Scatter My Ashes at Colette—Not Bergdorf’s

Erika Ostroff

·Assistant Editor

March 7, 2015 at 3:38 AM

Courtesy of Colette

I never really understood the incessant obsession with all things Parisian that most fashion girls have. I tried. Really! I even finished Anne Verest and Caroline de Maigret’s cultish book, How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits, in one night, and picked makeup artist Violette’s French brain about all things beauty. But even after all of that, I was totally fine being an American fashion girl. Until I went to Paris for fashion week. It’s safe to say that I will return to New York a changed woman. While I wish I could say a brilliant, or actually a trés jolie French man was responsible for the light-switch, it’s because of Colette. (The store, of course!)

Three minutes in to my first visit to the legendary French concept store, I unabashedly texted my editor: “I’m in hog heaven. How can I come remotely close to becoming a super chic Colette groupie?”

Courtesy of Colette

While I want to call it an elevated Kitson, or a more animated Barneys, Colette is truly one-of-a-kind. In one corner, J.W. Anderson was swarmed with young girls (undeniably my junior though definitely fashionably superior) vying for his autograph; Jeremy Scott’s iconic Moschino teddy bear paraphernalia dominated another; and the shoe and bag walls rivaled those of every fashion blogger—combined. Any store that has HARIBO gummies and Dum Dum lollipops organized alongside fuzzy Shrimps key chains and metallic Commes Des Garcons wallets is basically my idea of heaven. Not to mention the superbly edited designer wares from brands like Carven, Erdem, Alaia, Dior, Anthony Vaccarello, Junya Watanabe, Moschino, Loewe, Celiné, I could go on and on, and the brilliantly styled mannequins that made me feel like I was walking through the Met’s annual Costume Institute exhibit.

The point is, I didn’t want to leave. And since I can’t bring Colette overseas (though I started an Instagram petition to do so), and I already wasted almost a quarter century of my life opposing all things unequivocally French, I had to find out what exactly I needed to leave with to come even remotely close to being a super chic Colette groupie–and fast. Without further ado, here are 8 things the masters of the store suggest everyone work into their wardrobe.
(Forewarning: Being a Colette queen comes at a cost!)

1. Limited Edition Men At Work maxi Ebury Anya Hindmarch tote, $1,950, en.colette.fr