BLACKBURN AND SWEETZER

So, given that Barneys CO-OP is now in walking distance at The Grove, I had to go check out the U.S. debut of the Kate Moss Topshop collection. I didn’t get there until noon, but a very sweet salesperson gave me the lowdown. She arrived for work 15 minutes before opening at 9:45AM. By then, the line was snaking around JCrew. The madness ensued, particularly over the floral babydoll dress pictured from the rear on the manequin above. She said the funny thing was that shoppers weren’t converting the Euro sizing - not realizing a size 10 was a size 4, a size 12 was a size 6, and so on - thusly, missing their opportunity while someone else grabbed the merch. And this is pretty much it in terms of inventory, one rack and some jeans piled on the side. She said people were disappointed by the limited offerings from the collection as they were anticipating the store to be filled with Kate Moss Topshop. Her sales cohorts at the Beverly Hills Barneys said there was more selection there but that the store was sold out of everything but for a couple shirts by 10:15AM. Shoppers snuck down from Barney Greengrass starting at 9:30AM, a half hour before opening, and staked their claim on the goods. More shipments will arrive in June, if you’re still feeling desperate for Kate. I actually tried on the babydoll dress and a couple tops; I’m generally a size 4 (size 10 in Euro sizing), but in the line I’m a size 6 (size 12). My favorite was a short-sleeved gunmetal gray tunic with a cowl neck; the size 10 fit and was flattering, but a size 12 would be long enough, I think, to wear as a dress for more versatility. I wanted to get a better pic of the manequin, which creepily has Kate’s face taped to it, but this is all I could capture before getting caught with my cam.