Towson, home to caviar and champagne set?
Remember when upscale shopping in Towson meant a trip to Hutzler's? Towson Town Center started life as an open-air mall. Even relatively recently, Towson might have a Hecht's, but if shoppers wanted something ritzier they had to go elsewhere to find a Saks Fifth Avenue or a Lord & Taylor.
Well, you can forget those days. On Wednesday, Louis Vuitton opened in what can only be described as the luxury wing of Towson Town Center. The French designer is to leather handbags and accessories what Taittinger is to champagne and beluga sturgeon are to caviar.
Think women's wallets for $535 or more and a man's billfold for $315 - and that's the cheap stuff. When relatively simple handbags cost more than $2,000, you know you're not in Wal-Mart country anymore.
But what's notable about this is not only that Vuitton is willing to make such an investment at the height of an economic recession (although that's plenty amazing, too), but that Towson shoppers are perceived as willing and financially able to support such a venture. You can bet that the company has done plenty of surveys and studies to back up the decision, too.
Vuitton joins Lacoste and Burberry at Towson, and more designers may be on the way. Clearly, Towson isn't just for the Talbot's and Hess Shoes crowd anymore.
How much longer before Dulaney Valley Road becomes the next Rodeo Drive or Fifth Avenue? Well, maybe not. But there's a certain peculiar pride in knowing that rich people are coming over to humble Towson to score some trendiness - as long as they are willing to behave appropriately, that is.
Comments
You know what, I read this in the print version of the Sun today and I was ready to faint which I can't afford to do because I have a busy day ahead of me. I intend to go to this high end chi-chi store and check it out. I will feast my eyes on what they have on display but I won't buy a thing because I can't. Research or no research Louis Vuitton is off its rocker. Some vain July or August brides, some sophomoric guys who want to impress their impressionable dates by throwing money around, rich old dowagers, with bats in their belfry, who inhabit the monstrous houses in the inner recesses of the county and the old men who are married to these women (God pity them) for the purpose of shutting up their nagging, may be customers. The rest of us will hold on to our purse strings. But have you considered Louis Vuitton may not be high end in Towson? It may adjust itself to the global recession and place price tags on its creations that reflect their real worth, not some inflated false French puffery.
Dubious
Posted by: Dubious | July 10, 2009 7:13 AM