Don’t freak out or anything, the district’s H&Ms aren’t going anywhere (in theory), but they ARE doing away with their “Trend” section in all markets but NY and LA. There’s no official press release - the information was relayed to me by an associate at the Georgetown store - but I’m bummed out. For several reasons.
First of all, the Trend section was the Good section. It was the ripped-from-the-runway section; the can’t-afford-what’s-in-the-magazines-but-this-will-more-than-do-section; it was the INTERESTING section amidst the racks of career separates. The designs have been steadily improving over the last several years, and consistently managed both sophistication and daring - not an easy trick. This season alone I bought full skirts, maxi-dresses, art-inspired tops, and voluminous pants long before they were available elsewhere in the city -and they were all available on the cheap. Trend department purchases can hold their own next to pieces from Muleh, and at an eighth of the price.
Secondly, the fact that H&M is pulling their Trend pieces from DC gives me NY envy, and I hate that. Yes, we’re a comparatively smaller city (population-wise), but the Georgetown store has long carried and quickly sold out of the allocated trend pieces - so what gives? It should also be pointed out that we’ve been able to sustain TWO H&Ms before Los Angeles even had ONE - and with a thriving Barney’s Co Op, Neiman Marcus Cusp, and independently-owned Wink within two blocks of the Georgetown location, there’s obviously a market for Trend and its slightly higher price points.
I guess the reason I’m most upset/irritated/annoyed by the sudden disappearance of the Trend section is that, after the retail scene having come so far over the last couple of years, we’re slowly having it taken away from us. Not only are the independents shuttering their doors at alarming rates (The District Line and Kickballers, to name a recent two), but now it seems that the mega-giant-global-corporations are scaling back on sending the desirables our way. I certainly wasn’t complaining when our city wasn’t chosen to recieve the Cavalli-for-H&M diffusion line last year, but will the future lack of Trend section mean there’s even less of a chance of getting the Commes des Garcons line in November? THAT CANNOT BE. I can live without a Topshop and get by with never knowing the joy of a Uniqlo, but a fully-stocked H&M should be a right, not a privelege, for those who live in major cities. Do you agree?
g - this month. Huge 75% off sale, etc, etc. Marshall is moving to NYC - not moving the store, just his body.
June 20, 2008 at 10:13 amSvet - Jinx. You owe me a coke.
June 20, 2008 at 10:15 amDistrict Line is closed already, the door has been shut for over a week now. I spied some inventory in there this morning, but doubt it’ll be up for sale. Sorry, kids.
June 20, 2008 at 10:17 amYes, I totally noticed that section in the back of the Georgetown store is now gone. That was the only section I liked. How annoying..
June 20, 2008 at 10:33 amOh. my. god. I am distraught. Thanks for the heads up! :(
June 20, 2008 at 10:34 amThis blows. I was just complaining this morning that the H&Ms in the DC-area already suck (especially the g-town one with their ever-shrinking mens section). Why is it that the H&M near my parents house in f-ing UPSTATE NY is better than the ones here?
June 20, 2008 at 10:38 amwouldn’t that get rid of the whole lower level at the lincoln square store?
i think the majority of the stuff at H&M is trendy, and if they stop selling screen tee’s and ballerina skirts, i’ll survive…as long as they keep the cheap skinny pants (the cotton ones, not denim).
June 20, 2008 at 10:58 am1. Should’ve hit up the District Line when you had the chance. Fred Perry shorts, kid.
2. H&M = crap. Their clothes fall apart, and their selection for men is weak. I would kill to have a Uniqlo down here, I really would. QUALITY Japanese denim.
June 20, 2008 at 11:18 amI’m not much of a fashion girl but Tysons (yes, I know, it’s a frightening word to some) has a whole H&M Trend store separate from the regular H&M store. I can’t imagine them getting rid of it, or maybe they will just take the edgier stuff from their boring-school-teacher collection and let the angry, tattooed, suburban teens keep their jobs at that store.
June 20, 2008 at 11:33 amGood luck with getting a Uniqlo store considering there’s only one in the states and a handful in the world…
Ooo! Weekend trip to NYC!
June 20, 2008 at 11:43 amUnfortunately, the additional tysons store is actually the “divided” section - it skews a LOT younger and is generally the spot for crappy skull screenprints, etc. Georgetown was the only store in the area with an actual trend department. RIP.
June 20, 2008 at 12:18 pmi’m out in st. louis… our h&m doesn’t even have a men’s section. i got so confused the first time i went in.
June 20, 2008 at 12:19 pm@Patrick - Of course H&M is crappy quality. Everyone knows that. But its a great place to go for trendy stuff that is not gonna be in style for long anyway. If you’re only wearing it for one season, who cares if it falls apart after that?
June 20, 2008 at 12:28 pmDear H&M,
Weak. Also, worst move ever.
P.S. ooOOooh Uniqloooo pleasseeee!! (i don’t think i would kill anyone for the chance to have a store here, but i would definitely give someone an attomic wedgie and also an indian burn!)
June 20, 2008 at 1:36 pmyeah district line closing was really sad, but i was able to get two amazing coats out of the sale.
as for h&m, it was unfortunate that “trend” didn’t include guys’ stuff, but the lincoln square store does have a better selection of men’s clothing than georgetown. i’ve got my fingers crossed that cdg x h&m hits the district, if not, then i’ve got another ny trip to plan (thank you megabus!).
in other news, you’ve gotta keep me informed about when steven alan for urban outfitters finally arrives.
June 20, 2008 at 4:35 pmthe thing that always bummed me about that section was how i’d go back there and find stuff i liked - but the dresses were always $60-$80. i don’t know about everyone else, but i don’t go to H&M if i’m going to spend that much money. people are always intimidated by higher end stores, but Neimans and the new Bloomies in Friendship have amazing sales. and i promise that if you monitor the inventory in those stores and hit up the sales, you can get way cooler and better quality merchandise for nearly the same price range as the H&M trend section.
and yes, the Tysons H&Ms are horrible!!
June 20, 2008 at 8:53 pmand that, my friends, is another reason why it’s time to say goodbye to DC and move to NY. i plan to be rolling around in Topshop heaven.
June 21, 2008 at 11:18 amThey are replacing the trend section with the Nancy Reagan collection.. this is DC after all.
June 21, 2008 at 2:11 pmLOL at nancy reagan.
honestly, you’re NOT missing out on much by not having a uniqlo, in my opinion. it’s just like Gap stuff, but from Japan. zzz.
July 4, 2008 at 9:04 pmSad. Sad. Now I will only be able to glare with envy at those Finnish fashion bloggers who get every single item from the Trend section without the ability to copy them. It’s a sad day.
July 25, 2008 at 10:45 amthis article makes me sad. trend shopping a right? please.
July 30, 2008 at 3:19 pmuh, i think she was mildly joking with the “it’s a right” thing. it’s a fashion blog, lighten uppppppp.
August 13, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Wait! When did The District Line close?
June 20, 2008 at 10:05 am