In partnership with the teenage fashion magazine, Teen Vogue, L.e.i. recently announced their “L.e.i. Model Citizen Campaign”. The junior fashion apparel brand, now exclusive to Wal-Mart, is looking for three teen role models to be featured in its next advertising campaign, each of whom embody the “life, intelligence and energy” that defines the L.e.i. brand.
In addition to inviting girls between the ages of 15 and 21 to shoot a video about why they should be an L.e.i. Model Citizen, the company will also host events in Los Angeles, Miami and New York. Aspiring “model citizens” will be able to upload their video presentations to the campaign’s web site, and grand prize winners will be selected by a celebrity panel of judges. Notable names from the contemporary apparel industry include Teen Vogue editor Amy Astley, model Chanel Iman, and fashion designer Rachel Roy. Following the announcement of ten finalists, a public vote will take place between March 25th and April 6th 2010.
Because of their partnership with Fashion Delivers, this longstanding icon of the junior clothing apparel industry will also invite participants to “pay it fashion forward” by encouraging girls to donate products for the charity. A $50 Wal-Mart gift card will be awarded to the first 25 girls who donate jeans at the events, and all participants will be urged to spread the word about the L.e.i. contest on Facebook and Twitter. This exciting campaign promises to be a model that other fashion clothing wholesale brands will follow for years to come.
In addition to appearing in the L.e.i. 2010 ad campaign, the grand-prize winner will also receive a $100,000 scholarship, an internship at Teen Vogue, a complete L.ei. wardrobe and a fashion makeover. But perhaps the most enticing reason for teens to enter is the chance to attend Teen Vogue’s Young Hollywood party.
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.
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.
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.
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.
So many trendy junior fashion ideas are out there today, it makes me wonder how today’s teen girls ever make up their minds. Funky fashion trendsetters from the Disney Channel, like Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez, exert a strong influence on the type of clothing that is seen in today’s juniors’ boutiques. But hip-hop fashions and MTV also play an important role in how teens dress.
“Miley” Style
Let’s start with the legendary Miley Cyrus. More than just the star of Hannah Montana, Billy Ray’s daughter has catapulted into mega-fame, with sold-out concerts and concert movies from coast to coast. Just ask any teenage girl and you will soon learn just how much influence Miley Cyrus has on fashion. That’s why, in addition to her musical fame, she now has her own fashion line.
Highlights of the Cyrus clothing line include T-shirts with built-in vests, leopard-print leggings, and some tunics and romper dresses in faux-flannel. Designed with the help of Max Azria, a selection of waffle Henleys, buffalo plaid shirtdresses, long camis, cropped vests and a feminine ruffle blouse are a few of my favorites from Miley’s new collection for Wal-Mart,
Hip Hop Style
Hip-Hop style has also been growing in popularity over the past several years, and has played an influential role in the fashion world. Some of the junior fashion trends it has inspired include bling (of course) a mix of patterns, loose-fitting pants and jaunty Jeff caps, all centered on a theme that emphasizes freedom of movement.
MTV Video Music Awards
Like hip-hop, the MTV culture plays a role in shaping junior apparel trends. The recent MTV Video Music Awards is a perfect example of the music industry’s emphasis on clothing. Some highlights of the 2009 event included Pink and Shakira showing up in the same mini dress, made of black leather and chains.
Country girl Taylor Swift donned two different looks throughout the evening, starting with a cute red “girl next door” prom dress, and then metamorphosing into a diva in an ethereally asymmetric Kaufman Franco gown. It was in this bejeweled gown, with thousands of silver sparkles, that she accepted her VMA - only to deal with Kanye West’s rude stage prank. Thankfully, Beyonce added class to the evening. Wearing a tiny red dress with a plunging neckline, she granted Ms. Swift her “moment” in the limelight.
While it can be difficult to predict every contemporary apparel trend, it helps to keep an eye on MTV and the Disney Channel, and watch what their favorite stars are wearing. Off price apparel buyers such as Fashion Spot LA can help keep teens dressed in the latest junior clothing apparel.
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.
Depending on how long ago you were born, you may or may not remember the 1970’s version of the maxi dress. I remember the one I owned back in 1973 when the printed jersey-style maxi dress was the hottest style. The purple scooped-neck one I owned was a little different than the ones on sale today at wholesale boutique clothing stores.. As a former “flower child”, I couldn’t help but wax nostalgic when I saw this season’s vast selection of maxi dresses at junior clothing apparel retailers.
Whether you share a soft spot in your heart for 70’s fashions or you have no idea what I’m talking about, the maxi dress has made a comeback last year in contemporary apparel stores, and it looks like it’s here to stay. Nothing is more feminine, comfortable and fashionable on a hot summer day.
Junior apparel stores are showing maxi dresses paired with flip flops and eco-friendly canvas totes, but some misses retailers dress them up with bangles, wraps and strappy low-heeled sandals. No matter how you wear one, the maxi dress makes a fashion statement. Plan on rolling one up in your suitcase and take it with you on vacation this summer.
Junior clothing apparel stores offer a wide selection of the maxi dress, but some of the best ones can be found online at wholesale junior clothing sites and contemporary apparel boutiques.
Depending on your price range, consider the higher end maxi dresses at Young Fabulous and Broke, S Twelve, Anat B, Veronica M Clothing, Akulani and Pico 1988, among others. For more accessible (and affordable) junior apparel retailers selling maxi dresses, check out stores like Target, Charlotte Russe, Forever 21, H&M and Hollister. Many of these retailers get their clothing from wholesale fashion clothing buyers such as Fashion Spot LA.
As a child of the seventies, I still cannot understand why the maxi dress ever went out of style. They are so easy to wear and flatter almost every figure. For off price clothing buyers, consider the maxi dress a classic staple with staying power.
Today’s junior apparel shopper is more image-conscious than ever. They need to have the “right” skinny jeans, the perfect layering tanks and camis, the latest novelty tees, and of course all of the latest trendy junior fashion accessories.
Much of what influences today’s teens springs from the entertainment world. Whether it is the “ghetto and bling” styles worn by their favorite rappers, or the eclectic, flirty fashions worn by stars like Selina Gomez, Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato, junior clothing apparel closely follows popular culture.
Of course, there will always be the kids who opt for solid t-shirts and five-pocket jeans, but most of today’s teenagers look for junior apparel that is a personal expression of their individual style.
Younger customers pay close attention to the trendy junior fashion pages of magazines like Teen Vogue and Seventeen. They will often reinterpret these looks with less expensive versions of the same clothing. Much of the clothing found in mall stores like Forever 21, Charlotte Russe and H&M is inspired by the junior clothing apparel worn by the young models in teen fashion magazines. These stores offer teens a unique way to incorporate artsy, trendy, high-fashion junior apparel pieces into their wardrobe without breaking the bank.
The juniors’ customer is impressionable, young, and very concerned about her image. While she desperately wants to fit in with her peer group, she also wants to be the first to wear a new style or perhaps start a trend. Wholesale boutique clothing stores are a safe place for most teenage girls, because they know that no matter what they buy, they won’t stand out too much. This is why manufacturers of junior apparel need to take very calculated risks in presenting younger version of the latest runway fashions. Usually, all it takes is for a few famous teen stars to start wearing a new trend, and before you know it, it is available in all their favorite stores.
So if you’re looking to predict the next trendy junior fashion, start watching what their favorite stars are wearing.
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.