For the next 5 to 10 days, I will still be stuck between summer and fall.
Some of my suppliers still do not see eye-to-eye with American educators regarding back-to-school season, which traditionally kicks off fall shopping. My first day of school, in 1986, was in mid-September. Some school districts have pushed the first day of school all the way back to the first week in August. Which I’m told is far better as far as lesson retention goes, but it’s not easy on anyone who wants to buy or sell shoes or clothes.
Fall styles typically arrive in late August to mid-September. Most of my Macbeth order did arrive earlier than it did last year, but when families are trying to shop for school clothes in July, a lot of retailers have little or nothing to sell them. Will the industry change? Probably, but not for several years. People in fashion can be remarkably stubborn (and I’m allowed to say that because I’m one of them and related to a few more).
One or two weeks from now I will be shoulder-deep in bags, wallets, and shoes. It’s chaos, it’s hard work (ever try to lift a 40-pound carton full of bags?), the shop becomes rather cramped due to all the boxes, and I love every single second of it.
I love getting new stock in the store – when you are in the same store every day, it has an effect not unlike re-decorating your apartment. Arti already sent me most of the new Neuaura photos (she’s such a sweetheart), and I am salivating. I’m already re-making a dress to go with the Caroleena pump in Pearl, but I’m wondering if I should have also ordered it in blue instead of Cappuccino.
Two days ago I printed out the spring ‘09 Matt & Nat catalog and couldn’t resist flipping through it to mark styles I liked, even though fall ‘08 hasn’t arrived yet! More colors and styles will be available next spring, but if you think I’m giving you any additional spoilers this time, you are so wrong.
