BLOOMINGDALE'S: FIVE PURCHASED MEANS THE ITEM IS IN DEMAND

Shopping inspiration comes from a range of sources. For me buying things boils down to what I like and how it will work with what I have, including in my wardrobe and in my home. Yet, I enjoy visiting retailers' websites to see what they have lined up for the season and in some cases I end up buying, either online or in the store.

The other day, while browsing the bloomingdales.com website, I noticed that a number of listings included the banner:"IN DEMAND 5 bought in the last 5 days." An enlarged image of the banner is directly below.

Based on my nearly one hour eyeball review of the website, I noticed the majority of the listings ldid not include an "IN DEMAND" banner.

The notion that five of the same items purchased (including the different colorways that are available) meant the product is highly sought after seemed odd to me.

Five purchases is a low threshold. I believe a store such as Bloomingdale's with billions of dollars in sales would use a higher number of sales to consider an item "IN DEMAND."

The Bloomingdale's website also includes the banners "POPULAR viewed X number of times recently" and "MOST WANTED: X recently added to bag." I was unable to locate what the timeframe recently means. Is it this today? This week? This month? An enlarged image of each of these banners is directly below.

Other retailers also incorporate a form of a popularity indicator on their websites. Nordstrom's website for instance, lists the number of people viewing an item and to the right side of the item lists several similar looking items with the word "Popular" next to it. This "Popular" item could be the same brand or another brand.

Below are a few examples on the bloomingdales.com website with the"IN DEMAND 5 bought in the last 5 days" banner displayed with the listing I saw a few days ago. The link to each item is provided.

Of note, when I checked today, only one of these nine items shown below includes the banner "IN DEMAND 5 items were bought in the last 5 days", though the website shows other items with this banner.

Shoes

Jimmy Choo Romy Pumps https://tinyurl.com/84nwj45n.

Gucci Horsebit Leather Ballet Flats https://tinyurl.com/2wtubmpz

Gucci Original GG Loe Top Platform Sneakers https://tinyurl.com/ynrhz7d9

Handbags

Cult Gaia Eos Box Clutch https://tinyurl.com/5n9y2cjn

MZ Wallace Woven Box Crossbody https://tinyurl.com/yezcp776

Tory Burch T Monogram Shoulder Bag https://tinyurl.com/4dpwzvdh

Home Goods

Vertuo Next Deluxe by Breville with Aeroccino Milk Frother, Dark Chrome https://tinyurl.com/3mb7mx8c

Voluspa Goji Tarocco Orange 5 Wick Hearth Candle https://tinyurl.com/mdwfr2jf

Mackenzie-Childs Courtly Check Enamel Pedestal Platter - Large https://tinyurl.com/b4zeupjf

I wonder if the banners displaying "IN DEMAND" "POPULAR" or "MOST WANTED" have an impact on shoppers' purchasing choices. It is likely that these banners, being prominently featured in the listings, do play a role for those looking to purchase trendy or sought after items. Are you swayed by these labels? Do you find them useful?

How does Bloomingdale's and other retailers use this information generated by shoppers clicking for visual and price promotion and inventory management? Below are a few more areas I'd love to learn about:

• How helpful are these categories for Bloomingdale's and other retailers to improve customer service?

• How often do the appropriate internal teams review and act on this information?

• What changes have been made as a result of these categories?

I'm looking forward to seeing if these banners will continue and /or amended.

BUCKLE UP FOR FALL

Bags with buckles and belts, as well as other fashion accessories following this trend, are currently popular in the fashion world this autumn. While not a new concept, this theme brings a visual appeal to items, and I had fun discovering the variety of options available both in stores and online. Below are several highlights.

This is the Veronica Beard Dash Bag. The Company is clearly enthusiastic about this bag. In fact, Women’s Wear Daily reported the Company launched a party for it in early September as part of the brand’s current fall collection.

This structured bag comes in two sizes. The large size ($798) is available in two leather colors: black and burnished hazelwood and in a pattern, a crocodile embossed chestnut color. The smaller size is offered in the same two leather colors and also in suede--black, bark and chestnut. The belt is adjustable, and it comes with a removable shoulder strap. I tried both sizes on at the Madison Avenue store and I’m still deciding which size and color to buy! The price is $648 for the smaller one and the link is here:

https://tinyurl.com/26pukju9

Tom Ford’s Audrey Medium Tote Bag is made of grain leather, which adds to the beauty of this bag. The belt is adjustable so that it tightens the bag, permitting the sides to expand or collapse. The price is $1,990 and the link is here: https://tinyurl.com/7nkyh4sb

The Audrey Bag also comes in a large size. The price is $2,190 and is available on the Tom Ford website: https://tinyurl.com/v3auh9jj The grain leather classic TF card holder ($395) would be a nice accessory to pair with the bag. The link is her: https://tinyurl.com/4pvwe2w4

Proenza Schouler launched its first handbag collection in 2008, and is known for the the PS1, a classic satchel.

The Belted Tote shown here is made of slate color felt and has an open top with magnetic closure. According to the website the leather belt can be used “to cinch the tote making it appear more ruched or worn released for a classic silhouette.” There is an embroidered monogram detail at the bottom edge. I love the leather trim! The price is $1,190 and the link is here: https://tinyurl.com/bddrec48

Don’t forget the shoes! This pair of Pīferi slingback shoes, with the belt feature that includes gold hardware is named Tighter 85. The shoe is designed by Alfredo Pīferi. After working at Versace, Jimmy Choo and as the head of design at Burberry he launched his brand in 2020. The brand is known for being leather free and focusing on sustainability. Shoes are handmade in Italy.

The price of these mesmerizing shoes is $763.80 and the link is here: https://tinyurl.com/2sd3jjjx Note: Nordstrom looks to have the same shoe, with a slightly different name and interestingly, at a lower, price, $645. The link is here: https://tinyurl.com/4jekrv9t If you love the belt feature, be advised there is a Tighter knee-high boot with a buckle and a belt at the top of the boot and at the toes. A playful touch to finish off an outfit! The price is $995 and the link is here: https://tinyurl.com/4je9bjea

Are you buckling up for fall? Or, what styles do you prefer?

SHIFTING TO FALL

Originally introduced in the 1920s, shift dresses regained popularity in the 1960s and continue to be a timeless fashion choice today. Their loose-fitting design drapes from the shoulders, shift dresses lack a defined waist, making them flattering for a variety of body shapes.

Known for their versatility, shift dresses are particularly favored during the summer months for their comfortable loose fit. However, they are worn year-round too! A great aspect of the shift dress is that it can be designed in a variety of fabrics and with the addition of accessories, you will have a fashionable and easy to wear outfit.

As we move into the Fall season, here are some shift dresses to think about for refreshing your wardrobe or choosing one for a particular event.

If you prefer not to choose your jewelry but still want to look elegant, an ideal choice is this exquisite Badgley Mischka Collection dress. Crafted in beautiful black velvet with jewel embellishments, it features a mock neck, invisible back zipper, and convenient on-seam pockets. This dress is available exclusively at Neiman Marcus. The price is $695. The link is here: https://tinyurl.com/22ysa6wt

The Badgley Mischka website had a short sleeve version of this dress in red crepe. It is gorgeous. The link is here. https://tinyurl.com/p5dn4j6t

The Japanese brand Sacai which makes clothes, shoes and accessories (and also designs menswear) was started in Tokyo by designer Chitose Abe in 1999. Sacai is known for combining contrasting textures such as mixing wovens with knits and also reshaping traditional silhouettes. This is the chalk pinstripe mixed media dress. It is an all wool textured dress with pinstripe details and flap pockets. Pull-over fit. The price is $1,030.00 and the link is here: https://tinyurl.com/344f6s7j

Emilio Pucci, Marquis of Barsento, founded the brand that bears his name in 1947. He became known as "the prince of prints" because he used geometric prints in a kaleidoscope of colors. His legacy lives on! This dress, called the Marmo cady shift dress is not all print and it is a perfect shift for those uneasy about wearing an all printed garment. The retailer, Mytheresa.com notes “Each piece is unique and prints may differ slightly from those shown.” The price is $1,485 and the link is here: https://tinyurl.com/ycy6fwud

Carolina Herrera's black ruffle cuff shift dress is a spot-on choice for day-to-evening wear. This knee-length shift with an invisible back zip is a blank slate to show off a statement piece of jewelry, such as a brooch, or a variety of pieces. Bergdorf Goodman currently offers this dress in a limited size range in cobalt and azalea, but the classic black version has most sizes available. The price is $1,290 and the link is here: https://tinyurl.com/2t2crdjv The Carolina Herrera website has a nice collection of jewelry pieces, ranging from demure to bold that would be a nice way to finish off this outfit. The link is here: https://tinyurl.com/yc4srp4x

Are you shifting to fall? Or are you exploring other options?