Sunday Scoop - What I'm reading & Coat trends I'm seeing

A bit of retail industry news, a bit of trend forecasting and a bit of shopping

Retail Reads:

• “Frame Started as a Lark. Now It’s Nearing $200 Million in Sales” (gift link to read behind paywall) written by Elisa Lipsky-Karasz for the WSJ is a solid inside look into the business that has been leading the contemporary denim market for over a decade. Personally, I’m a big fan as it is my most worn denim brand (favorite styles are this straight leg style and this wide leg* and use code SARAH15 for 15% off non-sale + non-exclusions.) Here is what the WSJ article wrote about:

  • Frame, the denim brand co-founded by Erik Torstensson and Jens Grede, has grown to nearly $200 million in annual sales without fundraising, remaining privately owned after 12 years. Torstensson and Grede also have plenty on their plate with other projects (Grede is the CEO at Skims and Torstensson has been designing the furniture for the Frame stores and running Frame full-time as the Chief Creative Officer.)

  • The brand leveraged relationships with supermodels and early adoption of Instagram for marketing, setting a template for influencer collaborations now common in the industry.

  • Frame has expanded beyond denim, with ready-to-wear now accounting for half of sales, and is pursuing global growth with new stores planned in the U.S. and international markets like China. 5 new stores coming in 2025.

• Speaking of Grede’s (and Kim K’s) Skims, there is a huge feature in the British Financial Times. “Under her Skims: Inside Kim Kardashian’s $4bn apparel empire”

  • I am a fan of their Fits Everybody line and their Shapewear. If you are curious I suggest these styles: lace scoop bra, crossover bralette, cheeky briefs and this great bodysuit.

  • I think this quote is spot on about Skims and their ability to do branding moments that are so culturally relevant, especially in a way that the Internet vs print media allows.

“We see the brand kind of like a magazine cover,” says Grede. (They aren’t the only ones: “Are Skims campaigns the new Vogue covers?” read an April 2024 headline on the pop-culture site Vox.) “We’re always trying to excite one another, and ourselves. Like a lot of things we do, the starting point with talent usually feels intuitive.” 

• Faran Krentcil wrote for the WSJ about status bags “Does a ‘Status Handbag’ Still Have Status in 2024? We Investigate.” This article really leans into the insider-ness and knowledge that those that love handbags have. It isn’t just a certain fashion house brand, but the history and Creative Director behind that particular piece.

• I love data like this, and while I was surprised to see Victoria Beckham hit #1 most viewed SS25 Runway Shows, the reason perhaps being Google Discover makes sense. That it wasn’t organic views as it doesn’t seem to be in the top 10 most talked about shows.

Any thoughts on the most viewed SS25 Runway Shows? What was your most viewed? (Mine was Loewe and Bottega Veneta.) Let’s chat about it in the comments.

What’s on my radar: Coat Season

Now that we are into October everyone grabbed jackets and coats. We’ve moved on from lighter Utility Jackets (barn jackets, chore coat, etc) and into heavier leather and wrap coats. The funny thing is, we are actually wearing the Utility Jackets finally. (Did you see? The gorgeous Chloé Blue Chore Coat is already available on Moda Operandi.) Although where I’ve been in CA I had to go back to my summer dresses as it was over 100 degrees this week. But in both retail and styling we are always thinking about what is next.

Leather Jackets

• Oversize Leather - this style was popping this week thanks to

  Becky Malinsky
  (Leather Jacketing 101) and
  Jess Graves
  who dubbed it “newsletter leather” in a nod to last year’s “newsletter pants” from High Sport (coined by
  laura reilly
  ). The look:

  • The jacket dubbed “newsletter leather” and tagged by many this week was this Kallmeyer.

  • I love the hardware and fit of this biker jacket (even though biker jackets aren’t the top silhouette discussed currently, since this one is more oversized it still fits the look.)

  • This Nour Hammour leather jacket is so simple but has great details and lines.

  • Anine Bing has a gorgeous oversized bomber.

  • Faux leather and priced so sharp ($129!) this Lioness bomber.

  • At the time of writing this, Calvin Klein is having a 40% off Friends & Family Sale which makes this leather bomber $330.

  • I popped into Reformation to try a few of their leather jackets. These are the ones that caught my eye: Veda Marco bomber shape is oversized and very of the moment. I also love the simple Veda Bennett as a bomber jacket. Not quiet a shacket, not quiet a bomber - Veda Allen. There is also this relaxed blazer with inclusive sizing that has endless styling options.

Bathrobe Wrap Coat

Not as “wear now” due to the heavier nature, but already starting the style and inspiration rounds. We are seeing the start of the wrap coat being a key silhouette. I saw this start to bubble up last winter thanks to

Megan Alida Strachan

and

Hillary Kerr

but as the Teddy Coat felt like the coat of the season LY I expect the wrap to be the hero this year. Let’s spiral:

• Vogue is calling it the bathrobe coat. And they aren’t wrong.

• See this (and we are going to really spiral here but stick with me) Mark Zuckerberg commissioned a statue of his wife Priscilla Chan. In the Instagram shared many were talking about the OFFHOURS home coat. Chan is wearing the Red Rock color way. And you can read more about the coat here. Also fun fact, the founder of OFFHOURS is Rebecca Zhou who is also a Co-Founder at Soft Services which makes my beloved Theraplush hand lotion and the Buffing Bar.

• Megan Alida Strachan
  Wrap Coat post is here. And I’m going back to the archives for
  Hillary Kerr
  ’s Wrap Coat from last winter but I’m still thinking about it, so that says something.
  laura reilly
  also wore a wrap coat from Lemaire in her Paris Report Back. The look:

  • Love the description of AYR’s The Closer. This style was actually previously called The Robe Coat and I found one on eBay here.

  • A.L.C. Peter Wool Coat looks to be the update to Hillary Kerr’s A.L.C. Winslet Coat. (But if you like the Winslet and Leopard, check this out from eBay and ignore the styling on the mannequin.)

  • ‘S Max Mara Wrap Coat and a whole slew of resale ones here

  • ba&sh wool trench coat has a bit of hardware and grommets to make it interesting.

  • The Veronica Beard wrap coat comes in 3 neutral shades and can be worn with their Dickeys for an easy layered look.

Peacoat

Let’s not count out the Peacoat just yet. I was thinking we would be having a Peacoat fall but I think the warmer temps have pushed that out. If it goes straight from hot to freezing we might skip a shorter (in length) moment that the Peacoat gets. But with loafers, prep and barrel jeans a Peacoat is just asking to be put on.

• Saw this Alex Mill and I love the curved neckline and simpler button details.

• Double collar detail from Victoria Beckham makes it more feminine and less sailor-esque.

• My favorite might be the sleek no button look from Toteme.

• L.L.Bean is a classic and available in a range of sizes, lengths and colors.

• Nili Lotan makes amazing ones, including this cropped gold button version.

Fall Trend Forecast - Coat Season

Shopping Notes

• Last weekend to take 30% off your purchase of 2 or more Déhanche belts. Don’t miss out - the details make them one of my favorite brands of belts.

• Lié Studio just launched belts too and as a jewelry brand they have great hardware.

• Set Active x Reebok collab is a smart strategy and opportunity for Set Active to test the waters of expanding into the shoe category.

• Jenny Bird held a pop-up in NYC this week - if your are in NYC stop by Sunday before it pops out (BonBon NYC treats like at the recent J.Crew activation too) and they have exclusive styles available to shop. A few new Jenny Bird pieces I’m loving:

  • Don’t just wear one Gia Bangle. Go for 2 or more.

  • Love the high polish organic Sofia Bracelet available in two sizes.

  • The Jenny Bird take on a puffy heart is not too oversized and has a short lariat that works well with open necklines.

  • Perfect holiday gift for teens - set of 2 pairs of earrings to mix and match and a Tower28 mascara.

• And don’t forget:

  • Away is having a buy more save more sale. The Fall Getaway Sale is on now with no exclusions. Buy 2 items, 10% off. Buy 3 items, 15% off. Buy 4 or more, 20% off. No exclusions. I recommend checking out their Softside suitcases if you haven’t tried yet and I also love the Featherlight collection for how organized they are as carry-on pieces.

Random (but fun) Bits

• Safety but accessorize it.

• Helpful FYI - the difference between button down and button-up shirts.

Enjoy your Sunday Scoop. xx

Sarah Shapiro

What’s Next

Next week will have a Deep Dive and Sunday Scoop. I’m also working on a super interesting story on affiliate marketing that I can’t wait to share. An excellent retail use case too. Whether you are a curious consumer or a retailer/brand looking for revenue growth this story will be a must read.

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Items marked with * have been kindly gifted by brands. Thoughts, selections, and reviews are my own.