CALL IT A COMEBACK?
Women bought more jeans over the last year than there are actual people in America.
364 million pairs
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Why It Matters:
“When they think of America, they think of blue jeans.a
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Notable Trends
- Here’s the deal: Jeans sales have declined in recent years except for the last year, when jeans sales suddenly increased.
- Why? New fabric technology (stretchy denim), more comfy styles (high rise, “mom” jeans), and deep discounts (half of jeans sold were bought on sale, according to NPD group).
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a …women want to wear more than just leggings and yoga pants.a
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American Eagle says the company sold $1B worth of jeans last year. The rising sales of denim has helped a famous American brand & jean inventor, Levi Strauss & Co.. The company saw a double-digit increase in sales last year.
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Now You Know
Giving Thanks for Gourds
Fall’sA otherA fruit has decorated Thanksgiving table tops and mantles for decades, but why?
And Can you eat them?
Now You Know
What is a Gourd?
- One of fall’s most popular crops.
- Considered the runts of their family of fruits, which also includes pumpkins, squash, & cucumbers (yup, they’re all fruits.)
- Come in all shapes & sizes, can be knotty, mutatedA (decorative, tiny pumpkins are gourds too!)
- Typically describes inedible varieties – tough & bitter.
Now You Know
“That’s the goal: to get something stranger and stranger, because that’s what people want. If they see something they’ve never seen before, they’re more likely to buy it.”
Now You Know
Ga Ga for Gourds
- Between 1993 and 2007, prices of decorative gourds doubled.
- In 2016, the world grew more pumpkins, squash and gourds than corn or green beans.
- Decorative potential comes from the diverse looks – something rarely seen in fruits and vegetables.
still underrated?
Now You Know
How’d They Catch On?
- Gourds have been manipulated for various needs for about 8,000 years.
- Historically held great importance for carrying & transporting, or for use as a bowl, clothing, wheels & even musical instruments.
- In 1937, the American Gourd Society was created, with chapters now in half of U.S. states.
Now You Know
If you really want to eat one, experts say to eat them before they are fully ripe. Younger gourds will be softer whereas older gourds will be more tough & bitter. Get rid of the skin & boil for 20 mins. Or, if you ask us, maybe just admire them while you eat your turkey!
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SHOPPING SPREE
Michael Kors to Buy Versace for $2.1B
The game changer for the fashion world as an American company takes over a European icon.
Ciao Bella.
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A Fashion Statement
- Kors, known for its affordable-luxury, will buy high-end Versace with its $1,500 handbags & $2,500 dresses.
- Plans to open 100 stores globally, expand online sales &A focus on accessories & shoes.
- Kors will rename co.A “Capri Holdings,”A for the fashionable Italian vacation spot, to better reflect its diverse brands.
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Why it Matters
Deal creates America’s first true luxury fashion conglomerate. (Tapestry, which owns Coach, Kate Spade & Stuart Weitzman, is more mid-to-high-range.)
America has the largest apparel market in the world, but has yet to produce a global, multi-brand company like European names Gucci or Christian Dior.
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Some Things to Consider:
Fashion is Fickle
- Too much, too fast?
“Kors just bought Jimmy Choo 11 months ago,” a Wells Fargo analyst warns. - Discounting concerns:
a Time to get Versace at your local TJ MAXX and Marshalla s,” tweetedA writer Danielle Ayoka.
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Donatella Versace has served as the fashion house's creative director since her brother Gianni, who founded it 1987, was famously murdered in 1997. She had no training in fashion, but Kors CEO says she's an a essential componenta and will stay on to oversee the brand.
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MALL MADNESS?
Want a submarine ride with your retail therapy? Or skiing perhaps?
A The $4B bet to build the largest shopping center in America, even as mall vacanciesA climb to a 6-year high.
Attention shoppers!
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AMERICAN DREAM MALL
Miami, FL
- 2 times the size of current largest mall, King of Prussia in PA.
- Developer estimates 30M people will visit/year –A that’s 10M less than Mall of America.
- Critics warn on traffic, pollution & mall saturation in the area.
- Estimated to open by 2022, but permits, financing & infrastructure still needed.
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“We’re not building a mega-mall. We’re not in the mall business.”
Don Ghermezian, project developer
- 3.5M sq ft of retail space & 1.5M sq ft for entertainment.
- Dreamwork-themed water park, ferris wheel, & Legoland mini theme park.
- Possible indoor ski slope, lake with submarine rides, roller coaster, aquarium & permanent Cirque du Soleil show.
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Bigger Picture:
Online Shopping Weighs
- Malls are emptiest they’ve been since 2012 (after the recession).
- Bon Ton, Sears, JC Penney & Toys R Us close up shop.
- Perspective:A For every person in the U.S., there is 24 sq ft of retail space. (vs. Canada 16 sq ft, Australia 11 sq ft & U.K. 5 sq ft)
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Mall of America was the first of its kind when it opened back in 1992. This new Miami complex isn't the only "destination mall" in the works. Click to see where one is opening next year & how it will compare to Miami.
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a Dona t rest on your laurels. The end result isna t as important as the effort that goes into it. Jump all the way in. Dona t be afraid. And dona t worry so much.a
Flip For Her Story
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Kate Spade: Bio
- Born inA Kansas City, Missouri.
- Started her brand “Kate Spade” in 1993 with her now-husband Andy Spade (brother to the actor, David Spade) – married 24 years.
- 13-yr-old daughterA Frances.
- Once worked in a motorcycle bar in Arizona & as an accessories editor at Mademoiselle magazine.
Flip: How They Made It
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“There were a lot of lean times — Mr. Spade cleaned out his 401K to buy fabric, and used money from his personal checking account to make payroll. During shipping season, the Spades stayed with friends because boxes of handbags were piled all over their bed.”
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Kate Spade: Business
- The Spades sold part of their company to Neiman Marcus in 1990s & the rest in 2006; They left their official roles in 2007 to spend time with Frances.
- Coach bought the Kate Spade brand for $2.4B last year.
- Spade launched accessory line Frances ValentineA in 2016 & officially took the name “Kate Valentine Spade.”
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“I will say this was not unexpected by me. I’d flown out to Napa and NYC several times in the past 3-4 years to help her to get the treatment she needed (inpatient hospitalization). … She was a dear little person. So dear a so kind, so funny…I’m off to bed for a good cry.”
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The Kate Spade brand describes itself as "quick and curious and playful and strong" - Her sister says wanting to keep up the image of her brand kept Kate Spade from treatment. It's insight from a single source, but worth reading.
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REDHEADS REJOICE!
More than 2000 emojis came before, but finallyA redheads (curly & white hair, too!) get their proper representation.
FLIP TO SEE: New Emojis
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150+ New Emojis
- Expressions: smiling with hearts, woozy, hot & cold face.
- Animals: kangaroo,A mosquito, peacock, parrot, swan.
- Foods: cupcake, bagel, lettuce.
- Science: lab coats, DNA, magnet.
You cant use them yet! Expect a gradual rollout over several months.
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Now there's a redhead...a peacock...a "leg"...what emoji do you think is still missing? A flamingo and white heart did not make the list this time, despite being nominated.
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“The Party of the Year”
Celebrities & Fashionistas
Gather For the Met Gala
In the fashion world, there are few dates as important as the first Monday in May.
Flip For Why It Matters
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Toughest Ticket in Town
The invitation-only tickets are $30K a piece & tables are about $275K, according to NYT.
All of the money from ticket sales goes to the Costume Institute, which it needs because it is the only one of the Meta s departments that funds itself.
Last year, $12 million was raised.
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Met Gala: Did You Know?
- Pres. Trump proposed to his wife, Melania, during 2004 gala.
- Attendees are banned from posting on social media after the red carpet.
- Anna Wintour has final say over every invitation & attendee; each guest must be approved.
- Under Wintoura s reign, the Met Gala has raised $145M for the Costume Institute.
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The 2018 Met Gala's theme is "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination." We can only guess what celebrities choose to wear for their "Sunday Best."
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‘CITY OF DREAMS’…
Gets Dream Makeover
by Tiffany’s
Tiffany & Co. will turn a select few of New York City’s iconic yellow cabs its signature robin’s egg blue.
And that’s not all…
Flip: What's Going On
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Historic Jeweler Promoting *New Collection*
Inspiration for ‘painting the town blue‘: Holly GoLightly
Ita s a the juxtaposition of wearing a floor length gown and a tiara while holding a paper bag with coffee and a pastry. …The idea that luxury doesna t have to be formal.a
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Not Just Taxi Cabs…
- Tiffany’s marketing strategy embraces the use of social media to promote new products.
- Tiffany’s team handmade flowers for NYC bodegas (small corner shops) and will add #TiffanyBlue to subway stairs and metro cards for new “Paper Flowers” collection.
- Color set to disappear from NYC streets May 4th.
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To bring people "in" to the project and help spread the brand (knowingly or not), Tiffany created an interactive map so folks can find their new pops of blue. See it here:
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Not everyone liked "The Hat" but love it or hat it, the First Lady made news with her clothes and grace during the FIRST STATE VISIT from a major U.S. ally. The French President's wife Brigitte Macron, wore Louis Vuitton the entire trip from head-to-toe.
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ICON
The Man Who Changed
Fashion Forever
He designed unforgettable looks for Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O, and more than one princess.
Hubert de Givenchy passes away at age 91.
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Givenchy & Hepburn
- Audrey Hepburn took notice of the young Parisian designer when they were both still in their 20s.
- He confused her with “Katharine Hepburn” & almost refused to meet with her when she arrived.
- Givenchy designed the iconic gown in “Sabrina” & the little black dress in “Breakfast At Tiffany’s.”
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Advice From Givenchy
a The little black dress is the hardest thing to realize because you must keep it simple.a
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FUN FACT
$923,187
What the “Holly Golightly” black dress sold for in auction in 2006.
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Givenchy: Backstory
- Father died when he was 3.
- Grandmother was the widow of a director of a chain of French tapestry workshops.
- Rewarded for good behavior as a young boy with fabric scraps.
- Opened his first shop at 24, using plastic mannequins because he couldn’t afford “live” models.
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Givenchy Today
- Givenchy sold his design house to LVMH (luxury brand company – includes Louis Vuitton) in 1988; his last collection was in 1995.
- John Galiano, Roberto Tisci, & Alexander McQueen steered brand.
- In 2017, Clare Waight Keller named first female artistic director.
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"The perfect dress can make many things happen in a womana s life. It can bring happiness. It is so nice to give happiness to your friends.a Givenchy
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High Heel Court Drama
French fashion designer and leading high-heel innovator Christian Louboutin
is back in court fighting to protect the rights to his famous red-soled shoes.
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Why This Matters?
Heel Designs May Change
- In 2012, Louboutin sued a Netherlands shoe company to prevent it from producing red-soled shoes, citing its EU trademark.
- Now, EU court adviser says Louboutin’s EU trademark might be invalid. A ruling is expected shortly.
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Red Sole Battle In U.S.
- In 2012, a NY federal appeals court ruled Louboutin’s U.S. trademark on red-soled shoes was valid, EXCEPT when the shoe itself is red too – meaning the trademark doesn’t apply to red monochromatic shoes (i.e. Dorothy’s red slippers in The Wizard of Oz).
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Did You Know?
The American woman owns, on average,A 19 pairs of shoes, but only wears 4 on a regular basis (Consumer Reports).
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Did You Know?
In 1986, when the former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos fled and went into exile, she left behind at least 1,200 pairs of shoes.
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“I don’t wear my heels in the shower or when I sleep a and I wear my little tennis shoes when I do my treadmill a but when I go out, of course I will. That’s my look and that’s how I’m always gonna be.”
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