The art of being “Elegant” is defined differently by everyone; hence the phrase, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” For some, elegance can be the sheer simplicity of making something beautiful appear effortless, and for others it can be a glitzy and glamorous ensemble. But for the contemporary apparel buyer, such as Fashion Spot LA, it means knowing a few secrets of the trade. For an elegant retail collection, it all comes down to knowing your customer, what she wants, and what she doesn’t.
Elegance is an abstract concept to most people, and few people can really pull it off, but wholesale boutique clothing owners know that they are not just buying clothing; they are setting a standard of tastefulness for their clientele. And beyond that, they are showing them – through their collection of clothing and accessories – how to look elegant. In short, to a wholesale clothing apparel buyer, elegance is the art of “pulling it all together.”
While everyone has their own definition of elegance, here are some of the tips I’ve picked up after spending several years as a junior clothing apparel buyer.
1. No big flowery prints on dresses
2. No fluorescent or overly bright colored clothing
3. Fabric should be appealing to the eye- stay away from polyester – please.
4. Keep it simple – no excessive sparkles, beads or embellishments on everyday clothes
5. Make sure your blacks match other blacks and your whites other whites.
6. No unnecessary zippers or buttons on sleeves, bodices and shoulders
7. Wear clothes that fit. Something too small or too large is almost always inappropriate
8. Whatever you do, wear clean clothes, and don’t be afraid to iron them when needed
9. When something gets faded, permanently stained or ripped, get it out of your closet
10. Perhaps most important of all – if something doesn’t flatter your figure, don’t wear it just because it’s trendy.
As you can see, elegance in junior fashion apparel is not about changing innate sense of style. In fact, it’s more about what not to do than anything else. Beyond that, elegance is a state of mind.
Tags: Contemporary Apparel, Junior Clothing Apparel, Junior Fashion Apparel, Wholesale Boutique Clothing, Wholesale Clothing Apparel
Now that the Paris shows have started, contemporary apparel buyers are making predictions about what will be the most enduring trend for 2010. Some of the lesser known designers often come up with the most compelling presentations at these shows, with an eye on attracting buyers to their wholesale fashion apparel sales after the show. It is also a time for junior apparel buyers to find some exciting new ideas to start showing in stores.
A few of the designers that caught my eye this year included Eyola Victorian-inspired dresses, the black and white sculptural presentation by Agonovich, Rochas by Marco Zanini’s French sportswear and the “White Collection” by Osman Yousefzada.
One of the undercurrents that seemed to run through almost every Milan and Paris showing is a simpler, less glitzy, more accessible approach to contemporary apparel. It is as if the economic crisis has forced designers to take a long hard look at their clients’ personal outlook, and started seeing their designs through the eyes of wholesale clothing apparel buyers too. The result is a relaxed and simple design sense with an emphasis on texture and layered fabrics.
In his crisp “White Collection”, Osman Yousefzada used simple structured silhouettes in a singular palette of white, with gold accents, drawing attention to textures of silk, cheesecloth and suede in various shades of white. In his classic minimalistic style, Yousefzada applied a more futuristic feel to his spring collection with kimono shapes and abstract dip-dyed edges.
Marco Zanini offered an unhurried, sportswear approach to his Rochas collection, featuring beautifully cut liquid silk dresses falling just below the knee with layered skirts and vivid florals. Colors like mulberry, lemongrass and pistachio turned up in tiny colorful blazers, paired with tap pants and classic accessories.
When it’s time to buy wholesale boutique clothing for spring 2010, look for these fanciful yet wearable silhouettes to start showing in wholesale boutique clothing store Fashion Spot LA.
Tags: Contemporary Apparel, Wholesale Boutique Clothing, Wholesale Clothing Apparel, Wholesale Fashion Apparel, Wholesale Fashion 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
Looking for wholesale fashion apparel? Fashion-conscious bargain shoppers know that perusing the outlet stores, warehouse sales and “slightly damaged” sale bins can save a lot of money. But with a little extra effort you can beat even the retailers’ lowest prices. Some of the savviest shoppers I know have figured out how to buy wholesale clothing apparel, and I’m here to tell you their secrets.
* Check the Phone Book or Internet Business Directory: Look under the category of merchandise you are interested in buying, for example “wholesale fashion apparel”, and find out if the wholesaler offers hours where the general public can shop.
* Join a Buying Group: If you plan on ordering a specific item in bulk or if you use certain item a lot, then you may want to join a buying group. You can find groups who share your interest online by reading wholesale clothing apparel forums and joining email newsgroups. Buying groups join together to purchase specific items in bulk at wholesale prices.
* Get your Business License: If you are interested in wholesale fashion apparel, and plan to purchase a lot of items from the same wholesaler, you may consider applying for a reseller’s license from your city or state. Having such a license will allow wholesale clothing apparel stores to sell to you, but they still may require a minimum purchase to get the lowest prices. However, prepare to do research on the fees, legal requirements and taxes involved if you plan on reselling items you purchase from a wholesale fashion apparel store.
* Check for Buyers’ Markets and Sample Sales: If you live in or near a city that holds buyers’ markets for wholesale fashion apparel, check online and look for a calendar of events. Some of these markets have a few days where they are open to the general public. Check with manufacturer’s reps to see if there will be any sample sales. Sometimes you can purchase wholesale clothing apparel from a manufacturer before it is sent to a third-party reseller. A good place to start looking for wholesale fashion clothing is Fashion Spot LA. They can direct you on how to get the best prices on today’s trendy junior fashion.
Tags: Trendy Junior Fashion, Wholesale Clothing Apparel, Wholesale Fashion Apparel, Wholesale Fashion Clothing