As the opening ceremonies began in Vancouver last week, I couldn’t help but wonder if anyone else noticed the contemporary apparel worn by each country’s Olympic competitors. As each team paraded into the winter wonderland of the BC Arena, one would expect to see a full range of puffy down jackets and Nordic sweaters, but what surprised me was how many trendy junior fashion ensembles were on display.
Like any other internationally televised event, it wouldn’t surprise me if some designers hurried off to create their own Olympic-inspired contemporary apparel. But I couldn’t help but chuckle at the predictable red Bermuda shorts worn by the Bermuda team, or ponder what inspired the colorful 70’s style psychedelic pants worn by the Azerbaijan team.
Anyone looking for one of those adorable reindeer caps worn by the U.S. athletes should look no further than Ralph Lauren, who was the official outfitter of the U.S. team.
Italy’s team entered the arena wearing crisp, tailored jackets, exuding a purely Italian aesthetic, and Austria’s selection of blue and purple blazers was a hit, but neither was as exciting as the small Republic of Estonia.
For being one of the least-populated countries in the EU, Estonia scored points wearing their wintry white jackets with a subtle blue snowflake pattern, along with furry ear-flapped hats.
Surprisingly, the Greek team’s white and blue track suits not so well received, leaving some commentators wondering if they were shooting for the “Smurf” look this year.
Clearly, as any Olympic hopeful knows, they can’t all be winners. However, it will be interesting to see what kind of sportswear will be inspired by the 2010 Olympics, and which teams will influence wholesale fashion apparel buyers such as Fashion Spot LA later this year.
Tags: Contemporary Apparel, Trendy Junior Fashion, Wholesale Fashion Apparel
Styles have changed a lot over the past fifty years, but athletic apparel and sportswear has remained a steady part of women’s wardrobes, most notably in trendy junior fashion. The only thing that’s changed is where we wear athletic clothing and what we call it.
If you came of age in the 1970’s, you might have called your “tennies” to the gym, but only to the gym, but as soon as the 80’s began, so did the athletic boom. Before long, jogging shorts, tennis shoes, and workout tops were a part of every woman’s wardrobe, and they were worn everywhere. Remember when women wore running shoes and socks with a business suit? It was a contemporary apparel trend most were glad to see go away.
Then came the movie “Flashdance” and the danskin/hip-hop look, complete with ripped t-shirts, leg warmers and stretch pants.
Today’s wholesale fashion apparel buyers are still cashing in on the sporty look, but now it has many faces. Some trends just seem to hang on forever, like leggings, Converse “Chuck Taylor” All-Stars. Even though the athletic look has been toned down a little this decade, these styles continue to play an important role in junior fashion apparel.
But the more interesting story here is the way top designers have interpreted athletic apparel and worked it into even some of the highest priced couture items. Sweatshirt fabric, platform sneakers, athletic-inspired jackets and yoga pants have all made their way, in some form, onto the runways of Paris and Milan, and into wholesale boutique clothing showrooms, such as Fashion Spot LA, for decades.
Perhaps it is the comfort-factor that attracts even the best dressed people to athletic wear, but it is a trend that doesn’t seem to be going away. Junior fashion apparel is more influenced by the sporty look than others, with most teen stores focusing on hooded sweatshirts, sweatpants and yoga pants as anchors to their fall collections.
Even the Juicy Couture brand has cashed in on the popularity of their signature tracksuits for children and teens, and sneaker companies have learned that sneaks can come in every pattern, color and texture under the sun. Now, if we could just start working out as often as it looks like we do, we’d all be in great shape!
Tags: Contempo, Junior Fashion Apparel, Trendy Junior Fashion, Wholesale Boutique Clothing, Wholesale Fashion Apparel
Teens have a surprising amount of buying power when it comes to fashion, even during the recession. As a result, junior apparel buyers are still placing decent sized orders for the holiday season. Perhaps it is because the price of entry into the trendy junior fashion market is still so low, but what really keeps it going is the pressure teens are under to keep up with what their friends are wearing. After all, no teenage girl wants to stand out in a crowd.
With so much of their inspiration coming from television, movies and magazines, it doesn’t sound difficult to predict the next trend, but it may be trickier than you think. Teenagers are still balancing their need to be different with their need to fit in, but they also want to be trendsetters themselves. This can be impossible to accomplish unless you do a lot of shopping and a lot of buying.
Let’s take a look at some junior fashion apparel trends and what makes them each unique.
* EMO: Also known as “emotional” style is the most extreme form of teen fashion at the moment. Girls are often shocked when one of their friends “goes Emo”. Similar to the punk trends of the eighties, Emo is all about extremes. Bright colors balanced with jet black, Zelda hairdos, pencil thin jeans with a studded belt, facial piercings and of course, black kohl eyeliner.
* Gothic, or “Goth” as it is more commonly known, is more about black than anything else. Slick black hair, black eye makeup, black nails, chunky heels and metal details are everywhere in a Goth group. Add some fishnets, a short skirt, Doc Martens and some face whitener and you’re good to go.
* Hip-Hop is a style that speaks of the streets. Even suburban teens are attracted to trendy junior fashions like baggy pants, t-shirts and body hugging “Flashdance” tanks. And don’t forget the cap. Hip-Hop can be more loosely interpreted than some other styles, and its definitely less predictable than Goth or Emo.
Other styles, like Bohemian, Prep and Jock are less individualistic and more label-conscious; definitely for people who want to fit in with the crowd. While less exciting for the wholesale fashion apparel buyer, such as Fashion Spot LA, these groups account for the vast majority of teens.
Tags: Junior Apparel Buyers, Junior Fashion Apparel, Trendy Junior Fashion, Wholesale Fashion Apparel
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.
Tags: Junior Apparel, Junior Apparel Buyers, Junior Clothing Wholesale, Trendy Junior Fashion, Wholesale Junior Clothing
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.
Tags: Contemporary Apparel, Junior Apparel, Junior Clothing Wholesale, Trendy Junior Fashion, Wholesale Junior Fashion
In addition to advising contemporary apparel buyers on the season’s hottest colors, the Pantone Fashion Color Report (compiled by the Pantone Color Institute) also provides wholesale fashion clothing buyers with another valuable resource. The “must-haves” list for spring gives buyers a birds-eye view of spring fashion trends that will become wardrobe essentials for next season. While some of these fashions may be modified for junior clothing apparel lines, or toned-down to meet more conservative tastes, Pantone’s report should give you a glimpse at which runway fashions will be in highest demand.
Here are a few of my favorite selections from this spring’s list of “must-haves” and which designer suggested each item:
* A “voluminous” mini skirt (Andy & Debb)
* Batik print lounge pants in blue and white, paired with a navy embellished tunic (Adrienne Vittadini)
* A hip blazer, or a denim vest, paired with shorts – expected to be a hot trendy junior fashion – paired with multi-strand necklaces and platform sandals (Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons)
* A deep purple jumpsuit (or any other color in the top five), paired with funky, ornamental jewels (Catherine Malandrino)
* A double-faced plaid chambray boyfriend shirt (Charlotte Ronson)
* A tie-front leather jacket, preferably in tan (Erin Fetherston)
* Long, micro-striped tube dresses in a mixture of bright sun-drenched colors and neutrals (Nanette Lapore)
* An impeccably tailored lightweight tweed coat with delicate floral embroidery, in shades of cream, pink and pale gold (Pamella Roland by Pamella DeVos)
* A mint-green sleeveless suede trench dress, with a waterfall cascade collar (Cythia Steffe)
The list goes on and on, and each suggestion can be interpreted for a variety of price ranges and sizes, but you get the picture. As I write this, I am imagining wholesale fashion apparel buyers including Fashion Spot LA are poring over this invaluable list to determine which items will translate into junior apparel, women’s contemporary apparel, or the next big trend. It should be a very interesting spring season.
Tags: Contemporary Apparel, Junior Clothing Apparel, Trendy Junior Fashion, Wholesale Fashion Apparel, Wholesale Fashion Clothing
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