Pretty People

For kids of the 80s, "People are People" meant the ultra-popular song of Depeche Mode that played in almost every prom and "interaction parties." For the 90s generation, though, it's better remembered as the store that sold fashionable street clothes that were SO in vogue that time.

I had my People are People phase, too. Their store in Galleria was my shop du jour and that was my source of dark jeans and snug fitting polos. For the longest time, it was the place to go if guys wanted hip club wear and girls could get sexy outfits with enough street cred. And from that store in Galleria, it eventually grew to more than 20 stores all around the country. (Looks like there's a big market for street.)

The past years, though, I noticed that People are People was expanding their market. While the snug fitting shirts, hoodies and dark jeans are very much alive in their men's section, the girl's side seems to be taking a different direction. The graphic tees, skinny jeans and short-shorts are still there, this is their bread and butter, after all. But now, racks and racks of dresses are emerging, and these dresses are something the brand wasn't previously known for: pretty.

Exhibit A. Got this strapless, tiered, sherbet colored jersey dress in their Galleria store a few weeks back. At first glance, you'd think it was from Mphosis or H&M. But no, it's from People are People.



Aside from that, they've also got twill dresses and silk shifts reminsicent of Zara. Some of their gauzy blouses and jersey dresses are part-Mango, part-Topshop. I even spotted a color-block silk dress and a beaded wool dress which could easily pass off as Banana Republic.

With all that pretty-ness scattered all over, it's no wonder that more people are finding themselves in People are People.