Though this has nothing to do with sports, two news stories on Monday highlight just how much the U. S. economy has hurt the fashion industry.
First, Victoria’s Secret has finally realized that perhaps its clothing lines are a little too revealing, particularly for women over age 40. VS’s CEO Sharen Jester Turney says the retailer is considering an image makeover after sales dropped 8 percent over the holiday season. VS blamed the weak sales to the economic downturn and offerings that were targeted to a younger clientele. Now it wants to win customers back by producing more sophisticated product offerings that will appeal to older women. Turney says, “We use the word ‘sexy’ a lot and really have forgotten he ultra-feminine.” As one 40-plus former employee put it, “In our 40s and up, we are sexy – just not the same sexy a college gal is.”
Paris designers are also getting more practical amidst fears of a recession. Some designers are doing away with more luxurious designs and opting for more understated elegance, according to the Associated Press. U.S. fashion retailers also have cut back on their spending and are looking for designs that have a shelf life of more than one season.
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