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Dolce and Gabbana Slashes Prices (!)

FabSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:00:22 -0700

Dolce and Gabbana customers, get ready for something major: 10 to 20 percent lower retail prices for both the main and D&G lines. The Italian designing duo has slashed its prices because of the current economic state. "In this moment of uncertainty, people spend more willingly on travel or spas rather than on a new dress. We want to work for the final consumer," Gabbana said.

But fret not, the quality of the clothes won't be sacrificed. Instead of hundreds of fabrics, the designers are now using dozens. Plus, constructions will be simpler, and alternative stitching techniques will be used. According to Dolce, "This is the only way to save the market and our companies. It’s time to turn the page." Agreed.
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Has the Recession Reduced the Thrill of Shopping?

FabSugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 08:50:22 -0700

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Phillip Lim Unleashes a Triple Threat

FabSugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:00:22 -0700

Amidst troubling economic times, Phillip Lim is staying positive about his business. While some designers are struggling to meet numbers, Phillip Lim's team is predicting a 15 percent increase of sales this year, giving credit to Lim's smartly priced, edgy designs. Next on tap for the budding designer? Adding three new lines to his brand: footwear, lingerie, and swim. Right now,” said Lim, “it’s not about sitting back and letting things happen. It’s about taking a step forward and pushing the envelope."

Lim’s swim collection, debuting this Summer, will consist of three styles - two maillots and a bikini made in floral prints retailing at $175. “We brought a girly, playful element to it,” said Lim. His lingerie line, named 3.1 Phillip Lim Initials, evokes the same femininity and will range from $65 to $175. The official launch of his lingerie line is Spring '10, but fans can nab them early at his boutique starting May 20. For shoes, Lim focused on creating practical designs. “Everyone’s making crazy shoes,” said Lim, “so we were like, ‘Let’s do working shoes, but sophisticated and beautiful.’"Lim's footwear collection, ranging from $290 to $675, will debut in the Fall.

To see pieces from Lim's swimwear, lingerie, and footwear line, read more.

View 3 Photos ›

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Good News Bears

FabSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:30:22 -0700

Finally, some good news. If you have a subscription to WWD, you probably wake up every day to another company reporting negative profits. After months and months, it's quite the downer. True, rock-hard luxury companies like Louis Vuitton are keeping afloat, but how is everyone else doing? WWD surveyed top designers and retail executives, and the outlook was overly optimistic. If you need a pick-me-up or just want to be enlightened, check out my favorite quotes from the article.

Michael Kors: “The good news is in this crazy, terrible economy, I think people’s taste is getting better. They have to think about what they buy and they’re getting a more discerning eye because of it. There are no more shoes you can’t walk in, bags you can’t carry, dresses you can’t sit in. All of that’s finished. It’s like the beginning of Gone With the Wind, ‘This is about a time long, long ago.’ The handbag that’s so heavy I can’t lift it, the shoe I can’t get out of a car in, the dress I have to lean in - those are memories from a time that’s gone with the wind."

Karl Lagerfeld: "You have to have something very quality and fashion at the same time, and the names are the guarantee of all that. That’s why big names are important. That’s why it might be more difficult for smaller companies. Also, Chanel is beautifully run as a company. There are no debts. There’s no healthier business than Chanel."

To read what Marc Jacobs, Rachel Roy, Givenchy's CEO, and more are happy about, read more

Marc Jacobs: “The weather is beautiful. I’m in love. I’m engaged to be married. I’m working on building a new home, and working in the studio with Steven Meisel and Madonna on the next [Louis Vuitton] campaign. Then, I have two days of shooting with Juergen [Teller]. The Met is [tonight], which I’m excited about. I’m receiving a FiFi Award. Then, we receive the International CFDA award for Louis Vuitton. So, I kind of have really great stuff on a daily basis. I can’t find anything to be unhappy about at the moment."

Fabrizio Malverdi, CEO, Givenchy: “I’m just back from the Middle East. I went to Kuwait, Bahrain, and Dubai, and it’s good to see that the atmosphere is not as depressing as in other countries. The energy is really positive. For Givenchy, we are opening new stores with the new concept we introduced a year ago [in Paris on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré]. The reaction to this new concept is really good, and we have an existing partner that wants to open stores based on it. Europe and Russia are suffering a lot, but in general, Givenchy’s women’s prêt-à-porter is going well. The sell-throughs are good. And if the customer has fun buying it, that’s the real success. We have to inject a bit of life, a bit of fun, and a bit of coolness in the market. That’s the reason why people are still buying.”

Stefano Gabbana: “First of all, we feel hypercreative, reactive, excited, and stimulated. Strangely enough, given the times, we feel good and feel the urge to experiment. I think this crisis has bought back many core values, and fashion has achieved a more human and traditional aspect, which we appreciate. Many superfluous elements have been wiped away and it’s OK if people buy less because they have too much of everything. It’s useless to have too much of everything. It’s like sitting down to a five-course meal when a plate of pasta will do just fine. This reevaluation to me is good news.”

Dries van Noten: “We just won the Fashion Institute of Technology’s 2009 Couture Council Award For Artistry of Fashion. I’m very proud of that. We opened the store in Tokyo at the end of March. It was a decision that was made at the end of October, so it’s not something most people think, ‘Oh, it was made before the crisis started.’ It’s still totally the right moment to do something like that, because it’s unexpected. Why not at this moment? It’s difficult maybe for a lot of people, but still, life continues. Shopping and buying fashion and fashion itself, are just parts of life."

Phillip Lim: “Good news - my plants in my garden are happy and about to bloom. My dog Oliver has recently learned to lay down - on command. I am more inspired, and my focus is clearer then ever! Life is good, as it’s really the simple things that I have come back to. It’s been a reawakening."

Karen Katz, president and chief executive officer, Neiman Marcus Stores: “The customer is still engaged. When we present her with the right trends, she is responding. For our storewide focus on a color, we settled on the color pink. Our customers are feminine. Pink has been perfect for her; she has definitely embraced pink. She’s also been buying anything with a feminine detail.

Diane von Furstenberg: “I think there was too much of everything, and I feel like the whole industry had to take a laxative. We just had too much s-t, and therefore there’s a cleansing thing that happens. All of a sudden it’s not so much about marketing as it is about product. We kept on saying, ‘Oh, it will sell, you know, it doesn’t matter,’ and now we’re not like that anymore. Now we’re just being much more careful."

Simon Doonan, creative director, Barneys New York: “Having been through a number of depressed periods, most notably the '70s, I find a lot of explosive creativity comes out of these periods. The punk movement in England came out of the terrible, terrible economic depression that hit England in the early '70s. A creative rage can come out of [hard times], which is an immensely productive thing and has a huge impact on fashion design and marketing.

Rachel Roy: “The good news is having the opportunity to create the secondary line [Rachel Rachel Roy] for this younger customer. It gets my mind off of designer woes and all the hardships of getting your designer clothes into specialty stores and department stores right now. It’s a fun project - it’s younger, it’s fun, it’s a bit edgy, and certain things could be a bit naughty that I can’t do in designer."

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Fab Flash: Saks Fifth Avenue's Dismal Downturn

FabSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:00:22 -0800

Saks Fifth Avenue is one of our favorite online stores, but it's been experiencing major economic woes.

In November, the luxury retailer reported “widespread weakness” with a net loss of $42.8 million. Today, the luxury retailer announced it will be closing shop on all but two of its bridal salons. The two bridal salons left standing will be the New York flagship and the Beverly Hills store. All other locations are set to close sometime next year. Saks will start marking down its bridal collections - which includes designs from the likes of Carolina Herrera, Jenny Packham, Monique Lhuillier , and Oscar de la Renta - in January - future brides take note!

On the flip side, Neiman Marcus reported a $12.9 million profit this quarter. Both retailers seem similar so we wonder why one's doing much better than the other. Care to enlighten us?

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New and Improved ShopStyle Sale Alerts (Yay)

FabSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:00:22 -0800

In a fashion recession, shopping smart is the way to survive. I normally try to shop smart, but with the holidays around the corner and money top of mind, it's great to have some survival tools.

I told you about SaleHabit.com, a site that allows you to only search the best of the best sales right now. But here's another savvy tool. The ShopStyle we all know and love has kicked sale alerts into high gear allowing you to choose your favorites brands and items and be emailed when they go on sale. You receive easy emails when the chosen items are reduced and you can happily shop from there. I am currently monitoring a few of my favorite brands - Alexander Wang, J.Crew and Marc by Marc Jacobs - and can't wait to see what turns up on sale tomorrow, and the day after that! Happy sale shopping.

Fashion Recession: Fab's Guide to Savvy Shopping, Part III

FabSugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:00:22 -0800

By now, you've already given yourself a monthly shopping allowance and reintroduced yourself to your closet. Let's move forth.

Tip #6: There is no better time to hit the sale racks than now. My Online Sale Alerts can help, as can SaleHabit.com, a.k.a. the Google for fashion sales. Be careful not to buy more just because the items you're finding are so cheap. There's no use in discount shopping if you're going to spend frivolously.

To hear more, read more.

Other bargain online retailers to check out are eBay (and our eBay Find of the Week), Etsy, and pretty much every online retailer's sale section. Don't overlook your local thrift shops; they're bound to have great deals.

Tip #7: Many of you already do this, but if you don't, start selling your unwanted goods on eBay and at your local consignment store. It may seem like a hassle - and at times it is - but it will feel great when the dough starts raking in. Designer brands tend to attract more customers, so dust off that Louis Vuitton you haven't carried in years and sell it to someone who will give it more love. Here are some tips for listing your items on eBay:

Sell items that are on trend, that people are currently lusting over. This will increase your selling chances.
Put yourself in the customer's shoes; what search words would you input in order to find your desired item? Use those words in the description headline.
To determine your starting amount, research eBay to find out what your competition has done. If possible, sell your item for a little less.
Though posting one picture is free, I say spend a few more dollars and take several photos of your item. It helps customers see every angle of your piece.
If you don't mind showing your face on the Internet, I recommend taking a picture of you in the item. It's more desirable than if it's sitting on your bed.

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Fashion Recession: Fab's Guide to Savvy Shopping, Part II

FabSugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:00:22 -0800

I hope that my Guide to Savvy Shopping, Part I has already inspired you to adjust your spending habits. Doesn't it feel good? There's more where that came from, so let's continue . . .

Tip #3: Don’t go shopping if your monthly allowance has run out. It's an obvious fact but one that needs to be reiterated. If that means not going out to "window shop," so be it. Out of sight is usually out of mind in fashion. The less you see the less tempted you'll be. When you do shop, make a list of items you want. That way, you're less prone to get sidetracked. If fashion magazines tempt you, try glancing over the pages as opposed to studying them.

To learn a couple more tips, read more.

Tip #4: Let's face it: There are going to be pieces that will scream your name and beg to be bought. Keep those high-priced items in your ShopStyle stylebook and monitor them closely. When they eventually go on sale, assuming your monthly allowance hasn't run out, purchase them - they may go back to full price. That happened when I recently purchased Banana Republic's wool trenchcoat. I bought it on sale and the next day it went back to regular price. Phew.

Tip #5: Here's another cold fact: Some of your coveted high-price items won't go on sale. If that's the case, find similar, less pricey items. My Look For Less posts are a good place to look.

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Fashion Recession: Fab's Guide to Savvy Shopping, Part I

FabSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 04:00:22 -0700

Has the sour economy got you wanting to pull out your hair? Fab to the rescue. I've put together some savvy-shopping tips to help you stay optimistic and smart about your shopping choices. SavvySugar has thoughts, too! Let's delve right in.

Tip #1: If you don't do so already, allot a certain amount of money you can spend on shopping every month. This amount, which I will help you calculate below, will vary from person to person. Just try not to go over your limit - it will be hard to break the habit once you do. Trust me.

Add up your monthly necessities costs (rent, groceries, utilities, gas, public transportation, etc).
Decide on an amount that will go into your savings each month. If you don't save (you should really try), skip this step.

To get more tips, read more

Subtract your necessities total and savings amount from your monthly salary. What's left over is roughly how much you can spend on shopping per month. Don't forget that eating out, buying coffee, or any other miscellaneous spending should deduct from this amount. Or, if you purchase something regularly, include it in your necessities costs.
Keep your shopping allowance total handy. Each time you buy an item, subtract the amount from your allowance. This will help you know how much more you can spend that month. If, say, your current amount is $200, and the blouse you want is $210, you'll know not to buy it until your amount gets refreshed. This will teach you self-restraint, patience, and discipline.

Tip #2: Reacquaint yourself with your wardrobe. I'm not suggesting talking to your closet, just get in there to know its contents better. Before you know it, you'll find pieces you completely forgot you owned. How neglectful of you! This is wonderful news though, now you can scratch off those hidden items on your "to-buy" list.

Stay tuned for more smart shopping tips!

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Fashion Recession: The Sale Motherlode at SaleHabit.com

FabSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:00:22 -0700

I'm feeling it, you're feeling it. Do I need to explain what "it" is? Let's keep our heads up during these turbulent economic times via SaleHabit.com. May I recommend, to avoid any buyer's remorse, checking if your coveted item is on sale before you hand out your plastic? That's exactly what SaleHabit allows you to do. It's a compilation of sale items on the Internet - only sale items. You can search by brand or clothing type, and refine by price, discounts, stores, size - pretty much anything. I'm already tripping about what to wear to all the upcoming holiday parties. Diane von Furstenberg guarantees the perfect party piece, but why pay full price, when all these items are already on sale? Have fun . . .