Discovering Francesca's Collection

The face of the mall is , which makes it no surprise that currently there are a slew of new stores to discover. The one that concerns me right now is Francesca’s Collections, now located on the lower level near JC Penney. 

In my survey of the newest jewels in the Freehold Raceway Mall’s crown, Francesca’s shines the brightest. To begin with, the store’s façade looks the best.  Some other newbies like Euro Boutique (upstairs, between food court and Macy’s) and Temptations (upstairs, center court) give off an air of transience; the stores’ bare décor seems to speak of only temporary intentions. Francesca’s, though, has a colorful and quirky interior – and a good sign, not for naught – that draws people in. 

Once inside, one is almost overcome by the shop’s charm. There is a lot of faux-vintage appeal and glittering treasures designed to appeal to young, hip, female shoppers, as does the bouncy music. The walls are lined with clothes, but I wouldn’t exclusively call this a clothing store. My best description would liken the shop to a small independent boutique (certainly as close as our mall comes to one), but with the affordable prices of a chain. 

Everything in the store feels unique and special, not least by its scarcity. Of the many cute dresses and tops, there are only three or four of each style; this means fewer sizes and colors, naturally. The upshot, though, is that you’ll be less likely to run into someone wearing the same thing you bought here. The style of their apparel accords with everything in the store, which is to say it nods to vintage pieces with a bright pop or cheeky twist. If you like Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters, you will like this store.

What I think makes Francesca’s most distinct – and most fun – are the many novelty gift items. Among my favorites were wine bottle stoppers with legs sticking out of the top like some wicked witch; a variety of quotable cards and magnets; the Mini Emergency Kit for Her (three inches wide and containing everything from teeny-tiny hairspray to single-use dental floss!); and naughtily fun pocket-sized flasks (“Surely, it must be 5 o’ clock somewhere.”) Basically, whenever I have a gift to buy, this is where I’m headed. 

In a mall replete with women’s clothing and accessory shops, it can be hard to stand out among the crowd. By its novelty, Francesca’s breaks through, and by the novelty and charm of its merchandise, it may continue to. Check out the Web site here, and definitely stop by the store on your own treasure hunt!