Last night driving through a wicked snowstorm in New Hampshire I was struck first, by the unbelievable beauty of the whiteout that surrounded my car and second, how dangerous it was. My wipers were freezing over and no one had plowed. Thank goodness for the rear lights on the car I was following. The dichotomy of the moment was not lost on my creative conscience. How often in life does … Read More
By Jennifer Cermak
In 1948 Diva started manufacturing swimwear using the know-how of brassieres and lingerie. In the 70’s Diva became a brand known for its elegance, impeccable fit, flattering silhouette, exclusive designs and innovative fabrics in the swimwear industry. The vision is that every lady who wares a Diva swimsuit, should feel like a diva.
The campaign for the 2014 collection is sophisticated and glamorous. You desire that lifestyle … Read More
In the mid 1980’s when I was VP of Private Label Development at Macy’s charged with building quality brands that would define the corporations Intimate Apparel business, I took a trip up to Bloomingdales where a Japanese based brand had just launched into the market. The company, Wacoal, had been carefully curated for the North American consumer. I was curious because in those years, all our textile research and … Read More
by Ellen Lewis
There’s nothing like the past to preview the future. And personally I have always had a passion for the finery of yesteryear. Add to the equation my favorite color, green. My only revelation, all these retro styles come from a time when I was young. Nice to see the inspiration preserved.
Someone told me the other day, that the market can seem so redundant; same old, same old. It’s not easy buying for margin and profit. You have to focus on inventory that sells quickly and often. In the USA, in particular, that often means basics, no nonsense, practical merchandise that speaks to a broad customer base. How, then, to balance the reality of the bottom line with the beauty of … Read More
By Ali Cudby
In preparation for the New Year and the upcoming shows, it’s a good time to take a look at your buying strategy. Is it working for you? Could it use a tune-up? Is your buying strategy hurting your business?
Some stores function without a buying strategy. Those stores are certainly putting themselves at risk every time they go to Market. Even stores that have a strategy for … Read More
Our Cristina whose column this is, has been absent for awhile due to a big move to Washington DC from Brooklyn, NY and now- Big Congratulations!- a brand new baby boy, Theodore Anthony King. Ex-Legwear buyer that I am, this is a venue to which I am always drawn so I thought I might provide a bit of insight while she is gone.
I love this sheer anklet trend. It’s … Read More