More Pics from Bread and Butter Barcelona

Got some more pics from show in Barcelona. I'm seriously considering taking someone to go with me to Barcelona for the next show.

Classic Cardy UGGs

Yes, the boots that I used to love to hate are back. I've been wearing them all Fall and I LOVE MY UGGs. I would seriously lay down a hurting on anyone that would take them from me. Yes, my attitude has turned 180 degrees. So soft, light, warm and comfortable. I was an idiot before.

We've received our shipment Monday and they're already blowing out the store. There's only one left of my size in the colour I want! We have them in Black, Grey and Oatmeal colours.

Available at both Tru Drama and Kris + Cris. Hurry we have limited Quantities!

Apple Bottom Jeans

I was asked by my assistant manager at Kris + Cris today if were going to get Apple Bottom Jeans. Apparently all her friends were talking about them. It was only natural to ask me since we were carrying the Apple Bottom line at Tru Drama.

I knew I had booked Apple Bottom Jeans for Spring delivery but weren't expecting them in till later in February. Back at the Tru Drama my other assistant was also asking me about the delivery of Apple Bottom Jeans. A coincidence... maybe but when a customer walked in and asked me about... yes, Apple Bottom Jeans. Well something was up. When I started asking around with the other girls about the jeans. Everyone was saying two things: Lots of customer inquiries and that it's a line in a hit song.

When I got home, I googled "Apple Bottom Jeans song". When I found a youtube video of the song it was apparent that the song is one that plays at the store ALL the time. The song is "Low" by T-Pain featuring Flo Rida and yes I have been living under a rock for the past few years. We use satellite radio at the store and we have it always on the Top 20 station. I like music but when I'm working I'm fairly oblivious to what's playing. So now that I'm in the "know" I'm gonna try to get some Apple Bottom Jeans ASAP!

Yes, I'm so down with this Hip Hopping that I'm gonna pop a cap in someone's arse.

Counterfeit Fashion in the Mall!

Well not in Oakridge Mall. Today's Vancouver Sun article covered a police raid in West Vancouver mall Park Royal (north or south side, who knows?). The store had some balls to sell Abercrombie and Fitch products out of a store called "Expressions Style Wear" for half the regular price! I wonder how many people bought A&F stuff from the store. You'd think most people would be able to pick up on the fairly obvious clues... or one would hope! The fellow merchants that shared the wing of the mall were pretty much screwed for the day. The police had shut down the entire mall section from 11AM to 3PM.

I'm not down with counterfeiting at all. I'm proud to say that at all of my stores that I've never considered doing a fake anything. Doing retail is tough, I understand that the pressures are immense for some retailers. Once you go down the path of fake things then you've hurt any credibility you had or ever will have. Mind you, there will always be people who believe something is fake. I was in Coach and this lady was demanding her money back because she believed her bag was fake. Yes lady, the Coach store will sell you a fake bag. Not impossible but not likely.

You're all probably expecting me to talk about a store in the Oakridge Mall that everyone believes sells fake things. Yes, we've had queries about "that" store from their customers and even vendors about their product mix. However, I won't talk much about them as it's really their decision to do these things. It'll come around soon enough.

Make Me A Supermodel

I've been saving a bunch of TV shows for a day like today. Carefully hoarded shows were on the agenda tonight! The finale of The Amazing Race, The Amazing Race Asia (English speaking version with Asian countries citizens doing the same thing as the US version) and the first 3 episodes of Make Me A Supermodel.

All of it was a welcome break to all this work I've been doing lately. What's been especially good is MMaS on Bravo. Like Next Top Model most of these guys/gals will never really attain each of their show's titles. I do believe MMaS has a better shot at it than Top Model. First off the casting is infinitely more realistic. Unlike Top Model where they try to show a diversity of races, ranges of ages, heights and weights. All good stuff but in reality the fashion industry is looking for post teen, white, tall and skinny. It's unspoken and it's not fair but that's the truth.

The drama is focused on the contestants and the drama that ensues with them living together. Top Model unfortunately is often times a bit too much about Tyra than the contestants. Niki Taylor and Tyson Beckford share duties hosting. Perhaps they're not the most boisterous but a bit of a break from Tyra's style is welcome. I now fast forward thru all of Tyra spiels that have been in every freakin' episode over the past gazillion seasons.

The biggest difference is the addition of guys vying to be winner. The boys have made the show surprisingly enjoyable with the conflict of alpha males can bring and both hetero and gay sexual tension amongst the competitors. The competitions are great and way more fun with boys and girls.

Fun Combinations always make for great TV! Recently married guy on the bottom, engaged girl on top of him and smiley gay boy spanking girl.

In the last part of the show there's always a runway challenge. They really do some fun stuff but not in the weird ways that Top Model gets into. The coed format of the show allows for fun and surprising catwalk performances. How can you not have a great show when the challenged is named: Equestrian with a fetish twist!

Sorry Tyra, this is truly fierce!

Ultimately what's great about the show is we get to watch an entire show with beautiful people in it and the viewers get to decide who gets sent home (via telephone voting available in the US only).

I'm stuck here while he's in San Francisco

My brain is going to fry any moment now. I've been going thru line budgets, shoe budgets and reps have been showing up everyday. It's nuts and I'm at the beginning only.

Meanwhile my partner was on a trip down to San Francisco and told me about the wonderful 3 days he had there. Here's some camera phone pics of his trip:

Apparently this Westfield Mall in downtown San Francisco is very similar to our Oakridge Mall. However, it'd be Oakridge on steriods... like Eastern Bloc Olympic stuff!

I'm really confused, this Samovar Tea lounge place at the Yerba Buena Gardens across from the Moscone Center was where my partner had lunch. He seemed to love and despise it at the same time. He's weird.

Barcelona Baby!

This cold Vancouver weather is driving me nuts. It's either wet or near freezing... or both! I can't help but dream of warmer places. Since I can't be at Bread and Butter Barcelona, I thought I'd show you guys some pics of someone who's there now. Thanks to fellow retailer Modcloth, who's attending the show now. Out of Pittsburgh they do vintage and vintage inspired clothing. Very Cool! Now on to her fabulous pictures!

Man this is gaudy! Okay, it's a stupid... barely inside joke.

Candies, desserts and booze. I don't know if Modcloth buys with these aides but I sure do.

Yes, buying inventory is this hard.

Bread and Butter is all about making statements. What do you think this brand is trying say with these bowler hats?

The showroom floor.

Next Top Model heading back to NYC

I just read an article that said for the coming 10th season of America's Next Top Model is going back to where it all began, New York City! So glad to hear it. Grooming the Next Top model in LA never made any sense. I wrote about it in detail in a previous post.

I wish this move was made because NYC was the only real place to have this competition. Unfortunately, the move of the show coincides with Tyra Bank's talk show move to NYC. So where Tyra goes so does Top Model.

On a side note, Hilary Clinton was on her show recently. When asked what realty show she'd like to be on.... Top Model, American Idol or Dancing with the Stars. "In my dreams I would be on America's Next Top Model," Mrs. Clinton replied. "But in reality I would have to choose my limited talents, and, of them, dancing is better than singing." "You do not want me to sing," she added. She's probably the best guest Tyra's ever had on. Of course Hillary is unlikely to go on Oprah.

Okay back to complaining about Next Top Model. Looking at the current slate of models they all seem a bit old or to short. Realistically none of them will likely ever become a Top Model. A show I've become watching is Bravo's new show Make Me A Supermodel. It's hosted by Niki Taylor and Tyson Beckford. The format is both boys and girls and is shot in NYC (thank god). The show is refreshing, it makes no qualms about what's the industry is about. The models are all 20 or younger and have the height and looks to excel. No crazy Tyra picking who stays and goes, the person booted off is done by a vote of the viewers.

The 2008 Fall fashion buy

I'm finally slowing down a bit from the Holiday retail season. There's always a multitude of things to do and so little time to do it. It's really the most important year for us retailers.

I can't get too comfortable as the spring shows (which are shows for stuff that'll arrive in fall) are coming up and I'll need to attend markets, shows, conventions and a gazillion suppliers banging at my door to show me their Fall wares. In the next couple of months I'll see myself in LA, NYC, Asia (everywhere) and Milan. I was invited as a guest to attend Bread and Butter Barcelona that's going on right now. The supplier was very generous but I've been and and it's really not my kind of show. It is however a incredible party atmosphere. Business before pleasure!

Lots goes thru my mind prior to before doing the buys for the store. What brands to keep, what to increase budgets on and what's up and coming. One of my main things I want to get out of this round of shows is to pick up a new line/brand. Something that would be complimentary to the things we already have. Of course all sorts problems come into play. Like... does the product exist in my market area or what stage product stage is the brand in.

Normally, I poll the girls as to what we should be on the lookout for. This season because of the magic that is the interweb, I think I'd like to hear your opinions on what we should get. I'd love to hear ideas from you gals about the sort of brands/lines we should carry at the Tru Drama store. Email me directly at m@trudrama.com.

Skins the new OC?

On the plane to Japan, I was watching a series from the UK called Skins. During the holidays it's always slim pickings for quality TV so I got my partner to get me the entire season of the Skins. Despite it's porno alluding name, The show is on Channel 4 in the UK and is teen drama set in the coastal town of Bristol. It's funny, edgy and incredibly sexy. The show has lots of sexual situations, drug/alcohol use and pretty much everything a teen shouldn't but probably is doing.

The leads are great and includes Nicholas Hoult the awkward kid from Hugh Grant's "About A Boy".

Definitely not a boy anymore! Hubba Hubba!

Besides Nicholas the cast is stellar. The stereotypes are all included (top left working right and down): conflicted foreign kid, cool guy, geek, gifted musician, Miss Tease, gay boy, anorexic , class clown druggie, rich bitch and generic black guy.

The stories in the beginning highlight each of the characters and then towards the end of the series pulls together into a an unreal finale. The twists and turns of the series kept me glued. The unexpected results of the story arcs, I found really respects us viewers.

Before I started watching the show, I thought I was going to get the OC (first season, when it was still good). Sure there are similarities but after watching the entire 9 episodes, Skins isn't the new OC, it's better.

Better yet season 2 starts in February! Here's the trailer for it.