Simon's Brea Mall Presents The Shopping Block in Collaboration with Refinery29

Experience The Shopping Block at Brea Mall, the first-ever collaboration between Refinery29 and Simon on Saturday, October 18 from noon to 5 p.m., on the lower level, in Center Court. Inspired by the millennial approach to shopping, the fashion and retail powerhouses have joined forces bringing Refinery29 into the physical world of retail to create custom fashion activations available at Brea Mall.

Free and open to the public, The Shopping Block will offer consumer touch-points around fashion, discovery, and community. The event design, inspired by modernist artists such as Donald Judd and Dan Flavin, as well as the art and architecture of Marfa, Texas, will provide a variety of features that appeal to the millennial audience, including:

• Indie Boutiques + National Brands: Refinery29 and Simon will invite indie boutiques with local reach and relevance to participate in The Shopping Block. This will create an interplay between the native, in-market shopping experiences and the very best national retail brands, all within the mall landscape.
• Stylist Concierge: The Shopping Block attendees will receive curated style guides that highlight fall’s biggest trends, and where to shop them at Simon retailers.
• Guest Hosts: At each event, city insiders—chosen from local tastemakers in style, fashion and lifestyle industries—will act as hosts.
• Sweepstakes: Shoppers can enter to win a Simon shopping spree in the form of Simon Giftcards valued at $1,500. A “virtual closet” made up of the hottest items from Simon retailers and curated by Refinery29 editors will be on display during The Shopping Block event to serve as inspiration for what the winner could buy.
• Beauty Bars: Makeup artists will be on-hand at pop-up beauty bars to give shoppers mini makeovers, and share the latest beauty tips from the experts at Refinery29.
• DIY Station: The Shopping Block guests will have an opportunity to personalize tote bags, taking inspiration from two fall 2014 runway trends – Sporty and Embellished. Each trend will have its own moodboard of inspiration pictures posted with a brief description and example of that tote. Guests will be given materials to create their own version of the tote. Brand Ambassadors will be on hand to help guests and explain the activation.

In a recent study by Refinery29, millennial women of all ages and income groups expressed how online, mobile, and social elements all play a critical role in how they shop, often merging their online and in-person experiences. As a reflection of those shopping preferences, Refinery29 and Simon created custom activations that marry the digital and physical experiences together and maximize the social aspects of both.

“The Shopping Block at Brea Mall is a totally new experience targeted specifically to millennials,” said Anna Cotter, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Brea Mall. “The event mixes local, independent boutiques and brands with established fashion purveyors, creating a new fashion hybrid that celebrates the power of personal style.”

“Refinery29 has always been rooted in shopping and discovery, and is a champion of independent thinking and true personal style,” said Piera Gelardi, Creative Director, Refinery29. “Refinery29’s audience of millennial women turns to us as a trusted digital source of inspiration and they visit Simon shopping centers for a tangible, tactile experience. The Shopping Block is a perfect marriage of both worlds.”

The Shopping Block experience will be enhanced by editorial posts on Refinery29, including a “Found at the Mall” photo series showcasing the street style sensibility of shoppers who visit The Shopping Block. The events will be supported through co-branded banners on Refinery29 and promotions on Refinery29 and Simon social channels, Simon’s style blog at stylesetter.simon.com and at simon.com/shoppingblock.

Additionally, attendees are encouraged to share their Shopping Block experiences and discoveries using the hashtags #TheShoppingBlock and #FoundAtSimon. Anyone who posts their style on Instagram or Twitter using #FoundAtSimon #Contest will be entered to win a $500 gift card from Simon. Refinery29 editors will select the best Shopping Block inspired entry in October.
Visit simon.com/shoppingblock or Brea Mall’s Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages at https://www.facebook.com/BreaMall, https://twitter.com/ShopBreaMall or http://www.instagram.com/shopbreamall for the latest event updates.

About Brea Mall
Brea Mall is an upscale center showcasing four major department stores, including Nordstrom, Macy’s, jcpenney and Sears, and more than 175 specialty shops. Brea Mall also features a full-service day spa, a newly upgraded Food Court, and several fine restaurants, including The Cheesecake Factory, BJ’s Restaurant and California Pizza Kitchen, which all feature outdoor patios. In March 2013, Brea Mall underwent a large-scale interior and exterior renovation that touched several areas of the shopping center, including new mall entrances and light fixtures, the addition of family-style restrooms, a brand new children’s Play Area on the lower level, a larger and faster elevator in Center Court, and new flooring, landscaping, handrails, signage and lighting throughout. With the completion of the renovation in April 2014, the center showcases updated textures, colors and amenities, creating a more contemporary and inviting shopping environment. For a map and store listings, as well as directions, events and job listings, visit http://www.simon.com/mall/brea-mall or call 714-990-2732.

About Simon
Simon is a global leader in retail real estate ownership, management, and development, and a S&P100 company (Simon Property Group, NYSE:SPG). Our industry-leading retail properties and investments across North America, Europe, and Asia provide shopping experiences for millions of consumers every day and generate billions in annual retail sales. For more information, visit simon.com.

About Refinery29
Refinery29 is the largest independent style website in the United States and the fastest growing media company on the 2013 Inc. 500 list. Through its 24/7 original editorial content, global and local newsletters, and engaged social community, Refinery29 inspires millennial women to live a more mindful, artful and enlightened life. Refinery29 is based in New York, NY and has raised $30.4 million in funding from Stripes Group, FLOODGATE, First Round, Hearst Corporate, Lerer Ventures, Eastern Capital, and more.

*Data was uncovered in the first installment of Refinery29’s Her Brain on Digital insights series. The two-part study began with a qualitative research component, fielded by The Futures Company, which led 10 in-home immersion sessions and a series of one-on-one interviews across Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco in April 2014. Then, with research partner Db5, Refinery29 surveyed over 1,100 women ages 18-49 online as well as Refinery29 readers.