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TOP OF THE HILL 2008
Students pick Urban Outfitters
Trendy store with big-city style sweeps men's, women's clothing categories in contest
BY MARILYN HAINES
mhaines@kansan.com
City lifestyle meets laid-back Lawrence cool at Urban Outfitters, the Massachusetts
Street store students voted as best men's and women's clothing in this year's Top of the Hill contest.
Student employee Rachel Helling, Lenexa junior, said she was not surprised at the outcome of the contest.
"This is the go-to place for clothes in Lawrence," Helling said.
The friendly environ-
makes the store more inviting; and for those students who are intimidated by the overwhelming options in plaid, penny-loafers and ruffled pea coats, there's a feeling to put them to ease.
While Urban Outfitters won the contest
ment of the store not only makes for a fun place to work, Helling said, but it also draws students in. This shopping experience where students are among their well-dressed peers
"We bring new ideas. We're not really a city,but a lot of the things we present here come from an urban ideal."
ALESSANDRA MCCOY Urban Outfitters
for providing students with trendy clothing, store employee and student Melanie McCoy, Fort Scott senior, said that even if some students aren't quite sold on what Urban Outfitters has to offer in terms of slim trousers and high-hemmed mini dresses,the store had other wares that may be appealing.
"We have a little bit of everything. If you don't like our clothing, you can buy a flask or a funny gag-gift," she said.
Both Helling and McCoy agreed that
working at Urban Outfitters had its perks because of the discount, which was extremely beneficial to those students with an urge to be ahead of the curve in fashion, but who still felt the strain of college expenses.
Business manager Alessandra McCoy said that the target customers of Urban Outfitters were definitely students. She said that the store not only appealed to students because of what it housed, but also because of the in-store experience it gave to students.
"We offer a very unique product and it's a great atmosphere. People like to come in and shop here just because it's fun," she said.
Urban Outfitters displays trappings that promote an urban, modern lifestyle. The store offers clothing, shoes, accessories, housewares, books and music all within that realm of unique modernity. McCoy said this unique and metropolitan approach to shopping and dressing is what made Urban Outfitters so popular among students.
Bringing trends from high-fashion and a grittier, big-city aesthetic to Lawrence is
another aspect McCoy said was a reason students prefer Urban Outfitters to other stores when on the lookout to satiate their sartorial appetites.
"We bring new ideas. We're not really a city, but a lot of the things we present here come from an urban ideal," she said.
According to McCoy, Urban Outfitters is not only for one certain type of student with specific tastes.
"We just have a very diverse type of product, and it brings a little fashion to Lawrence."
140 votes were cast in the men's category of the contest. Urban Outfitters received 22 of those votes, taking first place. The Buckle came in second place and American Eagle received third place. On the women's side of the contest, 122 people voted. Urban Outfitters grabbed the first place spot with 38 votes. Kieu's placed second and Kohl's took third.
Edited by Arthur Hur
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