ALEXANDRA JACOBS GOES SPA-ING: Union Square Pampering Edition

In today's Thursday Styles, our Critical Shopper Alexandra Jacobs visits not an actual store, but the new Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa on Union Square. Though there was once a time when the Arden spas also included substantial designer apparel boutiques, it has been decades since you could shop for clothes behind the signature Red Doors that are still part of the famous cosmetics brand's logo. Instead, our shopper goes for the Spa treatments, and shows that it's hard to find a whole lot to say about them beyond "That felt good" or "That tickled".

Cradled by warm blankets, my flesh was pressed and rolled until it was as tender as chicken under brick. A final touch: Ms. Streete, like Dumbo’s mother, pulled my ears straight back to my head.
“Ahrrrrrrrrrgh,” I murmured gratefully.

Not quite as fascinating as a store full of actual stuff you can buy, for sure, but considering the endless siege of punishing weather New York City has seen over the past few months, buying clothes seem somehow beside the point —for now anyway. If there was ever a time to go somewhere to get waited upon hand and foot, this Winter has been it.

Critical Shopper: A Clubhouse for Women of Worry By Alexandra Jacobs (NYTimes)
The Red Door 200 Park Avenue Sounth at 17th Street, Union Square