CONSIDERED BY MANY to be the go-to luxury shopping destination for the entire state of Indiana, The Fashion Mall at Keystone is being transformed. Saks Fifth Avenue closed its doors for good in July, with Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group set to break ground on a mixed-use addition in the space where the luxury retailer had operated for 21 years—second only to Nordstrom in square footage—early next year. (In case you were wondering, ease of parking and shopping during the impending holiday season won’t be affected by these plans.) It’ll be fully completed by the end of 2026. Asked about the overall financial investment in the mall, Simon’s president of development Mark Silvestri would only say “tens of millions of dollars.”

Some shoppers were no doubt stunned at Saks’ seemingly sudden departure. But it turns out that behind the scenes, it was far from abrupt. Silvestri says Saks’ lease “was coming to an end, with no further term, so we’ve known about it for a while.” That’s how Simon was able to almost simultaneously announce the departure and the plans for the new addition, which will cover 170,000 square feet in and around the southeast end of the mall.

“The reason Saks left had nothing to do with the performance of the mall. Actually, it was so good that Saks couldn’t afford to stay,” says John S. Talbott, a senior lecturer of marketing at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. “That space is so much more valuable to Simon without Saks. If Saks could pay the $500-a-square-foot to be there, I’m sure they would have.”

Talbott has firsthand experience with Simon. He spent 36 years in retail, including four years as CEO of a Western lifestyles store “on the other side of the table negotiating with them.” He knew Saks “faced headwinds or a challenging business model.”

According to Retail Brew, which covers the retail industry, Saks had apparently struggled with liquidity, with many vendors accusing the chain of not paying them on time or at all. In April, however, Saks “landed up to $60 million in incremental liquidity” from a lender to help pay those debts.

So, well before the store locked up and left, Simon was finalizing plans for the addition. There was no shortage of hopeful new tenants, which is not surprising. Silvestri says the property ranks among the top 50 of its 90-plus U.S. malls when it comes to productivity. “Especially given that Indiana is a modest-size market,” he says, “it’s a super strong property for us.” The Fashion Mall’s occupancy hovers around 97 percent, housing 60-plus brands unique to Indiana or only available in that location. It doesn’t hurt that those include the most sought-after luxury labels. Think Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Tory Burch, and Tiffany & Co., with a David Yurman jewelry store soon joining the mix.

Although West Elm recently departed The Fashion Mall for Nora Plaza, other in-demand retailers arrived, including trendy activewear boutiques Alo and Vuori, Gorjana with its California-cool jewelry, and Aritzia, a Canadian retailer selling “luxury lifestyle apparel” that’s soaring in popularity. Even Daniel’s Vineyard of McCordsville is getting in on the action, launching a pop-up across from Levi’s where they hold wine tastings Fridays through Sundays, with the space serving as an art gallery during the rest of the week.

Silvestri says Simon’s second-quarter earnings this year were record-setting, “the highest-net operating income ever.” At a time when malls seem all but doomed to obsolescence in an online-shopping world, our very own Fashion Mall is, in a word, “over-performing.” Silvestri says that to be able to do that, “you have to have great real estate, and it has to be well-located.” The Fashion Mall nails it on both counts.

But Talbott insists there’s more to it than that. He says Simon, which is the largest mall owner in the United States, is usually a step ahead of the curve. In this case, they’re leading the way in what Talbott calls experience centers. “They bring together these mixed-use communities, almost, which is at the forefront of what shoppers, and people in general, now want in their lives.” Those include not just the right mix of stores but also new dining and entertainment options—which is what we’re getting in this next iteration of the mall.

Silvestri says Simon will keep a third of the Saks building because it’s “cost-effective, has good bones, and we can utilize that.” The rest, the exterior not attached to the mall, will be demolished. Plans for the site include a standalone home furnishings store, a handful of new retailers, some sit-down and quick-serve dining, an outdoor plaza with green space, and, at the eastern end, up to 100,000 square feet of upscale office space with possibly as many as four large tenants. “We’ve heard from brokers and others that there’s a real need for this, so we think it’s something that will enhance the property,” Silvestri says.

Talbott calls that a smart move. “Say there’s a Merrill Lynch office in one of those spaces,” he explains. “Maybe while one member of the household meets with a financial advisor, another one goes shopping. Then those financial advisors need to eat, so they meet clients at a nice restaurant there. Those people not only pay rent, but they patronize the facilities at the retail center.”

Also in the works? An entertainment venue, which Silvestri declined to specifically identify as of press time. But he did provide a clue, noting that while the entity will be new to Indianapolis, it is already successful elsewhere. So it may be worth noting that in June 2024, Simon announced a partnership with Camp, which bills itself as a “family experience company.” A news release describes it as “part toy store, part activity destination, all good vibes” and further says it “delivers immersive fun for the whole family.” There are currently three Camp locations at Simon malls in Philadelphia, Houston, and Burlington, Vermont. The press release also noted, “This expansion initiative reinforces Camp’s and Simon’s commitment to bringing delightful experiences and exclusive retail offerings to families across the country.”

Again, there’s no confirmation that a Camp location is coming to The Fashion Mall, but that certainly seems to be a logical possibility, since those appear to be both popular and profitable for the Simon malls that have already landed one. Also, it fits the “shop, dine, play” evolution of “experience centers.” A second possible contender is a chain of venues represented at a half dozen Simon Malls, Round1—a group of sprawling amusement facilities aimed at pleasing just about every member of the family with arcade games, billiards, karaoke, pingpong, darts, trampolining, roller skating, children’s play zones, and more.

We also know housing and hotels are big parts of Simon’s portfolio, with some connected to malls. In May 2024, the company announced plans for a “luxury lifestyle mixed-use development” at San Diego’s Fashion Valley mall. A news release at the time promised the addition will be “a vibrant, diverse and exclusive residential enclave … mere steps away from their favorite Fashion Valley boutiques.”

Although Simon hasn’t yet gone that route in Indiana, the plans underway in San Diego may foretell things to come. After all, it’s hard not to notice the Sheraton Hotel and connected 12-story apartment tower, called Vitra, on the north side of The Fashion Mall. While neither is owned by Simon, a skybridge conveniently links them to the mall. The new attractions ahead will only enhance the appeal of these locations and lure more residents and travelers to stroll over to spend their money.

One might wonder what, if anything, The Fashion Mall’s follow-up act could possibly be after all of this. When asked if there will still be space to expand again down the line, Silvestri acknowledges, “There are always ways to do that. You could go vertical or do parking garages. But not now.”

Those nostalgic for their high school days when they kicked around the mall for hours with friends, browsing and sipping an Orange Julius, may get to relive their youth. At least a little, anyway. Dana Olsen, who worked in the corporate office of Bloomingdale’s in New York City before joining Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business where she teaches retail marketing, agrees that retailers must learn to adapt to survive. “I believe [Simon] is doing what they need to do, which is transitioning malls. They’re listening to the customer.” She pauses, then adds, “It’s kind of getting back to what malls were when people would spend all day there.”

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PHOTO BY TONY VALAINIS

OF ALL THE changes wrought at 65-year-old Nora Plaza, the debut of the first Indiana Bluemercury between Bagel Fair and Whole Foods cements its reputation as upscale. Guests are welcomed into the bijou storefront by attentive staff clad in cobalt, under white light fixtures reminiscent of big roses. The immaculate shop focuses on posh cosmetics, including skincare forged by dermatologists and plastic surgeons. But candles, aromatherapy atomizers, and bubble bath can also be found.

Flip up the information panels attached to shelves to peek at prices—but you may need to brace yourself. The selection includes the likes of the $940 Sisley-Paris Supremÿa anti-aging cream and La Mer’s Genaissance Serum at $860. But more down-to-earth favorites are here too, like Bobbi Brown, Clinique, and Bumble and Bumble. According to head of stores Jenna Goldberg, Bluemercury seeks locations with residential, commercial, and recreational properties in the mix. Of the new Nora shop, Goldberg notes “what we have available is unlike anything nearby.”

Bluemercury, 1300 E. 86th St., Suite 8170, Nora

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WHEN FURKAN Amonett saw the dramatic effect open-ended toys had on her children’s development, she left a marketing career to create a shop specializing in heirloom-quality playthings that encourage imagination. Today, The Mulberry Treehouse, run out of her home near Eagle Creek Park, stocks more than 30 such brands from around the world.

The Grapat Rainbow Nesting Rings are handmade in Spain under European toy safety standards, which are more stringent than in the U.S. The set breaks out into six subsets by color, each consisting of wooden rings in varying sizes and shades. Play options are nearly endless: Stack! Roll! Sort! Group! Count! We see this repurposed as a cheery piece of art, imbued with memories. $93.

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THOUGH buying new furs is rightly fraught with contention, purchasing a used fur coat, jacket, hat, or wrap can be seen as a more ethical route to sporting the luxurious midcentury look. With good care, furs can last 20 to 50 years. Professional cleaning is nonnegotiable. A cedar chest is the classic way to store furs out of season. Otherwise, hang on a cedar hanger in a closet in an air-conditioned room.

If, used or not, furs are not your thing, you may be looking to sell that mu  you inherited from grandma. Keep in mind that many of the more unusual furs, including cheetah, bear, and tiger, are unsellable under endangered species laws.

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THE SELECTION of preowned watches these days is vast. You might spot a Vietnam War–era military watch, like the Seiko 6105, or a Cartier Tank, popularized by Jackie Kennedy Onassis, could catch your eye. “That’s the best part about it,” says Cole Hale, watch director at Reis-Nichols Jewelers. “You get to see the history behind some of these watches and enjoy it on your wrist as well.”

When purchasing a quality preowned watch, above all, you need to ensure it’s authentic. The simplest way to do that is to buy from an authorized dealer of the brand you’re interested in. The watch should be serviced pre-sale, which can include replacing worn pieces with authentic replacement parts, testing for water tightness, and refinishing to remove scratches.

The line between men’s and women’s watches has blurred. For the past five years, large watches have been popular, but smaller ones are gaining ground. Rolex and Breitling are always in demand. Regardless of what’s on trend, though, and beyond your personal taste, choose based on the size of your wrist and your lifestyle, advises Hale.

Do you wear a watch as jewelry, stacked with bracelets? Are you a runner? Maybe you want a traditional timepiece as a professional accessory, or perhaps you’re an avid diver and need a high-tech specialty watch? Or do you collect watches with an affinity for the pedigrees attached to certain brands, like the auto racing history behind TAG Heuer? Watches are still beloved, despite our phones technically being able to replace them. Hale is hardly surprised. “Throughout history, there’s all different reasons why people love watches.”

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“ESTATE jewelry” may conjure up an image of the entire antique or vintage jewelry collection of a rich elderly lady. While that is sometimes the case, the term simply means any piece of fine jewelry that is being resold after its initial purchase, clarifies Andrew Pyke, senior jewelry consultant at Reis-Nichols Jewelers. Popular brands among estate jewelry shoppers are the timeless classics like Cartier, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef & Arpels, as well as modern favorites Roberto Coin, David Yurman, and John Hardy.

For 30 years or so, white gold and sterling dominated, but yellow gold is back. Demand is particularly high for chains, earrings, and rings. “Trends have changed in the last   ve years,” notes Pyke. “Now when you look at the runways of Paris, London, or New York, you see gold buttons on purses. You see gold chains.” Building a bevy of gilded jewelry with estate pieces is clearly the more affordable, and sustainable, route. A 14-karat gold estate chain can be as little as half the price of a new one, shares Pyke.

You can ensure authenticity by heading to an authorized dealer of a range of jewelry lines. The provenance of any estate jewelry piece should be documented. Before making a final decision on a vintage or antique dazzler, remember that fine jewelry of the 1960s or prior was never meant for 24/7 wear, let alone exercising or doing yard work. Old pieces, especially those with stones, are more intricately crafted than newer ones, and thus more delicate. “Think in terms of grandma,” suggests Pyke. “Back then, she wouldn’t wear her jewelry during the day, but in the evening or on special occasions. Everyday rings were simple, like a plain gold wedding band.”

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YOU ALMOST certainly don’t need to be told this, but … before putting a pre-loved piece of clothing in your closet, make sure it’s clean. Exactly how depends on what it is and the weight you give to cost over your time and trouble.

• Taking all your secondhand garb, especially silks, wools, other delicate fabrics, and vintage pieces, to a reputable dry cleaner for professional assessment and cleaning is ideal.
• Hand-washing in Woolite and hanging or, for sweaters, laying fl at to dry is always an option. (Soak yellowed cotton and delicate finds in Borax. Polyester can go in the washer in a netted bag.)
• For an easy refresh, fold into a zip-top bag. Freeze overnight to squash odors and … gulp … larvae. (It’s rare, really.)
• Instead of freezing, you can toss cotton and dryer-friendly blends in the dryer for 30 minutes.
• Leather conditioning is a must to revive and soften heavily worn or stiff footwear. Buff in a leather conditioner before inserting shoe stretchers.

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• Streamline your shopping experience by deciding what you’re looking for.
• Think about which fabrics work best for you and which don’t. Does synthetic material tend to make you itch? Maybe avoid that 1970s jumpsuit and go for a breathable 1990s denim dress instead.
• Instead of trying to push hangers on packed racks, scan the bottoms of garments. Grab a hanger only when you spot potential.
• It’s all about condition: Look for holes, stains, missing buttons, stuck zippers, or fading. 
• Don’t know where you’d wear that amazing dress? Some brands are in such demand that even if you only wear it once, the resale value compensates. True luxury brands like Fendi, Chloé, and Bottega Veneta are hardly a risky investment, but you may be surprised at the rising stars of resale: Vuori, Reformation, Free People, Anthropologie, Aritzia, and Rag & Bone.
• Unsure if an item you’re eyeing is worth the price? Use Google Lens on your phone to take a picture of a label or a garment to see what comparable items sell for.
• Check care labels if dry cleaning or handwashing is a deal-breaker.

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IT’S A NEW day at one of our most beloved homegrown brands, Vera Bradley. What’s new? Almost everything, from the logo, website, and store design to the materials and silhouettes of an expanded product line. They’ve enlisted Zooey Deschanel—apparently as much a fan as the rest of us—as the face of their fall campaign. Happily, what makes Vera, Vera isn’t changing, as Deschanel put well: “I love what the Vera Bradley brand stands for, uplifting women and helping them express themselves. Plus, all of the patterns and colors make the brand fun to wear.” Or pull. We fell for the Adair Subtle Bouquet Spinner. More than just a pretty case, it has an elegant floral lining, smartly designed inside pockets, multidirectional wheels, and a lock. $245 for carry-on, shown. Larger sizes available. verabradley.com

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IT HAS THE POLISHED minimalism of Jennifer Aniston with a dab of Kate Hudson boho. West Coast–born Gorjana jewelry, rich in everyday luxe, has landed in Indiana. “No matter the season, our styles reflect the laid-back, easy atmosphere of our home in Laguna Beach,” says cofounder Gorjana Reidel.

Pronounced “gore-yana,” the brand is best known for its 14-karat gold–plated, anti-tarnish necklaces and bracelets designed for layering. Some are sold in sets. That collection takes up the bulk of the boutique and changes each month. New favorites are dainty Capri bracelets with enamel beads in Malibu-inspired colors, vivid Link Paracord bracelets, and Brooks bracelets boasting gemstones including lapis, mother-of-pearl, lavender jade, and aventurine, and an adjustable-toggle chain.

Shoppers will also find stackable rings alongside hoops galore, most with stainless steel posts for sensitive ears. All the components for custom pieces are found at the bookshelves on the back wall. Necklaces and more can be created with zodiac symbols, birthstones, initials, charms, and “intentional beads” symbolizing strength, faith, love, and more.

A modest 14-karat and diamond  fine jewelry selection hides in the glass cabinets to the left. Only a handful of classic styles are available in silver. But for lovers of all things gilded, this shop is a gold mine.

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