On the way down I stopped in the fragrance room and sampled the Laguna Beach body mist. It smelled like Jolly Ranchers being breathed on my face by Hayden Panettiere. Here the store also sells its California fragrance, which is spritzed on the mannequins every hour; it’s a noxious concoction that, I assume, is distilled from mink sex glands and the tears of broken-hearted teenage girls.
— Mike Albo of the New York Times visits the Hollister boutique on Broadway in A Long, Lusty Walk on a Short Pier. Many thanks to Jessica for the link!
a bit harsh . . .
I’ve never smelled them so can’t say…it might turn out to be kinder than deserved, LOL…
yes Jessica, thanks for the link! What an interesting but scary sounding store! I’m almost glad that I’ll never be anywhere near one. Much safer to visit it thru the eyes of the author…credit cards still safely in my purse…unless this is a dream…
I find A&F almost that disorienting. It’s a weird store.
Too loud music makes me nauseous and headachey…nuff said.
That article was hilarious. I’ve never been in a Hollister store, and now I don’t need to ever be in one (not that I’ve ever been inclined to go in there).
Strangely, I now have a weird morbid fascination with them. It’s like a car wreck, I just can’t look away… I’ve never been in one and now I’m thinking I need to go in as a social anthropology experiment.
Same here!
LOL … I see what you mean!
Maybe we can plan a group event. Safety in numbers? We may not all make it out alive, and some of us may come away from the experience with a wardrobe we didn’t want…but it would definitely be interesting.
Buddy system. Everyone hold hands. No one leaves until we’re all accounted for.
I like that plan!
That guy was a good writer; I loved his descriptions. Fun read.
I thought it was fun too!
Hmmm. What does Mr. Albo *really* think. Honestly. Don’t hold back… Lol. I am strangely compelled to venture to a Hollister now. Is this what rock bottom feels like?
Must be!
What a great read!! I laughed aloud, which is always a good thing.
All I know, is that if my teenagers want $90. hoodies, they can spend their own money. Better yet, wait until they go on sale. It’s hard to spend full price on fragrance; I’d never do that for mere clothing!!
I don’t like paying full price either.
That was great. WOULD that it were distilled from mink sex glands… it might be interesting!
All I can say is thank heaven above me that I am not a teen today trying to shop to be cool… it was bad enough back when… That store sounds absolutely horrifying. I have yet to step inside an A&F.
Agree…sounds much worse now!
Is this a chain? I think I have been to one, I went somewhere in a high-end mall where it was really dark and everyone that worked there was phenomenally gorgeous. Very disorienting. But they do all flirt with you so it was a good esteem boost for an old cougar like me.
Yes, a chain, but I’ve only been in A&F.
I know they’re also in Northern Cal, Tama; my assistant last summer was from the San Jo area and worked at one. Your comment about self esteem boost cracks me up; I’m more likely to be embarrassed than boosted. LOL.
I think the one I went to was at South Coast Plaza, but I would imagine our new Bloomingdale’s extravaganza mall downtown has one.
Oh, and, hey, I take it wherever I can get it…