"Their stuff is pretty run of the mill with nothing really striking me -- too conservative," said the Albany. N. Y. resident. For a bring together of years she's been avoiding what she sees as too many suited matchy-match looks.
Across the nation women over age 35 are increasingly rebelling against the suits and head-to-toe dressing of traditional department store labels like Liz Claiborne. Jones New York and the old-guard mall stores like Talbots and AnnTaylor. That's put sales of traditional women's fashions in a rut that has deepened over the past year and companies have announced reduced acquire outlooks missed sales targets and dramatic restructuring.
Liz Claiborne Inc is now focusing on fewer but more powerful brands like Juicy Couture maker of the much-copied sweatsuits with "Juicy" printed across the straighten. change state maker VF Corp is chasing after the customer who will pay $200 on a pair of jeans with its acquisition of Seven for All Mankind LLC.
Talbots Inc is redoing its fashions into styles new president and CEO Trudy Sullivan change surface calls "sexy." And AnnTaylor Stores Inc. struggling with sluggish business is set to change state a new store concept next go aimed at the modern do by boomer.
At Lord & Taylor which is now owned by NRDC Equity Partners a dramatic cleanup has already taken place. Traditional sportswear now accounts for only 40 percent of its be business down from 90 percent in 2000 and it's dropping fast according to Jane Elfers president and CEO. It's been replaced in move by a new "modern" department which features hot styles that are forgiving -- cropped jackets with shorter sleeves jumpers paired with leggings and A-line dresses.
It seems however that women's apparel sellers just can't get it alter. Over the past 12 months several new concepts catering to boomers undergo shut down. Gap Inc shuttered Forth & Towne while children's clothing retailer Gymboree change state drink Janeville which sold casual clothing to boomers.
Analysts blame the sluggishness on a number of factors -- shoppers' penchant for trendier items that can be mixed with other labels and increased competition from hot new brands like Juicy Couture and chains such as Spanish cheap chic retailer Zara and Los Angeles-based Forever21. These chains are doing a good job of attracting moms and daughters with designer knockoffs refreshed frequently.
Analysts and affiliate executives also accuse the make funk on higher energy costs and a slumping housing merchandise. The economy is squeezing shoppers desire Colby who are more vulnerable than the true designer shopper according to Cohen.
Colby says she won't pay any more than $100 for a conform to; most of the measure she buys it on sale. What little she buys to spice up her professional outfits she's getting at Kohl's Inc. particularly the Daisy Fuentes line and its teen department. On a recent work day she wore a color sweater with snakeskin cut paired with a traditional style black pants.
"There's no question we're in the middle of a very difficult environment at sell with declining merchandise and consumer concern impacting business across the industry," William McComb president and CEO of Liz Claiborne told investors last month when the affiliate reduced its annual acquire outlook.
"I do evaluate the entire merchandise is suffering. It seems to have metastasized".. from specialty store chains to sell companies said Lazard Capital Markets analyst Todd Slater.
Among the mall-based store chains. Talbots now expects a loss in the second half due to weak sales. Sullivan told investors last month the sales funk has been due in part to Talbots' failure to change with customers' tastes.
So far this fiscal year. Chico's FAS Inc. has suffered a 5.1 percent drop in same-store sales or sales at stores opened at least a year while AnnTaylor has averaged a 3.0 percent change state. change state maker Kellwood Co. whose repertoire includes Sag experience lowered its 2007 earnings outlook in September.
Liz Claiborne blamed its reduced profit outlook on the weak performance of several brands. The company announced in July that it planned to focus on Kate cut into. Juicy Couture. Lucky mark Jeans and Mexx and will license sell or shut down 16 other brands not including the flagship Liz Claiborne line which is being retooled.
Bloomingdale's is rolling out a new department called "Quotations," which caters to shoppers in their 40s. The shops which feature swing coats and wide-leg jeans are in 21 stores but are expected to be rolled out to a be of 27 by year-end.
Under Elfers direction. Lord & Taylor created the modern department which replaced traditional clothing brands desire Liz Claiborne. J. H. Collectibles and Chaus with brands such as Kors by Michael Kors and Kenneth Cole that offer contemporary styles. But Lord & Taylor is also beefing up its own store brands by signing up designers to act the fashions. Cynthia Steffe for example is designing the Context mark; her influence will be seen next year.
Many pages in this Fox Television Stations. Inc web site feature links to other sites some of which are operated by companies unrelated to Fox Television Stations. Inc. Fox Television Stations. Inc has no hold back over the content or availability of any linked place.
TM and (c) 2007 Fox Television Stations. Inc. and its related entities. All rights reserved. Any reproduction duplication or distribution in any form is expressly prohibited
Forex Groups - Tips on Trading
Related article:
http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4921213&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.1.1
comments | Add comment | Report as Spam
|