Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Macy's In, Banana Republic Auf?
It would sure seem that way given the curious, last minute change of venue for both the Miami and New York auditions this week. Although there has been no official word from Bravo yet, it looks as if we may have a new sponsor for Project Runway. So what does this mean for the future of the show? The Banana Republic mentorship really wasn't a significant prize for the winner and the obligatory BR challenge had run its course. What new opportunities and challenges does Macy's bring to the table? And what does this mean for the future direction of Project Runway?
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12 comments:
It totally makes sense to me.
First, I agree with you - BR is not very significant in the fashion sense. PR is bigger than a mall chain store now.
Second, look at Us. We are probably a good core group of PR fans, we represent a lot of ages, backgrounds, etc. We PR fan-bloggers are not all 20-somethings or short people who look good in BR clothing. (When they make a length longer than 30" in the inseam for women, I'll consider them "normal" lol.)
Now, as for Macy's - the appeal is worldwide, it's not limited to certain age groups or body types. It's also got the flagship store that does carry better goods...can't say that for the ones in all the malls, but that one does.
To that end, it may really commercialize the show. Ugh.
Of course, if it were up to me, I would have chosen a more high-fashion store like Nordstrom. But that's not as big a chain and they probably don't have as much money as Macy's. Of course they don't have the exposure.....
Macy's is owned by Federated Department Stores that also has Bloomingdales and some others. Banana Republic is owned by the Gap which also owns Old Navy and others.
They're both decent sized corporations.
I'll tell you one thing, though... if I were a designer selling clothes and my design was selling in Macys Department stores with my name on the label, I'd think that was a lot bigger deal than Banana Republic.
Mentioned before--Michael Kors sells at Macy's.
I'd be thrilled if Daniel's future line more attainable for me at a Macy's.
I'm always intrigued that Macy's is one of the stores that What Not to Wear often features. They show some pieces that I might not think you would find there, wearable and fashionable. Interesting, I wonder how this change will show up in the show?
Not sure if this impacts anything, but I know Macy's also has a very well regarded buyers' program that attracts a lot of recent college graduates. While not the same thing as what the PR designers may need, the corporation has an organized and reputable "internship" of sorts already in place from which they may borrow ideas on how to build a program that really helps talented winner like Jay who may not have the business sense that Chloe seems to have.
But what will Tim do if it changes to Macy's -- his wardrobe is 90% BR!
I would like to add a comment about Federated. Federated owns, Macy's, Bloomingdales, Lord & Taylor, Boston's-Filenes, Chicago's-Marshall Field, and Pittsburgh's-Kaufmann's. The recent merger of Federated and May put Boston's own Filene's flagship downtown store out of business. For Boston this is the equivalent of someone shutting down the 34th Street Macy's. I'm an aspiring designer and have separate opinions about the fashions of department stores. But, as tried and true Bostonian shopper with an MBA I have a bone to pick with federated for putting Filenes, Kaufmann's and Marshall Field out of business. Department stores were regional for a reason and often have symbolic and historic roots in their home cities. Shame on Federated for contributing to the homogenizing of American Fashion! I second the vote for Nordstrom’s; even Lord & Taylor which will be liberated from Federated, thank god for small favors.
I think this was a good move because not all designers can fit or use the BR mentorship.. I mean.
realistically its limiting. While Macys can sell any kind of style for any type of person. I guess now that PR is getting so big.. they have to think big. but I hope it doesn't change the show.. I am beginning to see the downfall.
Lets hope not.
KCF - you may have hit the target with the intern program.
I think what Macy's stock consists of depends on where the Macy's is located...I can tell you our local Mac'ys (pronounced Mac like McDonald's) don't carry Michael Kors. BTW they probably sponsor What Not to Wear - all those shows (including PR) advertise for the stores they use on their programs. Even if they don't do commercials in the breaks.
I never compared the size of Gap/BR etc. to Federated. However, Gap/BR still is a mall store chain. Mac'ys can stand alone.
Mac'ys - well, I have not shopped at them since the 1980s, we had an episode where they screwed me over and I was out a lot of money. I have a permanent boycott of that store. You don't know how glad I am to hear that Lord & Taylor is leaving Federated. When Fed bought them is when they went down the hopper.
The massive commercialism of Mac'ys is what has me worried, though.
good. if they have a macy's challenge, that should give them more freedom for design and sizes. i got tired of them having to do something that would fit in with the banana republic style. i haven't bought the dresses because they are not my style, but if they were, my boobs would not fit in them anyway. everything is made so tiny nowadays and if there is room for big boobs, it's big fake boobs. i say this because real boobs need more support in the clothes. the tiny spaghetti straps are for boobs that stay up on their own because they are fake. if you're thin with naturally big boobs, like me, you're screwed. i don't know why women want them. i'd prefer perky B's myself. so now maybe there will be something i want to buy and can actually fit into.
There's going to be some really bad mojo in Chicago when the Marshall Field's sign comes down next year....I do not think Macy's can make it in Chicago.
Wall Street Journal had an interesting article about GAP the other day. It seems that BR is losing money, Gap is OK & Old Navy is fine.
BR needs PR more than the other way around.
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