Modern Prom
At a time when many retailers are struggling to put the “ho” in the holidays, the mood was decidedly upbeat at the Windsor Fashions company party attended by 260 employees, vendors and friends and held at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, Calif., on Dec. 2.
The evening got off to a positive start with announcements of a new and improved Web site that launched Dec. 6 based on the demands created by a 550 percent surge in e-commerce sales in the past year. Co-owner and general merchandise manager Ike Zekaria, sporting a Loy and Ford fraying tuxedo shirt, remained upbeat in spite of the company’s slow sales start in the holidays.
“We’ve had a 10 percent comp-store increase in November and we’re aggressively moving forward to open more stores in the next year,” he said, adding that the company is targeting the school-centric Midwest. “Homecoming, prom, these kind of Americana events are big in Milwaukee, Madison [Wisc.] and Chicago.”
Indeed, Midwestern stores often took top honors during Windsor’s awards ceremony. The Windsor at Great Lakes Crossing in Detroit snagged honors for most improved and greatest sales increases. Locally, the unit at the Block in Orange won plaques for collecting the most e-mail addresses and for reducing shrinkage to less than 1 percent of sales.
Any solemnity was checked at the door as male models tried to hot-dog their way down the runway and introduce the fashion themes, which ranged from the patriotic to the sultry and the interpretations were many. She’s sequined American flag became a butterfly top; red, white and blue were the color blocks on a sparkle boucle dress by Arianna; and ruching and ruffles were the effects on a red Stevie Nicks–inspired top by Divine Idea.
Denim popped up in new silhouettes from One Clothing’s culottes to the standout denim halter dress airbrushed in pink from the Los Angeles-based Ruby Rox line. (Caroline Rocky, formerly of Ecru and Rampage, and designer Karna Ruskin are the team behind the line, whose easy-on-the-wallet price points and flirty looks have led to first-year sales of $6 million.)
Femininity abounded in the details of skirts. Dit Toe’s all-over-cherry-print strapless dress and full skirt flared with the help of crinoline. Heart & Soul added a lace trim to a black skirt and a hanky hem to a sand lace skirt.
Lace was another staple of the evening, from a mauve lace baby-doll dress by Mazzie Gold to the ivory lace Juliet-sleeve blouse by Pam & Sheila Designs.
Organza, beading and denim were key prom dress details. Morgan & Co. featured a turquoise organza flyaway gown and a slim-fitting pink beaded gown with front and back drape. City Triangles sparkled with a turquoise one-shoulder dress and ruche-front slip dress. Rampage incorporated denim into a halter dress with a white tulle full skirt and a strapless dress airbrushed in silver.
Comfort foods were the staple at the party’s buffet table, as guests dined on gouda cheese penne pasta, sweet potatoes, green beans and prime rib before taking a spin on the dance floor. —Nola Sarkisian-Miller
