Barbara Fields' Fall 2008 Back-to-School Fashion-Show Seminar
Tweed is coming back, fake fur will be the detail of choice and plaid will be the most dominant pattern.
These juniors style pronouncements were among the forecasts of the “Fall 2008 Back-to-School Fashion Show Seminar,” produced by the Barbara Fields Buying Office on April 7.
More than 500 executives and buyers from retailers such as Aeropostale, JC Penney, Kohl’s and Macy’s packed the Fashion Theater in the California Market Center for the seminar. They attended in order to get a front-row seat for what Fields believed would be the hit fashions with teen-age girls and young women in Fall 2008 and early 2009.
“The plaid jacket will be the key essential in everybody’s wardrobe,” Fields said. Plaid vests, plaid skirts and plaid bags will also be stars of the upcoming season, according to Fields. Tweed bags, tweed vests, tweed skirts and, of course, the classic tweed jacket were also forecasted to be important players in the upcoming Fall and Winter seasons.
Fields, an industry veteran, illustrated her forecasts with the help of models who walked the Fashion Theater’s runway in the upcoming season’s styles. The show was produced by Jeffrey Lindsay Relf of Los Angeles–based brand-imaging company The Fashion Office. Fields’ forecasts were divided into several segments with the monikers “Cool Nerd,” “Raid Your Boyfriend’s Closet,” “Mad for Plaid,” “’40s Vintage Shop,” “Urban Country Tweeds,” “Walk on the Wild Side,” “Biker Chick,” “Varsity Prep,” “Hippie Chic & Eco” and “Naval Military.”
“Nerd” fashions featured white preppy shirts and boyish blazers. Fashions for “Raid Your Boyfriend’s Closet” featured styles such as high-waist bottoms and sweater vests. “’40s Vintage” featured styles such as pencil skirts and lace trim. “Walk on the Wild Side” included fake-fur jackets. “Biker Chick” items included the motorcycle jacket. “Varsity Prep” items featured miniskirts and varsity logo tees. “Hippie Chic” featured tie-dyed garments. Popular “Naval Military” items included the peacoat and double-breasted coats.
Another trend for the Fall 2008 season will be sweaters, including hooded versions printed with polka dots, stripes and checks. —Andrew Asch
