Magic Mirror

NorthPark Center store turns on tricked-out mirrors only found in New York

Dallas is the second store to get Polo Ralph Lauren's new interactive mirrors.

Photo courtesy of Polo Ralph Lauren

UPDATE: This location of Polo Ralph Lauren has closed.

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Polo Ralph Lauren is determined to make the dreaded dressing room experience much more pleasurable for both shoppers and sales associates, and it's doing so with brand-new technology. Through full-size, touch-screen mirrors, the brand has brought together the convenience of online shopping and the personal touch that only happens inside a real store.

These interactive mirrors, a collaboration with Oak Labs, first debuted at Polo Ralph Lauren's Fifth Avenue flagship store during Black Friday. Dallas is No. 2 on the list for this fanciness, as it just debuted at the brand's NorthPark Center location.

But how cool can a mirror be? Very cool, it turns out.

It starts with the lighting, which is adjustable to three flattering settings: "Fifth Avenue Daylight," "East Hampton Sunset," and "Evening at the Polo Bar." That first step is meant to be an accessible intro into using the touch-screen mirror, which also allows you to select a language.

The mirror also detects which items you have brought into the fitting room, displaying them on the screen. This nifty feature allows you to see what other colors the garments might come in, along with suggested outfit pairings and accessories. And if you need another size, simply send your request to an associate on the floor.

These mirrors are designed to make employees' lives easier too, because requests are delivered instantly to the iPads they're carrying, identifying where in the store or stockroom the item is located. If it's out of stock or online only, the order can be placed right then. Those iPads also signal to the shopper that her request has been received, bringing up the smiling face of the associate who's on the hunt for that sundress.

And if after all that you're still not sure about putting down your credit card? Send a list of what you tried on directly to your phone, so you can decide later what makes it into your shopping bag.

Polo Ralph Lauren is a brand as rooted in digital innovation as is it fashion, as evidenced by its holographic runway shows and development of interactive, shoppable, and holographic store windows. It also has a first-of-its-kind fitness smartshirt that measures biometrics and translates data into personalized workout routines.

shopping

Holiday shopping

New giant Quge-tip from Dallas-based Q-tip sells out in 24 hours

Q-Tip

Q-tip's Quge-tip

A giant version of an everyday product has sold out in 24 hours: Called the Quge-tip, it's a 6-foot version of the iconic Q-tip, the beauty staple that's been around for more than a century.

Measuring nearly six feet from tip to tip, Quge-tips feature enlarged swabs and a sturdy stick modeled after the original Q-tips swabs design.

The Quge-tip was released on December 9 and sold exclusively online in limited quantities for $35. Alas, according to a spokesperson for Dallas-based Elida Beauty, the parent company of Q-tip, the product flew off the virtual shelf.

"Now that they’re sold out, Q-tips is surprising fans with social giveaways," the spokesperson says.

The Quge-tip is one of two products just released by Dallas companies — both of which feel like they could be April Fools Day jokes — except that both are for real.

Dave & Buster's Claw PurseD&B

Dave & Buster's Claw Purse
The Dallas-based eatertainment chain is leveling up holiday gifting with the debut of the Claw Purse, a limited-edition purse designed by Chain. The Claw Purse is inspired by one of the brand's most iconic games — the claw machine — and according to a release, is "the season's most unexpected fashion statement" for anyone who loves bold style, nostalgia, and a little bit of play.

To mark a milestone for the brand, the Claw Purse launches alongside the expansion of Dave & Buster's Human Crane, a viral, full-body game experience that turns guests into the claw — where they are lowered down into a bin of huge prizes to grab whatever they choose.

Beginning in December 2025, the Human Crane will appear in over 112 Dave & Buster's locations with additional stores rolling out nationwide throughout the season.

But back to the purse: It made its debut at Chain's Holiday House, an event at the company's HQ in L.A., where "it quickly became a crowd favorite among creators, stylists, and culture icons," or so says the release. Which also calls this "the first creative collaboration" between Dave & Buster's and Chain, bringing together Dave & Buster's beloved gameplay with Chain's signature culture-forward point of view. So maybe there will be more collaborations in the future.

Q-tip's Qugetip Q-tip's Quge-tipQ-tip

Q-tips Quge-tips
The Quge-tip is a nearly six-foot supersized version of the "iconic" Q-tip cotton swab, first invented in 1923 and the go-to for beauty, baby care, first aid, cleaning, and everyday moments that call for a gentle, precise touch.

The six-foot Quge-tip features enlarged swabs and a sturdy stick modeled after the original Q-tips swabs design — offering a new way to experience an iconic tool at a dramatically large scale, designed as a playful, oversized tribute.

The release nots that Quge-tips tap into a rising trend of consumers using Q-tips swabs for alternative tasks, which now make up a meaningful share of cotton swab use: From dusting high shelves and cleaning hard-to-reach corners to large-scale art projects.

The six-foot Quge-tip features enlarged swabs and a sturdy stick modeled after the original Q-tips swabs design — offering a new way to experience an iconic tool at a dramatically large scale.

The company insists it's a real thing — they do a very funny video mocking late-night ads for cheap products — and that after debuting at qugetips.com on December 9, they sold out of their initial run. One note: They do not reveal how many Quge-tips were sold. It could just be, like 10 that were for sale.

There's a chance they'll be doing another issue, and they encourage interested shoppers to diligently follow their social media.

openings