October 2009

On Monday Macy’s announced that it had signed a 10 year alliance agreement with the new owner of the Ellen Tracy (Brand Matter LLC) – under the agreement Macy’s will be the exclusive retailer of Ellen Tracy sportswear.

The exclusive sportswear line will be launched in March of 2010 in more than 100 Macy’s stores (there are currently over 800 Macy’s stores around the US) and online.  The line will include jackets, shirts, pants, sweaters, woven tops, knit tops and bottoms.   In terms of price points:  Jackets will be will in the $99 to $149 range and pants will be in the $50 to $99 range.

I’m glad Macy’s announced the price points because I think they keep me from getting my hopes up.  I mean Jones New York and Anne Klein jackets retail in the $179-$209 range so already we know they are not going to surpass Jones New York or Anne Klein in terms of quality and they certainly aren’t going to be anywhere near the fashion jackets we knew and loved that retailed in the high $400-$600 range – but of course in the end it’s all going come down to style and if they will be doing plus sizes which we certainly cannot take for granted since I think we were all floored when the Dana Buchman line for Kohl’s initially came out and there were no plus sizes offered.

Thoughts?

Gayla Bentley Silk Blouse $178 At Neiman's (Click Image To View Or Buy)

Gayla Bentley Leopard Trim Coat $535 At Neiman's (Click Image To View Or Buy)

Gayla Bentley Obi Blouse $110 At Neiman Marcus (Click Image To View Or Buy)

If you’re an upscale plus size woman it isn’t exactly going to come as a newsflash to you that purchasing upscale plus size clothing is beyond difficult but not surprisingly it was a newsflash to one of the “sharks” on ABC’s show SHARK TANK.

Gayla Bentley, the designer based out of Houston, Texas appeared on the show last night to seek the funding to expand her ten year old clothing line that focuses on the upscale plus size woman.  While it was understandable that most of “the sharks” were concerned about the current abysmal retail environment one shark told Gayla that he believes that if there truly was a demand the market would be meeting it and perhaps plus size women just didn’t care about fashion!

Ugh!  Thank God there was a female on the panel (Barbara Corcoran) who, while not plus size herself, could understand what Bentley was pitching and what an opportunity truly exists in the upscale plus size market.   Together Bentley and Corcoran were able to convince FUBU founder Daymond John to get on board and give her the $250,000 she was seeking.

Needless to say I look forward to seeing what this team comes up with and kudos, Gayla: for several minutes you had a national platform to speak on behalf of the ignored starved for fashion plus size woman and you did them proud!.