With so much fashion existing online, there’s something refreshing about trying pieces on in-store after eyeing them first on a little screen. Enter Just Browsing: We’re taking you into the fitting room as we preview the newest collections from some of our favorite high-street brands and contemporary labels. We’ll get into fabric and quality, fit and feel, and so much more as we make our way through the shop floor. Happy scrolling (and strolling)!
I have always been one to covet Chanel beauty goodies. Before I became a beauty editor, I stumbled upon an old lipstick tube—not even in a shade I would typically wear, but it felt so special I decided to keep it. At the time, I didn’t yet own anything designer—for lack of budget, to be fair—but I was immediately drawn to it; and, it stayed on my vanity for years.
To this day, I remain a huge Chanel Beauty fan after testing dozens of its products throughout my career—it’s the perfect fusion of a premium cosmetics line with actually great formulations. My skin drinks up its creams and serums like water; many of its foundations and mascaras stock my toiletry bag, and don’t even get me started on the eau de parfums and toilettes I toggle between each week. Wear after wear, use after use, each piece has a treasurable quality to it—adding a bit of joy to the often mundane getting-ready routine.
All of this came to mind as I made my way to Chanel’s Upper West Side Fragrance & Beauty boutique to view its winter collection. Walking into the boutique on a crisp, fall Monday morning offered a moment of respite from the hustle and bustle that is New York City during rush hour. Taking cues from its assortment of cosmetics, the space leans into clean lines, minimal accents, and like any good beauty store, incredible lighting—perfect for swatching, spritzing, and perhaps a selfie or two. I gave myself a moment to take in the entire space and appreciate all that lined the walls around me: I’m pretty certain the entire fragrance and beauty collection stood before me, just waiting to be discovered.
A sort of full circle moment: from cherishing a sole lipstick to having the Chanel beauty world at my fingertips overwhelmed me with gratitude. The history of the house is not lost on me—it’s been over 100 years since the launch of its beloved N°5 eau de parfum (the fragrance that started its cosmetics line), and now with a new creative director at the helm, I’m eager to see how Matthieu Blazy will influence fragrance and beauty into 2025 and beyond. Ahead, read all about my experience at the boutique to inspire your own visit—or your shopping cart.
