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.

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Charleston jewelry boutique Hart makes Texas debut on Dallas' Knox St.

Photo by Kathy Tran

The new HART Dallas boutique at 3212 Knox St.

Charleston-based personalized jewelry brand Hart is debuting its first Texas boutique in Dallas, and it couldn't have picked a better spot than the bustling Knox Street district.

The boutique will open Saturday, August 29 at 3212 Knox St., marking the company's fifth retail location nationwide, after stores in Charleston, New York, Nashville, and Nantucket.

According to a release, the Dallas shop will offer Hart's (officially styled HART) popular collection of talismans, chains, cords, bezel jewelry, earrings, and gemstone strands, designed to be mixed and layered. The brand is particularly known for personalized jewelry, with shoppers able to work one-on-one with a member of the Hart team to select symbols and talismans for a custom piece.

The Dallas location will also carry a collection of pieces created specifically for the Texas market, the owners say.

HART Exclusive Dallas charms at Hart.Photo by Kathy Tran

For the store's design, Hart worked with Dallas firm Burkle Creative, which specializes in residential, hospitality, and retail interiors.

"Hart has built a brand around meaningful pieces that tell a story, so our approach was to create a retail environment that feels equally personal," says Javier Burkle, Burkle Creative principal and creative director, in the release. "We wanted the Dallas store to honor Hart's Charleston heritage while embracing the spirit of Texas, blending their unique character and a sense of discovery throughout the space.

"The result is a store that feels like stepping into the home of a well-traveled collector, where every detail invites customers to explore and connect with the brand."

The Dallas opening follows Hart's move into a permanent New York flagship on Bleecker Street in the West Village.

"Dallas has one of the most stylish, confident, and individualistic customer bases in the country," says Hart Hagerty, Hart chief creative officer. "We've been inspired by the Dallas woman for years, her boldness, her sense of self, her commitment to dressing with intention. We are so excited to finally be here."

Curry Hagerty, Hart's CEO, said Dallas has been a hot market for the brand online and through local wholesale partners Clover and St. Bernard. Now they're bringing everything directly to Dallas shoppers.

"Dallas has consistently been one of our top markets for online sales," Hagerty says. "We also have strong wholesale relationships already in the market through Clover and St. Bernard, so we know this customer and she knows us. Opening in Dallas was less a question of if and more a question of when."

HART Dallas Hart joints the bustling Knox St. shopping and dining district.Photo by Kathy Tran

Hart's new store will be part of the Knox Street shopping and dining district, near the Katy Trail and surrounded by more than 70 shops and restaurants.

A grand opening event will take place Saturday, August 29 beginning at 10 am. The first 50 people will receive a custom Hart Dallas tote, custom bandana, and $50 gift card. A latte art cart will be on site to supply sustenance.

Once fully open, the Dallas boutique will be open 10 am-7 pm Monday-Saturday and 10 am-6 pm Sunday.

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