What’s Clicking in Contemporary This Fall?
● Novelty knits, faux fur, skirts, tiedyed sweaters, modern suiting and animal prints are checking.
Fall is shaping up to be a strong season in the contemporary market. Although the season got off to a slow start with unusually warm weather, business now appears to be percolating at retail – and the cold snap across much of the country over recent days could add a further fillip.
Modern suiting, novelty knits, straight and wide-leg silhouettes in pants, midiskirts, faux fur jackets, leather dressing, animal prints and tie-dyed styles are among the looks that are selling well around the country, according to a spot check of retailers.
Store executives said vendors are offering a lot of the innovation in the market this fall, and that customers are experimenting with new looks to spruce up their wardrobes.
“Business has been strong. I think the styles this year and the trends are very enticing and new and are something they don’t have,” said Samantha Greenes, buying director of Blue & Cream, which has two stores in East Hampton and Manhattan, in addition to an online business. She said that contemporary designers have elevated their styles and trends so it’s more attractive to people who might have bought designer.
Here’s what stores had to say.
Pecor’s customers are also buying Frame’s novelty denim, and the store continues to sell AG. Wide-leg pants from Habitual, Frame and AG are checking.
In the dress category, the retailer is having success with Shoshanna designs. Dresses under $400 are selling well, in particular from Misa Los Angeles and Poupette St. Barth. Another strong line has been Linda Richards furs. Pecor said that graphic T-shirts and the skirt category have been seeing a lot of action this fall. Skirts are selling from miniskirts and florals to midis and bohemian styles. “The best skirts are coming from Misa,” she said, adding that Love Shack Fancy, Poupette St. Barth, Go Silk and Brochu Walker also are doing well. Overall, she said the business is consistent with last year.
“I think we got off to such a slow start due to the weather, it was so hot for so long. But with a little bit of change in the weather, things have started to pick up dramatically,” said Rusty Lester, owner of Frances Kahn, which has three Virginiabased stores in Richmond, Roanoke and Virginia Beach. He said he’s had early success with Rag & Bone, especially its jackets (“they seem to be making a comeback for us,”), Iro’s mini-sportswear collection, and 10 Crosby Derek Lam, whose plaid jackets are doing well. “Plaids are selling well overall and in that line, jackets are selling,” said Lester.
Two other brands whose jackets have been selling are Veronica Beard and L’Agence, as have their jeans and blouses. “They’re famous for their Seventies silk skirts and jeans,” he said of L’Agence. The jeans retail from $225 to $275, and the silk shirts are $325 to $425.
In the pants category, there’s been some interest in wider leg styles, “but it’s not off to as fast a start as the industry would have hoped,” he said. He said L’Agence’s widerleg cropped pant is doing well but “the skinny jean is where it’s going, worn with a great plaid or checked jacket.”