"Talkin' about hard times".....as Ray would say

Today was a heavy day. Everyone was gloomy, everyone was worried, everyone got yelled at. Why? The fashion industry is not the best place to be right now. I'm aware that no industry is that great right now but....I was reminded several times today just how frivolous my job is. We will always need teachers and doctors and garbage men but will we always need contemporary menswear buyers? Obviously not.

I was in a team meeting for 6 hours today to discuss why our sales are only 50% to last year and here is what we came up with....we have a difficult target market. We're not discount and we're not upscale so where does that leave us? The average joe customer that shops in our store has downgraded to big box stores like Target. They're only shopping for basics like underwear and socks, essentials for work and play. They don't need a $250 Australian merino wool sweater that comes in 10 different colors. They are taking care of their family needs and letting their wives do the shopping. Sidebar...women buy things for themselves and their children first so the average joe is pretty much screwed if he's expecting some fancy new digs. The moderately wealthy man who can afford that sweater doesn't care anymore. If he's going to spend that amount of money on something, it has to be extra special...it has to be different and worthwhile and unfortunately...we are not standing out right now.

Of course, we're not the only ones. Times are hard, people are struggling. Am I scared that I'm going to lose my job? We talked about this in great detail today. Truthfully...I don't think I'd be the first to go; there has to be someone lower than me on the food chain. Unfortunately, losing my job doesn't terrify me in the way that it should. I'm not sure why that is...I'm not unhappy, just restless and searching I suppose.

Anyway.....I have a solution to this growing crisis...vote for Obama and watch the world change : )

Casual Friday

I know I've said that JFK was the downfall of American dress attire but I will now say that Casual Friday was the downfall of American work attire. Women used to wear these perfect suits to work everday with high heels and gloves and little hats pinned into their hair. Men used to wear suits with handkerchiefs in the pockets, bowties, and manly looking hats that made everyone look smarter. However, as soon as casual Friday was introduced into the workplace, fashion went downhill. Now people go to work in jeans and flip flops or even shorts! This has got to stop I tell you.

I thought of this today because, as some of you may know, my company does not participate in casual Friday. Men have to wear suits and ties every day of the week, no hats and handkerchiefs unfortunately, but at least there are ties. Jeans? Ha! You can't even come in to the building if you're wearing a single stitch of denim! (That may be an exaggeration but it helps me prove my point). I love work attire and dressing up and high heels so casual Friday means nothing to me. Although, since I have started working, I have often thought....wouldn't it be nice to wear jeans to work occasionally? To take the pressure off of the outfit choice that I have to make every single morning?

Well that day has come my friend... Today we got a mass email saying that tomorrow is "Jeans Day" but wait, there is a catch....in order to wear jeans, we have to bring canned food for the Food Bank. Hurricane Ike not only ruined my friend's wedding but it also left alot of people hungry so of course I will wear jeans and bring canned food. Not that I have any canned food lying around but I did make a special trip to the store after work for the occasion.

My point in all of this is that my company knows how to do casual Friday right....that is -- to not do it at all. Then when we get an email taunting us with the idea of casual attire so that we will donate to charity -- we all jump at the chance. The common working man with a habitual casual Friday could easily forget their canned goods and it wouldn't make one bit of difference since he is aloud to wear jeans on a weekly basis (or daily since the common working man has become a slob who will wear his tshirt, cargo shorts and crocs to work everyday). I would bet money that if someone at my company forgets their canned goods tomorrow, they will be forced to go home and change out of their jeans. I wish I was kidding.

Maybe when I send Obama and Biden their fedoras, I should also send them a memo to never be caught on camera in jeans and an appliqued polo/button-down. Who can trust a man wearing a shirt with a tiny alligator on it to run this country? I mean, if we get any more casual, you'll all be going to work in your pajamas.

Who Wants To Go To Provo?

I guess it's time to tell people that the Journalism masters is no longer going. I wasn't impressed with the program...I didn't like the school...and I'm restless at this point in my life so I decided not to waste my time and money. I'm currently looking for another program, something that will challenge me. We'll see how that goes.

Now to the topic at hand.....

I got an email today from a store manager telling me that my business is struggling in his store and that he's only 84% sold to last year on my line. My first thought was that there isn't much demand for contemporary menswear in Provo, Utah. Apparently I was wrong since the other contemporary lines are averaging at 115% to last year. Therefore, his concern has now perplexed me...especially since he wanted to know my plan for turning business around for the Fall season. I had no idea how to answer him except to spout off my markdown strategy for Fall 2008 and to suggest to my VP that I go visit the store to figure out the problem.

I believe it's all due to pricing....you the common man who would shop at a reasonably priced department store does not want to spend $95 on a button-down shirt. Nor do you want to spend $40 on a tee shirt...even if it is pima cotton because you don't know what that means! I believe that I understand my customer fairly well. He has 3 names......

Larry.....buys our basic old-school stuff. He likes linen in the spring and wool in the fall and has absolutely no fashion sense whatsoever. This man could care less that our linen is from Ireland or that our wool comes from Italy. His wife buys all his clothes.

Guido....likes the silk sweaters, the polynosic knits, the stuff that he can wear without an undershirt...the stuff that tends to show nipples through the thin material. He wears a sportcoat over a mock neck on a daily basis and thinks this is classy.

Javier....is our fashionable man. Maybe a little homosexual, maybe a little fashion-obsessed, maybe a little too old/confused to buy something that is actually fashionable at a store that actually sells fashionable clothing.

This may sound like racial profiling or something, but defining your customer is important. I am starting to believe that neither Larry, Guido or Javier lives in Provo, Utah and that is why my business is so bad. Or maybe these three gentlemen are getting tired of paying our ridiculous prices for clothes that aren't that great. I'll be sure to let know you when I find out.....

Cocktail Attire?

How do you define cocktail attire? That is a question I have been asked at least 15 times in the past 2 weeks.

Well......A cocktail is defined as....any of various short mixed drinks, consisting typically of gin, whiskey, rum, vodka, or brandy, with different admixtures, as vermouth, fruit juices, or flavorings, usually chilled and frequently sweetened.

Attire means....clothes or apparel, esp. rich or splendid garments.

Therefore, I define "cocktail attire" as a splendid garment to be worn while drinking a short mixed drink that is frequently sweetened. That is what I will now tell my guests for Saturday's shindig....aka my brother and future sister-in-law/best friend's couple cocktail shower party fiesta.

I've heard several variations on the question at hand. Do I have to wear a tie? Can I wear pants if I'm a woman? Is a tophat cocktail appropriate? What about an ascot and smoking jacket? It's interesting to me since this is a topic of fashion in the 21st century. Back in the day...everyone wore hats, women never even thought of wearing pants and I'm fairly certain cocktail attire was ballroom-esque. I would love to go back to the 20's fashion era when Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaperelli designed for women who loved to dress up. And if only men still loved to put on their fancy pants like they used to. It seems like suits and ties are strictly reserved for job interviews, my current place of employment and funerals. How do we get back to a time of dressing for the ultimate occasion?

I'll have you know that while Jackie O created an amazing trend of the put-together woman in the 60's...JFK ruined dressing up for the menfolk. He hated hats and therefore refused to wear one. It all went downhill from there. Maybe if I send Obama and Biden some fedoras, they can re-introduce the man-about-town trend for the U.S.

My point is.......wear what you want to my fabulous cocktail party because there is nothing a man hates more than being told what to wear. However, my suggestions are...

1. Pleated pants are no man's friend
2. If you can't wear white shoes after Labor Day (dumb rule), you shouldn't be able to wear LINEN either
3. Do not overshadow the bride....she's vicious.