I know how to say it in pictures: the Colette x Gap pop-up shop AND Swarovski's fall collection. In addition to being huge wastes of money, they are also both eyesores up on Fifth Ave and Madison Ave, respectively.
On Colette: In the interest of full disclosure, I have never been one to have heart palpitations over new Colette collabs, and am heavily skeptical of their image as a tastemaking store. Still, I was willing to give their GAP shop a chance because of my fascination with pop-ups.
Immediately after entering the store (around 7.30pm on a weekday), I was struck with how un-special the space looked. It didn't make you want to shop; the place was way too bright and none of the displays looked inviting. While I am fully aware of the Colette Paris shopping experience, and how it is not meant to be typical in any way, I was still terribly turned off.
I picked up the shoelaces - egh. I sniffed at the Comme des Garcons - nothing I haven't already gotten from Barneys. I almost took a closer look at the keychains and pin until I overheard a sales associate quote the pin price to another customer: $110. If I won't pay $320 for a truly spectacular skirt at J. Crew because then I'd be paying $320 for a skirt at J. Crew, then I sure as hell am not going to find a $100+ GAP keychain to be a necessary accessory.
Then I passed the erasers and pencils. This is the crap most people will be purchasing, just to have participated in the collab. A small, yellow foam duplo-looking block with the Colette logo was puzzling; it had no function except to cost $16.
My overriding impression of the store came as a whispered exclamation as I glared down at the post-it notes: "It's like they ordered stuff from a promotional items catalog and just had their logo applied." Then I left.
On Swarovski: Go to any mall's Claire's store and ask to see the "prom jewelry" in the locked plexi cases. Then add two zeros onto the price of each item and voila - it's Swarovski.
I was just wandering around Madison Ave as usual when I walked by their horrendous fall collection, whose muse could be none other than Ashley Alexandra Dupre. I mean, didn't Victoria's Secret have that weird crystal tie thing in their catalog five years ago? Anyway, I've put the images below for you to form your own opinion.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFJIR9cDuiq0RdaJ-J_ukni6OKd4rGzcUMdlb5wfmsxCOjmNuM6f5LG4298IzbzZJOYXh7JsxDaci3awjPfwJTmbIzek685cul9dPbh_w_o0ZBWOIJntClH9SjUPiXm-KRx812cdWhyE/s200/swar2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdHJyeU6RQtCHrfy_UC4Mi9CYHMPBFbgvb-McDvGHI3RiwHbCn1xaejz1-b2ZjOcSrE6Rl88ohWPOsfsiDroWVM7QoOpHVVmpuq7O-9OA8O5LgWyYxBRSzEbjuO2vZs-Wiu80GAOQocI/s200/swar4.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomjgjEriK5QVLW1PdptIr_Q8CP6gWDMPClM7BRnvRzA8zo0CrTu5S2HleQOCSfqa_crEbMU_705RdOO4G6qk7vqCm_pB5VqBQfMNUMkaA9AR_UE3xVNpMwpTblnBzJe_gx1O_qwXvn0w/s200/swar3.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVL1peoaUuIaVLG0dw-b3ApZsBVXsfePnro8bcX-K3TUoEHvondLz7ZYLvQIcDY5FIiXzG8L40WnvVlfsAYcw-YNPc9G3BAbch3N_J2YIkaCF87AtWF9QpCbPNIjdZlRCpVzdjSXOs7TY/s200/swar1.jpg)
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