Consumerist
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diy
How To Ruin Your Jeans On The Cheap
If there's one thing my grandmother and I agree on, aside from the fact that Marlena being possessed was a dumb storyline on Days of Our Lives, it's that it makes no sense to pay top dollar for deliberately weakened/damaged denim. The ConsumerReports blog ShopSmart has found a website that offers tips on how to distress your jeans at home, like using a pumice stone to cut holes, or a cheese grater to create patterns.
"Site of the Week: Jeans and Accessories" [ShopSmart]
(Photo: rileyroxx) -
happy endings
Woman Battles Neiman Marcus To Return Damaged Dress
You can understand Amy's disappointment when she ordered a belted dress from Neiman Marcus, but the dress arrived beltless. Starting in July, she tangled with customer service to get her money back. More » -
but mom!
Tight-Fisted Moms Set Rules On Teen Clothing Purchases
The tight economy has meant fewer jobs for teens, leaving more of them with empty wallets and at the mercy of that heartless arbiter of teen fashion: mom. The Wall Street Journal reports that even stores that specialize in clothes for younger consumers are following the money to its source. Aeropostale's employee handbook states: "Because parents make the final decision, they want to feel valued, and they want to feel good about what they purchase." More » -
decluttering
How To Strip Your Clothes Online For Easy Money
Blogger Fabulously Broke has put together a handy guide for selling excess clothing online. More » -
hidden in the gap
Tricky Gap.com Plays 'Hide The Gift Receipt Policy'
G.C. had a rough outing while trying to navigate tricky Gap.com to find a gift receipt policy. More » -
wtf
Banana Republic Sends Customer Mysterious Package Of Security Tags
Jonathan's wife ordered some clothes from Banana Republic, and was confused when another, similarly-sized box arrived on their doorstep from Banana Republic a week later. This box was clearly not destined for her, since she had not ordered the exciting new "Open Your Own Banana Republic" playset. More » -
retail
One-Armed Abercrombie & Fitch Worker Wins Wrongful Dismissal Case
A former UK Abercrombie & Fitch employee whose prosthetic arm didn't comport with the store's "look policy" has won a case against the clothier for wrongful dismissal and emotional trauma. More » -
weddings
1.3 Mile Long Wedding Dress Shows China Is Ready For Gross Consumerism, Too!
A Chinese bride recently walked down the aisle wearing a 7,083-foot-long wedding dress that took 200 guests over three hours to unfurl. The $5,800 dress could be a sign of China's potential to threaten America's reigning status as the capital of gross consumerism, if only the bridegroom hadn't personally designed the dress with his family's help. Explaining the lavish garment, he said: "I do not want a cliche wedding parade or banquet." More » -
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sheltered
Anna Wintour Doesn't Understand Why Price Fixing Has To Be Illegal
The editor-in-chief of American Vogue, Anna Wintour, proposed a novel solution to the problems that plague clothing retailers at a recent industry meeting. And by "novel" we mean "she's completely clueless." More » -
Don't know how to take your new baby's temperature? Babyglow will take care of it for you! These new $35 outfits, which seem to be coming out in the U.K. only, change color when your infant has a fever. This makes a lot more sense than wrapping the baby in a blanket made out of color-changing coffee mugs.(Also: doesn't babyglow+fever sound radioactive?) [OhGizmo!]
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flashbacks
Frederick's Of Hollywood Ripped Off Your Grandma, Back When She Dressed Sexy
Take a gander at page 24 of this vintage FOH catalog from 1964, scanned and uploaded by Flickr user "What Makes The Pie Shops Tick?". Their 2-for-$17.99 deal is actually more expensive than buying the items individually. It's good to know retailers are consistent, we guess. More » -
bankruptcy
Eddie Bauer Jumps In The Bankruptcy Pool
Eddie Bauer is the latest retailer to file for bankruptcy, and it says it hopes to be sold outright rather than try to reorganize, refinance, or liquidate. The AP says the clothing company had "$476.1 million in assets and $426.7 million in debt at the time of the filing Wednesday with the United States Bankruptcy Court of the District of Delaware," and that by declaring Chapter 11 now it hopes to reassure suppliers and stave off impending cash flow problems.
"Eddie Bauer files for bankruptcy protection" [Yahoo Finance] (Thanks to Justin!)
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odd
Sports Authority Is Selling An Extended Warranty For Shoes
Sports Authority is pushing a new "Extended Coverage Plan" for footwear that runs for one year after Sports Authority's 30-day warranty expires. The extended warranty, which costs between $4.99 and $15.99, supposedly even covers normal wear and tear. So how is this profitable? More » -
sales
Sorry, 2009's Clothing Discounts Will Be Less Insane
Clothing retailers are holding off on their crazy, desperate discounts a bit, and plan to discount less aggressively this summer. Why? Women's Wear Daily reports that it's not so much that the economy's improving (it really isn't) or unemployment has stopped rising (it hasn't) but Americans need stuff. Retailers anticipate that they will need to mark down, but not at the desperate levels that have characterized the last six months or so. More » -
made in USA
Buy American? Sure, If You Can Afford It
Is it possible today to buy U.S.-made goods in mainstream, reasonably-priced stores? The answer, ABC's John Donvan learned while reporting a "Nightline" story to be broadcast tonight, is a rather emphatic "no" when it comes to clothing, and otherwise "maybe." More » -
fashion
Size 16 Goes Online-Only In Ann Taylor Stores
Ann Taylor will no longer carry size 16 items in their retail stores. "But they're keeping it online," our tipster Dena observed. "In other words, 'Hey, wide load! Stay out of our stores! Oh, but keep giving us your cash.'" More » -
cease & desist
Abercrombie & Fitch Threatens To Sue Merchants In Hollister, California For Trademark Infringement
Taking a page out of Monster Cable's playbook, Abercrombie & Fitch has threatened to sue merchants in Hollister, California who sell clothes bearing their town's name. A&F claims that local merchants putting "Hollister" on their clothes will confuse notoriously inept surfers who can't distinguish between a town and A&F's Hollister Co. line. So what happens if the locals defy the upscale bully? According to David Cupps, Abercrombie's general counsel and harasser-in-chief, "If they try, they would get a call and much more." More »
clothing
New York, 5:16 AM
Mon Nov 9
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