Plaid Fad for Holiday
Los Angeles-based label Dilascia's Bakery. Photo by Felix Salzman
The word out on the retail street is that flannel and plaid shirts did well in late October and are likely to be a hit item for the holiday season.
At least that's the wisdom being spread by FBR Capital Markets Corp., whose analysts follow the ups and downs of various retail chains across the country, such as Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters and Abercrombie Fitch.
Chilly and wet weather sent hordes of consumers to the malls to pick up some added warmth, making flannels and plaid shirts the single biggest fashion trend heading into Christmas. The plaid fad is expected to be a big booster item for teen retailers and mid-range department stores.
Plaid started appearing on Los Angeles' runways a couple of years ago, but the trend certainly has gained momentum this year. What could be next on the horizon, stripes? Oh yes, Old Navy has a slew of striped shirts at bargain prices. With plaids and stripes out there, we'll soon be playing tic-tac-toe.
