The big sellout
The Big Apple has yet to enjoy many days with birds chirping, but sun-starved New Yorkers are optimistically stocking up on spring essentials, cleaning out department stores’ stocks of warm-weather togs.
“The customer is ready for color and prints after this dark fall and winter,” says Susan Marasco, fashion director of contemporary sportswear at Bloomingdale’s. “The sales are speaking for themselves.”
At the Lexington Avenue style mainstay, clothing inspired by the tumultuous decade that saw Watergate, Jimmy Carter and disco is flying off the shelves. “The overall trends we went after were a return to the ’70s — but with a new, modern swing. Think Ali McGraw mixed with a little Studio 54,” says Marasco. She emphasizes that the new, longer silhouette of printed maxidresses and wide-leg jeans is back in a major way.
Ladies aren’t scrimping on accessories, either — especially plenty of bracelets piled up and down the arm.
“The more, the better,” says Marasco. “Woven friendship bracelets, beaded bangles and bejeweled bracelets are a huge fashion statement and pack a lot of punch.”
Printed scarves are huge for spring, and cork wedges are ubiquitous.
“It’s all about the very comfortable but stylish cork wedge, which you can wear with an all-white look, denim or prints,” advises Marasco.
Gothamites, who always favor fashion over form, are slipping their manicured toes into the sky-high platform pumps in electric Crayola colors from Saks Fifth Avenue.
Over at Intermix, customers are showing a practical streak, investing in pieces that help ease their existing cold-weather clothes into the emerging warmth with neutral or vivid, eye-catching colors.
“These hues easily transition a winter wardrobe into the spring season,” says Intermix fashion director Sari Sloane.
Cobalt skinny jeans and khaki booties from Rag & Bone are among the favorites there. So what else is selling like hot cakes? Take a look!
