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Brights are on the way

April 27th, 2007

Spring 2007 promised us an explosion of bright colours. While we’ve seen smatterings of yellow, cobalt, coral and green clothing, there’s still a fortune of black, white, brown and beige around. A substantial part of the colour for Spring in American retail stores is represented by accessories rather than clothing.

As a lover of bright colours, I’ve felt a dash disappointed. After two back-to-back strong Black & White seasons (Spring and Winter 2006), my clients and I have been champing at the bit for anything that’s not a neutral. US retailers J. Crew and Macy’s have been colour leaders this season along with Spanish stores Zara and Mango; but I still feel that Spring could have been more colourful.

I spoke to a few major chain stores about my disappointment. Their feedback was unanimous: American retailers have often “overdone” bright clothing in the past and reams of rainbow coloured items have found themselves on markdown rails as the result of poor sales. So fashion buyers are cautious this time around. Still, the likes of Ann Taylor, The Loft,  Nordstrom, The Gap, Banana Republic, The Limited and Express reassured me that brights like red, turquoise, yellow, blue, green and pink would surface in May.

Part of my shopping faith was restored at Express yesterday as rails of brightly coloured walk shorts, blousy tops and camisoles were being unpacked.  Hold on to your fashion dollars for a week or two if it’s colours that you’re after. Brights are on the way in May.

This entry is filed under Colour, Industry Insider, Shopping Strategy, Spring 2007. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.



5 Replies

Posted on Friday, April 27th, 2007 at 7:56 am
Joey

As always, thank you for your insights into the crazy world of fashion. I’m glad for the tip to hold on to fashion dollars for another week or two for color. Thank you!

Posted on April 27th, 2007 at 8:22 am
Morgan

Thanks for the heads up! I’m a neutral girl, but I do like a splash of color with an accessory.

Posted on April 27th, 2007 at 9:40 am
Michelle

I love brights – an excellent mood enhancer. I was just at the newly opened Zara yesterday in Beijing where I live and loved the fun blouses and dresses in 70’s inspired bright prints and styles – looks like we are in for a colourful summer.

Posted on April 27th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Nicole

I’d be curious to hear what fashionistas (wether you are full fledged or in training) have to say regarding the following the questions. How often do you shop for yourself personally? Do you keep a running list of items you’d like to add to your wardrobe and buy something when you find it? What percentage of your wardrobe is trendy and what percentage is classic? What’s the longest you’ve ever owned a piece of clothing that you actually wear regularly?

And to Angie: When you speak to retail giants, is it in the realm of your work, or just as a curious customer?
And as far as the quest for color goes….do you find that when the trend becomes less colorful, do you follow the trend or do you follow your heart?

Posted on April 27th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Stephanie

From a sales perspective, retailers are smart to focus on neutrals, even though they are pretty boring. They’re just more practical. For example, the Gap is still suffering an eight-year slump due to it’s reliance on brights. (Most people who shop at the Gap, or any chain store for that matter, want to fit in, not stand out.)

It takes a real talent to wear color properly and many women don’t have the time. I’ve just started to get into more bright colors, (and I’ve received a lot of compliments), but it’s slow going…

Posted on August 6th, 2007 at 10:47 pm

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