Credibility by Sheri Drobnick
For 15 years, Sheri Drobnick scouted the market as divisional merchandise manager of contemporary and better sportswear for Los Angeles buying office Directives West. When she left Directives West over two years ago, she set out to design a line for an overlooked segment of the market.
“The woman that’s really being ignored is the war baby like myself, who has a designer headset, but she doesn’t have a designer budget,” Drobnick said. “She follows all the fashion magazines. She wants to look sophisticated with an edge. She wants to look on trend, but she doesn’t want to dress like her daughter.”
Drobnick wore the latest contemporary clothing when she worked at Directives West, but when she accompanied her husband, who was vice provost of international affairs at the University of Southern California, to work functions, she lacked professional clothing with a fashionable flair.
Drobnick’s collection, Credibility by Sheri Drobnick, bridges the gap between the contemporary and bridge market by creating clothing that is “age appropriate” but has novelty fabric and trims that provide a funky twist.
The collection includes lightweight suiting fabrics such as silk and wool blends, tropical wools and metallic-glazed linen for blazers and suiting that can be worn year-round.
Credibility is divided into two categories: an item-driven collection of jackets and bottoms and a spiced-up collection of coordinating suits. Some of the best-selling jackets include a black and white mixed-media jacket with contrasting fabric on the collar and pockets, a simple blazer with ruched threequarter- length sleeves and a burgundy jacket with a raw-edge ruffle-trim collar and brushstrokes of gold metallic and blue colors.
Margo Miller, of the specialty boutique Margo in Santa Clarita, Calif., which has carried Credibility for two seasons, held a trunk show for the line last year. “What I like about Credibility is her fabric,” said Miller, whose store has served a clientele of businesswomen, professional women and “ladies who lunch” for more than 30 years. “She’s different. She is edgy a little bit. I love the way she mixes it together and brings a vintage look.”
Price points for the jackets range from $145 to $185, coats range from $248 to $300, and skirts and pants range from $80 to $120.
For more information, call the Renee Cohen Showroom in the California Market Center, Suite C561, at (213) 629-1817.
—Rhea Cortado
