This is a funny week, the last week in August. It feels as if the whole world is on vacation. However, I think it is much more likely that as women, we are consumed with more mundane matters; fall prep and summer’s last hurrah. Personally, I found myself in a cleansing mode this past week-end. I decided to purge my bra drawer. Yes, I have an entire drawer devoted to … Read More
Silent Arrow
Seasonal trends, as we know them, are over. That is not to say, that there are not design messages. It’s simply that these messages overlap, moving fluidly between key intimate and RTW classifications; blurring boundaries. Leggings become pants, Robes become jackets, Bodysuits and bras become blouses. And Pajamas go everywhere. Concepts Paris calls this Hybrid dressing. It is a perfect definition of the evolution (revolution) occurring in a … Read More
Some years ago, after my first child was born, my husband gave me an exquisite piece of jewelry for Christmas: a cabochon ruby choker embraced by diamonds. This created a conundrum for me. Precious jewelry was not really my thing. I did not even want an engagement ring. But my grandmother had once told me that I must never return a gift from my husband, that each offering was a … Read More
This week has been an intense market drill down: three full days at Curve NY, The Lingerie Select, followed by showroom appointments. Spring 18 previews, current business reviews and fall strategy meetings: these generate a great deal of input requiring thoughtful analysis. Look for a defined perspective shortly. But today, I want to highlight an English label that I love for its lingerie purity, Gilda & Pearl. I visited … Read More
Years ago, before social media, when my job was inextricably linked to Victoria Secret (a client), the VS catalog was a mail order lingerie bible. Born and raised in a department store brick and mortar world where hanger appeal dictated product decisions, learning an entire new set of merchandising rules for catalog sales was enlightening. The picture was everything. VS would develop and place orders with us. Then they would … Read More
The very first lesson I ever learned as a merchant was the pursuit of the key item and how to maximize its potential. The term “key item intensification” became a maxim for good retail practice. Identifying a product and expanding its exposure while eliminating styles trickling along in sales is the mark of a savvy buyer. This practice carries through to the wholesale venue. It takes only one great item … Read More
Recently, I finished listening to the American Biography, Hidden Figures. It is the story of three brilliant African-American women whose work at NASA served as the brains behind one of the greatest accomplishments in American History: the launch of John Glenn into space. Many of you may have seen the movie, which was extremely well done. But, the book delves far deeper into the lives of these women, the enormous … Read More