Recently, a friend received a “Remember When” booklet on her birthday.  For those that don’t know, they are fun little pamphlets from the year you were born. They’re filled with news, photos, advertisements and other hilarious events form your particular birth year.  Well, this one contained a rather amusing, yet slightly depressing, cost of living chart as pictured above.  As you can see, a new house was almost 50k in 1977, while today a new home averages 280K, big difference there.  Gasoline, which as we all know, has thankfully come down a bit, was $0.65 per/gal back then vs. around $2.68 per/gal today.  Food is huge shocker, the cost has unbelievably sky rocketed for groceries, especially in the last few years. Eggs are now six times more expensive then in 1977 and that’s not counting organic pricing.  Insanely, bread had gone up to $2.79 per/loaf a whopping 800% increase!

One thing we noticed missing from this chart was, apparel.  Where are the clothing prices?  Now you would think, with the cost of living rising across the board, including average income, apparel would increase too.  Right?  Well further into this booklet we found this little gem, a 1977 ad for K-Mart bathing suits, check it out…

Classic photo right?  And the price $8.96, not bad right?  We were curious though, with mass marketers vying for the lowest price-points, and consumers wanting more for less from retailers, how does a 1977 K-Mart bikini compare to today’s prices?  Take a look at the below screen-shot, taken this week from K-Mart’s website.

Well, these images pretty much say it all don’t they?  Thirty two years later and prices have not just failed to rise but have actually decreased! The apparel industry is hemorrhaging jobs, suffering bankruptcies left and right, retailers are struggling to stay in the black, and this is a large part of the reason why.  Everything else in the world has gone up in price except clothing, it is amazing apparel companies can even stay in business.  We thought Walmart’s agenda to, “Make shirts cost less then a loaf of bread” was upsetting, but these pictures really bring the point home.

Who would have thought the sales of men’s underwear is an economic indicator?  According to Alan Greenspan, who can single handedly sway the NYSE with his predictions, when men stop buying underwear the economy is in a downturn.

To test this bold fashion prediction we asked the husband of one of our writers to give his opinion on the matter.  “I think that Alan is right on with this one.  When times are uncertain I definitely stretch out the intervals of not only buying underwear, but shopping for myself in general.  I kind of prioritize what is most important when it comes to shopping for anything, without even consciously knowing what I’m doing.  I guess that buying new underwear is not on the top of that list.  Purchasing new underwear has gone from an impulse buy, when I see something that I think my wife will like or that looks comfortable, to not even looking for new underwear until I notice that an old pair is falling apart.”  Hum, typical male response, right?  It seems for men clothing is worn until actual holes appear, trends and seasons be dammed!

It’s interesting how the state of the economy can be summed up in such a simple question, “Do I need new underwear?”  So try out the test on your boyfriend or husband.  Has he been wearing the same pair of briefs for far too long?  We can only suggest one solution to remedy the situation; buy him more underwear.  At the very least, point out that it’s time to go shopping and maybe we can fix the economy one pair of tighty whities at a time.

(You’re welcome for the Beckham eye candy above!)

Our next poll has arrived, and this time we are looking to get to know our readers a little better.  So, please check it out and let us know who you are and what you do.  We look forward to getting to know our blog readers better, so please make sure you participate.  As usual the poll is in our left sidebar below, thank you dear readers!

Right now we are clearly in the midst of a fashion crisis of epic, or should we say economic, proportions.  Our newly popular recessionista, as well as, the tried and true fashionista, are bringing the dichotomy of American socio-economic issues to the fashionable forefront. With a recession looming over everyone’s heads, it’s no big surprise that the fashion industry has suffered greatly.  For those of us in the industry, it began well over a year ago, with the demand from retailers requesting more for less.  Retailers have been negotiating down every penny from their suppliers, or worse, not buying at all.  So with the disappearing discretionary spending of the fashionista the recessionistas was born.  Right?

Maybe not; it is a common belief that as our shopaholic fashionista has felt the pinch of the recession she has become thrifty.  The concept is fashionistas have traded in their Ferragamo pumps for Old Navy flip-flops.  While we certainly believe a great many middle-class and upper middle-class fashionistas have stopped coveting the latest 4k “it” handbag in favor of shopping Loehmann’s sales, many have not.  At the high-end of the luxury market the uber-fashionista still remains.  At the same time, we don’t buy into the belief that being a recessionista is simply a new trend.  Being a budget conscious, comparison shopper has always been in fashion.  This is why designer diffusion lines at Target, or stores like H&M and Forever 21 have proven to be so popular.  The real change that has brought the recessionista such media attention is their sudden enormous increase in numbers.  

It’s no surprise, given our current economic climate, that recession friendly retailer Wal-Mart has thrived.  While specialty and department stores are failing left and right, Wal-Mart is snapping up a larger segment of the consumer market.  Wal-Mart sales have outperformed estimates and are projected to show a 3% rise at the end of this quarter.  During a recession, the consumer values price above all else, which explains why companies like Wal-Mart and McDonalds are often referred to as recession-proof.  Recessionistas are not only shopping mass-marketers in larger numbers then ever before, but they are becoming craftier as well.  Whether it’s DIY projects, scoping out sample sales, reworking existing wardrobes, renting designer duds, or even the newly popular clothing swaps, budget fashion is booming. 

As the recessionista is coming into her own, the uber-fashionista is still out there dropping the big bucks on the big names.  Parisian luxury brand Hermes managed to turn a profit in 2008, even reporting a 6.2% rise in the 4^th quarter.  The ultimate in high-end luxury LVMH which owns countless luxury brands including, Louis Vuitton, Moet, TAG Heuer, Fendi, and Givenchy, had a 4% sales increase in 2008.  LVMH’s CEO Bernard Arnault declared that his company was “resistant to economic cycles.”   Luxury brands that targeted the upper middle-class fashionista like Calvin Klein and Donna Karen are suffering and aspiration brands like Gucci have seen a drop.  However, the couture luxury brand remains solid.   Brands like Hermes, Chanel, and Prada are going strong, thanks to the uber-fashionista.  As the recessionista fills in her wardrobe with Forever 21 pieces the fashionista prefers to buy less product, but in far higher quality for a longer wardrobe lifespan.  

What is so fascinating about our current fashionistas and recessionistas is what polar opposites they have become.  Where is the middle-class or upper middle-class shopper anymore?  The enormous divide between the two is more than just a fashion statement; it is a commentary on the state of country.  Here in the US we have such a disparity of income that it is almost as if we are living in two different worlds.  The uber-fashionista and the recessionista are indicative of the two Americas currently living side by side.  With unemployment at a record high and tent cities popping up in California, it is hard to comprehend that at the same time Net-a-Porter sold out of $11,000 Balmain jackets in less than 24 hours.  So what are you, a recessionista or a fashionista? Have you switched titles recently?  Do you feel the fashion middle ground is missing?

**Don’t forget to visit our forums for more insider fashion scoop**

When you think of shopping in NYC you picture strolling down 5^thAve or rushing in and out of boutiques in Soho, right?  You do not think of hitting up the mall like shoppers in the rest of the country do.  And when someone mentions a department store we think of Bloomies, Barneys, or Bergdorf’s.  We do not think of Sears, Marshalls, or JC Penny.  Well, just down the street from us at 33^rd Street south of Macy’s is the only mall in Manhattan aptly named the Manhattan Mall.  Yes, many of you may not have even realized there was a mall in the city and to be honest we don’t know anybody besides tourists that regularly shop there.  However, if you have swung be there lately, you may have noticed all the recent construction.  It seems that the mall has decided like its Midwest counterparts it needs an anchor store, so retail giant JC Penny is moving in. 

Unfortunately for nearby retailers the construction mess, in addition to the current recession has driven off many customers so much so that many mall shops are closing earlier than usual.  This, on top of the fact that the mall had to sacrifice its food court for the JC Penny to have enough retail space.  Losing those neighborhood workers on their lunch hour certainly doesn’t help the mall.  JC Penny has wanted to open a store in Manhattan for awhile now, and it is surely an ambitious move for the struggling retailer to open a 150,000 sq ft store in Midtown during the current economic climate.  Especially considering the troubles this mall has had keeping tenants in the past.  As Bob Grayson, of retail consulting firm the Grayson Co. so delicately put it, “[Manhattan Mall] has always been a loser.”  So what do you think?  Will JC Penny thrive in Manhattan?  Will New Yorkers become mall rats?  Or will enough tourists find comfort in familiarity and help the store thrive?

—  Paris Fashion Week made a splash last week.  To view the shows and all their fabulousity please click here.

—  Our favorite knitwear basics brand, American Apparel is in trouble once again.  This time however, it’s not the usual sexual harassment suit, but rather a financial meltdown.  The company, which owes more than it is worth, has had to sell a 20% stake to a British private equity firm in order to stay afloat.  So is it still considered ”American” apparel?

—  The tough economy has claimed yet another fashion victim in New York’s own, designer Eric Gaskins.  Gaskins couture line is over 20 years old and retails at upscale shops including Saks Fifth Avenue.  If this recession doesn’t end soon we’ll all be sporting potato sacks, or worse,(sarcasm) last season’s wardrobe!

—  With everybody trying to save a buck these days, why pay full price for anything?  Well there is no need especially with all the great sample sales available this week in NYC.  Including Rachel Roy, Me&Ro, Only Hearts, Marchesa, and many more, for details visit dailycandy.com.

—  A new television series about the fashion industry is on the way.  The show called, A Beautiful Life was developed by Ashton Kutcher because of his “extensive experience in the fashion industry” and will star, none other than, Mischa Barton.  Ugh, this news is just vomit inducing. Really, just bring back Project Runway already!

—  According to New York Magazine’s Blog, “The Cut” the end is near for competitor Wall Street Journal’s fashion blog, “Heard On The Runway.”  We really hope this is not true, especially for the writers over at WSJ.  Let’s hope it’s just a rumor, perhaps based on some rivalry in the blogesphere.

For our newest poll we wanted to get your feedback on the economy, as well as, Obama’s new stimulus plan.  The fashion industry and the garment center have strongly felt the pinch of our worsening economy.  Being manufactures, small businesses, and retailers, stimulating the economy is a high priority for us.  While mulling over ideas for our new economic poll we came across stylecareers.com’s economic stimulus survey.  We found one of their questions, “What would be the BEST STIMULUS for the fashion industry?” particularly interesting.  And we couldn’t help but wonder what our reader’s reactions would be?  So check out our new poll in the left sidebar and cast your vote today.  To see stylecareers.com’s full survey and results click here.

Following up on our recent article regarding job hunting, we got to thinking about freelancing.  While there are all kinds of freelancers, in this post we are mainly focused on in-house freelancing.  How often have you been slaving away, working late hours, taking on much departmental pressure and dealing with office politics while at the next cubicle a freelancer making more than you hourly is working away with little stress and is always out the door at 5:00pm?  Any full time fashionista chained to the insane schedule and bureaucracy of an apparel company has dreamed of giving it all up to take control of her life and work freelance.  But, is freelancing really that dream job that we all hope it to be?  And is it really worth sacrificing a stable salary and benefits to join the world of freelance?  And specifically, in the current economy and job market is now a smart time to do so?  

Well the truth is, as with any job in fashion, freelancing is not all it’s cracked up to be.  For some people freelance is a dream job, it’s not for everyone.  If you already have a client base and a large network to draw from your chances of success are greatly improved.  In addition to your marketable skill, whether it’s graphic, pattern-making, design, etc, to be a successful freelancer you must be an extremely organized and business minded person.  Since freelancing does not come with any health benefits it’s also helpful to have a spouse whose health plan you can take advantage of.  Besides freelancing on your own, you can also sign with one of the large fashion freelance companies here in NYC.  If you do go through an agency, a word of advice, consistently follow up with your contact person and any other employee you know there or else your name will get lost in the shuffle of the thousands of other fashionistas out job hunting. 

Before you begin freelancing, one of the most important decisions to make is setting your own rate.  Once you set your rate, which can be a small range, do not wavier from your set price.  To decide on a fare rate, find out what other freelancers are being paid, what companies are offering, or divide your yearly salary into an hourly wage (but do not forget to add extra dollars for lack of benefits).  Your rate should be dependent upon your level of experience and include options for overtime pay.  By the way, if you are new to the industry, when figuring out your rate or salary, never use an online salary calculator.  They are completely unrealistic for the fashion industry, especially in NYC.  Now the biggest myth around the Garment Center is often the notion that freelancers make so much more for doing so much less than their full time counterparts.  This is actually rarely true, many freelancers work through agencies, so when your company cuts those fat freelancer checks, the freelancer only receives about 65% of that and even less after taxes.  Plus keep in mind that freelancers have to pay for health care out of pocket which can be extremely costly. 

While freelancing can certainly give your schedule more freedom, it also brings financial and emotional instability.  Not having a steady reliable paycheck in the country’s most expensive city could give you an ulcer when the rent comes due.  Just like any job there are pros and cons to freelancing but if you are looking for the perfect dream job this is not it.  For those seriously thinking about making the jump, it is advisable to try freelancing on the side before leaving your full-time job, as well as, building a large nest egg before giving your notice.   Lastly, we would greatly encourage anyone to keep their stable job until the economy begins to turn around.  Right now freelance jobs in the fashion industry are few and far between, and with so many recent layoffs the amount of competition for those few jobs have greatly increased.

In case you haven’t heard, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has another midtown traffic plan and this one directly affects our little neighborhood.  Unlike his congestion pricing plan, we are actually excited about this one.  It seems the mayor has decided to make Times Square, to the north of us, and Herald Square, to the south of us, pedestrian friendly zones.  Bloomberg will be turning some of these areas along Broadway into outdoor plazas and thereby redirecting the flow of traffic.  Right now this stretch of Broadway has 4.5 times more people than vehicles but only 11% of that area is allocated for pedestrians.  We all know how dangerous Broadway is; when doesn’t somebody get sideswiped by a cab on Broadway?  Between the new outdoor seating and planters we got last year, and this brand new plan the Garment Center is looking better than ever.  The only down side, as far as we can see, is getting a cab after work is going to be even more of a pain in the ass.  So, we can only hope that between Obama’s infrastructure stimulus and Bloomberg’s traffic obsessions, midtown will soon be our own little oasis. 

(Pictures are NYC DOT renderings of what this area will look like when their vision is complete.)

People from around the world flock to New York City to obtain the most coveted of fashion jobs.  While the fashion industry, as a whole, is known for its competitive nature; landing that job in the first place is the most cutthroat part.  Right now, as we are facing a deepening recession, every industry including ours is suffering and layoffs are growing weekly.  Whether you are looking for your first job or a new one, the first things you must get squared away are a professional, easy to read resume and an outstanding and unique portfolio.  While many candidates apply directly to companies or reply to job opening ads, when the market is tight, as it is now, there may be better avenues to approach.  Working with a recruiter, or ten, can help you get into a interview quicker, and working with a freelance company can get you in the door and money in your pocket faster.  

One of the largest recruiting and freelancing companies, 24 Seven, recently released a report on the current state of fashion industry jobs. They discuss what sectors of the industry are still hiring, which not surprisingly are the moderate/affordable, mass-market, and outerwear categories.  Jobs in production and technical design are far more in demand now than apparel design; additionally, many companies are looking to hire more productive sales people to help improve their bottom lines.  According to 24 Seven, many companies are turning to freelancers rather than full time employees to cut costs and save on benefit expenses. While in some cases this is true, we have definitely noticed that many companies have put a freeze to the added expense of hiring freelancers and instead are increasing the workload onto their existing staff.  We’ve seen many companies downsize all departments, with many employees doing the work of two or more people.  Companies that are hiring now, are taking their time finding the right candidate and are offering lower salaries for larger workloads then last year.  Right now, it is a tough time to be job hunting and if you are currently employed we would not recommend voluntarily making a job change in the immediate future.  For those of you that are looking for work we recommend being as aggressive as possible, networking, using recruiters, and improving your skill set during this downtime.

Say goodbye to fashionistas and hello to recessionistas.  When the economy is in crisis the fashion industry is hit hard.  Fashion is considered a luxury item, which consumers can easily cut out of their budget, unlike staples of food and housing.  (Although some of us would rather skip a meal to afford a fabulous new pair of Louboutins this season).   Regardless of our income levels there is no denying, we are all feeling the pinch.  In the March issue of Harper’s Bazaar, Sarah Jessica Parker discusses how Carrie Bradshaw would have handled a recession.  “She would probably end up in a hospital, perhaps she would go back to her 80’s stuff and start bringing it back out.”  Well, SJP has an excellent point; the tough economy should challenge us to look into our own closets and think more creatively.  How can you rework existing pieces to make them relevant again?  How about mixing and matching, old with new, to stretch a skimpy wardrobe this season?

The down economy has also inspired many entrepreneurs, for example, Californian Carrie Pollare has developed a recession themed jewelry line.  Her bracelets, with sayings like, “I’m tired of the economy” are made of recycled material with a percentage of the proceeds going to charities.  While many large retailers are struggling, small boutiques are thinking outside the box to keep their businesses a float.  Small business owners are returning to more of a grassroots approach to their marketing and visual merchandising.  Boutiques are taking a local angle in their advertising, by hosting more in-store events rather than spending on traditional advertising.  All retailers have cut back on their buying and are being less risky in investing in new product.  Additionally, they are asking manufactures for various discounts to help their bottom line.  This, in turn, puts the burden on designers and manufactures to create more unique “must have” pieces at a recession friendly price-point.  For those of us in the Garment Center, it is time to reevaluate our SKU plans and focus on quality not quantity in our line development! 

For all you recessionistas who are watching your wallets this season, we have some great suggestions to help fill your wardrobe.  Shopping sales, using discounts, trading outfits, reworking existing clothing, and DIY projects are great ways to use your creativity and stretch a dollar.  For specifics, here are some of our favorite budget fashion bloggers to help you out:

The Budget Babe,  The Budget Fashionista, The Recessionista,  Style Bytes,  Cheap Jap,  Clutch 22,  Swap Style

Right now, we are all questioning the role of luxury goods in this economic climate.  If you have not yet heard the phrase “luxury fatigue” you soon will, and in fact you may be suffering from it.  For so long the name brand or designer label was the epitome of fashion, but that has begun to change.    Having the “it” bag of the season was the goal for many women over the last decade, but it’s time has passed.  The consumer is literally getting tired of keeping up with the Joneses and spending larger and larger percentages of their income on fashion merchandise.  Part of our fatigue is due to the abundance of luxury goods, which as we all know, quantity can dilute quality.  While we often write here about the mass and mid-tier markets selling out, the luxury market is also a culprit.  The high-end market has become so oversaturated that it has lost the ability to evoke emotion any more.  Many of these designers are more about PR and marketing than innovative fashion.  The effect of licensing out your name or logo onto any product under the sun, results in luxury fatigue for your customer. 

Luxury fatigue is hurting many designer’s bottom line this year.  In the past, even during economic troubles, luxury brands survived because the very wealthy still had large disposable incomes.   However, in the last decade these brands have grown and expanded because, with credit so easily available, a Chanel bag was within reach to all.  As the designer label grew in status, American’s credit debt grew as well, until of course the bubble burst last fall.  Now these luxury brands are seeing significant drops in sales, as only their core customers remain.  We’ve already seen a number of designers pull out of New York’s fashion week due to financial constraints.  High-end stores posted major losses for 2008, and brands like Dolce & Gabbana and Cavalli are having difficulties staying afloat. 

A major factor in luxury fatigue is, that luxury is at the wrong end of the spectrum in the fashion cycle.  Right now, our culture is all about: change, going green, cutting back, homemade, sustainability, service and rejecting the greed that got us in this situation to begin with.  Just like the backlash to those driving Escalades instead of Priuses, the fashion police are saying no to the big labels, “it” bags and exotic furs.  We began to see this trend last fall, when after Wall Street began to crash the wife of Lehman Brother’s Ceo was seen at Hermes hiding her recent purchases in generic shopping bags instead of Hermes signature orange ones.  The flourish of socialites and wealthy New Yorkers hiding recognizable Tiffany and Prada bags inside non-logo shopping bags became a trend throughout last holiday season.  Not only are we all suffering from luxury fatigue, but it is no longer fashionable to be a walking billboard.  Those obsessed with brand names and designer duds are now being viewed as out of touch and old.  Now is the time that individuality is valued over brand name and wearing an indie designer rather than a couture label is the hot trend.  Even our first lady with her choice of newcomer Jason Wu rather than Oscar De La Renta is a sign of our changing times.  So this year as you hit the stores, if you’re feeling luxury fatigue kick in, take the opportunity to find innovative ways to express your style in your own unique way.

**For more inside fashion scoop, please visit our forum and share your opinions**

New York’s Garment Center has received the long awaited respect and acknowledgement it deserves.  The garment center is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Our neighborhood is approximately 25 blocks within Midtown Manhattan, spanning from 34th to 41st Streets and between 6th and 9th Avenues.  The majority of our buildings were built in the 1920’s, in a loft style, several by prominent architects.  Recently, designers, vendors, textile unions, and manufactures have been fighting against local landlords for stricter zoning laws.  The zoning laws have been put in place to help preserve the garment center, especially its production space.  Being designated as a historic district, not only helps to protect our neighborhood, but makes our businesses and owners eligible for historic preservation tax incentive programs.  Much needed tax credits, up to 20% will now be available, and in this economic climate, it is good news for all.  So congratulations to our neighborhood, now officially known as, The Garment Center Historic District.

— Bad news for Anna Wintour again.  She has topped Time magazine’s list of the biggest fashion faux pas of 2008.  The Vogue editor wore a Sci-Fi silver dress to the Met Costume Gala that reportedly, “makes her look like she’s encrusted with ammonoid fossils.”  Not good press for someone whose fashion job is in danger!
— New York’s February Fashion Week is getting smaller and smaller.  The cost of these extravagant fashion shows combined with hard economic times makes it difficult for labels to justify the expense.  The following have all bowed out of Fashion Week: Monique Llhuillier, Naeem Khan, Vera Wang, Betsey Johnson, Temperley London and Carmen Marc Valvo!
— Talk about thinking outside the box in our tight job market.  A Texas woman, Julie Sarpy rented a billboard to advertise herself to potential future employers.  Sarpy rented the billboard for three days, at a price of $1,200 which reads, “Savvy Chic Stylopolitan Fashion Guru for Employ. 972-533-0308. Stylopolitan@hotmail.com.”
— The winners of the, Ecco Domani Annual Fashion Foundation awards have been announced.  The recipients are Lyn Devon, Matthew Ames, Cushnie et Ochs by Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs, and Ohne Titel by Alexa Adams and Flora Gill in the women’s design category. Corpus, by Jerrod Cornish and Keith Richardson, was honored for men’s design, and jeweler Monique Péan won for accessories. Each new designer received a $25,000 grant to help show at New York Fashion Week in February.  Great support but what about the other $75k needed to show?
— Goody’s Family Clothing is going out of business, yet another victim of the economic downturn.  The southeast chain, Goody’s had almost 300 stores and is a discount retailer.  Their poor sales may predicts tough times ahead for similar regional chains, as retail giants like Wal-mart and Target drive them out of the market!

1. For the fashionista with a love of history and a sense of humor, pick up the book Forgotten Fashion.  This Book by Kate Hahn focuses on all the faux fashion trends that never took off.  This witty book is filled with beautiful illustrations mocking faux trends since the turn of the century.  Available at Amazon.com (link below)
2. For the Fashionable Boss, how about something from Tiffany’s?  Well, the adorable pink pocket diary or shop notebook is perfect for the women with a full schedule who maybe needs to put the Blackberry down. For only $50-75 it won’t break the bank and will delight any boss.
3. For the fashion photographer’s assistant or student we have the perfect gift.  That is if you have a larger than life budget or generous sugar daddy.  American Express has partnered with Nina Garcia to offer the ultimate “Fashion Experience” gift.  You will get to spend the day with Nina Garcia, the Marie Claire fashion director and PR judge, working behind the scenes at a fashion magazine photo shoot.  So spend the day with models, designers, photographers, and Nina Garcia for only $1,500.
4. The perfect gift for your company computer guy, who at a fashion company is not only one of the few men, but also one of the few non-fashionable employees.  This is also the perfect gift for any techie in your life.  Pick up a “Softwear” T-shirt by Microsoft.  Microsoft has collaborated with rapper Common to create a retro themed t-shirt line.  Complete with images of floppy disks, dos logos, and Bill Gates.
5. For that technical designer you can’t live without, how about a one of a kind measuring tape.  This beautiful silver tape measure can also be personalized and engraved.  Best of all, it will only set you back $15.95.
6. For the fashion insider and Project Runway lover, pick up a copy of Fashion Inside Out.  This book written by Daniel Vosovic is a collection of interviews with people such as Tim Gunn, Nina Garcia and Diane von Furstenberg, as well as, his own fashion experiences and design perspective.  Order it now for $19 at Amazon.com (link below)
7. The perfect group gift for your design department or technical department, or just a great stocking stuffer.  This isn’t your ordinary dull sewing kit, it’s a fashionable one!  This pocket sized faux Burberry plaid sewing kit can come in handy in a pinch.  Best of all, it is selling for only $21 for a set of 12.   
8. For any New York fashionista with the love of all things kitsch, how about a set of Fred Flare umbrellas.  Not only are they adorable, with their colorful girlie character handles, but being that we New Yorkers use our umbrellas all winter to protect us from snow, these will come in handy.  Pick up your own for $32 from Fred Flare. 
9. For the lone male fashion assistant, how about one of the hottest winter accessories?  Grab a Penfield plaid scarf.  These brushed plaid cotton scarves are available in multiple colors for only $40.
10. For the fashion student in your life, how about the ultimate fashion trivia game?  Test your knowledge on all things fashion, from trends to designers, to the history of costume.  See how knowledgeable you are on fashion.  This game created by the Margaret Maldonado Fashion Agency is available for $100.
11. For the fashion lover with a sweet tooth, we recommend a chocolate stiletto.  These adorable shoes are 5.5″ high and 100% gourmet chocolate.  Your can order these online at Gayle’s Chocolate for $40 a piece.
12. For the fashionable environmentalist on your list, try a recycled clutch.  From eco-artware, this hot little bag is made from recycled inner-tube and reused zipper, it can hold all your must haves.  So pick it today for only $18.