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Change in fashion calendar proposed

slim cat

Veteran

I found interesting letter/article in Tomandlolenzo.com recently https://fashionista.com/2020/0.....-deliverie
I'm curious if those changes in seasonal items' delivery to the stores will change our habits of shopping - for example: somebody loves shopping early in season and somebody when the need is happening/season is in full bloom.
For myself the change is a welcome one since I'm usually somewhat late on catching certain trendy pieces and shop more into season than early in. On the other hand - late discounts in the end of season could affect my shopping in a negative way - I'm all for sales and bargains.
What do you think dear fabbers?

Shopping

21 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

slim cat

Veteran

Correction: https://tomandlorenzo.com

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Wow, such a huge list of signatories! I think this is a fabulous idea. I hope overall it would cause less wastage.
I like looking at the new season clothing just as it begins to change, so I think that was February for me this year, here in the Southern Hemisphere where we would be starting autumn in March. Only one month ahead rather than 2 months sounds quite do-able? I don’t think they usually put stuff out for the new season in January here anyway but I stand to be corrected, maybe some of the Australians may have thoughts on that. It’s still really hot here in January, and in fact February too, but sometimes the odd cooler day that turns one’s thoughts to the upcoming cooler season.
I am often a sale shopper, yes, but usually have plenty of clothes to start whatever the new season is and so no need to buy right away when new stuff comes out. It has worked well for me that what they call “mid-season” sales feel like they’re actually just when I would be wanting to wear those clothes anyway, and if I want to buy new ones they are cheaper! But that just felt like a gift of the gods, I didn’t ask for that and am happy to wait for sales to be at the end of a season? Does sound more sustainable.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I saw this! Very interesting.

Slim cat, personally I prefer to shop early in the season. I like to plan, prep, and get the best stuff when my size is available. Then stop shopping, wear the heck out my clothes, and enjoy the season.

Actually, I've found that online shopping has shifted the fashion calendar considerably already. You can get most things at any time of the year these days - but shopping off season may not showcase the best assortment.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

To add, I like the proposed delivery schedule change. I suspect that could work well, and will effectively slow things down. But the one and only end of season sale will be a problem in the US because the US is used to discounts throughout the season.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Mighn’t that be a good thing though Angie? Make punters think harder about buying something if there aren’t sales every moment?

rachylou

Veteran

In terms of my own internal clock, I feel this would work nicely. As it is, I’m always a little bit confused as to when to go look and when to give up (I’m talking about YOU, Long Black Puffy!).

slim cat

Veteran

I remember being confused and a bit angry when I saw shorts in March-April in the stores in Seattle - too cold for me to think about even trying them. Of course it's totally fine to shop for summer things in early spring in warm and sunny California.
Maybe there would be some different approach to what items/collections should be arriving in different places-climate zones in what time of the seasons. Another example from my Seattle time - customers ( or tourists ) looking for long sleeved tops in summer and not finding much ( It's summer time - no cardigans with long sleeves ;( )

Minaminu

Veteran

I think this would be a welcome break, albeit not the only solution to fast fashion. I really hope that this will also help improve the general quality of clothes.

Preppy Pear

Veteran

Really interesting! Since living in a warmer climate, I’m actually ready to start spring shopping much earlier than I used to be...but I can’t wear fall/winter clothes until much later now. So early spring shopping for me is practically in season, and fall, way early season, but I still shop NAS with enthusiasm.

Sal

Veteran

It seems logical to me.

At the moment some retailers here are in one form of sale "almost" all the time. Whether it is spend and save, 30% off storewide, 25% off all knitwear. This is common with the mid market retailers here such as Country Road, Witchery and even the sports and outdoor gear shops.

I do prefer the model when new clothes come in and at the end of the season are discounted or there is a "sale rack". It feels more genuine. This model is used here by the boutiques with a range of brands.

Anonymous

Big yes from me- since our seasons start late! While were at it- can we put Christmas shopping back to ummm...After Thanksgiving?!

Joy

Veteran

This makes sense to me because it always felt wrong shopping so early and then not being able to wear purchases for months, but it depends on where you live. I want to be able to buy when I can wear my purchases in a reasonable time, not wait months. I can still shop late season sales to fill in gaps or refresh. I have learned that buying too far ahead can mean you are o er something before ever wearing it. That might mean that I need to do better planning and do more thinking. But I have also learned that if I wait and think too long, my size is gone.

Helena

Veteran

Yes, exactly what Suntiger said ...stop making me buy Hallowe'en costumes in August, Christmas decorations in October, spring fashion in snow storms, snow gear in July ... please!!!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Good New York Times article about it. No big LVMH brands on the list yet and no mass-market brands like Zara or H&M. I hope they would do it. Stopping some of the shows as Dries von Noten wants to do might help this along, give more time to think, but the NYT points out that these brands/large department stores are not always too good at working together because they are competing I guess, and there are even some commerce rules that stop it.

cindysmith

Veteran

I've been bothered by the disconnect in retail for quite some time. Hobby Lobby selling Christmas trees and decorations BEFORE THE FOURTH OF JULY, swimsuits and shorts on sales floors in January in the northern hemisphere and then sweaters on the sales floors in August? Makes no sense to me. The last thing I want to think about in August (or September or October or November) is a freaking sweater or a wool coat.

Yes, I know some people like to shop early, but is there ANYBODY in the northern hemisphere who wants to think about swimsuits and shorts in January? Even in Texas, we aren't that crazy.

The Cat

Veteran

cindysmith, I understand what you mean and sometimes have similar feelings. However, even within the northern hemisphere people might have different needs. As for myself, I like to start looking for items around one month before I need them, and I live in Scandinavia, so I will in fact be looking for sweaters and coats in late August and early September.

Normally, I will not be looking for shorts before middle March, or for swimwear before middle April. But occasionally, I have been looking for such items much earlier because I had to plan for travels to countries with a very different climate.

unfrumped

Veteran

I found the article very interesting also.
I generally ( BC) preferred to see things closer to when I would wear them but then I also benefited sometimes early sales.

Now,” event shopping “ can get tricky sometimes in a “ later is better “ model. I’m thinking of looking for wedding guest dresses when you need to have that nailed down early, get alterations, accessories, and some years the big dress surge didn’t happen until May. Same for some holiday event things.
Then also I recall resort wear, which lucky spring break takers headed for tropical climes need, and bathing suits.
But overall it has always seemed the stores were out of sync with the weather.
For me it made wardrobe edits more difficult. For NAS, I had sweaters and such all packed away so was at risk of buying something too similar to what I hav, bs later sorting and finding something didn’t fit and darn, now that item is sold out. Of course if one has a very specific list and wardrobe- hole plan ( hoping to get better at that) then one can shop year- round.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is fascinating. I see that Nordstrom's signed...and so did my favourite small Canadian designer, Comrags! Such a range of signatories.

It sounds as if it would be an opportunity for the industry to "reset" expectations about the true costs of clothing. Hmmm. It's intriguing, at minimum. Although as others have pointed out, seasonality varies with geography.

Bijou

Veteran

Living in the Southern Hemisphere, I have always quite liked the timing in the North, as then I can see in my current season what will be fashionable in 1 years time!

lyn67

Veteran

IMHO this is how it should rather be + what Suz said "seasonality varies with geography"- but guess that can be solved with a corect local sheduling.
Otherwise I'm with unfrumped here, too! My wardrobe edits were usually out of sync and very difficult to me as I always felt the same- the true seasonal clothes arrived too early but "event shopping" was many times missing throughout the year.
Intrigued to see how will this turn out!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Agreed with Suntiger and Joy! I’m not a fan of buying months in advance of when something will be worn. My entire approach to NAS changed with that realization, plus the fact that Nordstrom would frequently put those NAS items on further sale before i even had a chance to wear them!

Anything that helps improve quality and sustainability is a good thing in my book. I already suspect my shopping habits have changed for good, so I’m willing to adjust to even further change.