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Gilly Hicks Is Dramatic

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Went into Gilly Hicks at Ala Moana for the first time. My first impression was one of drama. First the throng of good looking people hanging out at the doorway, welcoming us in. Dude, you can put your shirt on, you know. Oh wait, you can’t. Those abs need to be viewable in the public, I forgot.

Then I was instantly deaf. I see why there’s that welcoming throng outside. Once you step in the store, the disco decible music slams your ears. We asked an employee where to buy a gift card, and three feet away, I couldn’t hear a word she said.

So then, we ambled through the maze of rooms and barely there clothes, finally finding the registers way in the (quiet) back. Along this sensory overloaded path, I did think the interior lighting of Gilly Hicks was appropriately dramatic. Here are some clothes in that lighting. I couldn’t bring myself to snap a pic of undies with shoppers walking around me.

remembering-hackfelds

Remembering Hackfelds

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What do you see in this picture? Old timers will recognize the entrance to Hackfelds restaurant in vintage Liberty House Ala Moana.

I don’t remember if I ever ate at Hackfelds as a kid, but I must have at some point. I just remember this location being next to the downstairs bathrooms and a secret side entrance to the store. Since this restaurant is long since closed, there’s only one exit out of Macy’s ground floor.

Did you know the history of “The Liberty House” and the origin of its name “in response to anti-German sentiment” during World War I? The German Hackfeld family opened Hackfeld’s Dry Goods which became Liberty House and eventually Macy’s.

The House of Hoops is a Welcomed Addition

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I had heard of the House of Hoops designation for select Foot Locker retail locations. The Ala Moana Foot Locker recently became a new member of the House of Hoops (and probably the only one for Hawaii). So what does that mean? It means more kicks!

We’re talking more basketball shoes, colorways, and baller gear that’s limited to House of Hoops locations. The back of the Ala Moana store has been carved out and transformed into the House of Hoops. If you’re walking on the court floor, you’re in the right place.

In the House of Hoops, you’ll find crazy colorways of Nike shoes. And of course, for all you pickup ballers, you know the advantage of colorful kicks and apparel right? That’s right, your ad hoc teammates will notice your flash and pass you the rock more. It’s true. You can’t pass to a teammate you don’t see. So when your PG see these colors in the corner of his eye, you know the rock is coming your way.

Colorful kicks at the House of Hoops

When you talk hoops, His Airness must be represented.

Air Jordan and Jordan Brand

Off the court, you still need to come proper so the AF1 must be part of your shoe rotation.

Air Force 1 for off the court

For the out-of-state visitors, a must have are these 808 tees.

Unique to Hawaii's House of Hoops

The Honolulu House of Hoops is definitely a welcomed addition to the Islands.

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Yes, Apple Stores Are Overcrowded

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Both you and I know the Hawaii retail Apple Stores are crowded, especially the Ala Moana location. I mean where else in the mall are kids going to take PhotoBooth pictures of themselves?

This past Saturday, the crowds were so much that the fire marshall decreed a limit on number of shoppers inside the Ala Moana Apple Store. Employees had to maintain a queue for shoppers just to enter the store, similar to what you see on the first day of product releases.

So here I was wanting to make a return but faced with a 15-minute wait, I’ll try again another day.

Style Tips from Bath & Body Works

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Visited the new Bath & Body Works at Ala Moana and like most major retail chain openings in Hawaii, it’s still packed with people. Since shopping for actual Bath & Body products is simply too hard in this crowd, I took some style tips from the store itself.

Nice blue accent in the signage. Recessed lighting above the signage provides emphasis and contrast. Forgot to look what kind of bulbs were used. Probably CFL, not LED.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way. Yes, the store is still crowded. Moving on… Neutral wood tones and white walls. Combination of recessed and track lighting. The shelves match the white and wood tones.

Hmmm, what kind of flooring is this? A wood laminate? Actual hardwood is probably too expensive.

Oh, Nectar Mint. Sounds like a new scent. With the wide palette of colors throughout the product line, no wonder neutral colors for store hardware are used to minimize contrast.

By the cash register area, the oversized ceiling light fixtures project an amber hue that matches that lighter maple wood. More importantly, I think the lights provide focal points to create queues for each register. The fixture’s round shape helps offset all the square, right angles throughout the store.

I like how these silver capped bottles of colorful Country Chic lotion are on glass shelving near the entrance of the store. The silver and glass is a striking combination and the translucent glass shelves near the entry way lends an open sensation, not building a barrier for incoming shoppers.

Thanks for the styling tips Bath & Body, but now I have a tip for you. I really can’t remember what the Bath & Body shopping bag looks like. With all the shoppers on a scented buying frenzy, memorable shopping bags should be abound as free advertisement ala Apple and Victoria’s Secret. It doesn’t have to be as extreme as Abercrombie & Fitch shopping bags, but you get the idea.

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