The Guild 10-7-2004 Retailers embrace the poncho, betting the trend will last into fall

Star Living ^ | 8-24-2004 | Style Section

[BigWaveBetty]

I'm praying retailers are dead wrong. Wasn't a fan of the poncho in the 70's and my heart hasn't grown any love for them in 2004.

Please excuse the insult if you like them but they do nothing for me. And I've never seen a poncho that says, I'm the one, we'll look gorgeous together, buy me! Plus those annoying little fringes inevitably drag in the onion dip when I'm at a party trying to get a little nosh.

Hey! You got onion dip on my fringies! Well you got poncho fringies in my onion dip! *We pause to ponder the possibilities...*

The hostess and I let out a simultaneous Nahhhhhhh! Nothing good ever comes from combining poncho fringies and onion dip. However, the dog, trying to nip at the onion scented fringies did become my best friend.

Now from the experts on ponchos:

Apparel retailers across the country have been begging for something new, a fresh look that every woman doesn't already have in her closet.

This summer they got one: the poncho.

Crocheted with airy holes, off-the-shoulder or down to the knee, the '70s-era accessory has made a big-time comeback and is a hot product for clothing retailers headed into the fall shopping season.

Teenagers are wearing ponchos. So are their mothers and grandmothers. There aren't many fashion trends that can claim such reach.

Adding to the poncho's appeal, it disguises less-than-buff arms and comes in a friendly one-size-fits-all.

"Women got tired of everything being so body-conscious and bare," explains David Wolfe, creative director with the Doneger Group, a consulting firm that advises retailers on fashion trends.

Retailers from top to bottom have embraced the once utilitarian cover-up. At the low-end, Wal-Mart has them displayed front and center in refurbished apparel departments. At the high end, Neiman Marcus is showing a striped cashmere poncho in brown, black and gray for $245.

In between, Marshall Field's is offering a black open-knit poncho for $29.99, while Target is featuring a cheap-chic, flower-adorned pink version for $12.99.

The women's apparel industry certainly could use a boost. Sales of women's clothing fell 6 percent in 2003, the third consecutive year of declines, a reflection of the recession, lower-priced foreign imports and a lack of hot items.

Sales of women's clothing were flat through the first half of 2004, but they could jump 4.5 percent by year-end, predicts Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst with NPD Group. If so, it would be the best showing in five years. Continue the Poncho Pitching

Here are some examples, some good, some bad, some just plain ugly.

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[apackof2]

Well ya know, "Everything old is new again"

Its a fashion retread slightly changed, you have to be at least 6ft tall to look remotely good in a poncho

Other than that I applaud the fashion "trend" back to feminine clothes and the colors for this winter are great! Lots of deep pink, greens, blue, orange.....I love black but that's all you see but not this winter.......getting ready to purchase a pink coat myself........and looking for a gown to wear to next January's Freeper Inaugural Ball!!!

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

I would NOT wear that!!!

[mountaineer]

I agree with you about Talbots. I used to find lots of good, classic styles there, especially back in my lawyer days when I tried to look "professional," but was very disappointed at my last visit. There wasn't a single thing for me there.

[Fintan]

It could be worse...we could see the resurgence of the Greek fisherman cap, generally worn by old leftist coots driving old Volvos with faded "Mondale/Ferraro" bumperstickers.

[BigWaveBetty]

Check out my new tagline which I stole from John Huang2's latest Two Cents. The fools (KEdwards) have absolutely no clue to what's going on in the world. What ever happened to "thinking outside the box" or even looking at the big picture? al Qaeda is like Savwafare, they're everywhere, except Iraq. It's a strain on my brain to not conclude that al Qaeda wasn't ever nor ever will be in Iraq.

The Bush/Cheney campaign should compile a list of all the unclassified reports of captures, arrests and deaths of the terrorists they've done. Then slowly scroll it with narration for a campaign commercial.

If only I'd kept it! I'd finally be fashionable.

Or you would have a really great napkin for those special occasions.

[BigWaveBetty]

Edwards on Kelly and Regis RIGHT NOW!

[DollyCali]

I recall as a young girl & as a teen (and even later) looking at my mom's subscription to vogue magazine.

Never in REAL life did I see women wear those things in public yet desire to pay the outrageous prices to have them.

and remember the hair do messes? Incredible.

BTW ms. NE Ohio ladie.. we are having a Heritage Club meeting tonight (it is the Lake County group).. I don't live in Lake county & it is a long drive but there are many FReepers who participate, many politicians (good guy types) and good fellowship in general.

It is at Meximilians (Rt 20 Mentor Ave) in Mentor at 7. Can get food/adult beverages etc. Meximillans is where all of the Lake County Presidental parties are held & also where they have debate "parties". Owner Tony is a good PUbbie

[DollyCali]

Oh mercy.. we are in trouble now. Two Iowa Grannies. We have to behave.

[Carolina]

Forgot to tell you in the last post I've missed you! Glad you came by to see us.

Thanks. Real Life has sidelined me for most of the year. Just got done heading up a charity event--a fashion show, actually. Our theme was a takeoff on the Breakfast at Tiffany's. We invited the women to come in hats and gloves. It was fun and classy.

I just know a hideous knitting project was headed my way eventually. ;-)

Hahahaha. I'm sure you've spared your granddaughter.

[BigWaveBetty]

I don't know how old your daughter is, but having one myself who was a teen when all the slutty clothes started coming out was quite a challenge. Is it Dry Clean Only? Yep, that goes back. Does your belly show? Yep, that goes back too. Can you bend over without your entire rear end showing? No? Back it goes. Etc...

So my unsolicited advise would be, buy her a poncho, at least it covers a lot up! It's very hard to buy her clothes you don't like but she's her own girl and needs to pick the things she likes, with your supervision of course. :-)

My daughter turned out to be quite a conservative dresser as well as a republican. Now her favorite store is Lord and Taylor.

[DollyCali]

BTW welcome. I am new here also - a week. Thanks to Iowa Granny's ping..

now I need to walk away from this silly computer & clean my house!

:(

[DollyCali]

Good job mom. Having had just one boy, I missed all that "fun"..

[Iowa Granny]

Oh mercy.. we are in trouble now. Two Iowa Grannies. We have to behave.

Dolly, I have been trying to entice Cgg to this thread for at least the last 4 years.

Cgg and I are good buddies and our paths cross occasionally in our work.

And altho I'm flattered that you feel you need to behave in our presence, the fact is, when the two of us get together there tends to be more orneriness and giggling done over FReeper antics than is appropriate for women of "our age".

[BigWaveBetty]

Dang! We thought my brother fell off the Greenpeace boat and had drowned!

[DollyCali]

are we allowed to say POTUS has cute "whatevers"?

[Samwise]

She's twelve now. We compromised on the slutty clothes fashions by wearing something under them. The tops really were cute with another shirt or long cami under them, Now the stores are actually selling the layered look as one-piece items--fake camis, cuffs, and collars. Fortunately, her school has set a reasonable dress code, so I can cop out and say "Not up to code." :^)

I'll think about buying the poncho, perhaps as a reward for something, but if she really wants one she can save for it.

Have I mentioned that I really hate ponchos? LOL. I had two, I think. One of the fringe ones and a plaid one. Ughhhh.

[BigWaveBetty]

Thanks to Hillary's Lovely Legs I'm no longer afraid of color. Look out Winter, things are about to get brightly colored!

[BigWaveBetty]

All your events sound like beau coop fun! Take some pictures of one sometime if you can and share.

And no, thankfully Laney has been spared by me at least. She's got two other grandma's and greatgrandma loves to crochet,,, really way out stuff.

But this grandma goes to Dillard's and buys boatloads (on sale of course) of beautiful dresses and fancy nightgowns for her, this last time was for her birthday.

Listening on the phone as she opened the box, the squeals of excitement made my ears bleed. :-)

[Teacup]

I am so glad you are talking about this silly Pancho trend. I hate panchos. As an American of Hispanic background, I do not wish to start wearing a "Zarape" again, LOL.

[pollyshy]

Har! Granddaughters aged 8 & 10 are getting these for Christmas. Guess I'll hold off on giving them to my daughters. However, I did make one in a hurry the other night: it's a short one to wear over my shoulders instead of a bed jacket. I bought a fleece baby blanket, folded it in half twice, and cut a hole in it for my head. Works just great, but it is not for outside use.