The Art & Science of Shopping: Fashion’s Night Out

September 8, 2011 marked the third annual Fashion’s Night Out, a retail cause célèbre feted in major fashion capitals across the globe. The event is the brain child of Anna Wintour, who proposed it as a remedy to the recession and the lackluster sales comps that accompanied it. The now-international event dedicates one evening during NYC’s Fall Fashion Week to taking the customer experience to a whole other energy level. I’ve calendared this event for three years, but this was the first year I was actually in NYC to enjoy it. Shopaholic that I am, I was like a kid waiting for Christmas to come.

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Fresh from the Ranch

There’s a lot of talk these days about authenticity as a “trend” in retail. But what does that really mean? The most successful retailers have a strong point of view that goes deeper than distressed finishes, recycled fixtures, creative use of cardboard… you get the idea. Take Apple. They have a clarity of vision that they stick to religiously, in both their products and their stores. Or McEvoy Ranch. The spirit of founder Nan McEvoy flows effortlessly through everything they do, from family-style staff lunches (four-star) served up at Nan’s ranch in Petaluma (gorgeous!) to the home-grown products (truly delicious) to the passion of the staff for the brand and their friendships with each other, all of which is reflected in their new retail experience.

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Metal Wood Rocks

Maybe it's because I'm from the Pacific Northwest and often get homesick for the region’s amazing air, water and trees, but out in the world, anything that resembles trees always seems to catch my eye – even if it’s not wood at all.

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Rethinking the Role of an Athletic Facility

Gensler recently had the opportunity to help George Washington University (GWU) renovate and re-design the Charles E. Smith Center. Located at the heart of GWU’s Washington, D.C., campus, the 32-year-old building plays an integral part in the student experience. It is where students start their college career at orientation, celebrate its conclusion at graduation, and cheer on the university’s Division I sports team in between. It is also a place where faculty and administrators entertain potential donors and host special events that reflect GW’s standing as a top-tier academic institution.

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How Green is Your DNA?

In the recent past, it seemed like every retailer tossed a few recycled materials into their store, posted a corporate responsibility statement on their website, or hung a community board in the back of their store and claimed to be green and sustainable. While these efforts were recognized and commended, it quickly became clear that they didn't reveal a company’s true core values. So customers started lifting the green veil from retailers’ faces to try and find the color of their DNA.

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