So, we're in a recession. How do luxury retailers ride out bad economic times? Like the Cylons, they have a plan.
But even the rarified worlds of fashion and luxury are linked to the broader economy—and marketing lavish, often ephemeral goods is brutally challenging in the best of times. With banks tanking, bonuses vanishing, and retailer bankruptcies on the rise, peddling luxury in 2008 is no enviable task.
Here's a quick survival guide for how the American fashion industry will ride out these distinctly un-fabulous times.
Accessories will be everywhere.
Like jewelry, for example.
In a paper detailing predictions for the 2008 luxury market, consumer-trends analyst Pam Danziger of Unity Marketing deemed jewelry purchases less susceptible to market fluctuations. "Jewelry is unique among luxury goods because it offers the customer some perceived inherent value," she said.
Retailers and editors are keeping their fingers crossed that Danziger is right.
"We've shot more and more with jewelry," says Sally Singer, fashion news and features director at Vogue. "Jewelry can upgrade any outfit, and jewelry purchase values don't change as quickly as clothes, especially gold."
Other accessories—especially shoes and handbags—will continue to be big business for designers and retailers. Consumers might be skittish about investing in expensive, trendy apparel but will still give themselves a smaller designer fix with these products.
And designers—many of whom already make more money from accessories than ready-to-wear—will be looking for ways to further expand these lower-price-point lines of their brands.
Other strategies include stocking more American designers (European designers are too expensive because of the falling dollar), having more sales to lure shoppers in the door, offering "chic downgrades" such as designer items from Target mixed with upscale items, and trumpeting a "return to classics" with separates instead of dresses and super-expensive "It" bags.
Fury over the new Starbucks logo is prompting a boycott
by those who think the new logo is indecent.
A Christian group out of San Diego has found grounds for outrage over the new retro-style logo for Starbucks Coffee.
The Resistance says the new image "has a naked woman on it with her legs spread like a prostitute," Mark Dice, founder of the group, said in a news release. "Need I say more? It's extremely poor taste, and the company might as well call themselves Slutbucks."
The group, which claims more than 3,000 members nationwide and has found a place advancing various conspiracy theories, is calling for a national boycott of the coffee-selling giant.
The logo will run on Starbucks cups for "several more weeks," said company spokeswoman Bridget Baker, and will live on as the logo for Pike Place bags of coffee.
The image is a less-revealing throw-back version of what the chain used for many years starting when it first opened in Seattle in 1971. That original logo was resurrected in its Pacific Northwest outlets for a time in 2006 to mark the chain's 35th anniversary.
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The explanation for that initial logo design is explained in the book "Pour Your Heart into It : How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time," written by company founder Howard Schultz:
"[Creative partner Terry Heckler] poured [sic] over old marine books until he came up with a logo based on an old sixteenth-century Norse woodcut: a two-tailed mermaid, or siren, encircled by the store's original name, Starbucks Coffee, Tea, and Spice. That early siren, bare-breasted and Rubenesque, was supposed to be as seductive as coffee itself."
We feel compelled to point out that she's a mermaid. Mermaids, of course, have no legs at all. And as far as the bare breasts go, we say: who cares? We certainly don't. So long as our Iced Venti Cafe Americano (no water, extra ice), arrives in perfect condition every morning, we don't care which scantily-clad sea denizen adorns our cup.
Nina Garcia has landed
safely at Marie Claire magazine after all the drama over her leaving Elle.
While both Hachette Filipacchi and Hearst remain mum on the fate of Nina Garcia, Fashion Week Daily has confirmed exclusively with a source involved in the negotiations that the former Elle fashion director has accepted an offer from Marie Claire and will join the title as fashion director in September. This confirms the initial reports by Fashion Week Daily on May 8 that Garcia was joining Marie Claire editor-in-chief Joanna Cole's senior staff.
Garcia will replace Tracy Taylor, who has left the magazine. Garcia will attend the upcoming round of fashion weeks with the Marie Claire team. An official announcement on Garcia's hire could come as soon as the end of the week.
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As for the rumors that Marie Claire will replace Elle as a partner on Project Runway, they remain hearsay. "There has been no update," a spokesman for The Weinstein Company confirmed. At this point, Elle is confirmed for season five of Project Runway with season six undecided. "Negotiations are just starting, if even that," said a source. Garcia's hire at Marie Claire is "completely separate from Marie Claire's possible interest in Project Runway," the source added.
We're glad Nina's job search is over. But really, the Weinstein Company need to make sure that Nina is there to terrify future Project Runway contestants.
Cheryl Tan of the Wall Street Journal takes a look at the fashions the stars wore to the Met's Costume Institute Benefit. The gala kicked off the museum's a summer long exhibit on superhero fashion. We especially loved Anna Wintour's absolutely mad, futuristic gown by Karl Lagerfeld. It just doesn't get any more Anna that that. Not to mention, Ana.
Here's the cast photo for the new Beverly Hills 90210 spinoff, which will air on the CW. Pictured, left to right, are: Dustin Milligan, AnnaLynne McCord, Jessica Walter, Shenae Grimes, Tristan Wilds, Lori Loughlin, Ryan Eggold, Jessica Stroup and Michael Steger.
Missing from the photo are Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth, who will have recurring roles. No Shannen Doherty?? It's a travesty!
Swarovski and the Libby Ross Foundation have joined efforts to raise money in the fight against breast cancer. A group of creative celebrities has joined the cause to raise funds for this unique program by decorating yoga bags with Swarovski jewels. These decorated yoga bags are now up for auction on eBay.
That's the bag designed by Miley Cyrus and her mother Trish Cyrus pictured on the right.
Celebrities including Susan Sarandon and her daughter Eva Amurri, Hayden Panettiere and her mother Lesley Panettiere, Courtney Cox Arquette, Martina McBride, Lisa Rinna, Patricia Arquette, Kim Raver, Leah Remini, Ali Landry, Brooke Burke, Nancy O'Dell, Hoda Kotb, Debi Mazar, Cheryl Hines, and Melora Hardin all designed yoga bags. The yoga bags were designed by Global Design Concepts, Inc.
Here are links to a few of the celebrity designed yoga bags.
Most Americans believe that the country is in a recession, with rising gas prices, food prices and stagnant wages. But the art world is doing just fine. The U.S. spring auction season began last week and dealers aren't worried. Last week, Sotheby's and Christie's sold $500 million worth of art. This week is the contemporary sales, which are also expected to do well. For every American buyer that doesn't participate, there is one from the Middle East, Russia or China to take his place.
Jenna Bush married Henry Hager yesterday at Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas. Jenna's gown was by Oscar de la Renta. The wedding was outside and it was 92 degrees. The reception was held outside in a tented area.
Americans are expecting
higher gas prices for the rest of the year. In fact, 78% fully expect to see $5 a gallon gas by year's end.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll found that 94% of respondents expect they will have to pay $4 a gallon sometime this year - and 78% said they figure it will hit $5.
The national average for gasoline was $3.61 on Monday, according to motorist group AAA.
Consumers' fears that they will have to pay more have intensified. A year ago, 79% thought gas would cost $4 by the end of 2007 and only 28% feared $5 gas.
At the same time, high prices seem to be easier to swallow now than it has been for most consumers in the past. Of the more than 1,000 American adults surveyed in the poll, conducted April 28-30, 60% said high fuel prices have caused hardship for them or their household. That's down from 72% in March and 66% during the same time last year.
But if Americans feel better able to absorb the rising price of gas, it might be because they are driving less. In fact, demand for gas is far below the average for this time of year.
"It takes a big jump in prices to alter commuters' behavior, but it appears we have now approached that level," said Stephen Schork, editor of energy industry newsletter The Schork Report.
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In addition to cutting back on driving, consumers are also buying more fuel-efficient vehicles. U.S. automakers reported a continued drop in SUV and truck sales in April, but smaller cars and hybrid vehicles have increased dramatically. Sales of Toyota's hybrid Prius rose 67% in April.
Toyota is destroying its competition in America. And with gas prices continuing to rise, more people will be ditching their SUVs and switching to more fuel-efficient cars. Automakers who have pushed fuel economy in their new car lines are doing well. The others, not so much.
Well, this couldn't have happened at a worse time. We discovered John Kelly truffle fudge bars, just in time for bikini season. John Kelly Chocolates specializes in a unique style of fudge called truffle fudge. It offers intense chocolate flavor, a creamy texture that's hard to describe and a chocolate shell. The company was founded by John Kelson and Kelly Green who wanted to do something rich, gourmet and totally decadent. We'd say they succeeded. The fudge comes in a number of flavors, with or without nuts and is totally addictive.
One bar runs $14.00, but it's so rich it will last quite awhile. Unless you have roommates, friends or family lurking around. Then it will last about five seconds. You can buy the products online at
JohnKellyChocolates.com, or at various stores nationwide, such as Central Market and Neiman Marcus.