The 10 items expected to top women’s gift lists this season.
‘Tis the season to get that wish list together to send to your family and friends (or Santa). The Macerich Company, a real estate investment trust based in Santa Monica, Calif., together with August Partners, has revealed the top gift ideas for women in its annual Shopping in America survey. One section of the study asked female shoppers in 12 regional shopping centers across the U.S. which gifts they think women would most like to receive this holiday. Pieces of apparel and plenty of accessories ranked high, but the top nod went to DVD and CD boxed gift sets. In addition, 44 percent of all shoppers surveyed admitted they plan to splurge by purchasing something special for themselves this season as well. Why not?
1. DVD/CD Boxed Sets
Percentage of female respondents who predict this gift as a top wish list item for women: 16.3
Plenty of respondents must have had the collector’s gift set of HBO’s hit series “Sex and the City” in mind. According to Amazon.com — arguably one of the most visited online destinations for gift-givers this holiday — the six-season set, along with other hit television shows such as “Gilmore Girls” season five, are top gifts. Also making Amazon.com’s top-seller list is the 20th anniversary collection of the “Oprah Winfrey Show.”
2. Layered Necklaces
Percentage: 15.8
The accessories market continues to flourish. Boho styles, which made an appearance last spring in the form of billowy and layered skirts, have taken over the fine jewelry market as well. “Bright gems, layered looks and big and bold stones will dominate the market for spring,” WWD predicted last February. The forecast rings true even for fall and winter, as multistranded necklaces remain hot sellers at stores such as Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s.
3. Embellished Sweaters
Percentage: 14.3
Christmas tree lights will look dull in comparison to the embellished sweaters on women’s holiday wish lists this year. The look has become a staple article in women’s wardrobes since it was featured in winter 2002. WWD predicted in April that key holiday items would include “sequin-embellished sweaters such as cardigans, shrugs and ballet-tie tops,” which are available in a multitude of sizes and styles at stores such as Talbots and Ann Taylor Loft.
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4. Designer Home Accents
Percentage: 11
Designers have been rushing into home products for the last few years and there is no end in sight. Not wanting to lose out in the booming category, recognized brands such as Nicole Miller and Liz Claiborne are beefing up their licensing agreements for home collections. Nicole Miller currently has 11 licenses exclusively with Bed Bath & Beyond, and Claiborne has just entered into an agreement with Blockwares LLC “to create a new line of home storage and storage-related products, which will include laundry, home office, home accents, bath furniture and pantryware products.”
5. Velvet Blazers/Fitted Jackets
Percentage: 9.5
Dress up for daytime in velvet, the luxury fabric that has hit the runways full force, to create a romantic and Renaissance look for fall. The velvet blazer made a short appearance last winter, but dominates retail floors this holiday. Not only was it a featured item for fall from designers such as Marc Jacobs and Dolce & Gabbana, the fitted jacket is a popular element this season for Gap Inc., which offers the blazer in a variety of colors at all its divisions: Banana Republic, Gap and Old Navy.
6. Other/NONE of the above *
Percentage: 9
Clearly these respondents had other things in mind for women for the holidays, such as techy-type products. The iPod Nano, plasma TVs and even the Xbox 360 are all hot electronic ideas for women this season, according to Macerich. In addition, other apparel must-haves include jackets with fake-fur trim and cashmere sweaters, both of which were big sellers during Black Friday weekend. And at Neiman Marcus Group, customers were particularly interested in sunglasses from Chanel, Gucci and Dior. “Eyewear is hot this season,” said Ginger Reeder, the retailer’s vice president of corporate communications.
7. Leopard-Print Accessories/Shoes *
Percentage: 9
Get ready for leopard-print luxury: Linda Dresner’s stores are currently carrying $1,035 leopard-print slingback wedges from Azzedine Alaïa. And Nicole Miller, who is tapping into the accessories market to boost her $800 million-at-retail brand, incorporated leopard prints into her spring accessories line: She showed a wide black belt, finished with leopard-printed ponyskin along the front.
8. Celebrity Fragrances
Percentage: 6.6
Holiday and fragrance always go hand-in-hand and this time round the market is all about celebrities. “This year’s celebrity newcomers…are expected to accelerate sales over the pivotal fall season,” WWD reported in September. With new scents from the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Britney Spears and Celine Dion, the women’s mass fragrance category hit $338.6 million in sales during the 52 weeks ended in August, according to Information Resources Inc. Said David Wolfe, creative director for Doneger Creative Services, in June: “My feeling is that this trend is going to last as long as celebrities do — I don’t see it ending, only accelerating.”
9. Boots
Percentage: 4.7
Two big boot trends of the season: Uggs and cowboy boots. Ugg Boots, owned by Deckers, remain as popular as ever, due in part to their broad appeal — young girls, teenagers, young adults and even professional women are spotted wearing Uggs in various colors. Cowboy boots are part of the latest craze in Western wear for spring — and interest was surely heightened by Jessica Simpson, who sported a red pair (and little else) in her role as Daisy Duke in “The Dukes of Hazzard.” New York-based Steve Madden’s Manhattan storefronts currently display a bevy of cowboy boots for women.
10. Colorful Gloves
Percentage: 3.8
WWD’s shopping trend story following Black Friday weekend revealed that cold-weather merchandise was a pleaser for Macy’s East. Ron Klein, the division’s chairman and chief executive, cited cashmere sweaters, mufflers and gloves for men and women as top sellers. A few bestsellers on Macys.com are Anne Klein Fan-Stitch Gloves, Charter Club Leather Cashmere-Lined Gloves and Charter Club Cabled-Cuff Cashmere Gloves — all available in a range of colors.
Source: The Macerich Company’s “Shopping in America Holiday 2005” consumer survey, conducted by august partners; *indicates a tie