It’s easy to critique American Vogue, but there are things I really admire about the magazine. For instance, Meredith Melling Burke’s Index pages. They accomplish what so many market pages don’t–they tell a compelling story while also legitimately attempting to sell the reader on the items featured. In a recent issue–I think it was July–she offered up a pair of gorgeous red suede Sigerson Morrison kitten heels. They were immediately added to my list of fall Needs.
Problem is, they didn’t get produced.
The Fashionista office is right near Sigerson Morrison’s boutique in Nolita, but before I even stepped a foot in the door, I emailed my PR contact to see if the shoes were in the store yet. He said that they weren’t in the New York store, which had only purchased the black version, but the LA store had bought them in red. I figured I’d place a phone order with the LA boutique after I saw the black version in person. So yesterday after work, I popped over to Sigerson, only to be told that the black kitten heels were still in production and wouldn’t be on the floor for another week or so.
Oh, and the salesperson also informed me that NO red shoes were produced, and that my PR friend had lied to me. There weren’t enough orders, so it wasn’t worth producing them. “Was it the English guy?” said the salesperson. “I need to tell him to stop giving out false information!”
Whether or not the salesperson or the PR guy were right I’m still not sure. But I am a little disgruntled. Over the last couple of years, I’ve begun to do what I already was telling everyone else to do: Buy a few things that I really love instead of a ton of things that I only like. The problem? The things I really love are either never produced or, if they are, they don’t look the way they did on the runway.
I get that buyers believe most women would prefer the sleeveless version of the bracelet sleeve Erdem dress I so desperately wanted for my wedding. But in an era when women can peruse runway looks hours after they’ve debuted, is it right for buyers to make decisions like that for us?
Have you ever badly wanted something, only to find out it was never made?
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I hate it when things I love from the runway are never produced. Kind of defeats the purpose of showing them. Happens quite often in menswear.
The same thing happened to me with a pair of Phillip Lim high-top sneakers!
Ugh that just happened for me w/ the amazing tweed/leather pants from the A/W 2010 Rag & Bone show– not being produced at all! Makes no sense!
theworkinggirlesq.blogspot.com
Well, those were ugly anyway, so…
But if you wanted them, I’m sorry to hear that they weren’t produced.
still waiting on those giles cateye glasses
Those alexander mcqueen lace socks and stockings from Spring 2008. I STILL WANT THEM. (http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slid...)
I totally understand what you’re saying, but look at it from the company’s perspective. Most pieces are not made on an individual basis–they bought in bulk. Regarding shoes–a mold needs to be opened for every single shoe style+size. If the shoe isn’t selling, they’re not going to take the time to make the mold. It’s really unfortunate, but also the reality of the business.
I’m sorry about the shoes and I understand your frustration. However, this particular pair is kind of gruesome anyway. A suede kitten heel with a pointy toe? The kitten heel will ensure that the muscles in your legs stay flexed in such a way as to make your legs look thicker. Meanwhile, the pointed toe, which would work great for an elongating effect on a higher heel, will conspire with the kitten heel to make your feet look enormous. And the red will make sure everyone notices.
I totally agree, but the thing is, maybe the buyers are buying the wrong stuff, you know?
Who cares? They’re cute! And would look great with skinny jeans! If you haven’t noticed, I’m not Stacy London here.
Yes, when I see genuinely covetable men’s clothes, it becomes a whole other ordeal to try and find them. Often I couldn’t afford the runway stuff I want anyway, but the experience of seeing it in stores (and online) is so important to the aspiration, and the planning required to realize that it’s a better idea to buy what you love instead of everything you only like.
I will say, though, that my favorite article of clothing is a pair of LV boots from quite a few years ago that I bought from a model who was in the show. One of a kind, and clearly hand made, you can spot nail holes in the wooden heel. I don’t pretend I could feel quite the same way about them if they were from the store.
And then there’s that ugly Campbell’s Soup tomato-y red that only going to look oh-so-atrocious the second is gets one spec of dust on it.
Not that this is all that matters, but the top story on Style.com for the previous few days was heralding the return of pointed kitten heels. I believe the example pair were suede, as well.
a bcbg silk trench, a d and g overlay dress, so many pairs of gloves and hats used in editorials.
MEOW
Ugh….what the hell was up with my typing this go-round? I’m appalled with myself.
LOL….sorry Lauren. I love you. I really do. But these shoes? Not my fave in all the land, I must say.
I think that about almost everyday….unfortunately in today’s climate it’s very difficult to have the cahones to put your neck out for a style that might not sell. It’s a big risk. Makes you wish you could go back to the days where buyers had far more room to make mistakes + take chances.
I think we should be looking at alternative ways to get our voices heard, both to buyers from large retailing outlets that chose these great runways looks and to the actual companies who make them. Websites like Luisaviaroma send out several newsletters to their subscribers the moment runway looks pop up after the shows. Within days we are able to “select’ the looks we are interested in and the website places an order accordingly. This season i noticed many looks were highlighted by Luisaviaroma as being already chosen, but clients were still invited to email requests for other pieces. Whether or not our requests are taken into account based on quantity or if they are even passed along to the fashion houses so as to be taken into consideration when producing the product I do not know. However, I think it’s a great, and interactive way, to get us {the buyer} involved in the process of what ends up on the rack and hopefully in our closet.
as a sidenote: those shoes are super cute, and i normally hate kitten heels.
those leopard print Moschino platform sandals that appeared in all kinds of editorials around 2006 but never made it in to production, i had some choice words with their NY office and had to go into therapy.
Same here.
I semi-understand when RTW lks are not produced…it was part of the look, and individual products may not sell well/the cost would prove to be too high compared to net gain. BUT Sigerson Morrison is a shoe company. If they are sending out samples & look books to the press, each item should be available to the consumer. Period.
Well said, Modcloth.com does something as similiar and the items that the customers picks to be on the site, consistently sells out.
I saw this post maybe a bit late but I am compelled to comment. This subject was touched already by Eric Wilson in 2008 – http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/fashion/06PRICE.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=eric%20wilson%20harper%27s%20bazaar&st=cse
I have a confession to make: I used to lie all the time as a PR rep for the designers that showed items on runway that were either never produced or not purchased by the buyers. What choice did I have? Example: a magazine called you with a request to shoot the look and that was be the only look that fitted the story in that particular month issue.. and you are desperate for an editorial – a page, a half-page, anything just to have the designer represented in the September issue for example. You do it because you don’t want to get executed for the lack of PR efforts. You push anything you can to get the client’s presence out there.
If it makes you feel any better, I am the victim of our own PR tactics – I still dream of Hedi Slimane trench I saw in Vogue in mid-2000s….Luckily, these days everything our clients make is produced.