Economic Stimulus Program

Fa ye’s Our loyalty program earns a rebate of up to 5% on your purchases. If you’ve shopped since February 1st (and, of course you have), you’ve either already redeemed your points. Or, they’re sitting there waiting for you to cash ‘em in! (What a great way to get a “free” start updating your fall wardrobe.) And, to add a little immediacy to your shopping trip... PRINT THIS PAGE TO REDEEM It pays to shop at Faye’s! Economic Stimulus Program Faye’s Fashion Bucks $25 * Redeem this coupon for $25 off! *Redeemable on $100 full-price purchase. Not to be combined with other discounts or used on trunk show or special orders. Can be redeemed in conjunction with bonus points. One newsletter coupon per customer. Expires November 1st. An Economist’s Approach To Fashion To paraphrase Stanford economist, Paul Romer, “A recession is a terrible thing to waste.” Implicit in this optimistic decree is that a recessionary environment affords us the opportunity to examine our lives in terms of our values. BUDGETS have become a way of life and obviously impacted the way we look at fashion. For most of us, it means less impulse buying – exercising patience in building our wardrobe. But, being more selective doesn’t mean being more boring! And, as we are all looking for a better value, it doesn’t always mean less expensive. Value in a wardrobe is how relevant a garment is to our lifestyle. When I am thinking about adding to my wardrobe, I consider 1) ease of care 2) is it a fabric that will transcend seasons 3) versatility and, of course 4) how much I love it! If the piece under consideration gets a high ranking in each of these criteria, I might pay a Queen’s Ransom because I know it will make my life easier, thereby adding value to my wardrobe. And, as far as I’m concerned, that’s what clothes should do: make us feel better about ourselves and make our lives easier. Fashion should be a reflection of our true selves. My counsel is to be sensible and methodical about how you approach this fall season: 1. Do your research as to the nuances of the season: look through your favorite fashion magazines (Lucky and InStyle are always good for a quick study) and come into the store and look around. 2. Take inventory of what you have and take the time to experiment with your clothes vis a vis the season’s trends: mix colors, patterns; evening pieces with daytime pieces; feminine looks with urban looks, etc. 3. Repeat step 1 now that you know what’s in your closet. What core pieces are you missing? What pieces do you need to update? If you follow this exercise, you will make wiser decisions, have a current look, and avoid buyer’s remorse. Now that’s advice you can take to the bank. What I’ve Learned in a Recession or 2 The fashion 411 or Do You Tweet? Our Chantal (CJ) Otto updates our website and our Twitter and Facebook pages. CJ joined us around the time she graduated from UW-Milwaukee and proceeded to take us from 5mph to 75 mph pretty much overnight in this whole Social Networking arena. Many of you LOVE the up-to-the minute notification of new arrivals. We’ve had the experience of Tory Burch stingray flats arriving from UPS...CJ posts their arrival on Twitter and Facebook (even before they’re out of the UPS box)...and, we get calls from customers to reserve their size prior to the shoes making it to the sales floor. That’s all it took to make me a Major Fan of Social Networking. So, become a fan/follower by visiting our website fayes123.com. And, of course, peruse all the new info on the website while you’re there. CJ keeps it fresh, fun and interesting. Do we have your email address? Email is our primary mode of communication. On the average of once a week, we send you a money-saving coupon and/or announcement about a store event or promotion. (Newsletters are about the only thing we still send via snail mail!) So, if we don’t have your email address, you are missing out. And, now with our new rebate program on each and every purchase, you’re going to want to be more aware than ever about what’s happening. If you are not receiving our emails, call the store (Mequon: 262-241-8386; Brookfield: 262-432-0070) to give your email...or, better yet, email your request to customerservice@fayes123.com 3 You’re Sure to Find Something You Like or Pick A Trend, Any Trend Regardless of your personal style, I am going to bet there is a trend that will appeal to you this fall. The looks run the gamut. Gentlemen’s Quarterly i jersey knits in bias cut dresses i wrap skirts i narrow leg pants i dolman sleeve and other voluminous Borrowing from the boys can be a good thing. i shapely jackets i vests i blouses and shirts i print scarves soften hard edged looks i fedoras i totes, satchels, and cross-body bags i belts: skinny; plaque closures; oblong buckles; D-ring closures; studs and grommets style tops i leggings i fingerless gloves i dirty diamonds i cinched belts i vampy stiletto heels i grommets and pyramid studs i animal prints Haight Ashbury Pretty Spread peace and love, all my Flower Children. (Have you seen Ang Lee’s “Taking Woodstock”?) i handcrafted fabrics i hand painted details and embroidered looks i fringe, tassel, flower, feather, braid and cording accents on handbags, scarves, hair goods and jewelry In Plaid Disco Ball Yes, the ‘80s are back in all their strong shoulders and nipped waist splendor. i silk charmeuse i lace i gold and silver lamé 4 Inspired by the open fields and rolling hills of Wales and Scotland. i chunky sweater knits i traditional plaids i antique brass and metal hardware accent i distressed leather in handbags and belts Royal Treatment Opulent details add drama to even the most basic of wardrobes. i embroidered lace i burnout velvet i stones i metallic thread woven into damask and tapestry i framed handbags i hair jewelry i feathers i bold bibs and choker jewelry i layered chains i chandelier earrings i scarves, shawls, wraps i ruffle front blouses i fur and faux fur Embellishment As A Trend MAD MEN How many Emmy award nominations does the AMC series “Mad Men” have? i pencil skirts i Peter Pan collars i vintage prints i dresses with crinolines; full skirts i the “wiggle” dress (body-hugging sheaths that highlight a “wiggle as you walk” – hey, I didn’t name it) i wide belts i frame handbags with kiss closures i basic pumps 5 Something that strikes me about this particular fall in this particular economic climate is the use of embellishment. It really serves to break the “gloom factor.” Demure looks are few and far between – even t-shirts are embellished with ruffles and removable necklaces of pearls and chains. Many pieces have a definite rock and roll vibe. Even designers like Alice & Olivia who are known for “pretty” have an edgier tone...some might even say “fierce!” Consider a motorcycle or Sgt Pepper jacket as your season splurge? The skinny jean and the boyfriend jean remain the top silhouettes, plain and simple. The boyfriend jean can be dressed up with a crisp white shirt and tailored jacket and a great pair of boots. In fall, washes always get a little darker and a little cleaner, but distressed (and even destroyed) are still on trend. (continued...) The Trend In Denim Again, when we talk about value, jeans give us great value for our fashion dollar. They are easy to care for (wear multiple times between washings and can be washed vs dry-cleaned)...are worn 12 months out of the year...and we wear them during the day and into evening. No wonder the average American woman has over 9 pairs in her closet! Leggings and Skinny Pants Must-Haves My obsession with The Cardigan is infamous, and I have been sooooooo happy the last couple of seasons. The open cardigan has pretty much become a staple – it’s the perfect throw on for offices, restaurants, etc. It’s a great alternative to a shawl. The popularity of the open cardigan continues into fall, and there are several silhouettes to choose from: shaped to flowy to ruffled and cascading. The is a piece that adds value to our wardrobe. It serves as outerwear during transitional weather and then becomes a blazer/sweater as the weather turns cold. are part of the trend, and they are the preferred bottom for the majority of this season’s looks. If there was a representative silhouette for fall 2009 it would be a voluminous top and a skinny bottom. Sweater Coat Don’t dismiss this look as age or body-type specific. There are skinny pants in heavier fabrics that can be fabulously slimming on a variety of shapes. Boyfriend Jacket is back, but if one is The Grandfather Sweaters are great belted over boyfriend jeans or worn open over a beautiful pair of tailored wool slacks as a jacket alternative. 6 hanging in your closet from the last go-round, it’s probably not going to work. This year’s jacket is less exaggerated in the shoulder and slimmer through the body. (This boyfriend doesn’t play football.) Is It Age Appropriate? The Decades-Old Question. We talk (argue) about this all the time – with customers and amongst the staff. It’s perfectly reasonable that we would have the discussions. After all, we have no previous generations to look to for precedents. The world has changed so quickly, and none of us are going to wear what our mothers wore at our age. So, it’s natural that we would find ourselves in this quandary. I personally solve the problem by looking to women my age whose style I like. If I’m wondering if something is age appropriate, I ask myself if Donna Karan, Angelica Huston, Susan Sarandon, Diane von Furstenberg or any of my other gal pals would wear it. It’s a pretty good litmus test. Here’s what some of my other fashion friends have to say on the subject. “I’m in the prime of my life. And it’s been a very long prime.” Cynthia Rowley “I don’t wear see-through chiffon skirts anymore. I wear a slip. When I was 30, I didn’t care if people could see through my clothes. Now I care. I know I’m 60.” Stevie Nicks “I’m almost 40. Should I be concerned about dressing my age? Tired age dictums are over.” Isaac Mizrahi Fall Fashion Calendar Brookfield: September 17-20 Isda Funari, the designer, “...we make beautiful clothing for women of a wide variety of ages and body types.” Isda is a Faye’s customer perennial favorite for nearly 20 years. Thursday, October 1 A Benefit for Breast Health • Sponsored by Wheaton Franciscan Health Care Wisconsin Club • 414-647-5131 for tickets Isda Fall Trunk Show Fall Fashion Runway Show Saffron Cashmere Sweater Trunk Show Watch for our M Missoni Event Late October/Early November 7 Brookfield Only: October 15-18 Shall I Spend a Dollar or 4 Quarters? We girls are excellent at rationalization. We usually find a way to get what we want. I’ve had my business for almost 20 years, and something that has held true in the recessions that I’ve weathered is we might not buy as many clothes, but we load up on accessories! Actually, this makes sense within a value equation. Accessories are usually very easy to care for...they can easily transcend seasons... certainly add versatility to a wardrobe...and, who of us would buy an accessory unless we LOVED it? Also, what you have all responded to so positively at Faye’s in this recession is that we have worked so very hard to bring you accessories at every price point. We represent the trends at street fair prices as low as $19, and we bring you the most beautiful jewelry from designers like Janis by Janis Savitt; Virgin, Saints and Angels; Liquid Metal; and, of course Kalibre by Janis Savitt Jewelry Designer Harlene Korey. This fall, accessories are great fun and for the most part, not for the faint of heart. So, peruse the list and then take a little walk on the wild side. Accessories are such an easy way to experiment with a trend. My Fashion Budgetor Jewelry u Mixed metals u Rock crystals uPearls, pearls & more pearls u Cocktail Rings u Feather jewelry (have you noticed a (as big as you dare) u Stretch bracelets u Chain mail bracelets u Leather cuffs u Wide cuffs u Stud earrings u Oversized hoops 8 feather trend?) u Snake motifs u Jeweled chokers u Layered chains u Jeweled pendants Handbags b Satchels b Hobos b Shopper totes b Cross-body bags b Fringe bags b Decorative embroidery b Braided detail bags b School bags b Dome shapes b Satin pouches Scarves Belts q Oblong buckles q Stone buckles q Suede sashes q Fringe details q Exotic leathers q Contrast stitching q Cinch belts q Pyramid studs q Studs and rhinestones q Antique leathers q Self-covered buckles q Embroidered leathers q Jeweled buckles q Link chains (I hope we are NEVER done with scarves!) 2 Squares folded into triangles worn “bib” style 2 Wraps 2 Ruched scarves 2 “Bouncy” scarves (they stretch and snap back) 2 Fringe detail 2 Sequin oblongs 2 Plaids 2 Ruffled borders Hats Hair Goods (Hats are gaining momentum. Wouldn’t it be fun if they really became a HUGE trend?) 6 Stocking caps 6 Fedoras 6 Floppy brims 6 Jersey knit caps 6 Driving caps 6 Hunting caps 6 High crowns 6 Net veiling 4 Feather headbands (here we go again with the feathers!) 4 Flower headbands 4 Lace headbands 4 Plaid headbands Gloves j Fingerless (texting) gloves j “Hand knit” mittens (Check out our PeaPack Mittens – they are adorable and will make the perfect holiday gift.) j Embroidered knit gloves 9 Fall’s Very Interesting Color Palette or Look on the Bright Side Designers took a very thoughtful approach to color for fall 2009. The hues are neutral but with definite rays of light that keep things interesting. The colors aim to comfort but at the same time grab our attention. The Women’s Wear Daily List of the Top 10 Pantone colors chosen by New York designers this fall are as follows (the comments are the WWD editors): 1. Iron: grey with a brown cast – a warmer, stronger grey. 2. Purple Heart: purple is the most creative and complex color. 3. Majolica Blue: very deep teal blue – sense of smokey calmness. 4. American Beauty: true red – a feeling of patriotism at its finest. 5. Honey Yellow: yellow has become an important fashion color. This is a more subdued hue, making it perfect for autumn. 6. Rapture Rose: a very warm pink and a surprise for the season – designers needing to work in something fun and playful. 7. Burnt Sienna. fall’s answer to orange. 8. 9. Warm Olive: lots of yellow but not your usual citrus spring green. Nomad: warm beige. Intended to promote a sense of renewal and optimism. 10. Crème Brulee: warmer softer variation of white. 10 Faye’s Fashion Fridays Watch Faye, Tiffany and the gang on WTMJ Channel 4’s Morning Blend on Faye’s Fashion Friday segments Tune in from 9-10 am on the following Fridays: September 25 October 9, 23 November 6, 27 December 4, 18 Tiffany Faye Andrea Conner New Additions to the Faye’s Family While completing her degree at the Illinois Institute of Art in Fashion, Marketing and Management, Andrea racked up showroom and retail sales experience. In addition to working our sales floor, she is assisting Faye and Linda with buying. andrea@fayes123.com Chantal Otto (CJ) A recent graduate of UW-Milwaukee, CJ also garnered retail experience during her college career. She’s our Social Networking Guru AND she keep the website up-to-the-minute AND she works the sales floor! cj@fayes123.com Beth Yenerich Beth has helped us out periodically over the last few years, but now that her oldest child is off to college, she’s taken a permanent part-time position with Faye’s. Beth is a familiar face to many of our Brookfield customers, and she LOVES fashion. That’s a winning combination in our book. beth@fayes123.com 11