FabSugar

On Our Radar: Seasonless Dressing on the Horizon?

FabSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:00:22 -0700

Fashion moves at the speed of light. While some designers with sound financing can keep up, there are many who can't and don't want to. Those in the latter situation have shifted their mentality and are taking a more seasonless stance on fashion.

"What excites us about the seasonless approach is that after decades of forced obsolescence by design in retail, people are beginning to rewrite the rules on what is an acceptable rhythm in the fashion cycle," said Brian Janusiak, founder of Project No. 8, a fashion and design outpost in New York's Chinatown.

Signs of a seasonless fashion future have already surfaced. First, global warming is causing seasonal temperature changes and unpredictability. A more subtle change is that designers are placing more importance on resort collections. Diane von Furstenberg, for example, included more seasonless pieces in her 2009 resort collection (above) to give her jet-setting customers more flexibility.

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Fab Flash: A Trend Toward Seasonless Dressing

FabSugar — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:30:22 -0700

Unpredictable weather patterns are wreaking havoc on traditional Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter fashion seasons, and fashion designers are having to adapt "to the reality that there is no strong difference between Summer and Winter any more," Beppe Modenese, founder of Milan Fashion Week, told The New York Times.

Fashion giants like Liz Claiborne Inc, Target, and Kohl's have all hired climatologists to help them plan for their next collections, and Target is even promising to sell swimwear year-round starting in January.

But the bottom line, as Harriet Quick, fashion features director of Vogue UK says, is that "we'll start to see a move toward what you could call trans-seasonal or all-year-clothing." If this happens, it means that you will be able to get more wear out of what you buy - and I'm not going to argue with that!

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Fab Flash: Retailers Dish on What Sells in Tough Economy

FabSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:30:00 -0700

Despite retailers desperate attempts at special promotions and sales, consumers are still gripping their purse strings, tightly. "Specialty retailers have been pulling out their entire bag of tricks in the desperate hope of convincing the reticent shopper to spend,” said Catherine Sadler, president of marketing firm Catherine Sadler Group. “But, as we all know by now, it hasn’t worked." With their failed attempts, retailers are now trying out a different strategy by looking for what customers want in this tough economy.

Sadler notes that new items with standout qualities such as J. Crew's high-end line at affordable prices and Anne Taylor's smart move in creating washable clothes will be retailers only hope. According to retail reports, customers want classic items with a twist such as Banana Republic's Tie-Neck Black Dress ($175), Lacoste’s Long Sleeve V-neck Sweater Dress ($165), and Tory Burch's Purple Crinkle Chiffon Blouse ($295) seen above - all of which were reported as current best-sellers.

To find out what sells, read more.

Versatile pieces that transition from office to evening
Seasonless fabrics
Tops that can move from outfit to outfit
Newness and novelty items that surprises the customer
Solid price-value relationships

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On Our Radar: Online Retailers Stock Fall Goodies

FabSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:00:22 -0700

The sun may still be shining bright in your neck of the woods, but soon Fall will be upon us, bringing with it crunchy leaves and gusty winds. With the notion of seasonless dressing becoming more of a reality, investing in Fall pieces now is not such a bad idea. That way you can use now and later. A slew of online retailers have started thinking ahead by stocking Autumn goodies now, like this Pollini Cutout Ankle Bootie ($695). Get ahead while you can.

Shopbop - Great for boots and leather jackets.
Bluefly - Fall preview dresses and cashmere sweaters.
Urban Outfitters - Look for dark-hued floral dresses, sheer tights, cardigans.
Oak NYC - fashion-forward hoodie tanks, knot necklaces, and colorful fringed scarves.
Ami Ami - Good for sweaters and leather.

To see some more, read more

Yoox - Awesome designer capes and other outerwear.
Lulu's - Checkered coats and plaid dresses.
Bag Borrow or Steal - Regal purple purses and jewels.
eLuxury - Fall designer collections by 3.1 Phillip Lim, Proenza Schouler, and more.

Simply Fab: Sheer Tight Two-For-One

FabSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:00:22 -0700

Opaque tights have had a good run, but on many Spring and Fall runways we witnessed sheer tights. The new crop of sheer tights, like these Urban Outfitters Sheer Tights ($12, or two for $20), are totally fresh and laudable in fashion circles. They come in six different colors; the stone and dusty rouge hues will give the illusion you're not wearing any tights. These sheer hose will still keep your legs warm, while giving them a bit of metallic shine. These couldn't have come at a better time, considering seasonless dressing is on the horizon and Fall is around the corner.

Fab Finger Discount! Arden B. Electric Pink Dress

FabSugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:00:22 -0800

Want a dress that's reasonably priced and will turn some heads? Check out this Arden B. Tunic Sweater (on sale for $49, originally $98). I was considering for my New Year's getup. The color is awesome and the slight cocoon bottom is modern. It's also quite seasonless if you get creative. Which I know you all are itching to get!

New York Fashion Week, Spring 2008: Mara Hoffman

FabSugar — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 04:00:22 -0700

Here is a Spring collection that delivered some punch. Never one to shy away from bold prints, sexy cuts and flowing hemlines, you could tell Mara had fun with this one. Inspired by Birds of Paradise, in a forbidden garden to boot, the prints conjure up images of peacocks, art nouveau and simply - the tropics! Not for the shy, with necklines down to there, and hemlines up to here, these dramatic dresses and separates aim to please the hot weather jet-setter. Flowing fabrics of silk chiffon, charmeuse and jersey elegantly draped bodies; colors were a cocktail of brights. The crowd was into it and we were all left fantasizing about our next hot getaway.

I also nabbed a few minutes with Mara to talk about her collection and herself - she was really sweet and clearly thrilled about the outcome of her new collection!

To read my exclusive interview with Mara and to see the rest of her Spring collection, read more

A successful collection is...
A perfect collaboration with my design partner, Klee VanSchoonhoven, and watching everything coming together and being really happy with the way everything turned out.

Style Icon?
Bianca Jagger

Key piece from the collection?
The silk blue flower jumpsuit. I just love jumpsuits and it's so fun.

If we looked in your closet we would see a lot of...
White button down shirts stolen from my husband, comfy pants and loungewear.

One wardrobe staple every woman should have?
A pair of killer boots that is right for them and seasonless.

View 21 Photos ›

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