The popular social media game “What to Wear” is currently running in beta on Facebook, so you can expect to see it gain traction among teens and young women. In fact, it is expected to become so popular among teenage girls that many junior fashion apparel buyers look forward to using the application as a way to test the popularity of new junior fashion trends.
In honor of Fashion Week, the game will feature clothing and accessories from five hot designers, including Jane Marvel handbags, Selima Salaun’s eyewear, Lily Pulitzer apparel, Vanessa Noel footwear, and Colette Malouf’s jewelry and hair accessories. Players will purchase virtual goods to create the perfect outfit, and then their “friends” can vote on which player’s “outfit” is the most stylish.
The concept was created by social network game developers, Large Animal Games, in conjunction with PLUS Media. Since its Facebook debut on June 15th, “What to Wear” has generated 27 million engagements, and other social media sites will follow suit, including a mobile application for the iPhone. Since it is a proprietary system, the game can be played across multiple social networks.
As the game gains users and new designers are incorporated, expect wholesale junior fashion outlets to keep close tabs on what people are voting for. It should be a fairly accurate indicator of which trends will influence junior clothing apparel and accessories purchases next year. In addition, it will help women get a preview of how to put outfits together using some of the newer pieces being shown by top designers.
Another Facebook fashion trend is being marketed by Status King, a company that makes t-shirts that allow you to print a custom status message on it. Each t-shirt shows your picture, your status message, how long ago you “updated” it, and Facebook’s signature “what are you doing right now?” box, just as it looks on the web site. The Status King app for allows your friends to vote on the “best status” for a given week, with the winner receiving a free shirt. Hmmm…. Is this just another way to promote social media networking, or could it be the next trendy junior fashion? Look for clothing that you see advertised through these channels at Fashion Spot LA.
Tags: Junior Clothing Apparel, Junior Fashion Apparel, Trendy Junior Fashion, Wholesale Junior Fashion
Can we remain as fashionable as ever, even during one of the worst economic downturns in US history? Well, Americans aren’t known for giving up easily – especially not on fashion. So as we continue to struggle with dismal retail forecasts and record unemployment this year, many wholesale fashion apparel dealers are taking action. Instead of worrying and wondering what the next few seasons will bring, they are taking their cues from their customers, and one thing they do know is that fashion buyers are looking at junior clothing apparel much differently today than they did a year ago.
While consumers try to make their deflated dollars stretch farther than ever, they are buying clothing very selectively, stretching daytime career clothing into evening, and some weekend wear pieces into “business casual”. Even junior apparel is looking a bit more conservative this fall, and this trend is expected to continue into spring.
The key for buyers and shoppers this year is versatility. As buyers become more selective, they think about their purchases more practically and look for wardrobe pieces that can be dressed up or down and worn on various occasions. Gone are the days of the three-sectioned closet: career clothes, evening wear and sportswear. Now you will find many crossover pieces, reversible jackets, and dressed up business attire doubling as date-night outfits.
As fashion designers, manufacturers and wholesale fashion clothing distributors catch on to these trends, they will start showing up in department stores, chains and boutiques. But don’t expect to find as many somber, dark colors as you might expect during an economic crisis. Runway models are showing dusty versions of sage, plum and eucalyptus for spring 2010, and color-rich palettes were seen at Fashion Week in almost every designer collection. Visit Fashion Spot LA to see the latest in contemporary apparel and trendy junior fashion.
Tags: Contemporary Apparel, Junior Apparel, Junior Clothing Apparel, Trendy Junior Fashion, Wholesale Fashion Apparel, Wholesale Fashion Clothing
Nearly every teenage girl thinks about what it must be like to be a supermodel. While it may look like the “glamorous life”, it’s not easy being a supermodel during Fashion Week. Consider walking on miles of slick marble runways wearing five inch stilettos, and looking incredible at all times - even after spending hours in front of blinding camera lights. Then, consider that these models rarely get to stay up late and they have to shun French fries, chocolate, and nearly everything else that tastes good!
That’s what I was thinking when I attended the recent Jill Stuart fashion show at the New York Public Library and watched scantily clad, featherweight models make it all look too easy. But thanks to the youthful image this designer projects, I did get some ideas of what types of trendy junior fashion to look for in 2010. Two of my favorite pieces from the show were her billowy harem pants, and the form-fitting mini-dresses, covered with oversized studs.
Perhaps wholesale junior apparel manufacturers will create a less exaggerated version of Jill Stuart’s voluminous harem pants, but given how long they’ve been popular in Europe, it is only a matter of time before they start showing up at wholesale junior clothing showrooms.
Another trend that I’ve seen at recent fashion shows involves the color purple. Designers like Maria Pinto and Michael Kors presented their purple fashions at an event last week at the Sony Plaza Atrium to benefit the Anita Kaufman Foundation. Because purple is the international symbol for epilepsy, every model was wearing a purple dress at this New York Fashion Week fundraiser.
Men’s fashions were also shown in Purple, with models like American Idol finalist Elliot Yamin sporting an eye-catching purple suit. Other celebrity models included Ugly Betty actors Mark Indelicato and Ann Ortiz, as well as reality stars from The Bachelor, Real Housewives of New York, and American Idol. Since my favorite color is purple, I wanted to buy everything at this show. Look for some trendy junior fashion at Fashion Spot LA.
Tags: Trendy Junior Fashion, Wholesale Junior Apparel, Wholesale Junior Clothing
Spanish designer Emanuel Ungaro has tapped the often-controversial Lindsay Lohan to become an “artistic adviser” for the company. The French brand is hoping this new alliance will give it the renewed attention (good, bad or otherwise) that it has sorely lacked over the past several years. Anyone who scans the tabloids will admit that any partnership with Lohan is bound to raise the “noise level” in a big way. Whether that is good or bad remains to be seen.
Best known for her roles in “Freaky Friday” and “Mean Girls”, Lindsay Lohan has a terrific sense of trendy junior fashion. And despite her recent run-ins with the law, repeated trips to rehab, and a series of unflattering mug shots, she always seems to rise like a Phoenix from the ashes. Who knows, maybe this new role at Ungaro in Paris will breathe new life into her reputation. The designer is hoping that a celebrity face will mark a turnaround for their brand awareness.
Lindsay hopes to give Ungaro a younger face, with some harder-edged contemporary apparel, whose first fur coat – with leopard spots and a pale pink lining - was an Ungaro creation. Representing a new generation of ideas, Lohan hopes to work with designer Gabriella Archs to influence the direction of Ungaro’s creative process.
Wholesale fashion apparel outlets look forward to seeing the first collection influenced by Archs and Lohan, as it will most certainly dictate some new trends for the brand. Once it is in production, expect to see a heavily publicized launch, followed by incentives to make ready-to-wear pieces available at wholesale clothing apparel outlets such as Fashion Spot LA. This new partnership may be just the catalyst Ungaro needs to make inroads with a younger market.
Tags: Contemporary Apparel, Trendy Junior Fashion, Wholesale Clothing Apparel, Wholesale Fashion Apparel
As Fashion Week takes New York City by storm, contemporary apparel buyers are lining up to get their first glimpse of which styles will dictate next year’s trends. This is the time of the year that shopping for wholesale fashion clothing can be fun. Viewing the latest collections from top designers and attending all the parties is a blast, but trying to plan out what to buy nine months in advance is often tricky.
Here are some tips to get a head start on buying before all the fashion magazines start showing these new looks. Planning future purchases is much easier when you use some of the “tricks of the trade”.
1. Keep an eye on lesser-known labels. Big-name designers often conform their ready-to-wear pieces to meet the demands of department store buyers. The true trendsetters, whose looks are copied by everyone else, usually begin with small labels because they can exercise more creative freedom. Choose a few of these designers and you will see them become next year’s trends in contemporary apparel.
2. Look for smaller, more toned-down versions of the “over the top” accessories shown on Fashion Week runways. While the enormous and flamboyant handbags, earrings and hair bows may not become the next trend, you will certainly see smaller versions of these as you shop for wholesale boutique clothing.
3. Stay away from lines that bear a celebrity name. Sure, athletes, actors and musicians carry a certain amount of cache at fashion shows, but they are rarely tuned into what type of contemporary apparel will really sell. That’s because they are entertainers, not designers.
4. Finally, remember that fashion trends don’t change as quickly as designers would like you to think. Some of the silhouettes from last year will still work next year, so hang on to some of the best-selling pieces you already have.
Fashion Week is one of the most highly-anticipated events in the fashion industry, and the runway fashions shown here will certainly influence many buyers and young designers. This is a time to pay close attention to what you see and spend some time imagining how these new looks will appeal to your customers. If you are unable to attend fashion week yourself, visit Fashion Spot LA, the leading off price apparel buyer.
Tags: Contemporary Apparel, Off Price Apparel, Wholesale Boutique Clothing, Wholesale Fashion Clothing