Fashion Week 2008

In New York City, I was able to visit and tour the design studio of Cynthia Steffe, a fashion designer. We all went to the show room, and was able to watch the runway video of Cynthia Steffe from Fashion Week Fall 2008. It was very exciting because all of the outfits that were displayed in the show room were the same ones on the video. Our group got to meet two of the assistants and they told us how they got started. In the fashion industry you need to know and love fashion to work for Cynthia Steffe. The assistants told us that it is very important to keep a positive attitude at all time. I learned that Cynthia Steffe does not yet have her own accessories line. Instead she used vintage shoes and hats to add some fair to her pieces on the runway. Each item had fine details such as texture, color, and pattern. The garments were made with the finest quality and different textiles.

Elizabeth :) p.s Under this Blog- I had to put the Oscar de la Renta video

DKNY- Visual Merchandising!

After all the talk and discussion about Visual merchandising in class, it made me think of all the things I saw in New York City. DKNY was one of my favorite visits because the layout of the store was very eye catching and unique. The atmosphere was very modern and comfortable. There were bright colors everywhere- And I LOVED IT! Both the store manager and visual managers introduced us to DKNY, and told us a little bit about Donna Karan. I learned a lot form the young visual manager. I love visual merchandising because you can be so creative. Its kind of like interior design, but you are trying to sell a story. When the customer travels through the store they are going to take on a certain feeling or mood. This is all done through the visuals of the store (color, light, sound, smell, ect.).
DKNY changes the layout of their store four times a year. This is done with a crew of men in the middle of the night. The young visual manager said it can sometimes be very hectic because there are so many people moving around. This season DKNY painted bicycles bright orange and placed them in the store and around the city during the New York Fashion Week to create some buzz. It was to go with the theme of "Explore Your City" yet some people complained that it was like Ghost Bikes (a memorial for people who have died from riding a bike in the city) and DKNY had to take them down. The intention of the bikes were suppose to be a good thing. And it thought it was a great idea. It's form of advertise was creative- just look up DKNY.com.
In the store, everything looked perfect. It was very awe-inspiring. I wish I had a picture of the inside of the store! DKNY also used window displays with large block letters spelling out "DKNY."


Elizabeth :)

Coach at Dillard's

I just started my job at Dillard's in February. In March, I got moved over to the Coach counter to sell Coach bags. I haven't fallen under the curse yet, but it is very tempting to buy one of these Coach handbags now.

I see girls pulling out their tip money from working at restaurants just to pay for one of these bags. I understand that Coach is a very high quality bag, and the name is extremely high dollar. However, we have bags by designers like Donald J. Pliner that aren't behind a counter, and just as high dollar as Coach. I actually think it is higher dollar than Coach, because his smallest bag is $425.00, while the average Coach bag behind the counter is around $398.00, but it is much larger.

So how does Coach have such a strong target market? Teenage girls spend all the money they have one a handbag, college students spend an entire month's rent on one, and older women routinely by a handbag once a month. Maybe its the consistently classic look that never goes out of style, or the few new pieces they come out with every month that give people something to look forward to by routine.

I'm personally awed by the new Tattersall pattern they came out with which has the coated canvas for easy cleanup.

-Krystal