What do you do if you’re a retail giant who needs to break into a younger, contemporary market that likes to shop boutiques? You open one! I have to admit I was not on the cutting edge with Cusp, Neiman Marcus’ answer to Barney’s Co-Op, Intermix and Scoop. The first stores opened about three years ago but, in my defense, they were all in semi-urban locations and none near NYC. Now, NM is putting some serious advertising cash behind their little sister store, with extensive campaigns in all the fall fashion mags and online. After surfing their website several weeks ago, I knew they were MKIA material but I decided to visit a store before making my endorsement.
I was in DC this weekend and stopped over in Georgetown just to checkout one of the first Cusp locations and I was not disappointed. Now that I’ve been there, done that I am happy to give a glowing recommendation of their e-commerce site. It’s like visiting a virtual, mini-department store with all your favorite contemporary clothing, shoe and accessory brands. That includes a well-curated assortment of beauty products, such as Chanel Les Vernis Nail Colour, and the entire line of Hanky Panky underwear.
They make shopping the site interesting with a Trends section listing unexpected search categories like “Instant Gratification”, where all the pieces are priced under $2oo and “Play It by Ear”, featuring just earrings. The brand mix is extensive and I just want to name a “few” here – La Rok, Parker, Elizabeth and James, French Connection, J Brand, Alice & Olivia, Beyond Vintage, Frye, Belle by Sigerson, Madison Marcus, Dolce Vita, Pour Le Victoire, Botkier, Cynthia Vincent, and Foley and Corinna. Check out the site at www.cusp.com for the full roster of designers and products and if you happen to be near a store, I’d recommend stopping in – the design is fresh and the selection is fun!
Happy Shopping!
xoxo Melina
