If you ask today’s teenage girl what’s on her Christmas list, she will undoubtedly start rattling off a list of labels ranging from typical “mall store” items to designer duds. You can’t blame a teenager for wanting the same things they’ve always wanted. Trouble is, with the economic crisis, it’s not so realistic anymore for these “luxury generation” children to get everything on their list.
Trendy junior fashion is not immune to the changes seen on runways in New York, Milan and Paris. Even junior apparel buyers are adjusting their orders to meet a higher demand for practical yet stylish items.
Athletic apparel like jackets from The North Face, body-hugging yoga pants; baggy sweats and neon-colored Converse sneakers have replaced some of the dressed-up looks of the nineties. But some remnants from the age of excess are still favored by teenagers. Must-haves for some include a Juicy Couture hoodies, micro-clutch bags from Coach, and the ever popular UGGs from Australia.
Retailers looking to purchase junior clothing wholesale are in luck this year. Because so many designers had a lean year in 2009, most are looking to unload their warehouses over the holidays. Prices have never been better on the wholesale junior clothing market, but some retailers are reluctant to pass along these savings to their customers… at least not until the last week before Christmas.
One thing that has changed since last Christmas is that more customers are likely to search for lower-priced replicas instead of the real name-brand item, particularly if the original has a price tag that is out of reach. But expect teenage customers to continue looking for those labels at places like Fashion Spot LA. The only question this Christmas will be whether they (or their parents) can afford them.
Only Prada can take what the rest of the world considers tacky and make it work in a new collection. Case in point: Prada’s recent spring show in Milan. The inspiration? Sketchy references to crumbling Italian hotels with checkered floors, seaside postcards, clear plastics and raw edges, all blended together in a unique twist that only Prada could pull off successfully.
Even the runway itself was crafted to evoke the saturated tones of a seaside hotel, with a classical façade running the length of the runway. Then came the models sporting fly-away cropped jackets worn over long white tees with Bermudas. A mélange of clear plastic platform sandals, floral mini-shifts, floaty halter tops and souvenir postcard scenes printed on jackets gave a playful new perspective to Prada’s collection without losing the proper couturier look.
For wholesale fashion apparel buyers, the show was a refreshing twist on well established fabrics and styles, and may provide junior fashion apparel buyers’ new fodder for how they merchandise their collections this spring. If nothing else, it may precipitate orders of clear plastic footwear from wholesale fashion buyers looking to cash in on the Prada look.
Trendy junior fashions for spring 2010 may include grey florals and blue-hued postcard scenes, as well as layered spring looks that incorporate Bermudas with platform sandals. Also, look for a return of the halter top, paired with jangly chandelier-style beads. The look is raw and edgy, yet feminine; tacky and superfluous yet grounded. Overall, for junior clothing wholesale buyers, such as Fashion Spot LA, Prada has done it again!
The best part about being a “fashionista” is keeping up with the latest in trendy junior fashion and seeing how the influences of haute-couture, MTV and the Disney Channel intersect in the average teenager’s closet.
Junior apparel is somewhat tricky to predict, since teens tend to follow one another when it comes to fashion. Only when a new trend is being pushed by a few major retailers will it gain enough traction to be worn by your average high school girl. Another way a new “look” becomes popular is when it is seen on a few major celebrities, or in the hottest new music video.
Who which trends are making their way into junior clothing apparel racks this fall?
1. Believe it or not, the velvet bustier and pouf-y little mini dresses are on the must-have list for teens. This reminder of the Madonna of the eighties recalls dark eyeliner and big hair too, but thankfully they are being presented much more tastefully for ’09.
2. Face it, we’re living in some dark days and even teenage girls haven’t been immune to this. Look for some dark gray knits, muted blues and a renewed obsession with black to show up in juniors’ apparel this fall.
3. On a brighter note, neon candy pink is a hot shade for fall too, bringing to mind a generation of excess and an optimistic outlook for the future. Whether it’s a pink jumpsuit, micro-mini dress or neon pink accessories look for pink to make a comeback this fall.
4. Another glitzy trend is platinum and gold – not just in shoes and accessories, but in jackets, shirts and handbags too. Pair a gleaming gold jacket with gray or black for maximum impact.
5. Perhaps the biggest New York style to finally make its way into the wholesale junior fashion stores is Bondage Boots. Similar to the Pirate Boots of a few years back, these hip-high (or more comfortably, knee high) black boots look terrific with a mini-dress or shorts.
6. For outerwear, the Pea Coat and collegiate tweed are an excellent choice for teens. Not only are they warmer on cold mornings at the bus stop, they go with almost everything.
7. Pencil skirts and skinny jeans are still the rave, but this year contemporary apparel wearers are pairing them with oversized, strong-shouldered, belted jackets that hug curves in all the right places
8. Hounds tooth and buffalo plaid are showing up everywhere this fall, pairing bold black shapes with a host of primary colors like yellow, vermillion and cobalt.
9. Rock n’ Roll style studs, scattered across black leather, are another junior fashion trend making a comeback this year.
10. The vest, a perennial fall favorite, is being shown this year over long tunics, over tanks, and under leather or plaid. Layering with a vest invokes a bulkier silhouette on top, which looks great when juxtaposed with skinny jeans and pencil skirts.
Look for all these trends and more at Fashion Spot LA, your one stop junior clothing wholesale boutique.
Many fashion insiders think all major fashion trends start and end with adult fashions, and just “trickle down” to wholesale boutique clothing stores and ultimately land on racks in Macy’s junior apparel section. But trendy junior fashion apparel has its own unique style, and it can often dictate some of the popular looks in woman’s wear.
For teenagers, junior apparel plays a number of important roles in their lives. It offers a way to express their individuality, the lifestyle they currently embrace and the direction they are headed. Its simplicity is based on two things: fitting in with peers, and providing a comfortable means of self-expression.
Junior clothing apparel manufacturers know how quickly a trendy junior fashion can catch on. All it takes is for a star like Miley Cyrus to wear a certain label, or pair a floral skirt with neon leggings, and before long every store is making room for these new styles.
While most teenage girls want to make their mark and try out something entirely different now and then, they tend not to break too many fashion rules for fear of looking foolish. Here are some of the latest contemporary apparel pieces seen recently at trendy junior fashion boutiques:
Layered Tanks and Tees: A splash of color and layered texture can take a few simple pieces and turn them into an “ensemble”. Juniors love the ease and comfort of layering, and most junior apparel stores know this. This is why they offer great deals on buying multiple, solid-color tanks and camisoles all year round.
Halter Dresses: Perhaps the most flattering style of junior clothing apparel for summer, the halter dress is a perpetual staple of any teenage girl’s wardrobe.
Hip-Hop Styles: Another trendy junior fashion that continues to grow in popularity is the “hip-hop” style. Inspired by artists like Kanye West and Fergie of the Black-Eyed Peas, hip-hop junior apparel includes looser, hip-riding pants, and layered tanks, offering freedom of movement and a relaxed sense of style. You can find trendy junior clothing wholesale at Fashion Spot LA, an off price apparel boutique.
Vying for the coveted “seal of approval” from teen shoppers, mass merchants are always looking for the right mix of popular styles and unique new looks to support a trendy junior fashion department. This is no easy task, since all it takes is a few influential teens’ opinions to either make or break the junior apparel department of a mass retailer.
For example, Target employs a team of junior apparel buyers with years of experience in seeking out the next trendy junior fashion clothing and accessories. Target knows that becoming the “approved store” for junior apparel will drive sales in other departments as well. They believe so strongly in this that they display their trendy junior fashion section right in the front of the store, where it cannot be missed.
Buying wholesale junior apparel in large lots before a style has proven to be popular can be a huge risk for mass merchants. While some large retailers let the clothing speak for itself, general merchandise retailers like Target, Sears and Wal-Mart will invest heavily in the merchandising of these items to their target audience – teenage girls and their mothers. This includes colorful displays, funky signage, techno-metal fixtures, hip mannequins and ambient lighting.
Expert marketers like these rely heavily on research and focus groups to determine how much to invest in a particular part of their stores, and it has been shown that women with teenage daughters will often choose their “favorite” one-stop shop based on the store’s selection of junior apparel. Mothers appreciate the ability to buy less expensive junior apparel that their teenagers will actually wear, and teenage girls know that if they go to a store like Target for some “school supplies”, they can usually talk their mom into a new top from their trendy junior fashion collection.
Teenage girls are more influential a part of these retailers’ marketing strategies than many other demographic groups, and their opinions of a store’s junior apparel department can have an immense impact on the store’s overall success.
To find out more about the junior clothing wholesale apparel buyers who help set the contemporary apparel and junior fashion trends, visit Fashion Spot LA.
It used to be that if you wanted new designer shoes, high quality handbags or boutique apparel, you needed to wear out some shoe leather on Fashion Avenue, attend the hottest sample sales, or just get lucky. But today, with the Internet, you can buy wholesale boutique clothing with just the click of a mouse. All you need to know is where to look.
Junior clothing wholesale web sites and other fashion wholesalers are everywhere on the Internet. You can buy wholesale fashion apparel at amazing prices quite easily when you know the right Google search terms. Trust me; it is a whole lot faster than trudging through countless showrooms and trunk shows.
Once you become an expert on buying wholesale clothes, you will wonder why you ever did it any other way. Some expert online shoppers buy wholesale apparel for less than $2 per garment, and designer shoes for under $10. A teenager can do this, and once they learn how to buy junior clothing wholesale, they will most certainly come back for more.
When you buy online, you should feel comfortable with their return policy and other terms and conditions. It’s always a good idea to use a credit card for added purchase protection, and check to make sure the site has a phone number with a live customer service rep available to answer any questions.
Start with some of the classic search terms, like “buy wholesale clothes” or “junior clothing wholesale” and then narrow your search to specific name brands, such as “buy wholesale apparel Guess”, or “buy wholesale clothing DKNY”. Fashion Spot LA is a great place to start.
Thinking back to the mid 90’s, granted I was still young, I do remember flannel being a trendy junior fashion, and I remember it well. I might not have known at the time but flannel represented an entire group of people that would later make a large impact on the world today. The group I am referring to utilized the contemporary apparel look of ‘grunge’. The grunge crowd came through shining with their funky clothes, metal and grunge music and mostly their peace loving ways. This grunge look started in the north-west around Seattle and shortly swept the entire nation. But long before it took over Seattle there was quite a history to flannel. Flannel got its humble start in with the Welsh people in Wales. It soon became many of Welsh’s wardrobe, from their skirts to their entire outfits. It is a cotton woven material that helps to keep a person warm while outside in cold temperatures. Shortly after the Welsh people started wearing it, many lumber workers picked on the fashion trend, mostly for the warmth provided. For many it was more of a necessities then a fashion statement, which is why the grunge era still baffles many people trying to understand that time in the 1990’s. Those people who still ponder why it gained mass acceptance then can now ask this new generation the same question. Who brought flannel back and why is it being sold everywhere? The exact cuts of the flannel might vary from a few generations ago but still flannel and all of its glory is back and in a big way! It is not the ‘grunge’ group wearing it any more though, it is now being worn by trendy tweens and young adults with all sorts of interesting accessories. Flannel has been through it all, starting with the Welsh, making its way to lumber men to the grunge teenagers of the mid 1990’s and now being worn in a trendy and cute way. Bravo to flannel for reintroducing itself to each generation and becoming a fan favorite every time! To learn more about flannel or to see junior clothing wholesale, visit Fashion Spot LA.
Leggings weren’t always so fun and fashionable as they are now. They once were used for protection by both men and women from the harsh cold winters and hunting trips taken to gather food for the family. Now that families aren’t in a dire need to do their own hunting and have a heating system for their warmth, leggings are worn for trendy junior fashion! To many, leggings are now known as “modern leggings” just so no one will get confused and think that someone is cold or about to go kill their dinner.
Leggings come in many different colors and lengths and can be seen worn with almost anything. It is very easy to dress down or up a pair of leggings. For a night on the town you might see a woman wearing ankle length black leggings with heels and a semi casual tunic top. During the day, while running errands you might see this same woman with calf length leggings on, a pair of sneakers and a comfortable tank top. The movie Flashdance brought the leggings trend to full impact in the early 1980’s with them dying out soon after that. But have no fear, in 2005 they were brought back and with a vengeance! In 2009 they are still not out of fashion you can find leggings in almost any department store, small boutique and/or drugstore.
Leggings have become a staple for many high profile models and movie stars! Kate Moss has been known to wear them not only in her personal life, but on the runway sporting the most recent fashions! Moss is not the only starlet jumping on the legging trend, Lindsay Lohan not only loves being in her leggings, she has created her own legging company, using her own name as the brand. If you are having trouble finding leggings in junior clothing wholesale packs, make sure to contact Fashion Spot LA for all of your legging needs! You do not want to buy a wrong pack and have people think you are stuck in the 80’s instead of embracing a few junior clothing apparel trend.