Retail Diary: Sunday Scoop -Independent Designer news, Trend Spotting, my Summer Essentials and more

Finding some good news with Independent Designers, Nylon Shorts on my trend radar, the items I'm excited to return to for another summer, Substacks to scroll and more.

Long weekend Sunday Styles reading

Independent Designers

• I’ve had a lot of requests for independent designers. I’m going to try and sprinkle some more in here. Maybe a mix of independent, smaller brands, indie brands etc. Anything that fits in that genre.

• Blank Supply launches kids. These are tiny works of art. What to do when your kid outgrows the gorgeous jackets? Pass along to another kid to love, you could repurpose into throw pillows or even frame on the wall because they are works of art.

• The D.I.Y. Empire of Kristin Juszczyk (gift link to read behind paywall) from the NYTimes. Kristin's designs gained major attention when Taylor Swift wore her stunning jacket to a Chiefs game, making Swift the best-dressed WAG alongside Kristin. (Her husband, an SF 49ers player, also wore as part of his tunnel look at the Super Bowl.) It's exciting to see her business thrive, and I hope she continues to create stylish fan gear. We definitely need more fun and fashionable options to support our favorite teams, especially for WNBA fans!

• Clark Sabbat is returning to his brand after a pause. He designed for other brands and had private clients and then paused to manage his son’s career (a model and actor), take care of his mother and the pandemic put his 2019 collection return on pause. His elegant designs are inspired by the draping of Madame Gres.

• Rachel Tashjian wrote for the Washington Post “Evan Kinori Wants to Change The Way You Think About Clothes” (gift link to read behind paywall) about San Francisco menswear designer Evan Kinori who is designing in a thoughtful way and pricing clothes to be considered and produced in small batches.

• Financial impact on Independent Designers: A lender for 100 - 150 consumer brands is struggling and laid off half their workforce. Ampla, a lender known for supporting small direct-to-consumer brands, is facing financial trouble, shaking up the industry for independent designers. With their credit lines frozen or tightened, many of Ampla's clients are now scrambling to find new funding, and it's tough to get loans at good rates. This situation really highlights how hard it is for smaller, emerging brands to stay financially sustainable in the retail world, especially when reliable access to capital is so limited.

• Madeline Schulz from Vogue Business spoke with Sherri McMullen and other fashion industry insiders about the challenges facing independent designers.

• Love this article from The Cut by Chantal Fernandez “Why Does a Simple Summer Dress Cost So Much Now.” It is fantastic, thorough and an insightful read. Fernandez purchases 6 similarly inspired dresses at varying price points and takes them to an expert in production and design to inspect the technique, quality, materials etc. I also love the idea at the conclusion - purchasing the winner in quality and value from a resale site. Robby Kobo was the winner and I love the idea of a resale to get the value/deal. This black column dress would look gorgeous for a wedding guest. This citrus dress is ready for a party. Rent the Runway also has a perfect summer dress here. Know you are paying for good quality and find new here in white or in khaki here. (PS Chantal Fernandez is the co-author with Lauren Sherman on the book Selling Sexy:Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon. I’ve already pre-ordered my copy and plan to do a Retail Diary Book Club when it is out in October.)

Trend Spotting: Nylon Shorts

AKA: What I spotted at least 3x this week

• Let’s get sporty. These new Adidas x Wales Bonner shorts (a) have a cool second layer that looks like boxers or a blue dress shirt poking out.

• The new Alex Mill Irving (b) (love the name, hi Dad!) Nylon shorts are men’s but work great for women too. Suggested to size down for women.

  Courtney
  wore to the Alex Mill shindig that
  Jess Graves
  hosted and they look fantastic.

• Miu Miu colorblock low rise shorts (c) pair great with loafers (Freda Salvador has their big Warehouse Sale going on now) Jamie Haller camp loafers or boat shoes to dress them up.

• These Sea shorts (d) have extra curved lines and embroidery that give a feminine touch.

• When I see nylon shorts like these I can’t help but think of my own field hockey & soccer playing days wearing Umbro. I think I had this exact colorway. (e)

• If you are going for nylon shorts here are tops to style with:

  • an A+++ tank top or this with a shelf-bra and shorter length perfect for petites or those wanting a more cropped length.

  • white t-shirt or my other summer favorite *25% off this weekend

  • chambray shirt* (oversized and tied/tucked) or open with the A+++ tank above *currently on sale at J.Crew.

  • over a bathing suit - try one like this or this

Summer Essentials

My summer essentials. Requirements for this list: used

Hillary Kerr

method of YCOHO - you can only have one, must be in my closet for at least 2 previous summers, something I’m excited to bring back out this summer.

• Sandal - Birkenstock EVA for the pool/beach is my go to

• Sunglasses - always. I need prescription so Warby Parker has been easy for me. I have worn this style for a bit now. I like a dramatic black sunglass.

• Hat - this raffia hat (memorial day sale 25% off) if I’m not wearing my Yankees hat. (I want one with more coverage and this is back in stock and on my radar.)

• Face Sunscreen - Supergoop Glowscreen (year round must have)

• Body Sunscreen - Supergoop Glow Oil

• Lip Sunscreen (anyone else have lips that burn easily?) - Supergoop in color. What can I say, I love and trust Supergoop.

• Cover-up - this I wear black, no surprise (on sale this weekend) but

  Grace Atwood
  posted this cute style also from J.Crew and I just ordered for myself (yes, also in black)

• Bathing Suit - I’ve mentioned before but I love love love this LoF. Material is perfection and love the style of this one piece (simple with a cool detail.)

• Bag - I bought this Clare V. 4 summers ago and I still use it often.

• Dress - black v-neck slip dress it’s machine washable, easy to travel with, can layer something over. Sandals or sneakers, everything works. Nothing this dress (or me wearing the dress) can’t do! (Bonus, I have the Hill House Home Ellie Nap Dress in the no longer available online black swiss dot and I throw her on all the time.)

• Top - Already started wearing this easy breezy Henri top and just bought the new tank version (arriving next week.)

• Necklace - I love a casual pop of “summer camp vibes” and my husband gave me a necklace similar to this style by Roxanne Assoulin that I love.

• Hair - this pretty regularly. Maybe every other week helps keep my wavy-curly-frizzy hair manageable.

What summer essential are you excited to pull out from previous summer(s)? I’ll do a recap of the newness I’m excited to wear this summer for next Sunday’s send.

Didn’t feel like an accurate representation of “me” until I added in the Diet Coke can. I’m also laughing that the color is coming from accessories and my skin care/beauty, but isn’t surprising.

Substacks to Scroll:

• If you want to shop this Memorial Day Weekend:

  Christina Tumminello
  “Too Many Open Tabs (12): Everything is on sale right now”
  Jess Graves
  “When the Entire Internet Goes On Sale”
  Emese Gormley
  “Everything You Need On Sale”
  Grace Atwood
  “The Best MDW Sales”
  laura reilly
  “I refuse to be a sale season apologist”

• If you are looking for summer travel inspiration: I love the inspo for a personal packing list a la Joan Didion (I wrote my own like this last year) and enjoyed this post by

  miss sophie
  “the travel wardrobe 02 // summer vacation edit”,
  Atelier Le Monde
  “What’s In My Bag” for a super thorough travel bag edit,
  The Flair Index
  “Packing for Amsterdam + Copenhagen”, and I’d like
  Marlien Rentmeester
  pack for me any time “Weekend Away”

• If you are looking for styling tips:

  Camilla
  “Ask A Stylist: Summer in the City”
  Laurel Pantin
  “What to Wear Everyday: Summer Outfit Formulas” (I’m obsessed with all of these formulas), Anna Newton “How to Not Hate Dressing for Summer”,
  Irene Kim (김애린)
  “Two Pieces to Carry you Through Corporate Summer,”
  Sogole Kane
  “Five Outfits I Styled Based on My Favorite Spring Looks”
  Ali Pew
  ’s “Uniform Concept 007: Finding a Formula” has me thinking of adding this and this to my cart (Leset is currently on sale this weekend!)

🛍️ Quick note: I write a lot (too much good stuff to share!) so if you’re reading via email only, you may need to click through to the web version or read on the Substack app. I promise it will be worth it. 🛍️

Last bits - news to wrap up the week 🧵

• I will be tuning into Beverly Hills when it returns already a huge fan of Bozoma Saint John! If you aren’t familiar check out her CV.

• From Highsnobiety, Willa Bennett was interviewed by

  Rachel Baker & Maggie Bullock
  for the podcast Print is Dead, Long Live Print - great long weekend stroll entertainment.

• The fashion brand Ganni wrote a book and I’m super intrigued (maybe I’ll read and use for a Retail Diary Book Club)

A few new finds 🛍️

• Latest collab: The NYC x Italy combo of Ciao Lucia x Margaux - this is a great pairing and the loveliest sandals to style with your dresses (I like this, this and this.)

• Dooney & Bourke designed this Pickleball Sling and it looks great! I’m impressed. Under $50 this one is also solid.

• Bembien has new sandals for summer and they look great. (Readers raved about the Bembien straw bags in this post.)

• Aquazzura exclusive collection for Net-a-porter and this looks hot!

• Love these new Le Monde Beryl sandals. Would be lovely to dress up a look a little.

Don’t confuse this cup of coffee with your Blue Bottle.

Enjoy your Sunday Scoop. xx

Sarah Shapiro

Catch up on Sarah’s Retail Diary:

I spoke with Emma Childs at Marie Claire about the Jelly Shoe trend Fashion Bets the ‘90s Jelly Sandal Is Summer’s Hottest Shoe Trend (y’all, it seems like The Row sandals are breaking…watch your step.)

Brand Crush: La Ligne

Retail Diary - Deep Dive - Week of May 20th 2024 - my issue with "dupes", blush renaissance, Collabs & more

Retail Rundown: Mara Hoffman, Fashion Podcasts & What's Trending

Last Sunday’s Scoop -Problems Gap is working on, Beauty trends I'm picking up on & Substacks to Scroll

Fashion 🌀 Re-Spiral: Seeing Stripes, American Sportswear is Having a Moment and Fashion 🌀 Spiral: Straw Bags

Retail 101: Math & Financials , Retail 101: Math & Financials Part Deux (Markdowns) and Retail 101: Buying Decisions Chapter 3

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