It’s late February already, and that means it’s time for spring fashions to roll into department and specialty stores. Remember, these goods were ordered before Sept. 11, when Americans were still carefree about world affairs although growing more concerned about their jobs and the economy.
Not surprisingly, there are plenty of silly trends to pick from, fashion consultants say, running the gamut from the prim and pretty “Jackie O.” look to “porno chic” for the leather and corset crowd. That’s quite a gamut.
Other spring looks draw on African safaris and Grecian goddesses for inspiration.
But there also are some big-picture shifts that smart shoppers should pay attention to–and welcome, according to David Wolfe, creative director with the Doneger Group, the New York-based fashion consulting firm that helps retailers make smarter fashion bets.
Silhouettes are getting looser, moving away from the body-hugging fashions of recent years.
Full skirts are back and so is the “boyfriend jacket,” the longer, looser look popularized by Donna Karan more than a decade ago. Pants are softer looking and have wider legs. It’s all good news for aging Baby Boomers who have struggled in recent years to find flattering clothes for 50-year-old bodies.
“Fashion has gotten too trashy and silly,” Wolfe says. “All designers can do is retreat.”
Still, no one would call the spring looks stodgy. They still feature plenty of revealing features such as transparent fabrics, lace and cutouts in daring spots. Off-the-shoulder looks are prevalent as are bare-back dresses and sheer blouses. For the really daring, there will be a sprinkling of micro minis and hot pants.
The bottom line, says Wolfe: It’s a step in the right direction.
Dog days: It’s probably not one of the awards that will hang in Chief Executive Alan Lacy’s office. Sears, Roebuck and Co. has received the “Iditarod Dead Dog Award” from the Sled Dog Action Coalition, an animal rights organization that believes sled dogs are abused while running the 1,151-mile race from Anchorage to Nome.
Lacy received the dubious honor because Sears’ Alaskan district is a sponsor of the annual race, which begins on March 2. Along with scores of other companies, Sears has been a loyal Iditarod sponsor for years. The event has proven a popular rallying point for Sears employees in the frozen north, said Sears spokeswoman Jan Drummond.
But there’s a new district manager in Alaska, and the watchword at Lacy’s Sears is productivity. The new manager conducted an analysis and couldn’t find a business benefit from the Iditarod sponsorship, so Sears’ involvement will be crossing the finish line after the coming race.
“It’s strictly a business decision,” Drummond said.
Drummond has been around long enough to know the sled dog group will take credit for Sears’ withdrawal, just as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals claimed they were responsible for Sears’ 1999 decision not to continue its sponsorship of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. Which they weren’t, she added.
Indeed, the Sled Dog Action Coalition’s Web site claims credit for 10 companies withdrawing their Iditarod sponsorships including Home Depot and Microsoft Corp.
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