After attending dozens of inspiring fashion shows at New York’s Fashion Week, I’m very thankful I’ve learned to take careful notes. So many designers are putting their best foot forward for fall 2010; it’s hard to keep track of all the exciting future trends in contemporary apparel.
Here are a few of my favorites in RTW contemporary wholesale apparel:
* Velvet showed up in some surprisingly soft yet edgy ways, both in floor-length gowns by Nanette LePore and in bright, flirty mini-dresses by Zac Posen. Velvet even showed up in tailored pants and vests by Charlotte Ronson, and on platform boots by the ever-urban Alexander Wang.
* Wang also lined up some rugby striped looks with his sporty collections, and the same overt stripes were seen in dressed up, lacy cardigans by Charlotte Tarantola. Could this tomboy trend become an influence on junior fashion apparel as well?
* Another designer that captured my attention was Jason Wu, and his new collection of great cashmere sweaters and flannel blazers for Tse. Of all the wintry ensembles on this runway, my favorite was Wu’s sensational fox fur coat. Pair this with one of his sexy chiffon dresses and the textures can overwhelm the senses.
* The Vera Wang fall collection was inspired by the mystery and moodiness of the “film noir” genre, a highly seductive aesthetic that included models coiffed like sexy film stars of yesteryear. Most of the girls were dressed in black, with collars spilling into abundant sleeves, gorgeous sparkling jewelry and dollops of fur worthy of any “femme fatale”. Closely aligned with the curve of the body, Vera Wang created an interesting juxtaposition of fluffy flourishes against a form-fitting silhouette.
The contemporary apparel seen at Fashion Week was surprisingly carefree and decadent, despite the fashion community’s nervousness about consumer spending patterns. Excitement generated during this wintry week will determine which styles are chosen by wholesale fashion boutique buyers around the world and from what I can tell, it looks like consumers are in for a treat this fall.
Tags: Contemporary Apparel, Contemporary Wholesale Apparel, Wholesale Fashion Boutique
If you lived through the 80’s, you are probably familiar with the term “preppy”, which usually referred to an Izod-shirt wearing crew of crisply attired, self-centered young men and women with a more conservative approach to dressing. Instead of sporting some of the faddish contemporary wholesale apparel like leg warmers, Chinese jackets and Sassoon jeans, the preppy crowd always looked “prepared” for success in pressed chinos and pastel-colored oxford shirts. Think Buffy and Biff in their Volvo convertible and you will get the picture.
A lot has changed since the 80’s. Instead of munching on Pop Rocks and listening bands like Culture Club and the Knack, today’s preps are more tuned into political and social issues. They’re just as competitive in academic and social circles too. And while they represent the lion’s share of spending on junior fashion apparel, they are less flamboyant than their peers. This group is extremely brand-conscious, hence their obsession with the recognizable moose and birds stitched onto their favorite clothing, but they stick to these labels because they are more widely acceptable as the “right” ones.
Unlike the “preppies” of previous generations, preps are not superficial; they are simply more conservative with their choice of colors and patterns. You will rarely see a prep wear black in their everyday clothing. They tend to choose contemporary apparel in shades of navy, pea green, maroon, cream and grey. Partly inspired by the luxury generation, preps are motivated by the appearance of wealth. Try buying a teenage prep a top from a department store that looks exactly like their favorite brand-name clothing and you will find yourself in line to return it a few days later.
Wholesale fashion apparel buyers know that to attract a wealthy “prep” audience, they must look for well-fitting brand name clothing in stripes and solids. Despite any claims they make to the contrary, preps care very much about their reputation, and any deviance from the junior clothing apparel labels approved by their crowd will make them feel like an outsider.
Tags: Contemporary Apparel, Contemporary Wholesale Apparel, Junior Fashion Apparel, Wholesale Fashion Apparel