Pier 1 Gets Back to Its Cultural Roots
I strolled through Pier 1 recently and did something very surprising: I spent money!
I bought a darling round mirror in a frame of green iron flowers.
I saw other cute things, too and would have bought more except, alas, I’m a girl on a budget.
I hadn’t bought anything at Pier 1 in ages.
Its merchandise stopped being special; everyone sells wicker now and everyone is into the home decor business. And in many cases, other stores sold similar stuff for less.
The company has reported losses for 10 consecutive quarters, though it lost less during the quarter ending Sept. 1 than it did last year.
But now the good news!
The company has shifted the focus of some of its merchandise.
“We went back to our original Pier 1,” says spokeswoman Whitney Rogers. “We’re trying to move back to the one-of-a-kind merchandise that reflects the diverse cultures.
“Pier 1′s ultimate goal is to offer customers unique merchandise at a great value and quality.”
It’s working for me!
Did I mention my mirror was on sale for a whopping $19? Can you believe it? That’s the price of a large pizza, with delivery and tip. And my mirror is going to last longer than my pizza.
Meanwhile, Pier 1 is set to become the only store in the nation to sell the Prann line of all-natural shampoos, lotions, body scrubs and other spa items from Thailand. It’s due to appear in the next week or so in about 250 Pier 1 stores across the country. To find a Pier 1 store: www.pier1.com.
LANE BRYANT FITS RIGHT
Bummed that my favorite pair of Old Navy jeans are falling apart from almost nonstop wearing, I checked out the new Right Fit jeans at plus-size retailer Lane Bryant.
I was skeptical because jeans seldom fit me well: They tend to be too small in the waist and too big in the butt.
But it turns out Lane Bryant’s new Right Fit jeans, well, fit right.
The jeans, a super reasonable $39.50, come in three styles for three body shapes: straight, moderately curvy and curvy. And they come in three lengths: petite, average and tall.
The store targets women sizes 14-28, but the jeans don’t come in those sizes. Instead, they come in sizes 1-8. Size 1 is about a 14, size 2 is about a 16 and so on.
I love this because as long as I wear those Right Fit jeans, I’ll never wear a double-digit size!
Plus, the jeans have some stretch in them, which makes them extra comfy. I’m going back for more.
To find a Lane Bryant store or shop online: www.lanebryant.com
BLACK CAT? TOO OBVIOUS
I’m pretty sure Henry, my tiger-striped tabby, wants to be a cowboy.
His brother, Eliot, a firefighter.
Am I nuts?
No!
One in 10 Halloween revelers plans to dress their pet in costume, according to a new study by the National Retail Federation.
Granted, it’s more difficult to get a cat into a costume than a dog; cats have dignity. But www.petsmart.com has options for both.
I’m especially fond of the Superman doggie costume. It’s $19.99.
LATEST LIPS
Pucker up!
You’re now able to buy the latest Pout-a-Porter lipstick that Lancome designs every season for one famous designer’s runway show.
This season’s shade?
P.S. Kiss.
It’s burgundy and was created for Peter Som’s fall 2007 runway show. Som is best known for women’s wear that looks feminine and sexy without being frilly — stunning above the knee skirts and dresses. It’s $24 at Nordstrom.
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Georgea Kovanis writes for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at kovanis(at)freepress.com.
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