Fall / Holiday 2011 RTW Trend Report Recap

As we're winding up the buying season for Fall/Holiday 2011, we wanted to make sure you had seen the RTW trend reports and had covered the important trends for your store.  If you've missed something, be sure and let us know.  As LamanBlu is entirely domestic, we are still accepting late orders for the season. 

Red Alert!  "Traffic Stopping Red is hot on both sides of the Atlantic." (Marylou Luther) Michael Kors focused on red for the holidays, as did LamanBlu.

At Jason Wu, and LamanBlu, lace prints grounded in warm tones set the stage.

"Enter the fur-ioso force of fur and faux fur.  From fur-sided glasses at Alexander Wang to hats at The Row to a bootie at Tod's, a bag at Michael Kors, a collar at Van Noten and a bib at Fendi, fur is as important in accessories as it is in apparel." (Marylou Luther)  At LamanBlu, it's seen in capes and muffs, but also in collars, purses and skirts.

So, for the round-up of the rest of the trends slated as most likely to make it from the catwalk to the sidewalk:  In addition to traffic-stopping red, "the fashion rainbow also favored teal and turquoise and glacier blues" (Marylou Luther)

(RTW Collection Trend Report courtesy of The Fashion Group Foundation).

So, did you cover the important trends for your store?  Wait!  There's more!  LamanBlu is a fashion trend-forward collection, but we are also a collection loved by twirly girls and their mothers alike.  Best selling pieces for the season?  Our Essential Swing T's and Poet Ruffle Tunics and Essential Leggings, in a range of colors.  We all know that children love to be dressed comfortably, and with LamanBlu's versions of the styles, they can accomplish that all while looking fabulous!

And of course, there is one of our continually best selling styles at retail, the jumper dress as seen in the top photo in red under our bustle jacket, in the fashion rainbow section of colors above in turquoise and blue over our swing t and leggings, and here over our favorite pink paisley print and tights. 

And the favorite heirloom pieces for holiday? Our embroidered and freshwater pearl beaded lace in both a blouse and twirly dress. ( The blouse is shown over our jumper dress in baby pink.)

Whew!  We're done!  Now wasn't that fun?  Be sure and let us know if you missed anything and we'll make sure and get it to you in time for the selling season. 

Denver Happenings

Wow - it's springtime in Denver and there is so much happening it's tough to keep up!  (Ok, I know it's summer everywhere else - but in the mountains, we're still enjoying spring) 

Fashion Group International (FGI) is seeking it's next Rising Star.  The Rising Star award is open to 9 design categories this year and Fashion Group will select the next new designer/company most likely to be a nationally recognized brand in the next 5 years.  I was the Rising Star for FGI in 2009 and I am excited to be the selection committee chairperson for this year's Rising Star which will be announced in a gala event in October.  For more information, visit http://www.risingstardenver.org/

Things have been moving along quickly at the Denver Design Incubator (DDI).  The first Diamond Series workshop just concluded and we have another at the end of the month.  We had a great write up from the Denver Post. 

"In all the other cities — New York, Chicago, Dallas, L.A. — you get out of design school and work for someone in the industry to learn how to make a living in design," says Holli Gibson, founder of the LamanBlu children's clothing and a member of the Denver Design Incubator's board of directors.

"In the past, we've lost talented Denver designers who move out of Denver, or try to start a business here with varying degrees of success. Here, people miss that work experience, so the Incubator provides a place for people here to learn those things."

To read the full article, visit http://www.denverpost.com/lifestyles/ci_18218194

I am very honored to have been named as the Executive Director for DDI and we are conducting interviews now for our Designer-In-Residence program which begins July 11th.  We have a wonderful location right downtown in The Pavilions, graciously donated by The Pavilions and the I Heart Denver Store.  Additionally, we are fully outfitted with state-of-the-art industrial sewing, cutting and pressing equipment from Ralph's Industrial Sewing.  You can visit us online at http://www.denverdesignincubator.com/

At LamanBlu, we're usually early into the marketplace with our Spring collection.  Most companies start showing their Spring collection in August and we usually show in June to give people insight into the trends that they should be on the lookout for. Well, with all of these other goings-on we are showing our Spring/Summer collection in August this year.  Don't worry - we will go ahead and release our trend reports in the next few weeks so that you can stay ahead of the curve, but we are dedicated to designing and producing a truly excellent line so we want to take the extra time this season to make sure it's perfect.

I guess I'd better get back to work...be on the lookout for trend reports coming soon!
Salu,
Holli