Timely Looks for the Younger Crowd

All three lines are represented by Jean Claude Martin, an outgoing Brit who has a showroom in the California Mart, and who lives the junior fashion rat race every day. “[Competition is] fierce,” he says. “The windows [in the showroom] are bare and I have to keep the mannequin naked all day or people are out there sketching and knocking me off.” Here’s a sneak peek at DMD, II Minte and Daphne, anyway. And what to wear with these of-the-moment looks? Designer Heather Bailey’s trash ties, a hot new hair accessory. DMD Does Urban Edges [fash1-3 here] Out with florals, in with edgy plaids! Designer Josephine Lee is ditching all things missy as part of her campaign to re-engineer the clothing line DMD from a misses line into a better junior label. DMD in its current incarnation would merchandise well with clothing lines typically carried by Philadelphia-based retailer Urban Outfitters. The feel is Harvard Square of the 1970s: feminine, slightly bohemian and slightly grungy. Lee has focused on a range of trendy prints geometrics, plaids and ethnics in vegetable tones. Fabrics range from printed panne velvet to ultra-suede to mesh. The prints merchandise with solid tops and bottoms, which Lee says she believes is an important strategy since she anticipates the craze for embellishment cooling off. “Some people can wear all the prints, but other people will feel that it’s too much,” she said. “Especially since basics are coming back … [and] buyers like prints with color-matching basics.” Overall, Lee’s original designs are stronger than the watered-down versions of top fashion for instance, Lee’s mint-and-chocolate plaid is stronger than a Burberry’s plaid that has an odd greenish cast. But sales rep Martin says that tops with Custo Barcelona-inspired prints have been getting a good response. The collection also includes a strong contrast color mesh grouping with ruffled details a sky blue top with an asymmetrical neckline is lined with brilliant blue, for example, and a sleeveless green top has accents of periwinkle and ruffled shoulder ties. Also strong is gypsy-inspired panne velvet top and skirt in greens, pomegranate red and oranges. Holiday is next up for Lee, and she promises lots of glittery gold. Wholesale prices range from $7 to $20. Pretty Prints, Pretty Prices from Daphne
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Also strong is an Asian-inspired floral print. Even though Asian seems to be done to death in the junior market, Daphne’s Asian print comes up fresh. It’s retro Asian, a slightly ’60s inspired melange of red, fuchsia, blue, gold and green, which punches against a black background. The print comes in a slip dress, and delicate camisole and skirt combo. Other groupings include a tie-dye group in green, burgundy and cognac. The tie-dye pattern is slightly muddy, which moves it appropriately away from tie-dye’s often summery feel and into Fall territory. Silhouettes include skirts, necktie tops, off-the-shoulder tops and halters. There’s also a vintage Hawaiian print grouping which looks best in the avocado green, while the margarine yellow with brilliant coral hibiscus might be nice for a SoCal surf shop. Then there are the prices, which are a big part of this line’s story. “They’re off the hook,” says Martin. “Their price points are phenomenal because they are a mill and they knit their own piece goods.” Wholesale prices range from $4.50 for tops to $8.50 for dresses. For more information on these three lines: (213) 489-8078; or visit the CalMart, showroom A-1294. Mane Attraction Lush, “Charlie’s Angels” hair and accessories are currently in vogue, which means designer Heather Bailey should hit a market groove with her Trash Ties line of flexible hair accessories. The line began as a design riff off the little wired pieces of paper that bind up trash bags, and moved to little wired pieces of cloth that can be twisted into hair for funky effect. Trash ties are currently sold five to a packet, with styling instructions, at the wholesale price of $6. Bailey has also done pony wraps wider and longer pieces of wired cloth that can be wrapped around the ponytail, replacing an elastic which looks plain and can break hair. The wraps, which are sold on oversize thread spools, come in patent leather, plaid, snakeskin, metallics, ostrich and tweeds to coordinate with fashion trends. Also pretty is the silk pony wrap group, which features contrasting color silks with textured threads running over them. Bailey has also done scrunchies and headbands but don’t think of the cotton donuts or the toothed, plastic arcs of the 1980s. Bailey has gone more organic, embedding small colorful stones into feathery angora and mohair yarns. Her headbands are adjustable for a comfortable fit, she says. Wholesale prices range from $6 to $24. For more information: (213) 624-0856 or visit the New Mart showroom, suite 1107. K.B. Finally, for the girly girls, designer Jin Moon’s Daphne is a print-driven line ripe with color and sweetly on-target with trends. Moon has done a dense floral in shades of brown and cream (or violet and white) in a backless halter and a clinging strapless dress. What’s happening in the junior market? Lively prints, plenty of color and low prices. Here are some junior looks from three Korean designers who are staying firmly on top of trends with prices that won’t break the budget.