Dear Holts,

You are the only luxury department store we have in this country, so we need you. I went to visit you for the first time in 6 months yesterday, and I was very disappointed. I couldn’t bring myself to venture beyond your handbag department, but that was enough. All I saw was Top 40 handbags, most of them ones we have seen one hundred times before. The Balenciaga Lariat, the Chloe Paddington (does this still exist?), the Salvatore Ferragamo bags with those horseshoe hardware things (I have one of those, fell apart after 6 months and had to go to war with the shop to get it repaired for free), Dior Lady Dior Bag, Gucci Indy Bag (I wanted one of those…three years ago!), D&G Leopard Print bags (boring!), WAY too much Michael by Michael Kors, Burberry bags (in check, no amazing leather bags, just the horrible horrible check), Bottega Veneta weaved bags, and the Louis Vuitton section still had that multi-coloured monogram (I can’t believe they are still selling that!) And Coach, endless amounts of Coach bags.

Clockwise from centre top: Bottega Veneta weave bag, Burberry bag, Chloe Paddington bag, Salvatore Ferragamo Vitello bag, Gucci Indy bag, Louis Vuitton bag, Marc Jacobs bag, Balenciaga Lariat bag, Lady Dior bag.

Holts, when I visit you, I want to feel inspired to shop, but instead I saw a sea of boring bags I have seen one hundred times before, ones that I can buy on several online discount luxury sites. Plus, the decor is boring, all white, Coach bags presented the same way as Marc Jacobs, Cole Haan displayed the same as Balenciaga. That is just wrong.

Vancouver, why the obsession with Coach bags?

I understand the Canadian customer is not very fashion forward or risk-taking, so I can accept the sea of Top 40 bags. But where are the little gems, the ones that us fashion-lovers can visit, caress, and maybe even buy. Those fabulous pieces that we dream about, ones that won’t be recognized by every person on the street, but we don’t care because we know what we have and we treasure it. No Coach or Louis Vuitton monogram bag is going to do that for me.

Plus, your Christmas windows are very boring, are you sure you are owned by the same family that owns Selfridges?

Dear Holts, I will be visiting your shoe department next week, please don’t disappoint me.

—EDIT—

Monday November 23rd

Just saw these images of Bloomingdales Christmas Windows on The Cut. Now even more depressed, they get Christmas trees made out of stilettos!