DALLAS — Buyers were primarily interested in resort deliveries of item tops, knitwear and colorful dresses at the Dallas Market Center show that ended its four-day run Aug. 16.
Knitwear and an emphasis on comfort were top priorities, typified by tennis sweaters, shawl-collar cardigans, open-gauge sweaters, ponchos and dresses. Continuing trends included moto jackets, rompers, jumpsuits, texture, stripes, lace, colorblocking, asymmetry and artistic prints.
Buyers also responded to lines offering bright colors such as orange, aqua, coral, canary yellow, red and blue. Some bemoaned an abundant neutral palette of blush, gray, black and white.
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“I’m pleased with the quality of stores and the way they are writing,” said Brad Ritz, owner of Ritz Group showroom. “There is still a little concern about the trend down in traffic, but I see that at all the shows, not just Dallas. I’m just trying to find exciting product.”
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Stores have been busier than usual this summer, merchants reported, but they were cautious about spending since spring business was disappointing. Most planned their buys flat or down a bit.
“Fall has started really great, so we’re really looking forward to it,” said Lyndsie Frost, buyer for Malouf’s in Lubbock and Southlake, Tex. “I’m looking for something fabulous to add to resort. My customers love color. We do well with Finley, which has great tops to wear with jeans.”
Charli Light, who has owned Charli in College Station, Tex., for 40 years, also reported healthy fall sales.
“It’s a roller-coaster business, but people seem excited for fall,” she said. “I’m selling better dresses for weddings, [sorority] rush, and little dresses by Laundry and Greylin. Unstructured dressing does really well. They don’t want anything restrictive.”
Light picked up Central Park West sweaters with peekaboo chiffon underlays, plus scarves, hats and holiday gifts.
Miriam Garvey has tweaked the mix in her 12-year-old namesake store in Fairway, Kan., to cater to middle-aged women.
“They are the ones with the money,” she said. “I’m avoiding contemporary short [hemlines] and broadening my range. I picked up Lafayette 148, which was a gift. The first trunk show was like a feeding frenzy.”
Garvey snapped up Wooden Ships’ intarsia sweaters with stripes and anchors and Tracy Reese’s knit butterfly-motif dress.
“I always do well with knits,” she said. “Everyone likes comfort.”
Carol Turner opened a showroom for her namesake label of relaxed sportswear and did double-duty as a buyer for her 28-year-old store in San Angelo, Tex.
Her retail business jumped in August, driven by events and the area’s oil boom. Still, she kept her buy flat, writing bigger orders for key resources like Johnny Was, which she praised for offering interesting velvet, crochet and lace fabrics.
“I’m careful up front, but when I see something moving well I reorder with abandon,” she said. “I’ll still carry a beautiful $500 cashmere cape by White & Warren, but I am also bringing in that $75 to $95 retail for the ladies to wear for errands.”
Asa Sarel, an attorney, broker and consultant to the Israeli government, walked the show looking to place Israeli fashion lines with sales representatives. Shoes, clothing and accessories produced in Israel or sewn in Egypt with 10 percent of the work completed in Israel can be imported to the U.S. duty free, he explained.
“We have a vision to put the Israeli fashion industry on the map and the government is investing a lot to promote these talented designers,” Sarel said. “There are 100 different designers I hope to bring in.”