which offers vintage-inspired stand-outs.