All Wedding Dresses

By Allen Wright

The first public face, outside of the original Charm Shoppes store, of Charming Shoppes was the Fashion Bug stores which opened in the 1960’s. Considered pioneers of computerized inventory management and sales, Fashion Bug stores were wildly popular and expanded quickly all the way through the 1990’s.

In 2000 Charming Shoppes purchased Catherine’s Stores Corporation in an effort to firmly plant themselves into the plus size women’s clothing market. They followed this quickly with the purchase of Lane Bryant in 2001, adding the plus size powerhouse to its already successful Fashion Bug and Catherine’s dynasty. It quickly followed the Lane Bryant acquisition with the launch of Pettite Sophisticate, a store catering to smaller size women.

If we take a look at the company’s financial performance based on their stock price, we see that in 1993 they split their stock, and immediately afterwards saw a sharp decrease in stock price over the next three years (adjusted for split price). That brings us to 1996, a year when the Charming Shoppes successfully remade itself as a socially responsible company by helping women and children in need, focusing on women’s’ health issues, and brining attention to family and financial issues that women face. This program was championed by then CEO Dorrit J. Bern, and marked an immediate, sharp rise in stock price that lasted through the year.

Charming Shoppes stock price continued to fluctuate up and down over the next several years, but moved generally in an upward trend. It was seemingly unaffected by the acquisition of Catherine’s and Lane Bryant, and was in a holding pattern through much of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.

In 2003 we see a sharp rise in the stock price that has continued through h2007 before seeing any decline whatsoever. This can be directly tied to the opening of the Lane Bryant website to internet sales, a move that brought an incredibly lucrative new revenue stream in for the Charming Shoppes Corporation. Sales have declined in 2008, one can assume in part due to the prevailing economic conditions in the country.

Compared to previous years, sales for the Charming Shoppes Corporation are down $265 million over the first two quarters. That’s 20% of their total sales. Not something to take lightly. Taken as separates, Lane Bryant is down $47 million, Fashion Bug is down $69 million, and Catherine’s is down $24 million. It’s possible that they’ll make up the difference in the second two quarters of the year, but historically they have had very few strong 3rd and 4th quarters.

What does this mean for the plus size fashion industry? Not much, but the Lane Bryant sales figures are a good indicator that there is quite a bit less demand for plus size clothes so far this year. One can assume this is due in part to less disposable income due to the slowing economy and gas prices since none of the other large fashion houses has seen a comparable rise in sales.

About The Author

Allen is a freelance writer who follows fashion topics at many different levels. Look for more information on plus size designer clothes, plus size designer fashion tips and designer plus size shorts here.

By Kristi Ambrose

No matter what city you travel to or even what the weather is outside, you will most likely see someone trotting along in a pair of UGG Boots. I was in New York last summer and sure enough I witnessed a young “model looking” girl wearing shorts and a pair of UGGs. She looked very comfortable and stylish, even though it was 75 degrees out! So, where did these odd looking but popular boots come from?

They were first introduced to Californians way back in 1978 when Brian Smith, a surfer, brought a load of sheepskin boots with him from Australia. Brian began to make friends with other surfers and next thing you know they were wearing the sheepskin boots too. I guess the rest of the world figured if Californians are wearing them then they must be the newest fad and the UGG Boot’s fame was born! In 1995, the concept was acquired by Deckers Outdoor Corporation and it was Decker that turned the famous boots and UGG name into what it is today.

These days you can find more than boots by UGG. They have a really cool line with casual shoes, hats, gloves, scarves, backpacks, cell phone holders and you can even find pillows. They also carry a Sheepskin Care Kit to make sure your products are always clean and cared for. There are sizes and styles for men, women and children.

One of my latest favorites are flat ballet shoes named The Antoinette’s which are made of thin twin-faced sheepskin for a slim and flattering fit and it has a cute little tie. I have it in a leopard print but it is also available in a solid goldish brown. They are very comfortable and also quite appealing.

There are many benefits in purchasing any of these products other than the comfort and warmth. They are very durable and long lasting. They use what is called twin-face sheepskin which is treated on both the fleece side and the skin side making it very soft. This really helps in the dead of winter as the sheepskin helps to keep your feet very close to your body temperature. They should fit you snug as your feet will mold to the sheepskin as you wear them but make sure they are not tight or uncomfortable.

You can find all the styles and products at some of the top stores in the world. I have a feeling the UGG products will be around for at least another few decades and I am sure they will just keep getting more popular. They may be odd but, I love my UGGs.

If your searching for other odd footware try looking for these:

Vibram’s Glove Shoe - They sell for between $70-$100 and are allegedly great for all sorts of make believe sports like ChiRunning, Pose Method Running, and Bouldering.

Nike - Shoe Pouch For Nike+iPod Sport Kit. Available in black, red, hot pink, neon green, teal blue, navy blue, purple, and gray, the Shoe Pouch is a waterproof bag that allows you to place the sensor inside and attach to your shoe via its shoe laces. It allows runners and walkers to use the sensor from the Nike+iPod Sport Kit without having to purchase special Nike+ shoes. In addition, the pouch also provides reinforced loops, high-quality neoprene and stitching, and a Velcro strip covering the slit where the sensor is inserted. The Shoe Pouch is priced at US$7.99 each.

Crocs - Really soft, super comfortable, molds to your feet; Barely there, weighing only 6 ounces; Vented so air passes through, keeping feet cool; Non-marking. They also come in a various amount of colors including Fuchsia, pink, purple, red, royal blue, yellow, green and much more. Depending on the type of crocs you get you will be spending different amounts of money!

About The Author

This author is a huge fan of Ugg Boots