ABQ gets low marks for fashion

New Mexico already appears near the top of many “bad” lists when it comes to such issues as drug use, poverty and teen pregnancy.

Now we appear on the list of the 10 worst-dressed big cities, as compiled by the good folks at the San Mateo, Calif.-based Movoto Real Estate blog.

“Who?” asks a casually dressed Bill Miller, an independent commercial real estate investor during a shopping outing at ABQ Uptown. “Why is a real estate blog writing about fashion, and why am I supposed to care?”

And therein lies part of Albuquerque’s fashion predicament. According to local clothing store operators and customers, most men here generally don’t care or don’t put much effort into assembling their wardrobe.

And, for women and men both, there is a serious lack of high-end clothing, shoe and jewelry retailers in Albuquerque, among the benchmarks Movoto used for determining the worst-dressed cities.

Albuquerque occupies the No. 7 slot on the top 10 worst-dressed cities list; Wichita, Kan., and Colorado Springs hold the No. 1 and No. 2 spots; Milwaukee, Wis., and Indianapolis, Ind., grace the No. 9 and No. 10 positions.

“We’ve been here for seven years, and what I can tell you is Albuquerque is not a fashion-forward city,” says Lorie Holler, owner of Toad Road, a men and women’s clothing store in the Nob Hill area. “It takes a couple of years for Albuquerque to catch up on trends in style. … I will say that the men in this city have come a long way — from not caring at all to caring a little bit.”

The Toad Road in Nob Hill sells clothing and accessories for men and women. Store owner Lorie Holler says it takes a couple of years for fashion trends to catch on in Albuquerque. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)

Toad Road store customer Scott Paden says the worst-dressed city designation “doesn’t surprise me.” Dressed in a polo shirt, derby hat, black Converse low-tops and cutoff shorts that reveal a sizable leg tattoo, Paden adds, “Across the board, we’re a little behind. Social media is now just taking hold here. It doesn’t really bother me, though. Albuquerque is a more traditional, family-oriented town, so it’s no shocker.”

Albuquerque’s lagging sense of style may be partly to blame on the lagging local economy and generally low wages, says Nichole Garcia, owner of No. 13 Boutique, a Nob Hill retail outlet specializing in women’s clothing, shoes and accessories.

“We’re bringing in styles and designers that hadn’t been here before,” or at least not commonly available, such as Naven, CC Skye and Dimepiece. Despite the economic realities of Albuquerque, “dressing well isn’t about price; it’s about fashion,” she says. “We’re in our fifth month, and the response from our clients, who tend to be younger, has been really good,” an indication that there’s hope for inspiring the more fashion-challenged among us.

Albuquerque is a “very casual city,” and there are “very few dress codes,” says Bari Arias, an owner of Elsa Ross clothing store for women, also in Nob Hill. “People here do love their jeans, and that’s why we opened our Denim Bar. But we’re selling designer jeans.”

Designer clothing may cost a bit more, but it is generally better-made and more durable, says Elsa Ross customer Pilar Mullican, 18, whose wardrobe includes some “vintage” clothing her mother bought at the store more than 20 years ago.

“Most people in New Mexico aren’t willing to spend the money or don’t have the money to spend on nice clothes,” Mullican says. “I’m more fortunate and can get nice clothes, but I look at it as an investment. Good clothes last a long time.”

Bari Arias, an owner of Elsa Ross in Nob Hill, says Albuquerque has a very casual vibe and there are few dress codes. “People here do love their jeans.” (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)

Of course, there’s the argument that style, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder, says 23-year-old Kelly Green. “Fashion, to me, means wearing something that makes you stand out in a crowd rather than look like everybody else.

“I kind of like our style of anything goes. If it feels comfortable, go with it and so what!” says the woman who on this day sports blue jeans, a three-quarter-sleeve T-shirt with a graphic design, sandals and a knitted “raccoon” hat.

It may be irritating, but the premise of the Movoto blog is pretty much on target, concedes Orlando Armijo, a manager at Bebe women’s clothing and apparel in ABQ Uptown. “We’re more of a destination for people who want clothes from current designers, so our clients are well-dressed and look great. But we see people walking around the mall all the time wearing sweats or pajama bottoms and slippers.”

One Bebe shopper, Susan Musgrave, came to Albuquerque’s defense, saying the Movoto survey is “so wrong,” noting that there are plenty of local stores that provide a mix of classic styles and current trend favorites.

“Albuquerque may not be New York or Los Angeles, but I can look good in New York or Los Angeles wearing what I buy here.”

Nichole Garcia, owner of No. 13 Boutique in Nob Hill, says “dressing well isn’t about price, it’s about fashion.” (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)

— This article appeared on page A1 of the Albuquerque Journal