CaliforniaApparelNews.net

Just when retailers thought they had their hands full with the abundance of social media tools already on the market, along comes gamification.

No longer just the realm of 20-something males, gaming has increased in both retail and female audiences. According to a recent Mashable article, “66% of tablet owners play social games daily, and 46% of tablet gamers are women,” and “the largest group of social gamers is women between the ages of 35 and 44.”

Fashion Star's fierce fashion team: Nicole Richie, John Varvatos, Elle Macpherson and Jessica Simpson.

It’s not often that a reality show has much to do with reality, but James Deutch and E.J. Johnston wanted to take a different approach with their new show, “Fashion Star.”

What sets the show apart from other fashion series is its partnership with three major retailers to produce the contestants’ clothing in stores under a “Fashion Star” label.

Outdoor Retailer named the winner of their Project Runway spin-off competition, Project OR, on Monday. Margaret Mussman, a junior at the University of Cincinnati, was one of six student designers chosen to participate in the competition. In 48 hours, the former snowboarder designed and constructed a women's backcountry ski bib, which earned her first place, a trip to Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2012 and a profile in the publication Textile Insight.

George Whalin

George Whalin was a California retail classic.

He passed away Jan. 10 due to complications from cancer. He was 68 and he kept working almost to the end; writing on retail, advising with his Carlsbad, Calif.-company Retail Management Consultants, and talking to reporters like me.

I’m in New York this week and spotted a little window to Southern California on a rainy day.

The entire front facade of the Hollister store on Fifth Avenue features a live video feed from Huntington Beach, Calif.  

I bet it’s great on a sunny day. Today, however, water-logged pedestrians barely noticed the rolling waves as they slogged by under cover of umbrellas.

Tell me again what the weather is like back home today?

Undrest is stretching out its limbs and growing new branches. The brand’s new store on Melrose Ave. (formerly on Robertson Blvd.) is like three mini shops under one roof: the original Undrest lingerie and loungewear; Undrest By The Sea swim and resort clothing and the new Undrest Artifacts line of leather bags.