As an editor of Retail Dive, it’s my job to keep tabs on every piece of retail-related news—the good, the bad, and the silly. From Kate Spade’s in-store “Muses” to a #blessed apparel retailer, below are some of the most interesting reads from the past week.
What's in a name
In an attempt to create an “authentic experience that’s customer-led” in its physical stores, Kate Spade has renamed its store associates “muses,” Buzzfeed reports. By now, we wouldn't be surprised if Kate Spade's competitors have started calling all their employees “queen divas of the shopping universe” in retaliation.
Holy threads
Racked writer Stephie Grob Plante takes a look at the highly private Christian clothing company Altar’d State, which features prayer books in fitting rooms and stores filled with on-trend clothing for teens.
Instafashion
As Fashion Week revs up, Business of Fashion focuses on designers’ new favorite tool: Instagram. The social media platform has become a venue for fashion brands to wow the industry and attract fans, using InstaShots and clothes modeled exclusively in a new “Instashow” performance.
Apple's retail guru
Fortune’s Jennifer Reingold answers the question everyone has been asking: What the heck is Angela Ahrendts, the ex-CEO of Burberry, doing at Apple?
Culture of casual
A historian of 20th century American fashion and clothing explains why Americans today dress so casually, both in and out of the office. Spoiler: It's because "people no longer dress to feign wealth like they once did."