Sunday Scoop - In Store Shopping, Pointelle & the latest fashion finds
Explore the latest in retail innovation, from in-store traffic tactics to the resurgence of pointelle fabric and the chic GAT sneaker trend (don't know GAT? Keep reading)
Quick Hits:
This week in Sports collabs: Reebok x Angel Reese (and how about some Reese’s Pieces), I love how American Eagle went denim for a collab with Coco Gauff. Excited to see what the US Open and Paralympics bring too.
More Fashion and still sporty, New Balance x Loro Piana available at select pop-ups. Best of luck tracking a pair down.
In Retail Diary Confidential: Loeffler Randall I mentioned that LR should collab with a home decor brand on a collection. My crystal ball was right again, I had no idea that they were launching this impressive collab with McGee & Co but as soon as I saw it, the colors, soft lines, Shea McGee with
- totally clicked. This is an excellent pairing. The collection launches here on 9/4/24. This is the collab teaser that had me so excited for the pairing. (Did anyone else love Dream Home Makeover on Netflix like I did?) I really think it is great that they went with McGee & Co because I am less familiar with how vast their assortment is and how great it looks and this collab grabbed my attention and wow! Impressive.
Are you shopping IRL?
What motivates you to visit a physical store? Or do you generally prefer in-store shopping vs online?
The beginning of a season is a key time to bring traffic into the store:
customers can see all the newest items
to grab a bigger share of the wallet at the beginning of a shopping season
it is when inventory is often the strongest (with a lot of product that needs to move)
not to mention, retailers want to sell product at full price before markdowns are taken
Recent examples of tactics I spotted to boost in-store traffic:
Exclusive items: I love how Away made their stickers only available in stores so you can stop by and purchase a set. 5 limited edition styles available in their 17 stores. Great way to personalize your luggage since it often all looks the same. Glossier does this too and has some fun swag for their Vegas location (grab a Strawberry Balm Dotcom - it is my favorite ATM.)
GWP1: Ring Concierge is running an incredible 20% off sale (early access starts Sunday) and if you shop in person you will also get a pair of diamond studs!
In store events: Freda Salvador held a “Personalize Your Loafers” event this past week to monogram your loafer purchase in store. PS I love their loafers!
Experience: In person limited experiences are also a traffic driver. Anya Hindmarch created the most adorable Back To School timed campaign with Peanuts. The school supplies and set-up with little treasures to grab looks so fantastic and I love the interactive playfulness of the shop.
Trend Spotting 🎯
The Point of Pointelle
Pointelle shirts are not new, but I’m seeing this material a lot more as a staple in brands t-shirt assortments and much more widely available.
What is pointelle? It is a knit fabric with a geometric pattern and tiny holes usually in a chevron shape. A special knitting technique is used to create the holes by transferring the loop in the fabric from one needle to another in different shapes and sizes. It creates a soft, feminine appearance. It is lightweight and sometimes has a floral look.
Why are we seeing this more now? The proliferation of prairie style dresses, sundresses with a ‘90s feel (pointelle is great to layer underneath), ‘70s trends, underwear as outerwear and a vintage look help drive the interest in this style. Additionally, pointelle tanks and tees paired with lounge shorts and pants create a complete look and lounge wear continues to be an important part of our wardrobes. Plus selling a set of two pieces drives up the AOV vs a single tank top.
Looking for pointelle tanks and tees? Here are a few of my favorites:
Donni - I love the feel of these pants* and the quality of their products overall is fantastic. I love their tees under sweaters so I know this will be a staple for me this fall. (Use Sarah10 for 10% off.)
Leset - A go-to of mine for tees and tanks. Overall their loungewear is excellent and elevated. I love that brands like Donni and Leset have made it so that you can shop Pointelle as a category/fabrication and made it so easy to discover online. Opportunity is to add more content around what the fabrication is and why to love it/layer with it and it will help improve SEO.
Negative - I love their underwear, and Negative makes Pointelle pieces like a boy short and tank that can be worn as an under layer.
Doen - Doen offers a bit more color and fashion with their pointelle. Case in point, this ochre turtleneck that helps bring home the ‘70s/vintage vibes and would look great layered up for ski season (or just the aprés of it all.) There is also a matching pointelle legging if you plan to lounge in this look.
American Eagle and Old Navy also have this style at a sharp price point. If you are layering underneath it is great to stock up on these.
Major points for pointelle
Training Season
Fresh sneakers for Fall feel like the ultimate Back to School purchase even if you’ve long graduated. This Dries Van Noten sneaker (especially in suede) I’ve seen pop up a lot more. I love the clean lines, low profile and solid color ways. When I read “Why Everyone Wants This Super-Quiet Sneaker in 2024” (gift link to read behind paywall) I saw an easy connection to the German Army Trainer. The GAT is a new style to me. Here is what I learned:
Unisex silhouette that has a muted color way and a low profile. Little if any branding and suede details and uppers. There is a slim gum sole.
Originally designed in the late ‘70s to early ‘80s for the German army.
Many brands have been inspired by this style and you can shop for vintage originals or one of the designs that were inspired by this style.
In 2015 the WSJ also wrote about the GAT and the conflicting history and origins of popularity of this style.
For more history on this controversial shoe’s past, Beckett Simonon has a deep dive post.
However, while this style has military origins, it has since been widely adopted in fashion circles and now seems to be far removed from any political or historical controversy.
The GAT inspired edit:
J.Crew currently under $80 (Women’s sizing)
Cole-Haan (men’s sizing)
Beckett Simonon (Men’s sizing) and Beckett Simonon in Women’s sizes too
The Greats GAT (Women’s sizing)
Nike’s take on a GAT (Men’s sizing)
🛍️ 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. 🛍️
Fashion Finds
I can’t shut up about Suede this season but I really love it and had zero suede in my closet prior to this season. I just received this belt* from Déhanche and immediately wore it to a concert and styled my whole look around it. (There is currently a buy 2 or more and get 30% off sale at Déhanche.com.)
Have you seen the new Little Liffner handbags? They look amazing! I bought a small Sprout Tote (this is similar to mine) in black patent last year and now I love all of the suede silhouettes.
Rothy’s relaunched their clog and it is a comfortable and easy house shoe or indoor outdoor shoe. I keep a pair of these clogs (that I’ve owned since high school!) in my coat closet for when I need to run outside.
Also recently launched from Rothy’s, two styles of Mary Janes and they feel so strongly about this silhouette that they created a Landing Page for MJs. I love the double buckle (this pair from Le Monde Beryl I tried on and love) and a pointy toe Mary Jane. A selling point(e) on the Rothy’s MJs is once you buckle them to your comfort level you don’t need to keep buckling them. Just slip on and off because they easily stretch.
Can we call PJs fashion? I think so when they are silk-y and stylish. I love Lunya and I’m a fan of their washable silk. I noticed they just launched this tulip tank nightgown and it looks (and likely sleeps) great. I have a t-shirt and shorts set but I like this new t-shirt and pants set too. The Slumberknit fabric in the tapered pant pj set is so soft. (Get 15% off with code retaildiary and find all Retail Diary discount codes here.)
How brilliant is
somHACK??
Beauty Finds
Oh wow!! Hotel Lobby Candle launches Hotel Lobby Home on 8/27/24! I got a sneak peek* and the packaging is incredible - I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a hand soap this luxe. I think it is too nice for my kitchen but that is where it is going so I can enjoy it every day. If you are looking for a hostess gift, this is it!
Westman Atelier has a new product, Standout Skin launching later this week…more to come.
Merit’s Great Skin Instant Glow Serum was already part of my morning make-up routine for a glowy base and I’ve now added Great Skin Priming Moisturizer* and I’m loving this duo. So smart that when purchasing the two together on Merit.com you get just over a 10% discount. This is a way that Merit can offer a benefit to customers who shop directly with them and encourage customers to try more products. I think these two products together add extra hydration and get the skin primed and ready to go. For a great piece of beauty content, check out how the Merit instagram showcases what order to apply everything - this is always a question and makes it easy to understand.
Podcast Picks
A few I’ve listened to the last few days and enjoyed:
“How Tweens Took Over the Beauty Aisle” from Business of Fashion: The Debrief. I live with a Sephora Kid (huge benefit, I have an on-call make-up artist who is thrilled to do my glam for me) and this podcast helped me understand more about the “Smoothies” in skincare that they are creating. My daughter has loved putting Slam Dunk* and this acne treatment and the Supergoop face sunscreen mixed together for her personal “smoothie.”
The Run-Through with Vogue interviewed their co-worker Tonne Goodman on the 200 covers she’s created and worked on. I loved hearing about how she works with Anna Wintour (and keeps some looks in her back pocket when they are dismissed) and how she created her own personal uniform. (If you want to add a neckerchief to your own look, try these or a vintage Charvet here.)
Nancy MacDonell was on Fashion People from Puck with Lauren Sherman this week. “American Sportswear vs French Couture.” I loved the interview and immediately ordered MacDonell’s new book which is out on August 27th. “Empresses of Seventh Avenue: World War II, New York City, and the Birth of American Fashion.” For a Fashion Spiral on American Sportswear I wrote “American Sportswear is Having a Moment” in October 2023 but it all still stands. After reading this book I’m sure I’ll have updates to include.
Did you notice the voiceover at the top of this post? Are these helpful? Do you listen? Anything else you would want to hear from me?
Enjoy your Sunday Scoop. xx
Sarah Shapiro
What’s Next
Deep Dive on Thursday next week and we are heading into the last week of summer if we count Labor Day as the start of Fall. I’ll likely skip next week’s Sunday Scoop to enjoy a relaxing long weekend staycation style. Famous last words for me as I’m more likely to publish 3x times!
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Items marked with * have been kindly gifted by brands. Thoughts, selections, and reviews are my own.
** Amazon Affiliate link.
GWP = Gift with purchase
I have stopped shopping online except on weekends -- and on weekends I want to shop IRL, not online! I love going into stores because I'm so tired of returns and just can't tell how things will fit or whether I will feel the emotional way I think I will feel. I am beginning to think that a "full body yes" -- which I require from my purchases, can even be achieved if you're not in store! (ALSO: i loved the voice over!)
i read “hotel lobby candle” as “hobby lobby candle” and was like, that can’t be luxe?! 🤪
in-store shopping while on holiday is the best treat. but at home i always feel rushed or it’s too crowded. that said, i will stop at the columbus circle j.crew and nordstrom if i’m in the neighborhood.