Sunday Safari Ft. Annie Chen

Annie Chen is the VP of Merchandising at Italic, a brandless luxury e-commerce startup based in Los Angeles. She shares with us her five favorite stores (plus a bonus!) from around the country!

Italic connects consumers with the same manufacturers used by top luxury brands by selling well-designed, quality products without the brand markup.  At Italic, Annie oversees Sourcing, Design, Merchandising, and Buying across a variety of categories including Apparel, Accessories, Home, and Travel. 

Prior to Italic, Annie was a Divisional at Barneys New York where she was responsible for over 100 Women's Ready-to-Wear brands, developed the Barneys New York private label collection, and honed her eye for discerning design and uncompromising quality. Annie also has experience building global brands from her time at Coach, where she helped create the brand's growth strategy in Asia and Europe. 

Given her impeccable eye for quality and merchandising, we were excited to get her take on retail and her five favorite stores (plus a bonus!) from around the country. Check out Annie's Sunday Safari below!

1. THE WEBSTER MIAMI

Miami | Website

"The store itself is a beautifully restored Art Deco hotel in South Beach. I love the mix of high and low, and that it's merchandised by color and story rather than brand. I always discover something emotional and fun to buy there, so it's a must for me before hitting the beach." 

2. DOSIST

Los Angeles | Website

"I think this is one of the few examples of a digitally native brand doing pop-ups the right way. The space is beautifully designed and reinforces the brand message, and the employees are knowledgeable and friendly. It's a great marketing and acquisition vehicle for the brand."

3. THE REALREAL

New York | Website

"Making resale shopping a luxurious experience is not an easy feat, but I think The Real Real is making great strides here. The stores have a constant flow of new merchandise and visual displays and are lifestyle driven with their cafes and special events. You can use their iPads to view and call in inventory from their other locations and consign on the spot too." 

4. CHA CHA MATCHA

New York | Website

"Love it or hate it, people flock here to pay $8 for tea and $100 for sweatshirts to actual market the brand to others. It's a brilliant combination of zeitgeist branding, instagram bait, and Gen Z hype." 

5. THE ROW LOS ANGELES

Los Angeles | Website 

"This store embodies The Row's understated elegance perfectly. Everything is stunning and quintessential LA, from the micentury home with a pool in the center courtyard to the curated furniture and casually strewn cashmere and croc accessories. I would move in if I could." 

BONUS: NIKE FLAGSHIP SOHO 

New York | Website 

"This is still the most insane and fun athletic store. You can pick a pair of basketball shoes to try on and do drills on the half court on the top floor or customize your sneakers with paint and add-ons. It's extra in the best way and one of the few stores my husband and I equally enjoy." 

If you don't already, follow us on Instagram @theretailsafari as we highlight some of our favorite brands and concepts and take you with us on our retail safaris in NYC and beyond.