New Trend
Best Summer Trend?
Question: What’s the Best Summer 2009 Fashion Trend?
Just as you catch on to the trends of spring 2009, it changes up on you again. From sheer tops to ethnic accessories to revealing one-piece swim suits, you’ve got a lot to choose from as you shop for your summer wardrobe. What are you looking forward to wearing as the weather heats up and the recession cools down?
Our Favorite Trends
Trend for Less: Wide Leg Pants
We’re so excited that wide leg pants are in for spring, so we can stop wiggling into our skinny, and sometimes skin-tight, jeans and let our legs breathe for a little while. Not only are wide leg pants comfier than their tighter counterparts, but they also work well for those of us with extra junk in our trunk, by creating a straight line from our hips to our ankles.
Here are our best bets for reasonably-priced, wide leg pants.(And by wide leg we don’t mean frumpy sweat pants or parachute pants.)
Ruff Hewn Women’s Wide Waistband Pants, $28.69, from Bonton
Wide-leg trousers, $39, from Newport News
Wrinkle and Stain Resistant Pleat Front Twill Pants, $19.99, from Just My Size
Wide Leg Metallic Pants, $39.00, from Spiegel
Mainstreet Blues® Relaxed-fit corduroy pants, $14.88, from Woman Within
Flutter Sleeve Tops: Spring 09 Fashion Trend
“THESE PRODUCTS ARE NO LONGER BEING SOLD”
Okay, we’re not even going to try to hold back here—we love, love, love a flutter sleeve blouse. Love. Arms, after all, are a sensitive area for a lot of women and when we have to break out the short sleeves there’s really no option that’s more flattering to most arm types than the flutter. It’s also unarguably feminine without being so cute that you can’t wear it if you’re over the age of, say, 12.
In this economy, any pieces we add this spring will have to be versatile, and the flutter sleeve blouse fits that bill too, found on pieces ranging from casual to dressy, and can be worn with everything from dress pants and skirts to jeans to shorts. There are so many options out there, we had a hard time narrowing it down, but here are four tops we’d put at the top of our wish list (note: Express had about a kajillion, so it might behoove you to just peruse their site for a style that suits you).
Flutter Sleeve Tee, $24.50, Express
ING Plus Size Flutter Sleeve Top, on sale $32, Macy’s
Wilda Silky Top, $17.80, Forever21
Flutter Sleeve Blouse, $39.50, Express
Stripes: Spring 09 Fashion Trend
“SOME PRODUCTS ARE NO LONGER BEING SOLD”
Wayyy back in September, we wrote about the prevalence of stripes on the runway for Spring. Of course stripes are nothing new (they popped up everywhere last summer, too) but the most modern takes include black and bold colors, and/or skinny stripes, on everything from tops to dresses to accessories.
Body conscious is the silhouette for spring, and for some of us “stripes” and “body conscious” are two elements that are diametrically opposed (read: make us want to run for the hills), but there are options that are both on trend AND flattering - like the Forever21 dress here, which gives us cute stripes in a small dose on top while keeping the bottom half solid and forgiving, and the Bebe Scoop Neck Tee, which makes us think of Michael Kors bold black stripes on the runway—pair it with a bright solid-colored full skirt and some black gladiators to look well-proportioned and chic.
Charlotte Ronson showed plenty of dainty, soft-hued skinny striped and with her new line at JC Penney, you can indulge in the edgier designer take without breaking the bank. Just can’t splash stripes across your body? Pick up a striped, colored belt as a spring update, and forget the rest.
Solid and Striped Knit Dress, $22.80, Forever21
Wide Stripe Scoop Neck Tee, $34, Bebe
I Heart Ronson Stripe Dress, $24.99 on sale, JC Penney
Striped Metallic Belt, $10.99, Charlotte Russe
The Bib Necklace: Spring 09 Accessory Trend
“SOME PRODUCTS ARE NO LONGER BEING SOLD”
Hate the name (do grown women really want to wear a bib?), love the accessory. Why? Because with something as bold as a “bib” necklace, you really don’t need much else to be eye-catching. Can you do it on the cheap? Would we bother writing about it if you couldn’t? Of couse not. We’ve rounded up a few budget pieces that are as fab as anything we’ve seen on the runway, for pennies on the dollar (or less) . . .
One caveat—whatever you do, be sure the neckline of your top is simple, simple, simple, and cut to frame the necklace or lay unobtrusively flat underneath—anything else will look sloppy and detract from what could be your signature piece for the season.
1. Stone Drape Necklace, $12.80, Forever 21
2. Chain Maille Necklace, $8.80, Forever21
3. Colorful Bib Necklace, $34, Urban Outfitters
4. Wrap Link Bib Necklace, $19.99, Target.
The Jumpsuit: Spring 09 Fashion Trend
“SOME PRODUCTS ARE NO LONGER BEING SOLD”
If you are of a certain age, jumpsuits will make you think of Donna Summer, Charlie’s Angels, and/or skating to “Rock With You” at the roller rink. However, it seems if it’s spring of 2009 (and it is) jumpsuits are one of at least the top 10 trends. Maybe top 5. Of course, last year they tried to bring back the romper. Did you buy one? We didn’t, and quite frankly, we don’t regret it.
Still, the more we see it, the more we’re thinking that if you are fashion-confident enough to pull it off, the modern jumpsuit could be quite chic. The key? Rich fabric and subtle, neutral hues (forget the velour, Juicy-wanna-be, hot pink versions), and modern accessories to assure that your look stays well out of the throwback/retro 70s territory - bib necklaces and gladiator sandals are at the top of our list.
1. Control Jumpsuit, $49, Newport News
2. Necklace Halter Jumpsuit, $29.50, Wet Seal
The Budget Fashionista’s Weekly Retail Report for March 29
It seems the news is getting worse by the minute for luxury retailers, but it’s starting to look up for the rest. Consumer spending has seen and upward trend in late February and March, and the shareholders of Saks, Ann Taylor, Liz Claiborne, Quicksilver, and Macy’s are feeling a little more optimistic about the future.
Goodwill and the Dollar General Store are both doing peachy, as you might expect, so much so that Goodwill’s expanding.
But the retailers that can’t stay relevant in this economy, in other words the retailers that don’t offer up lower cost products, are just digging themselves deeper and deeper into a hole.
Here’s a wrap-up:
Beauty sales, in general, are plummeting.
Tiffany’s earnings have fallen 76% and the retailer’s still too stubborn to lower prices.
DSW had a rough quarter, but Sketchers plans to grow its business in South America.
Luxury menswear designer Thom Browne’s on the brink of bankruptcy.
As companies suffer, so do their charities.
Wet Seal’s not doing so hot.
H&M profits fell 12%.
Hugo Boss has had better days.
Jeweler Charles and Colvard report a 47% drop in sales.
What about jobs?
Barney’s is letting go 76 employees.
Wal-Mart (yes, Wal-Mart) is shutting down an optical lab and in the process, cutting 650 jobs.
Swarovski Crystal is laying off 650.
Active Ride (skateboarders and surfers know this one well) has filed for Chapter 11.
Maybe we should all start thinking outside the shoe box, like suit maker Canali, which has just purchased a software company called Datafashion.
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