AP Spotlight Department stores try to distinguish themselves as beauty lovers turn to TikTok and Amazon ANNE D'INNOCENZIO Associated Press Dec 25, 2025 Dec 25, 2025 Updated Jan 29, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save NEW YORK — It's shoppers like Quinn Kelsey who keep department store executives up at night.kAm%96 bg\J62C\@=5 s6?G6C C6D:56?E 86ED >2<6FA :562D 7C@> %:<%@< G:56@D 2?5 @E96C D@4:2= >65:2 4@?E6?E[ ?@E D2=6DA6@A=6 2E 362FEJ 4@F?E6CD] $96 FD6D 2? px 492E3@E E@ 86E AC@5F4E C64@>>6?52E:@?D E92E 7:E 96C 3F586E 2?5 E@ D66 9@H 2 46CE2:? 7@F?52E:@? @C =:ADE:4< H@F=5 =@@< @? 96C] (96? D96 3FJD[ :EVD FDF2==J 7C@> p>2K@?]k^AmkAmQx FD6 r92E v!% 2D >J A6CD@?2= 362FEJ 4@?DF=E2?E[Q z6=D6J D2:5] Qs6A2CE>6?E DE@C6Dn xV== H2=< E9C@F89 @?6 7@C E96 564@C[ 3FE E96JVG6 32D:42==J =@DE >6 F?=6DD x 42? 86E E96 D2>6 AC@5F4E\C6D62C49 6IA6C:6?46 E96C6 E92E x 42? 86E D4C@==:?8 E9C@F89 >J A9@?6 2E 9@>6]Qk^Am People are also reading… Man "involved in a shooting" Friday evening found, McDowell sheriff's office says Marion man charged after 200 grams of cocaine found in search of home near school Amtrak’s western North Carolina expansion: Bringing passenger rail back to Asheville and beyond Compassion Care Services in Marion celebrates opening; provides services for adults with disabilities Old Fort’s B Side Bakery & Books offers fresh made breads, books and more McDowell County leaders hear updates, concerns about 2027 property value reappraisal Owner of Old Fort's Stuckey’s, Dairy Queen hopes to reopen as soon as possible after fire Marion dam gets $2.7 million for repairs; dam behind condemned Westwood Chateau apartments Author of book on lost NC towns coming to downtown Marion for Women’s History Month McDowell County nonprofit seeking grant to help incarcerated parents and their children US housing secretary, congressman visit Marion to talk about Clinchfield apartment project Marion man arrested, charged in Friday shooting in McDowell County that injured one Old Fort to get $1.24 million in FEMA money for repairs for Westerman Street Mace wins sheriff’s office in Republican primary; unopposed in general election McDowell Tech program helps new, existing business owners A woman has makeup applied at a Nordstrom department store Dec. 8 in New York. Richard Drew, Associated Press kAm~?46 E96 F=E:>2E6 362FEJ 56DE:?2E:@?[ 56A2CE>6?E DE@C6D 3682? E@ =@D6 D2=6D 2?5 E96:C 2FE9@C:EJ 2D EC6?5D6EE6CD :? D<:?42C6 2?5 >2<6FA :? E96 =2E6 `hh_D] %92E H2D H96? E96 8C@HE9 @7 $6A9@C2 2?5 &=E2 q62FEJ >256 D9@AA:?8 7@C 4@D>6E:4D >@C6 @7 2 A=2J7F=[ D6=7\D6CG:46 6IA6C:6?46]k^AmkAmu2DE\492?8:?8 4@?DF>6C AC676C6?46D 92G6 2== EJA6D @7 C6E2:=6CD C24:?8 E@ @FE5@ 6249 @E96C 7@C 2 D=:46 @7 E96 S`ah 3:==:@? &]$] 362FEJ 2?5 A6CD@?2= 42C6 >2C<6E] %96 4@>A6E:E:@? :D 7:6C46C E92? 6G6C 5F6 E@ E96 62D6 @7 6\4@>>6C46] p>2K@?[ H9:49 92D D=@H=J 25565 AC6>:F> 362FEJ 3C2?5D E@ :ED >2DD:G6 D6=64E:@?[ :D E96 ?2E:@?VD =2C86DE @?=:?6 D6==6C @7 362FEJ 2?5 A6CD@?2= 42C6 AC@5F4ED[ 244@C5:?8 E@ >2C<6E C6D62C49 4@>A2?J tFC@>@?:E@C x?E6C?2E:@?2=]k^Am kAm$@4:2= >65:2 2=D@ 92D AC@G:565 ?6H D@FC46D @7 362FEJ 8F:52?46] x?DE625 @7 DE@C6 25G:D6CD[ >2?J 4@?DF>6CD =@@< E@ G:56@D 3J :?7=F6?46CD[ 362FEJ 3C2?5 7@F?56CD @C 56C>2E@=@8:DED 7@C 25G:46] $9@AA6CD 2=D@ EFC? E@ %:<%@< 2?5 x?DE28C2> 7@C :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE Q5FA6DQ — 5CF8DE@C6 G6CD:@?D @7 >@C6 6IA6?D:G6 AC@5F4ED]k^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmQ$E@C6D 2C6 >@C6 @7 E96 D9@HC@@>[ 3FE E96 DA2C< :ED6=7 :D 92AA6?:?8 :? %:<%@<[Q y2<6 q;@CD6E9[ 7@F?56C @7 E96 v6?6C2E:@? + 25G6CE:D:?8 286?4J %C?5DEECD[ D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am Customers walk into Macy's flagship store Nov. 21 in New York. Yuki Iwamura, Associated Press kAm%@ <66A FA[ 4@>A2?:6D H:E9 3@E9 A9JD:42= 2?5 @?=:?6 DE@C6D 2C6 :?G6DE:?8 :? FA8C256D E92E 2:> E@ 8:G6 362FEJ 72?D 2? 6IA6C:6?46 E96J 42?VE 86E 2?JH96C6 6=D6] |24JVD 2?5 }@C5DEC@> C6?@G2E65 E96 362FEJ 7=@@CD @7 E96:C 7=28D9:A }6H *@C< DE@C6D E@ 255 >@C6 DA246[ F=EC2\=FIFCJ 3C2?5D 2?5 4FEE:?8\6586 E649?@=@8J] pE }@C5DEC@>[ 4FDE@>6CD 42? 3@@< 2? 2AA@:?E>6?E E@ 86E C@3@E\2AA=:65 6J6=2D9 6IE6?D:@?D 7@C S`f_]k^Am kAm%96 >2<6@G6CD H6C6 =2F?4965 :? E:>6 7@C E96 9@=:52J D9@AA:?8 D62D@?[ H9:49 244@F?ED 7@C 23@FE @?6\BF2CE6C @7 2== &]$] QAC6DE:86Q 362FEJ D2=6D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ >2C<6E C6D62C49 7:C> r:C42?2]k^Amk9amkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm|@C6 C62D@?D E@ =:?86Ck^DA2?mk^9amkAms6A2CE>6?E DE@C6D 492D:?8 362FEJ D2=6D 2C6 :?EC@5F4:?8 D@>6 @7 E96 D6CG6\J@FCD6=7 762EFC6D @7 $6A9@C2 kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm— }@C5DEC@> AFE :? 2 Q362FEJ 32CQ H:E9 3C:89E=J =:E >:CC@CD H96C6 4FDE@>6CD 2C6 2==@H65 E@ E2<6 >2<6FA 7C@> 5:776C6?E 4@F?E6CD —k^DA2?m H9:=6 ECJ:?8 E@ 5:DE:?8F:D9 E96>D6=G6D 7C@> DA64:2=EJ 2?5 @?=:?6 C:G2=D]k^Am kAmtI64FE:G6D 7C@> |24JVD 2?5 }@C5DEC@> D2:5 E96 =2E6DE 492?86D H6C6 56D:8?65 E@ 4C62E6 2? 6?828:?8 2E>@DA96C6 E92E 6?4@FC286D D9@AA6CD E@ DE2J =@?86C 2?5 DA6?5 >@C6] %96 @G6C92F= 2E |24JVD w6C2=5 $BF2C6 :?4=F565 4@>7@CE23=6 D62E:?8 2?5 D<:? 2?2=JD:D 56G:46D kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmE92E 96=A >2<6 E96 42D6 7@C =@E:@?D 2?5 A@E:@?D 4@DE:?8 9F?5C65D @7 5@==2CDk^DA2?m]k^Am kAmx? E96 !2C7F>D 56 |2C=J D64E:@?[ 4FDE@>6CD D2>A=6 D46?ED H9:=6 H62C:?8 2 G:CEF2= C62=:EJ 9625D6E >62?E E@ :>>6CD6 E96> :? 2? `gE9\46?EFCJ 492E62F E96 uC6?49 7C28C2?46 >2<6C 4:E6D 2D :ED :?DA:C2E:@?]k^Am kAmQ%9:D :D E96 7FEFC6 @7 362FEJ[Q }:4@=6EE6 q@D4@[ |24JVD G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 362FEJ[ D2:5[ C676CC:?8 E@ E96 :?E6C24E:G6 E649?@=@8J E96 56A2CE>6?E DE@C6 4@?D:56CD 46?EC2= E@ @776C:?8 D9@AA6CD 2? 6=6G2E65 6IA6C:6?46]k^Am Cosmetics products by Carolina Herrera are displayed at Macy's flagship store in New York. Yuki Iwamura, Associated Press kAm%96 4@>A2?J 6IA64ED E@ C656D:8? E96 362FEJ 56A2CE>6?ED @7 c_ >@C6 DE@C6D] %96 7246=:7ED 2C6 :?E6?565 E@ 5C2H D9@AA6CD @7 2== 286D[ |24JVD x?4] rt~ %@?J $AC:?8 D2:5]k^AmkAmQ(6VC6 ECJ:?8 G6CJ 92C5 E@ E2<6 E96 :562 @7 2 56A2CE>6?E DE@C6 2?5 >2<6 :E :?E:>2E6 2?5 7C:6?5=J 2?5 4@?G6?:6?E[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am kAm$:?46 364@>:?8 49:67 6I64FE:G6 @7 E96 56A2CE>6?E DE@C6VD A2C6?E 4@>A2?J =2DE J62C[ $AC:?8 92D 7@4FD65 @? C6G:G:?8 |24JVD 3J ECJ:?8 E@ 2EEC24E E96 9:896C\DA6?5:?8 4FDE@>6CD H9@ A@H6C D2=6D 2E q=@@>:?852=6VD 2?5 FAD42=6 362FEJ C6E2:=6C q=F6>6C4FCJ[ 3@E9 @7 H9:49 |24JVD @H?D]k^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm}@C5DEC@> F?HC2AA65 E96 C6:>28:?65 362FEJ 7=@@C @7 :ED >:5E@H? |2?92EE2? DE@C6 :? $6AE6>36C] xE :?4=F56D 2? 2C62 H96C6 D9@AA6CD 42? E6DE 362FEJ E@@=D =:<6 {ts =:89E E96C2AJ >2D<D 2?5 2 Q7C28C2?46 7:?56CQ >249:?6 E92E AC@G:56D 2 5CJ H9:77 @7 FA E@ e_ 5:776C6?E D46?ED]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm}@C5DEC@> 2=D@ 6IA2?565 E96 362FEJ EC62E>6?ED 2C62 2E E96 }6H *@C< 7=28D9:A 2?5 2 76H @E96C DE@C6D E@ :?4=F56 2 >65:42= DA2 E92E AC@G:56D q@E@I 2?5 56C>2= 7:==6C :?;64E:@?D E92E 4@DE Sdfd E@ S`[_d_]k^DA2?mk^Am k9amkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmp 4=@D6C =@@< 2E E96 4@>A6E:E:@?k^DA2?mk^9am Kacy Galisdorfer of Nordstrom demonstrates the Fragrance Finder at a Nordstrom department store Dec. 8 in New York. Richard Drew, Associated Press kAm$6A9@C2 C6567:?65 362FEJ 3FJ:?8 3J :?DE2==:?8 >:CC@CD 2?5 5:DA@D23=6 2AA=:42E:@? E@@=D ?62C 4@>A24E 5:DA=2JD @7 3@E9 E6DE6C AC@5F4ED 2?5 C625J\E@\8C23 8@@5D] %96 sx* 4@?46AE H2D 2 >2;@C 4@?EC2DE 7C@> 56A2CE>6?E DE@C6 4@F?E6CD DE27765 3J 362FEJ 25G:D6CD H9@ @G6CD2H AC@5F4E D2>A=:?8 2?5 C6EC:6G65 7C6D9 AC@5F4ED 7C@> =@4<65 5C2H6CD]k^Am kAmqFE 6G6? :??@G2E@CD 92G6 E@ C6?@G2E6] $6A9@C2[ 2 5:G:D:@? @7 uC6?49 =FIFCJ 8@@5D 4@?8=@>6C2E6 {'|w[ :D :? E96 AC@46DD @7 FA52E:?8 :ED fa_ DE@C6D :? E96 &]$] 2?5 r2?252] kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%96 DE2E:@?D H96C6 4FDE@>6CD 86E E96:C 92:C 2?5 >2<6FA 5@?6 2C6 86EE:?8 >@G65 E@ E96 D:56 7@C >@C6 AC:G24J] %96 492:?[ <?@H? 7@C :ED =@?8 42D9 C68:DE6C =:?6D[ A=2?D E@ 6IA65:E6 4964<\@FED 3J 6BF:AA:?8 D2=6DA6@A=6 H:E9 56G:46D E92E 2446AE 42C5 2?5 4@?E24E=6DD A2J>6?ED]k^DA2?mk^Am kAm&=E2[ H9:49 DE@4<D 5CF8DE@C6 362FEJ 3C2?5D =:<6 |2J36==:?6 2D H6== 2D 9:89\6?5 3C2?5D[ 92D 925 :?\DE@C6 92:C D2=@?D D:?46 :ED 7@F?5:?8 :? `hh_] xEVD 255:?8 62C A:6C4:?8[ E6DE:?8 C@3@E:4 >2?:4FC6D 2?5 A=2?D E@ 255 C@3@E:4 =2D9 6IE6?D:@?D =:<6 }@C5DEC@>VD E@ :ED D6CG:46 >6?F ?6IE J62C]k^Am kAm(2=>2CE 92D >@G65 :?E@ E96 EFC7 @7 DA64:2=EJ C6E2:=6CD 2?5 56A2CE>6?E DE@C6D H:E9 AC@5F4ED 7C@> 9:896C\6?5 2?5 :?56A6?56?E 3C2?5D] kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%96 ?2E:@?VD =2C86DE C6E2:=6C AFE 362FEJ 4@F?E6CD :? `__ DE@C6D E9:D J62C]k^DA2?mk^Am Politics A closer look at the unapproved peptide injections promoted by influencers and celebrities MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer k9amkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Q 52E2\>46\>2C<lQ`Qm$@4:2= >65:2 2?5 E96 8C62E 362FEJ C246k^DA2?mk^9am kAmp7E6C H@C<:?8 2E 2 72D9:@? 6G6?E 2E }@C5DEC@>VD |2?92EE2? 7=28D9:A[ xG2? {6@?[ 2 bd\J62C\@=5 7C66=2?46 DEJ=:DE[ 962565 E@ E96 %@> u@C5 7C28C2?46 4@F?E6C] w6 H2=<65 2H2J 2? 9@FC =2E6C[ 92G:?8 DA6?E Sdbf @? EH@ 3@EE=6D @7 A6C7F>6kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmi 2 F?:D6I D46?E ?2>65 q:EE6C !6249 2?5 2?@E96C ?2>65 '2?:==2 $6Ik^DA2?m]k^Am kAm{6@? A=2??65 E@ H62C E96> E@86E96C[ 2 AC24E:46 <?@H? 2D Q7C28C2?46 =2J6C:?8Q E92E 96 962C5 23@FE @? D@4:2= >65:2] %96 }@C5DEC@> D2=6DA6CD@? 42F89E 9:D :?E6C6DE 3J DF886DE:?8 %@> u@C5 D46?ED 4@F=5 36 2AA=:65 :? E2?56>]k^AmkAmQxEVD <:?5 @7 4@@= H96? J@F 4@>3:?6 EH@ D46?ED 2?5 :E >2<6D D@>6E9:?8 ?6H[Q {6@? D2:5] Qx E9:?< :E 96=AD E96 ADJ496 2?5 3F:=5D 4@?7:56?46]Qk^Am Ivan Leon chooses from Tom Ford fragrances at a Nordstrom department store Dec. 8 in New York. Richard Drew, Associated Press kAm{6@?[ H9@ EJA:42==J 3FJD 9:D 7C28C2?46D @?=:?6[ @776CD 56A2CE>6?E DE@C6D 9@A6 3FE 2=D@ C6AC6D6?ED E96 FA9:== 4=:>3 E96J 7246 8:G6? 4FDE@>6CDV >F=E:5:>6?D:@?2= D9@AA:?8 923:ED]k^Am kAm%:<%@< :D ?@E @?=J DA2H?:?8 EC6?5D =:<6 QE:C65 8:C=Q >2<6FA 2?5 Q3=FCC65 D<:?[Q 3FE :EVD 2=D@ 364@>:?8 2 A=246 H96C6 FD6CD 5:D4@G6C 2?5 3FJ 7C@> ?6H 3C2?5D] %:<%@< $9@A[ 2? 6\4@>>6C46 762EFC6 E96 D@4:2= >65:2 A=2E7@C> =2F?4965 :? a_ab[ 92D 6>6C865 2D E96 ?2E:@?VD D6G6?E9\=2C86DE @?=:?6 D6==6C @7 362FEJ 2?5 A6CD@?2= 42C6 :E6>D[ C:89E 369:?5 %2C86E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ tFC@>@?:E@C]k^AmkAm%96 @?=:?6 >2C<6E D92C6D @7 |24JVD 2?5 }@C5DEC@> 2C6 `T 2?5 =6DD E92? _]dT[ 2?5 564=:?:?8[ E96 >2C<6E C6D62C49 7:C> D2:5]k^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmp>2K@?[ H9:49 244@F?ED 7@C 2=>@DE 92=7 @7 @?=:?6 362FEJ 2?5 A6CD@?2= 42C6 D2=6D[ 2:>D E@ >:>:4 E96 A9JD:42= DE@C6 6IA6C:6?46 H:E9 G:CEF2= >2<6FA ECJ\@? E@@=D[ =:<6 @?6 $6A9@C2 :?EC@5F465 :? a_`e] $6A9@C2[ >62?H9:=6[ F?G6:=65 :? |2C49 2? px\A@H6C65 @?=:?6 E@@= E92E FD6D D6=7:6D E@ :56?E:7J A@E6?E:2= D<:? 4@?46C?D 2?5 >2<6 AC@5F4E C64@>>6?52E:@?D]k^DA2?mk^Am An employee shows the facial scanning device at Macy's flagship store Nov. 21 in New York. Yuki Iwamura, Associated Press Health Calisthenics are making a comeback. Is body weight enough to get a good workout? JAMIE DUCHARME Associated Press 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular How an Olympic hairdo changed a St. Louis hairdresser's life When Alysa Liu won Olympic gold, the St. Louis hairstylist who helped perfect her signature hairstyle won big, too.
Politics A closer look at the unapproved peptide injections promoted by influencers and celebrities MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer
Health Calisthenics are making a comeback. Is body weight enough to get a good workout? JAMIE DUCHARME Associated Press
How an Olympic hairdo changed a St. Louis hairdresser's life When Alysa Liu won Olympic gold, the St. Louis hairstylist who helped perfect her signature hairstyle won big, too.