Zara has been on a hot streak lately. After several uninspiring years churning out polyester blouses in varying shades of neon, the Spanish fast fashion giant has pared down its designs and embraced the sleek minimalism currently ruling the runway. Zara has never showcased its manufacturing prowess when trends veer toward loud designs, like lace or too-elaborate patterns. […]
catalog police
Catalog Police: Free People, January 2015
Happy Friday! In honor of the much-earned weekend, Catalog Police is back with a vengeance. In this feature, I critique the ridiculous pictures, poses and prices in mail-order catalogs. This week, we’re covering Free People — a retailer I’ve discussed several times. However, the latest Free People catalog showed remarkable improvement. Gone were the head-scratching sequined […]
Catalog Police: Free People December 2014
Happy Friday! Welcome back to Catalog Police, my weekly shakedown of mail-order atrocities. This week, we’re examining Free People’s latest catalog, which inexplicably ignores the fact that it’s freezing outside and aims for the tropics, with a side of desert boho. Let’s dig a little deeper. I’m sick of backpacks already — but WHAT is that monstrosity on […]
Catalog Police: Anthropologie Goes Anti-Feminist
Today is a bittersweet day at Catalog Police. We are evaluating the case of Women vs. Anthropologie. I have a conflict of interest in this case, as I’ve bought plenty Anthro items over the years. (Hey, their summer collection inspired the styling for half my honeymoon outfits.) The Anthro vibe has always been bohemian, inspired by 1960s […]
Catalog Police: Mango Autumn 2014 Edition
Happy Friday, and welcome back to Catalog Police, my weekly critique of mail-order horrors. As magistrate, I’m here to defend customers from obnoxious merchandise, abusive air-brushing and half-baked style selections. This week’s perp is Spanish retailer Mango, one of the jewels of Europe’s cheap-chic triumvirate. (The other two are Sweden’s H&M and Spain’s Zara, of course.) Truth […]
Catalog Police: Free People September 2015
Welcome back to Catalog Police – where I wield a samurai sword of justice against retail atrocities being perpetrated against innocent consumers. This week, I am judge, jury and executioner in the case against Free People, a repeat offender. Will Free People live up to its moniker? Or will I sentence them to my Google spam folder […]
Catalog Police: Revolve Autumn 2014 Edition
This week, I received manna from the mail-order gods: a new catalog that ISN’T J. Crew. That means it’s time for Catalog Police, my weekly critique of retail crimes committed against American shoppers. Today, we’re frisking Revolve. Let’s welcome the newest gals on the cellblock: Revolve’s e-commerce site boasts 30 million page views per month. Despite those […]
Catalog Police: Dedicated to Joan Rivers
When I first debuted the Catalog Police feature on Instagram, the inspiration was Joan Rivers’ playful snarkiness on Fashion Police. She made an art out of saying exactly what everyone else was thinking, and this fearlessness sizzled in her red carpet critiques. No one was safe from her microscope — least of all, herself. Today’s installment is devoted to Catalog Police’s patron […]
Catalog Police: Boden Autumn 2014 Edition
This is the second Boden catalog I’ve received in a month, which is rather aggressive. I can take a hint: Let’s welcome Boden to Catalog Police, my weekly takedown of mail-order horrors. First, a little background on the Boden brand, which I’d never heard of until a few weeks ago. (I figured it was a launch […]
Catalog Police: J. Crew August 2014 Edition
Say what you want about the e-commerce “takeover” — retailers still love to send snail mail. Judging by the number of catalogs I receive, brands must be destroying millions of trees per month, all in the faint hope I will somehow be swayed to buy a $250 faux leather sweatshirt. Most of the catalogs come from brands I don’t even recognize. (What is […]