How funny, I’ve been down a similar rabbit hole in recent months, especially after visiting Southdale Mall in Edina and discovering it is now the saddest, most lifeless grey box...
I’m currently reading *Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall* by Alexandra Lange, which if you are interested in the birth of the American mall and the science (and politics) behind how they were designed, I would recommend!
Can’t wait to see what you're dreaming up for the holidays!
I loved "Meet Me by the Fountain". Did you read "When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion" by Julie Satow? Definitely recommend!
I'm also reading that book AND I came here to comment about Southdale Mall! Specifically the Macy's — I went for the first time recently and the hints of its past (the painted ceiling! the midcentury elevators!) juxtaposed with the gross drop ceilings and "we've basically given up" merchandising were so unnerving.
The Corinthian Room! My mom would take me "into town" for my holiday dresses and lunch. Her loyalty was always to Strawbridge's because they gave her a charge card when she got her first job at 17. Such good memories!
Love this mood board! Thanks for the nod to Southdale, the first real mall in America, and our shopping location of choice when I was a kid in the 60’s. Dayton’s was the anchor department store, and it was heavenly! We certainly would dress up to drive just south of Minneapolis to Edina, where shopping was a family affair, and the Christmas catalogues would come to life. The whole experience was glamorous and exciting, and was only second to the magic of Dayton’s multilevel downtown Minneapolis store which is long gone, but greatly missed.
I have very strong memories of the holiday shows/displays at the St. Paul MN Daytons. They weren’t traditional window product displays — the entire top floor of the building became a Disney Land esque walk-through show around some sort of fairy tale story or theme. We’d always follow up our time at the show with a visit to the holiday / Christmas ornament department.
They just don’t do department stores like they did.
My mom used to work at the Dayton’s in downtown Minneapolis! I remember going when I was really young, but I never made it over during Christmastime. Sounds magical!
Oh forgot your history in Minneapolis! I’m afraid the downtown Dayton’s renovation may never really take off - the founders of the holiday vendor market are hoping.
I’m reading Betty Halbreich’s memoir about her time as a personal stylist at Bergdorfs in the 70’s. Absolutely magical and makes me want to time travel. The closest I’ve felt to the magic of the department stores of our youth was in London at Harrods and Liberty. Loved this piece ❤️
For one brief magical moment downtown Pittsburgh was home to Kaufmann’s, Lazarus, Lord and Taylor, and Sak’s Fifth Avenue. I would go shopping for prom dresses with my mom, and it was special to try on endless dresses, walking between the stores, coming out of the dressing room to stand in front of the big mirrors. I miss it all.
My first fancy purchase was also at a department store – blue glitter eyeliner from Mac (the shade was called Peacock) from Fenwick which is my local department store (founded in 1882)!
I can't tell if the department stores of my youth (80s and 90s) were truly better than they are now, or if nostalgia's fooling me. Malls back then in general were better, I think. They were real hangouts with arcades and so many great stores. Merry-G-Round! Orange Julius! Now they feel so pristine. Too much a minamalist aesthetic. Almost threadbare. The older department stores you write about truly did seem like magic, though. So elegant. I loved everything about MMM including those painstaking details in B.Altman. I appreciate the research you did for this piece. And I really like your writing!
In preschool, I confidently told my mom that I was going to move to Saks Fifth Avenue when I grew up. I thought that meant New York City!
I also frequently daydreamed about being locked in a department store overnight alone, getting to try out all of the comfy beds. They were such magical places!
How funny, I’ve been down a similar rabbit hole in recent months, especially after visiting Southdale Mall in Edina and discovering it is now the saddest, most lifeless grey box...
I’m currently reading *Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall* by Alexandra Lange, which if you are interested in the birth of the American mall and the science (and politics) behind how they were designed, I would recommend!
Can’t wait to see what you're dreaming up for the holidays!
Oh I know Southdale well. Its design history is so interesting and special but where it has landed is so depressing!!
I loved "Meet Me by the Fountain". Did you read "When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion" by Julie Satow? Definitely recommend!
That's next on my list! Glad to hear it's a good read
I'm also reading that book AND I came here to comment about Southdale Mall! Specifically the Macy's — I went for the first time recently and the hints of its past (the painted ceiling! the midcentury elevators!) juxtaposed with the gross drop ceilings and "we've basically given up" merchandising were so unnerving.
Lunch at the department store >>>>>>
As a girl I thought it was the height of sophistication to eat at the restaurants in John Wanamaker or Strawbridge’s in Philadelphia.
The Corinthian Room! My mom would take me "into town" for my holiday dresses and lunch. Her loyalty was always to Strawbridge's because they gave her a charge card when she got her first job at 17. Such good memories!
Genuinely nothing better
Christmas shopping and then getting tomato soup and salad at Nordstrom cafe was my happy place
No like it is an incomparable experience
Have you seen the documentary film ‘The Store’ by Frederick Wiseman? A must see and definitely ventures into holiday film territory…
No! Going to watch immediately
Love this mood board! Thanks for the nod to Southdale, the first real mall in America, and our shopping location of choice when I was a kid in the 60’s. Dayton’s was the anchor department store, and it was heavenly! We certainly would dress up to drive just south of Minneapolis to Edina, where shopping was a family affair, and the Christmas catalogues would come to life. The whole experience was glamorous and exciting, and was only second to the magic of Dayton’s multilevel downtown Minneapolis store which is long gone, but greatly missed.
I almost called you to get a quote on Dayton’s hehe
Everyone in Chicago misses you so much, please come back, Marshall Field’s! 💚
I have very strong memories of the holiday shows/displays at the St. Paul MN Daytons. They weren’t traditional window product displays — the entire top floor of the building became a Disney Land esque walk-through show around some sort of fairy tale story or theme. We’d always follow up our time at the show with a visit to the holiday / Christmas ornament department.
They just don’t do department stores like they did.
My mom used to work at the Dayton’s in downtown Minneapolis! I remember going when I was really young, but I never made it over during Christmastime. Sounds magical!
Oh forgot your history in Minneapolis! I’m afraid the downtown Dayton’s renovation may never really take off - the founders of the holiday vendor market are hoping.
I remember going to this vividly with my family, it was such a magical experience ❤️
God I miss Barneys
Me too :(
Thank you for talking about how a beautifully designed and merchandised store is an art!!!
It really is! I took one (1) visual merchandising class in college and it’s truly such a specific skill set—half art, half psychology.
I’m reading Betty Halbreich’s memoir about her time as a personal stylist at Bergdorfs in the 70’s. Absolutely magical and makes me want to time travel. The closest I’ve felt to the magic of the department stores of our youth was in London at Harrods and Liberty. Loved this piece ❤️
Nordstrom is core to my identity
For one brief magical moment downtown Pittsburgh was home to Kaufmann’s, Lazarus, Lord and Taylor, and Sak’s Fifth Avenue. I would go shopping for prom dresses with my mom, and it was special to try on endless dresses, walking between the stores, coming out of the dressing room to stand in front of the big mirrors. I miss it all.
My first fancy purchase was also at a department store – blue glitter eyeliner from Mac (the shade was called Peacock) from Fenwick which is my local department store (founded in 1882)!
I can't tell if the department stores of my youth (80s and 90s) were truly better than they are now, or if nostalgia's fooling me. Malls back then in general were better, I think. They were real hangouts with arcades and so many great stores. Merry-G-Round! Orange Julius! Now they feel so pristine. Too much a minamalist aesthetic. Almost threadbare. The older department stores you write about truly did seem like magic, though. So elegant. I loved everything about MMM including those painstaking details in B.Altman. I appreciate the research you did for this piece. And I really like your writing!
In preschool, I confidently told my mom that I was going to move to Saks Fifth Avenue when I grew up. I thought that meant New York City!
I also frequently daydreamed about being locked in a department store overnight alone, getting to try out all of the comfy beds. They were such magical places!
I used to dream about getting stuck in a department store too! I think all that Miracle on 34th Street I watched really did a number on my brain
You’d be the best overnight steward!
I haven’t seen Miracle on 34th Street yet, which is nuts to type out!
Both the old version and the ‘90s version (which I guess is old now too!) are treasures
nordstrom cafe was IT