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Photos by Alysha Kautz

Have you noticed lately how quickly this fabulous little town is growing? Kohl’s, DSW, Nordstrom Rack, Gordman’s, Rosauers, and Whole Foods have all arrived in the past year or two, and rumor has it more fun stuff is on the way. (I’m looking at you, Trader Joe’s – get here soon!) 😉  

The latest addition to Boise’s shopping landscape comes straight from Europe, with love, style, and cozy-wonderful winter wear! It’s called H&M, which is Swedish for “Hot things I Must have!” Just kidding, it stands for Hennes & Mauritz, the store’s Swedish founders. 😉

With fun, fashion-forward styles and crazy-low prices, some people have compared H&M to another trend/budget store, that we’ll just call Eternally 19 (ha ha!). But when I visited with Nicole Christie (one of the company’s execs) the day before their Boise Grand Opening, I found that comparison to be way off the mark!

Nicole took Alysha and I (my fab photog!), and fellow fashion friend Kellie Levesque, on a personal tour around the store, explaining how the clothes are created. Every single item, she told us, is designed in-house by H&M’s fashion team in Sweden (apart from their collaborations with guest designers like Jimmy Choo,  Comme des Garçons, Kylie Minogue, and Versace, just to name a few!)

Other stores tend to select and purchase their clothes from a variety of wholesalers. Not H&M! Every thing you see in the store was created and designed in Sweden. That Scandinavian influence is light in some areas, and more bold in others. Many of the sweater designs are fabulously Euro, while more subtle touches show up in things like truly fashion-forward maternity wear, and thick, fleece-lined tights for little girls.

Another cool thing about H&M is that they are constantly bringing in new stuff – and seriously discounting the old. In fact, Nicole told us a new shipment of merchandise arrives every day! That means that while some classic items will stay consistent throughout the season, shopping at H&M will be a new adventure every time you go in. Do you love happy shopping adventures? Go check it out! And…

Lycklig shopping, och har en stor dag! (Google it, ha ha ha!)

StyleSpyGirl

Thank you Alysha Kautz for the awesome photos!!!