Fashion

Exclusionary and elusive experiences still appeal to consumers and remains at the top of what is appealing and sexy in the minds of consumers, despite the recession. They want to feel as if they are a part of a select elite group, even if it’s only a temporary illusion. The more privileged a consumer feels for having access to a product or service, the more the added level of mystique will sell. Here are some nifty examples of selling the mystique factor….

Until not so long ago, we lived in a throwaway society. But then a thrifty culture was born out of the global economic downturn, which saw frugalistas come into their own (persons who lived an economical lifestyle but stayed fashionable and healthy by swapping clothes, buying secondhand, growing own produce, etc.) Non-disposable fashion is a current trend, and stemming from this are a new wave of services for those wishing to repair or revamp classics and couture items, which have been buried in the deep dark depths of closets.

Luxury brands and social media are a combination that has not been a love affair. Some feared diluting their elite and exclusive community. Another concern is that luxury is not just a product, it’s an experience. Consumers need to see and feel luxury with their own eyes and hands. They want first-class service, personalized design and unique touches unavailable elsewhere. This need for a “touch point” is precisely why retail outlets have traditionally been so essential to a luxury brand. It’s not a “feeling” conveyable online.

Like Slow Food, Slow Fashion is concerned with origin, source, and process. And not all earth-friendly clothes are beige. Designers and the stylishly-inclined are changing the way we consume our clothes.

When you’re thirsty for a Coke, you go might go to the nearby vending machine for your drink. Today, you can get much more than just the usual carbonated drink or salty snack.

A recent survey by WSL Strategic Retail indicates that only 19 percent of pet owners are scrimping on pet spending, with the majority buying not only nice things but top-of-the-line products as well. Turns out, pet supplies are often at the bottom of the cutback list, along with human essentials such as prescription medications and toothpaste.

Goth has been around for decades, having evolved out of the punk movement in the 70’s and reaching a high in the 90’s. But the macabre vibe is gaining traction once again. A symbol of dark economic times? Perhaps.

There’s a new concept store that opened in Paris recently - the likes of which we haven’t seen since Colette – the fashionable luxury goods concept store known for bringing together the most cutting edge design, décor and fashion, as well as its high-tech cafe that offers over 100 different brands of mineral water, all presented with a healthy dash of humor and whimsy. It’s called Merci and is located Paris’ hip le Marais district, known for its bustling boutique and café culture vibe.

As the luxury sector struggles to make gains (like everyone else), marketers are trying to put a positive spin on an unpopular topic – luxury. Quiet elegance is the mandate of the day and it’s a jungle out there trying to figure out how to market luxury tastefully. And who can argue when luxury is tied to a charitable cause?

Adventurers and in-the-know travelers have been beguiled by exotic Africa for centuries, but what is for sure is that Obama’s prominence and African origins will surely accelerate interest in African tourism, culture and style, and putting the continent firmly back on the chic list. It’s debatable whether the “O factor” will revive Hawaiian tourism the way Jimmy Carter did to Plains, Georgia or Bush to Crawford, Texas.