FOUND - Lip Service from Swanky Yankee

I found these leather lips at the Children's Society charity shop on Pitshanger Lane, Ealing. This is the kind of American find (relocated) that puts a smile on my face. It's a lovely 'box' from the high-end Yankee department store Neiman Marcus. NM was founded in Dallas in 1907. A retailing innovator, in 1928 Nemain sold French ties and English shirtings, items rarely found outside NYC and in the 30s it placed ads in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, the first American shop outside the Big Apple to be so audacious. While its flagship in Texas was not once but twice destroyed by fire in 1913 and 1964, the company continued to expand. Today Neimans can be found in numerous American cities but they didn't actually build their first store outside Texas until 1971. 

In 1982, the Dallas store was granted historical status and it is indeed a beautiful building, a merchandising museum of sorts. NM has a reputation for exceptional customer service and while I haven't shopped there in years, I'm thrilled to get hold of this first class kisser. It was a jaw-dropping £3.49.