Clad in head-to-toe black like the slick salesman he is, Century 21 co-owner Isaac Gindi was positively psyched this morning. “This is fashion!” he exclaimed on the second floor of Next Century, a new concept store inside Century 21’s bustling downtown New York outpost, which opened today with new designers, back-stock from established labels, and vintage items.
“Nobody has what we have—we’re all about fashion.” And it’s true: At a time when most savvy shoppers want to mix and match, and stay far from prescribed trends or fast-fashion uniforms, discovering rare finds on Century 21’s racks and layering them together magpie-style is a luxurious thrill. Nail artist Madeline Poole has long been a fan of that shopping rush. “I started going there when I would first visit New York,” she explained. “I heard it was the best place to get discount designer bikinis, but now, I go there all the time and I always find a lot of different pieces that are great quality, and they feel unique.” She added, “I do really well there because I’m eccentric and usually, the funkier items are the ones that end up at a place like Century 21.”
Today, however, Poole wasn’t hunting for weird buried treasure on the retailer’s main floor. Instead, she was seeing Next Century—which includes a nail bar and will soon have a Chalait matcha café—for the very first time. Scanning the ground floor, Poole thumbed through a display of Trademark coats and knitwear that the shop’s curator, Chrissie Miller, sourced from the main store space. She then quickly gravitated to the large vintage offering, picking up a pair of Fendi logo jeans first: “I have these pants, but I want another pair.” She threw them over her shoulder, then snagged a Dior logo denim trench, a baby blue tracksuit, and black leather Balenciaga jacket. Passing by an oddly shaped, Telfar-dressed mannequin Poole exclaimed, “Even the mannequins are cool!” With arms stuffed full of old luxury brands, she ventured upstairs toward the fitting rooms, but stopped short and screeched at the sight of a teeny, tiny, mini Balenciaga City bag. “Must have.”
“I’m following you on Instagram, Madeline. What a lovely life you lead,” Gindi cooed while she looked at the vintage Gucci fanny packs and Prada top-handle bags in a glass display. “When I grow up I want to be like you,” he said, with a charming laugh. But he is sincere. Gindi has the utmost respect and genuine admiration for fashion influencers like Poole and designers like Telfar Clemens. With Next Century, he wants to provide them with an incubator space and experimental retail zone. Soon, Poole will design her own capsule collection for Next Century, but today, she was focused on what’s in-store. In the orange-and-yellow-rainbow-painted dressing room (which coincidentally matched her newly colored hair), Poole tried on the goods. There was a bedazzled leather bustier by Jeremy Scott, white flared Mother jeans, Maison Mayle denim trousers, an Esprit x Opening Ceremony top, and a neon printed vintage Dior tee. She put everything together like a pro, or more precisely, a seasoned patron of Century 21. Funny enough, she and Gindi have at least that much in common—a deep love for discovery, whether new or old, on a busy shop floor. Now that is fashion.
source:www.vogue.com
Today, however, Poole wasn’t hunting for weird buried treasure on the retailer’s main floor. Instead, she was seeing Next Century—which includes a nail bar and will soon have a Chalait matcha café—for the very first time. Scanning the ground floor, Poole thumbed through a display of Trademark coats and knitwear that the shop’s curator, Chrissie Miller, sourced from the main store space. She then quickly gravitated to the large vintage offering, picking up a pair of Fendi logo jeans first: “I have these pants, but I want another pair.” She threw them over her shoulder, then snagged a Dior logo denim trench, a baby blue tracksuit, and black leather Balenciaga jacket. Passing by an oddly shaped, Telfar-dressed mannequin Poole exclaimed, “Even the mannequins are cool!” With arms stuffed full of old luxury brands, she ventured upstairs toward the fitting rooms, but stopped short and screeched at the sight of a teeny, tiny, mini Balenciaga City bag. “Must have.”
“I’m following you on Instagram, Madeline. What a lovely life you lead,” Gindi cooed while she looked at the vintage Gucci fanny packs and Prada top-handle bags in a glass display. “When I grow up I want to be like you,” he said, with a charming laugh. But he is sincere. Gindi has the utmost respect and genuine admiration for fashion influencers like Poole and designers like Telfar Clemens. With Next Century, he wants to provide them with an incubator space and experimental retail zone. Soon, Poole will design her own capsule collection for Next Century, but today, she was focused on what’s in-store. In the orange-and-yellow-rainbow-painted dressing room (which coincidentally matched her newly colored hair), Poole tried on the goods. There was a bedazzled leather bustier by Jeremy Scott, white flared Mother jeans, Maison Mayle denim trousers, an Esprit x Opening Ceremony top, and a neon printed vintage Dior tee. She put everything together like a pro, or more precisely, a seasoned patron of Century 21. Funny enough, she and Gindi have at least that much in common—a deep love for discovery, whether new or old, on a busy shop floor. Now that is fashion.
source:www.vogue.com