New York Retail Report in Brief

Paul Pelssers' monthly reports chronicle key color groups, key trends and key categories within the Women's, Men's, Accessories and Girls' businesses -- right here in New York.

Women's and Girls' editions are published the first of every month. Accessories and Men's are also published the first of each month, except in February and August.

"It is a season of educating the customer, as the eye will take a moment to register all of the newness in items, shape, color and silhouette. So if it's skinny jeans you believe in my suggestion is: back them, believe in them and ensure your customer knows how to wear them." - Paul Pelssers

Where Did You Hear It First? By Paul Pelssers

August 2008 Retail Report

Teal - The color between blue and green is set to be another winning shade for Fall. The color teal was predicted in Paul Pelssers’ Early Color and Trend Direction Fall/Winter 2009-10. Teal looks great in a combination of chocolate brown and gray or black.

Graphic jacquard treatments in geometric designs have retro sensibility.

New artistic prints are blurred and often imperfect in classic black and white combinations.

Polka dots are back, signaling newness in color combination and proportion.

Will menswear plaids make a woman update her current wardrobe?

Menswear plaids in dresses, slim cropped and cuffed pants and new jacket shapes certainly indicate that plaid will also be a success story for the ladies.

Gray plus color gives the classic plaids a new twist.

Colorblocking, which you heard about in the June retail report, seems to be an immediate success. The graphic effect of colorblocking makes items stand out on the crowded fashion floor, and this is exactly what the customer is responding to.

The bow adds true ladylike glamour at the neckline of blouses, coats and jackets. Use your imagination to make the design feminine by placing the bow in unexpected spots.

"Old Hollywood" influence is looming in short sleeve jackets that also signal the seasonless trend. Waistlines are strongly emphasized.

Make a note on the increasingly big tend toward knit dressing. Knit pants with layering should be a winner.

Mod dresses will look good in the Fall with colorful hosiery as an accent. (See Paul Pelssers’ New York Retail Report for accessories.)

Watch for new details and silhouettes:

Short sleeve turtlenecks, cowl necklines, chemise shapes on dresses, crew cardigans, shrugs and boleros, tied and wrapped styling, elongated silhouettes and sweater knits, grandpa cardigans and decorative buttons

Leather is for the buy-now-wear-now mentality customer who wants to be noticed by wearing a leather jacket during a 90-degree summer day. It is not for the mass market.

Denim pencil shirts and jackets are still selling in new interpretations and styling.

Paul Pelssers’ New York Retail Report, "an eye toward the future," is available from Margit Publications, a division of The Doneger Group. www.mpnews.com

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