Spring 2012 Shopping - On Trend!

The Daily Thred just released their trend report for the must have items for your kids:


Sounds like fun, doesn't it?  The good news is - you can do much of the shopping right from our website now!  And when you do, you can select one of several charities which will receive a donation from your order.  The new styles will be arriving in our webstore in February, just in time for spring shopping.  What should you look forward to?  Here's a peek:

Tiered ruffles and lace trimmed dresses

Bustle ruffles trimmed with lace - is there a better look for Easter?

Boys preppy-inspired buttondowns!

Little girls tutu dresses (in hot pink and aqua)

Romper Dresses for girls

Romper Shortalls for boys

And who doesn't need some amazing bright prints!

There's more - but hopefully this will tickle your fancy and get you excited about the spring shopping season!

LamanBlu Spring-Summer 2012 Collection

12 Crucial Consumer Trends for 2012

I can't believe 2012 is almost upon us.  OK -in all honesty - I tend to skip over years and am already writing 2013 on some of my checks by accident.  It's not that I am not excited about 2012, it's just that working on a wholesale schedule means I've been looking at 2012 for the past year and am already starting work on 2013.

Trendwatching.com does a great job analyzing consumer trends and they've released their report for 2012 - want to know what to be on the watch for?

1. Red Carpet
2. DIY Health
3. Dealer-Chic
4. Eco-Cycology
5. Cash-less
6. Bottom of the Urban Pyramid
7. IdleSourcing
8. Flawsome
9. Screen Culture
10. Re-commerce
11. Emerging Maturalism
12. Point & Know

Which trends are we watching and working on with interest?  Well - we've always been into Eco and continue working on that effort to be more eco-friendly in the way we run our business and the way we source and produce our garments.

IdleSourcing is another trend we're paying attention to.  What does that mean?  Simply put, it means making it simple for consumers to contribute to something more.  We're avid supports of children's charities here at LamanBlu and we want to make it simpler for you to contribute too.  We're working on a website update that will allow you to contribute directly to one of our charitable partners when you make a purchase from our website!  How cool is that?!

Re-commerce is something else we're working on, though in all honesty - it's slated to roll out for 2013.  We'd love to roll it out sooner, but don't quite have the manpower yet.  What is re-commerce?  It's all about providing our LamanBlu customers the ability to re-sell or trade or donate their past purchases.  We'd love to hear you weigh in on this subject though as we continue to work towards providing a platform to do this with. 

Want to know more about these trends and what they mean?  Visit  http://trendwatching.com/trends/12trends2012/

Alexander McQueen, Spring 2012, Pink and Ruffles

There are a few designers I've followed for years - Balenciaga, Dior, Herrera and McQueen among others.  I just had to share a few of the photos from Spring 2012 McQueen with you that I love in particular!

(photos courtest of http://us.fashionmag.com)

Don't you just love all the ruffles and lace - even ruffles on the shoes!  (I am a major shoe fanatic)  And guess who sells pink ruffly shoes for little girls?  Bear Feet!  www.bearfeet.com They have amazing shoes for kids - great quality, the softest leather - and all made in the USA.  If you recall - we partnered with them last spring for our photo shoot - and the pink ruffle sandals were a big hit with all of our models!  Check out LamanBlu's pink ruffle bustle dress for little girls - not very McQueen - but perfect for a garden party!

Speaking of pink - pink has not always been one of my favorite colors.  It took looking at it through my daughter's eyes to gain a true appreciation of it.  I even find myself wearing it now - both in brights and in the softest makeup shades.  We seem to always run some variety of pink for LamanBlu - the shade changes each season, but it's almost always present for our twirly girls.  This spring - it's bright bouganvilla and baby pink - so whether it's a pool party or a day at the beach or a garden party or Easter Sunday, we've got you covered.

Holiday 2011 - Trends to be sure and include in your kids closet!

Trend #1:  Animal Kingdom: Cat's may be the preferred pet in fashion this season, but other animals have found a home on clothes for kids too. Look for owls, hamsters, horses, bears, moose and more!

(LamanBlu's Snow Leopard Cape)

Trend #2: A Little Bit of Lace: Last year designers dressed down sequins for everyday wear. This season, lace takes a casual turn, moving beyond dressy dresses. Lace prints on easy knits are especially popular.

(LamanBlu's chocolate lace organic cotton and recycled polyester swing T and legging)

Trend #3:  Ruffled Up: Everything's coming up ruffled this season. The frill embellishment makes an encore performance on school clothes, dresses and shoes.

(LamanBlu's ruffles on the poet ruffle tunic and ruffle pants)

Trend #4:  Fluff 'N' Stuff: European designers are big fans of fur, feathers and other fluffy stuff. Nearly every collection on the runway got the soft touch with fluffy embellishment or fur accessories, including collars, hats, ear muffs, scarves and boots.

(LamanBlu's faux fur muff)

(LamanBlu's faux fur cape and skirt)

(LamanBlu's faux fur collar)

Trend reporting courtesy of Kids Style Source.

2012 Trend Report

Anyone who's been in the design field for a long time can talk about trends.  There are, of course, the trend setters and the trend followers, but there's something interesting that seems to happen in the "common consciousness" of the design community.  While there are some trends that seem to come out of no where, it is more common that trends come along a predictible progression.  That's why you see many designers referencing a particular style trend or color story in any given season.  Sometimes we're ahead of the game (our Fall 2011 Painterly Stripes are the purported print of "all the rage" for Fall 2012) and sometimes we miss a trend we should have picked up on.  Some trends are really just applicable to children's or men's, etc.  And some are more workable across the board.  As a high end design house, we pay attention to the color and print trends coming out of the reporting agencies and the artistic developers, and we create our own trends as well.  It's one of my favorite parts of the job. 

We get a lot of questions from retailers and media about what are the hot new trends for the upcoming year.  We've decided to share that with you too.  It may feel a little early to be looking to what's going to be hot for 2012, but we are nearing the end of 2011 (can you believe it!)  Here are some important color storys and trend items for 2012 - both spring and fall (a whole year away).  Enjoy!

Open publication - Free publishing - More 2012

FGI Rising Star 2011

"Paris, schmaris. Mile High style is alive and thriving in Denver. Whether chic and sleek, playful and fresh, or edgy and urban, the creative designs of area up-and-comers were showcased (where else?) on the runway at the sixth biennial Rising Star celebration hosted by Fashion Group International Denver. On Saturday, October 8, around 400 fashionistas dressed their best to mix, mingle and be dazzled by the creations of bright new talents at District 475, where Lindsay Bloom, of Bloom Jewelry, was named 2011 Rising Star."  Blacktie

 The event benefited the Brandon Center and The Gathering Place.  Denise Plante, the Emmy Award winning host of "Colorado & Company" on KUSAA made the entire evening a blast with her great sense of humor. 

 The fashion show featured finalists in 13 categories, chosen from a plethora of talented applicants: Kaitlyn Thomas, KaiT Designs; Meggie Hodge, Fahrenkamp Apparel; Tracey Blake, Tracey Lynn Golf; Gabriela Martinez, Gabriela Designs; Maggie Burns, Marie-Margot Bridal; Natalee Moldenhauer, Natalee M Designs; Dana Van Daele, Grey Sunshine; A.J. Machete and Lianna K, Denver Bespoke; Kotomi Yoshida, Studio Yoshida; Dan Powell, Panache Cycle Wear; Dan Abrams and Greg Steen, FlyLow Gear; Samantha Louise Larkins, Samantha Louise Jewelry; as well as this year’s Rising Star Lindsay Bloom, of Bloom Jewelry.

After winning the Rising Star in 2009, I was honored to be on this year's judging panel and to present the next Rising Star Award to Lindsay Bloom.  The talent we have here is Colorado is amazing - as we continue our journey to reaching higher levels we will be a fashion community to take notice of.  I am humbled to be a partner in that journey.
 
Salu,
Holli
 
To see more photos from the event:  Rising Star 2011 Photo Album