Over the years I've managed to immerse myself in a bit of what the world has to offer. In each corner you can find what various regions specialize in, even here in Pittsburgh. I have a car and video games from Japan, get French pastries from a local bakery, and tried incredible wine on a trip to Greece. Have a craving for fashion? Now you don't even need to travel across the Atlantic to Italy, only to the center of the North Hills. Gucci, the high end luxury retailer from Florence, is the newest store to open in Ross Park Mall. Occupying 5,000 square feet on the lower level, you'll immediatly noticed its size when approaching the entrance. Small window displays give you a peek at what's ahead, and floor-to-ceiling windows reveal an open and well lit environment. While they don't carry everything the fashion house has to offer, they keep it simple by showing the essentials like shoes, purses, sunglasses, suitcases, fragrances, and their specialty: leather goods including belts, bags, and wallets.
Being the opening weekend it was busy with all types of shoppers who wanted a glance at the Italian designer's only shop in the whole tristate area. I was almost immediately greeted by one of the numerous employees, all decked out in suits or some other eye catching Gucci attire. No jeans and lanyards here! He was kind enough to show me some of the wallets I was gazing at, including some of the latest styles released. Without hesitation he enthusiastically described the process they use to get the leather in such fine condition with a unique texture, very informative! I especially enjoyed the new blacked out logo model and one with a snake wrapping around the front. As your standard 'starving artist' I've never been in the market for items so beyond my budget, yet I still appreciated the chic space and product designs. I'm afraid my good old worn-in RayBans will continue to suffice for years as my favorite Italian made item, haha! I also inquired about testing samples of some of the cologne, but was told they only had the one bottle size on hand and no samples. Two others asked how I was doing throughout my visit, so don't worry about finding adequate help here. Overall, a nice experience and worth the stop if you're in search of the most sophisticated looks in the 'Burgh. read more