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Trends/Analysis - Retail - WWD.com http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/trends-analysis/retailers-see-myriad-opportunities-for-fal... Page 5 of 6 2/25/2013 as important for this spring. “I’m seeing a lot of printed Neoprene, fitted to the body as well as flared. I see that as a trend for spring and maybe carrying over into fall in new classifications,” she said. In denim, colors were everywhere last spring, but most retailers agreed that they are becoming less significant sales drivers. “I don’t see it being as strong [as] last spring. The market got flooded with colored denim,” said Hardy of Zappos. “I think you are seeing interesting patterns and also a move away from denim and a move into pants. You are seeing more of the sportswearinspired pieces that are a little bit dressier.” Lady Fuller, president of 18-unit Blues Jean Bar, noticed prints from herringbones to florals taking over for colors in denim. “Folks pretty much bought their colors last season and are gravitating toward blue skinny jeans and prints to spice it up and go that extra mile,” she said. Yerkes described colored denim as “soft. We had quite a bit of primary colors at the end of 2012 and the beginning of January. They didn’t take off,” she said. “We brought in a lot of pastels for spring again. Right now, it has been a little slow.” While colored denim has been off, she noted “destroyed, washed” jeans are doing well, singling out a Current/Elliott stiletto style. Dear John Denim at WWDMAGIC. Photo By Courtesy Photo At Vanity, Shea said color jeans were never more than window dressing, and she didn’t anticipate that to change. “What I think is new for this year that is not in her closet would be some studding and embellishment, maybe up the side. There will be destruction and denim in the lighter washes, moving more toward the bleached-out look,” she elaborated. Although the economy is limping along, retailers were predominantly optimistic about the state of business. “Our business is good right now,” said Hardy. “I’m going to bank on the fact that she [the customer] is confident in what’s out there. She likes what is being presented, and she is going to continue to spend money.” Revolveclothing.com’s Yerkes said, “Our business is really strong, better than ever. We have been able to really talk to our customers a bit more. We are going to have, I hope, a really strong year.” Retailers have detected a willingness on the part of shoppers to pay a premium for items when they are unique. Fuller said, “People are spending again, where for many years they weren’t. I don’t see that going away in the near future.” Todd Snyder at the Tents@Project. Photo By Courtesy Photo
Trends/Analysis - Retail - WWD.com http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/trends-analysis/retailers-see-myriad-opportunities-for-fal... Page 6 of 6 2/25/2013 Yerkes concurred, saying, “Before, they were hesitant to buy higher price points and now that the economy is shifting, people are purchasing those high-dollar pieces.” At Vanity, Shea was concerned that delays in tax refunds and increases in payroll taxes might make customers tentative about parting with their money. Still, she commented customers aren’t buying the cheapest of the cheap just because they are priced low. She said, “We have the more basic commodity items, but when we add some embellishment on the jeans, for example, she will pay for it. She does know what she wants in terms of trends, and she does want something new in her closet.” Shea said Vanity’s budget for fall merchandise is at least equal to last year and not being “decreased by any means.” However, that doesn’t mean Vanity isn’t careful about what it is bringing into its stores. She emphasized versatility is paramount. “Our approach is investing heavily into those key uniform pieces she can get the most wear out of versus being spread throughout in fashion,” said Shea. And, even as price sensitivity wanes, retailers continue to pay close attention to the price options that work in their stores. At Scoop NYC, Hoelzer would like to find more quality accessory resources in the contemporary price range of $400 to $800 in which Rag & Bone and Marc by Marc Jacobs have been prominent players. “That is a sweet spot that retailers including myself are looking to fill,” she said. One positive — and surprising — development at the start of 2013 is the strength of swimwear. Hardy didn’t know what to make of the bump in swimwear. He guessed, “People have wanted to escape where they are at.” Hoelzer thinks it portends well for the rest of the year: “That’s always a good sign — that people are traveling and taking vacations.” WWD Copyright © 2013 Fairchild Fashion Media. All rights reserved.
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