Every time I have needed a gift recently, I seem to be going to the same place. Henri Bendel. I loved the original Bendel’s, but am definitely starting to take a liking to the current store in the Water Tower. It is filled with cute and useful things like bags, jewelry, candles, and travel gear for people and pets. (I have to laugh at that sentence, but any respectable store with a travel focus has to include our furry friends these days!)
My absolute favorite gift item are the travel accessories, especially the little themed pouches. Each pouch corresponds to an item that is commonly used in travel. The purpose of each pouch is identified by a clever image stitched on the front. There are pouches for shoes, laundry, undergarments, iPads, you name it. The best gift giving strategy is to choose a theme. I recently focused on a beach theme to give a friend going on her honeymoon. I put together pouches for flip flops, sunglasses, sunscreen and wet bathing suits. To top it off, I gifted them in a beach bag that doubles as a towel. Good gift, right? If you are someone who has not mastered the art of gift giving, Henri Bendel makes life easy by merchandising all the items that should be paired together in the same spot. Gotta love those brown and white stripes!
