Fashion Merchandising

I have to say that the Gap bringing a designer line in to the store was probably not the best idea. I think the main focus right now should be on the permanent line rather than taking the focus somewhere else. This line is expensive for the basic white shirt and I think they could have done the same with Gap designers. This line will be shown on the cover of Vogue in May. This is the first time Gap will be shown on the cover in over 10 years.
Were people lined up at the door like they were when Stella McCartney or Viktor and Rolfe designed for H&M? Not at all. Gap did say that they were pleased with the customers response to it. Customers have been saying that they like the look, very different for the Gap, but that the clothes were cut too large. The three designers are Doo.Ri, which have had the most pleasing sales, Thakoon and Rodarte.
Doo.Ri has a sheer dress at Bergdorf Goodman which sells for $1,000, and the dress as the Gap will sell for under $100. This will be good for the girls who know fashion, because it will be a bargain, but I’m not sure about other Gap customers.

Currently, The Galleria Mall is the only store in our area that carries the clothes.

Posted by Stacy at 05:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

After reading through some of the past entries I saw one posted by Alexa in which she told a bunch of fun facts about herself. I thought that was a really great idea, I always feel forced to write about the latest fashion trends and news. So I am going to copy your idea Alexa and tell everyone some things about myself.

1. I am a Fashion Merchandising student here at Buffalo State, and I plan to graduate this May, which is only a few weeks away so I am very excited!
2. Last summer I did an internship through FIT with a public relations firm called KCD. They specialized in fashion and represented certain designers as their clients. I really enjoyed interning for them and feel like I learned a lot.
3. After I gradate I plan on backpacking across Europe for 6 weeks during the summer time with my two roommates. I am very excited for this opportunity and can’t wait till the time comes. I am thrilled to be able to see European fashion first hand. I plan on visiting both Milan and Paris and can only imagine how awesome the experience will be.
4. After returning from Europe I plan to work for Abercrombie & Fitch and am going to do their Manager in Training program. I would eventually like to either work in their home office as a merchandiser or move to NYC to pursue another career.
5. Some of my favorite designers are Anna Sui (which was one of the accounts I worked on at KCD,) Zac Posen and Diane von Furstenberg.
6. I have 4 younger siblings; an 8 year old sister, a 5 year old sister, and a 2 year old twin brother and sister. Needless to say when I go home it is not a very quite and relaxing trip! However, I love them all to death and they are so cute and fun to be around.
7. I obviously love to spend lots of my time and money on shopping and have the closet to prove it! If I had to pick one item that I always love to buy it would be purses, I never get sick of shopping for purses, and own them in all different colors styles and sizes!

I hope that you enjoyed everything that I had to say about myself!

Posted by Amanda at 06:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Disney just teamed up with Kristie Kelly to make a new line of bridal gowns based of the Disney characters. They have dresses based on their popular princesses. The dress will each embody the character they are modeled after: Ariel is sultry and alluring, Sleeping Beauty is lovely and romantic, Belle is stylish sophistication, Cinderella radiates glamour and elegance, Jasmine is bohemian chic, and Snow White is sweet and demure. The collection is called the Fairy Tale Wedding Collection and the dresses will retail for between $1,100 and $3,500. There will also be a “Maidens” collection for the bridesmaids.

Posted by Ashley at 10:08 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Much of my blogging has been about what styles are new and upcoming or even things happening in fashion news, but I want to give all my readers a little bit of information about myself or other tidbits for those who do not know me. I probably should have done this sooner, but hey better late than never right? Anyone who would like to repost this with information about them feel free to do so.

1. I am a merchandising major with big dreams of moving to NYC to pursue a career in visual merchandising.
2. I completed an internship last summer at FIT with a company called Intermix.
3. You will never see my toenails unpolished, it’s one of my quirks and personally I hate the way they look unpolished.
4. I work as a legal assistant at law firm in Amherst as well as a sales associate at Esprit in the outlet mall (stop in and say hi, we just opened!)
5. I have one older sister and I love being an aunt. My 2 year-old nephew, Sean is a joy to be around and he is lucky to have a mom like my sister.
6. Sephora is heaven on earth for me, I keep up with all the latest beauty trends and I love to try new products.
7. Some of my favorite designers include: Valentino, Missoni, YSL, and Chanel.
8. I would like in my lifetime to own at least one designer handbag before I die.
9. My love of shoes started when I was a little girl and I used to try on my mother’s heels and now I am addicted. I spend a majority of my money on buying shoes.
10. I love to spend time with the people who are closest to me.

I hope anyone who read this would repost with information about yourselves; I would like to hear what you have to say to get to know more about you.

Posted by Alexa at 10:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I guess everything eventually comes back in style, for fall colored denim will be back in style. Not only are styles from past decades are coming back but also denim brands. A brand from the 70’s, DITTO, is also back, and of course in color. Frankie B jeans just signed a license to bring this label back. Hopefully we will see them soon in stores near us.

I honestly would not put your blue denim away, because I honestly don’t think they are going to be around long. They were shown in WWD as the new trend for fall, but when I was looking at some RTW from fall fashion shows I was still seeing blue as well as black denim. They may be cute, but I don’t think a lot of people are going to spend there money on them. I would like to know how many readers would go out and buy a pair?? A lot of denim company have already begun to sell the colored denim at Neiman Marcus and Bloomindales.
Below are Joe Jeans in Blue, Citizens of Humanity in Pink, Dolce and Gabanna in Green, and Rich and Skinny in Red.

Posted by Stacy at 05:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I was just reading that Sarah Jessica Parker is coming out with a new scent this fall called Covet Sarah Jessica Parker. I hope that this scent is better than her last scent, lovely. The ad for the perfume is supposed to be really good, so be sure that everyone watches it this summer. Also Macy’s will be having a preview from mid-july to mid-august. It is actually due out this fall. The WWD website described the fragrance as being “fougère on estrogen,” which means it will be a mix of masculinity as well as femininity.
When I was trying to find more information I came across this great website, coutorture. It gives the new makeup as well as apparel coming out for this summer. Check out the new OPI nail colors for summer, they are great, but also two very contrasting collections.

Posted by Stacy at 08:47 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

So I was at work the other day at the gap and we got in new shipment of organic cotton. I immediately bought one because they were so soft, but then i starting seeing more organic cotton shirts and natural apparel products all around. I wanted to look online and see what else was out there, “environmentally friendly” clothes, and there is so much out there.

There is actually a website, alternative outfitters, that has a number of shoes, belts and other accessories that are vegan. This means that no animal porducts go into making these products.There are a few t-shirts that are also cute for vegan/vegetarians. If this sounds at all interesting please check it out. The shoes on this website are very cute, and also gives you links to other websites. Also if you are looking for some unique products there is a website, uncommon goods, that acutally has organic messenger bags as well as make-up bags. They are unique and not many people are going to have them. They are made by cambodian women out of recycled bags.

These products may be more expensive. but more designers are starting to go this route. On the hip & zen website it has many different designers with organic products, vegan, recycled, etc. The prodcuts are adorable and so much better for the environment. There are also stores in bigger cities that carry loomstate denim, which is also made from 100% organic cotton.

Not only is natural prodcuts popular with apparel but also with beauty products. The Sephora website has many products that are natural.Sephora carries organic. natural and botanical beauty products. Natural means that the products are made without additives of certain synthetic additives like non natural chemicals, colors, and fragrances. Organic means that all main ingredients are grown without chemicals or pesticides. And last, botanical means that the products are made from naturally derived ingreidients and oils. You can also check out the naturalstore online to find other natural beauty products as well as other household and apparel items.

Posted by Stacy at 02:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I went to NYC this past week to visit FIT and check out the campus. I checked out my friend’s dorm and was surprised by the size. The surrounding apartments go for least $4,000 a month so the size and location is unbeatable. There were also guards outside of each building and the area seemed very safe. I was also told by a very picky eater that the food is excellent. My friend is enrolled in the one year advertising and public relations program. She is completing her internship and has already been offered a position in her field. The whole experience was very encouraging and if FIT seems like something that would be beneficial for your career path then you should consider the opportunity.

Posted by Ashley at 11:23 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Esprit, the clothing company that made sweatshirts “cool” in the 90’s is back again. Within the past few years, Esprit has been gaining more and more popularity since they re-emerged with a newly sophisticated line of apparel. Esprit now features Esprit Collection, more of your investment dressing as Dr. Searle would say, offering “tailored-looking” blazers, dress pants/slacks, blouses, and work wear. Esprit realized in order to stay competitive in the apparel industry they would have to re-vamp their line and target a different type of customer. In keeping true to Esprit style, they still offer polo shirts with the signature E embroidered on the chest, playful and flirty going out tops as well as casual denim coordinates. What I really like about the “new” Esprit is how well they transition from their target markets, they offer something for everyone. Under the Esprit brand, they have expanded to eyewear, shoes, kids, baby, as well as housewares. Although the housewares can only be found in Germany, it is not hard to walk into a shoe store and find Esprit brand shoes or choose a pair of Esprit sunglasses or eyeglasses at your local optical. The company has truly become a global brand.

Continue reading "Esprit to open in Fashion Outlets-4.15.07" »

Posted by Alexa at 10:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack