I got the news and was shocked, but sadly not surprised. After all, she was more than 90 years old. I was already in mourning. I still had not gotten over the passing of another friend.  Daffy’s died in the fall of 2012. I was at the funeral. Now that was hard.  My StyleStar sister Natasha and I really took it bad.  That’s because I was an active shopper at Daffy’s.  Loehmann’s was another story.  Like an aunt who had been a humdinger in her day, I saw the wear and tear around the edges years ago.  I of course still respected the legacy.  

  My first introduction to designer clothes came  from Loehmann’s.  I still have Adrienne Vittadini’s in my closet, and Dior and Anne Klein. I “lived” for the BackRoom.  And who can forget those crazy communal dressing rooms.  I remember the dressing room attendant screaming “Ladies don’t let Loehmann’s clothes drag on the floor”.  Then some stores installed private dressing rooms, then they MUST have gotten new buyers, then they started NOT  being as stylish.  There were times I went into my local Loehmann’s and walked right out. The stuff looked used.  After undergoing several reorganizations, the clothes did get a little better. The BackRoom at my local store was moved to the front of the store and consisted of a about a dozen “racks” of clothes. Like the flamboyant aunt who drank martinis and had fancy boyfriends I began to see she wasn’t laughing so carefree anymore. Her lipstick liner was crooked, wig looked worn, and those fancy boyfriends who were still alive, turned old and mean.  So now what? I haven’t gone yet to “get a deal” I frankly doubt I will find anything. But I will go say goodbye.

  I just read today that the Loehmann’s name has been purchased by some investor and there is talk of re-creating it  on-line or selling sections to other stores. If you are on the mailing list you will probably get an email.  Daffy’s is doing the same thing. I get Daffy’s emails selling these overpriced pillows- annoying.  Ugh. It is not the same.  It will never be.

 

Vanessa

UPDATE Hi StyleStars after writing the above post this afternoon, I decided to go to my local Loehmann’s. Just a day or so after the news broke the store was already picked over. The staff was even dissembling displays! The lines were long and the dressing room chaotic. There was even the beginning of an incident when one woman didn’t wait her turn for a private dressing room. Well in the end it was worth it. I got a dress for 70% percent off.

Now that is a deal! Oh Loehmann’s I will miss you. Stay tuned my StyleStar sister and I are planning a trip to the best Loehmann’s in the tri-state- located in Chelsea. May have to bring a box of tissues. We will update if shopping is insane.
Vanessa