www.roanoke.com

It's more common these days to see men wearing pink ties, but what about bright fuchsia kitchens and hotel buildings? Bold color apparently is in this year, and if it's pink, it's likely going to be a hit.

This fall, fuchsia is one of the leading hues in men and women's clothing. The bright color also is showing up in unlikely places, such as on buildings and in interior design schemes, according to this Wall Street Journal story.

In apparel, fashion designers think that this kind of bold color will make consumers feel more optimistic about the economy, therefore encouraging them to spend. Black, gray and brown shades don't necessarily evoke optimism, states the story.

Neon orange and yellow also are joining the hot pink color lineup.

I'm typically a color-driven consumer. What about you?

Is denim an economic indicator?  The NPD Group, a New York market research firm, believes that a rise in sales of jeans may signal a turnaround in consumer spending.

The NPD Group reports that sales of premium jeans, which are priced at $100 and higher, increased 17 percent in 2008 from 2007.  And sales still are growing. For the most recently reported three-month time period, which is December 2008 through February 2009, sales for the total jeans category rose 2.3 percent, according to the group.

At the same time, total apparel sales declined 6.3 percent.

"That is the time period that was the most challenging in terms of consumer spending, so any growth during that time is significant," said Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst for the NPD Group, in a news release. "With the new-found focus on fit by some of the commodity brands coupled with women's never ending quest for the perfect pair of jeans, the passion for denim is alive and well."

According to this news article, denim has been a leading indicator in past recessions.

Have you bought a new pair of jeans lately? And why do you think jean sales appear to be withstanding the economic downturn?

More retailers are advertising that they care about the environment.
I learned recently of a local example of this at Ukrop’s Super Market. If you bring a reusable bag or your own paper bag with you to transport your groceries from the store, you can receive a 5-cents credit on your total bill. Also, for 99 cents, Ukrop’s sells mesh, reusable grocery bags.

Sure, a 5-cents credit doesn’t add up to large savings, but every little bit helps. Also, the reusable bags have been a hit. Ukrop’s has sold about 80,000 since September, when it started offering them, according to the grocery retailer.

Green initiatives are taking center stage this week during the National Retail Federation’s annual convention in New York City. On the agenda are a number of retailers that are sharing the environmentally-sound practices that they incorporate. The retailers include Wal-Mart, L.L. Bean and Kohl’s.

As a consumer, what do you think of these green initiatives? Does a retailer's environmentally-friendly focus draw you to shop there?

Here’s a trend to ponder this weekend, if you plan on doing some shopping.

Celebrity-branded clothing increasingly is showing up in stores.

Most recently, chic handbags, tall boots and clothing designed by Ashley Judd, who is an actress and the daughter and sister of country music stars, landed in Goody’s stores. To the left is a marketing shot of her showing off some of the apparel.

The good news is that this merchandise, from skinny jeans to high-heeled pumps and sports wear, is affordable, since it’s carried by retailers that already categorize themselves as discount stores.

Try on some of these local examples for size.

• Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear, with a location at Tanglewood Mall, introduced Sarah Jessica Parker’s Bitten line earlier this year, and last month, it began selling the dear line by Amanda Bynes. Look for Venus Williams’ active wear EleVen apparel to show up on store racks in November.

• Ashley Judd’s collection of casual and dressy blouses and denim is sold at Goody’s stores, including the one at Tanglewood Mall.

• Payless Shoes is carrying handbags and several pairs of footwear created by designer Lela Rose, from short boots to peep-toe pumps. They’re not yet in Roanoke area Payless stores, but they are sold online.

The motto of Parker’s Bitten line is “Fashion isn’t a luxury, it’s a right.” Retailers are using big names to lure customers into their stores, with a mission of affordability. For Bynes’ dear clothing, you’ll find $14.98 jeans, $19.98 v-neck sweaters and $10.98 quarter-sleeve, casual shirts.

Read more »