Fields Enlists Hilton for Million-Dollar Buzz
The Barbara Fields Buying Office’s “Million-Dollar Item Retailer’s Seminar” is a perennial feature of the Los Angeles Majors Market. This season, the April 3 event drew retailers from the United States and as far away as Panama, Mexico and Trinidad.
Buying Office President Barbara Fields said attendance at the seminar, held in the California Market Center Fashion Theater, included retailers such as JC Penney, Charming Shoppes, Carson Pirie Scott, Gottschalks, The Wet Seal, Maurices, Lane Bryant and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Attendees heard Fields’ Back-to-School trend forecast for the juniors market and rubbed shoulders with celebrity guest Nikki Hilton, on hand to sign autographs and debut her Chic by Nikki Hilton collection and Samantha Thavasa handbags.
Fields, who regularly travels to Tokyo, London and New York to track global trends, gave retailers a glimpse of the world market. She covered what she predicts to be “million-dollar” items for Fall deliveries, gave retailers a floor plan for the Holiday season and a sneak preview for Spring ’07.
“A lot of the stores were so successful with my predictions, so that’s why they’re back again,” said Fields, who has been presiding over the buying office since it was founded 26 years ago.
She identified key trends for the Fall season, including stripes, mod/beatnik/’ 80s’ looks, rocker-chic and menswearinspired styles. She cited significant “million- dollar” items for the season, including leggings, zip-front ’80s’ tunics and drainpipe jeans. She said retailers should set up a ballet shoe department to go with leggings and ’80s’ tunics, and a separate area for tunics and dresses.
Other important styles for Fall include the trench coat; plaid shirts; layered looks; fur-trimmed, cable-knit sweaters and activewear; utilitarian styles; lace; and washed thermals, Henleys and T-shirts.
Fields playfully warned retailers to stock up on several of her “million-dollar” predictions.
“If you don’t have a headband and a ballet shoe to go with leggings and a cinch belt, don’t even leave the house!” she said.
—N. Jayne Seward
