If you love Juicy Couture’s velour track suits–no judging, we promise–but find $196 price tag a bit jarring, good news:
Liz Claiborne, the company that now owns Juicy Couture and kicked out founders Gela Nash-Taylor and Pamela Skaist-Levy about a year ago, has hired American Eagle’s chief design officer LeAnn Nealz to head up the brand, reports WWD.
It can be deduced that her role will not only be to update the brand’s image, but also to make it even more mass than it already is. Which hopefully means slightly lower prices.
Prior to American Eagle, Nealz worked at Gap, Banana Republic, Nine West, Theory, and ck Jeans. So her experience is in mass market retail. Much like Deborah Lloyd, who has successfully maintained the DNA of the Kate Spade brand (also owned by Liz Claiborne) while keeping the prices moderate and expanding its reach, Nealz’s job will be to freshen up the Juicy look, while making it easier for more people to buy more pieces.
Designer Erin Fetherston, who’s been working with the brand since the spring, will end her creative consultancy at the end of 2011.
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Admitted, I haven’t been to an American Eagle location in at least 5 years, but I will always remember how cool I found the clothes were about 8 years ago. There was a big historical feel and a lot of western flavor in the clothes then, and some of the bags and men’s clothes felt like Marc by Marc Jacobs stuff you might find now. I noticed after that the clothes became rapidly more graphic and attention grabbing (not in the good way) and I stopped going. I would think I was imagining it, but lots of my friends have shared my view that American Eagle was the best store back then.
i was actually just thinking about that the other day…
Whenever I need a new bag, I’m always trying to find one just like the AE canvas messenger I had in grade 10. It was so light, fell in the perfect place, fit everything and was so stylish. I gave it away after my tastes moved on and I’ve always regretted it. It was sort of like Filson bags, and a lot like a Marc by Marc bag I’ve bought since, except Marc’s weighs 5 lbs more, has a beautiful but ludicrous silk lining (this is a boy’s bag y’all, silk lining is not a great idea) and falls in an awkward place no matter how one adjusts the strap. Their denim around this time was great too, and never looked brand new. I had a couple pairs then I wish had lasted 10 years.
I would really love to know who their creative director was then and what they’re doing now. I really do feel that if they went for a publicized reversal back to the pared down, historic flavored basics they could turn their business around just like J.Crew.
their denim and pants were amazing! i had a pair of each and felt like a million bucks every time i wore them…i won’t even step food in an ae anymore…gotta change that!
yy
yy what?
yy did this website eliminate my previous post? flagged? fashionista, you owe me an explanation!
I wonder why a company like Liz Clairborn buys an fashionista line like Juicy and then change everything that made it great. I read that P&G went to battle with Bill McComb when he started to cheapen the line and send things off shore. I loved that most of the Juicy line was made in the USA. Not only as it kept jobs in the USA, but also the quality was great. It seems Mr. McComb tried to make Juicy into McJuicy and I respect P&G for sticking by their guns. Juicy had plenty of sales and the corporate zeitgeist of more and more and more profit at the expense of design and quality seems short sighted. American Eagle designer for Juicy? What is McComb thinking? Does he have any fashion sense?
This is so sad – it is the death knoll for Juicy, which was a brand that transcended age. Juicy was so much more than the track suits. It will never be the same without P&G – remember Couture Couture anybody?
this is bullshit. Juicy has a unique look that’s all its own, it doesn’t need to be watered down or cheapened for the masses. I don’t mind paying more for a piece of clothing that’s well made and will fit well, I resent it being broadened just so supposedly everyone can afford it. Forever 21 is for everyone, there’s a reason certain brands cost more its so you can have it for longer than a month without the buttons falling off or it loses its shape. I want Pamela and Gela back, their vision of English cutesy frocks combined with LA edge was what Juicy was REALLY about, don’t fix what’s not broken!
I agree with you Wayev 100%. Bring back P&G and dump Bill McComb! how in the world has McComb not been booted by the Liz Clairborn? That guy must have made some sort of faustian deal…. If I was a stock holder, I would demand his resignation.
Susan7777 and Wayev, you are right. Whoever is running Juicy should be booted, along with the board that approved his decisions to take the company to new lows. The lowest common denominator is not a good look for a Juicy Girl!
Juicy has lost it’s soul. I haven’t bought any since G&P left. And have you seen the new ads?!?!?!
The look says it all: “Juicy Couture Yard Sale.” Very unappetizing!
WOW….I never knew there was this much Juicy Couture love abound. I ALWAYS, even when Madonna and other celebs were wearing it, thought it was just a cutesy, trendy, cheap-o brand. I never bought anything from them. Someone gave me a sweatshirt once…but I only wore it on the weekends or if I was running late somewhere I’d throw it on. LOL
Hmmm….maybe I didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have.
This glamorous hippy girl I knew in high school, her big brother owned the chicest store in town so she got lots of brandy clothing she would never normally care to buy. I remember how shocked I was when I found out half her corduroy blazers and beautiful coats were Juicy. They made some really great, subtle pieces alongside those tracksuits. This is really the only redeeming experience I had with the brand, though. I understand your distaste.