Abstract
The women' s clothing market has performed well from 2002 to 2007, but faces more challenges in the next few years. This report guides you through this complex market by analyzing the following important topics:
- Why Baby Boomers are so important and yet so hard to capture. Which retailing formats will get their attention?
- Celebrities' interest in designing clothing lines, and clothing designers' expansion in everything from car interiors to vodka.
- Why industry analysts are concerned about holiday sales for 2007, and what consumers can expect to see on store shelves.
- The potential audience retailers and suppliers are overlooking (and always have).
- How the clothing industry' s eco-friendly credentials stack up against other consumer categories.
- Why department stores continue to lose share to specialized clothing stores.
- How retailers are trying to grow sales by appealing to a widening audience, and what is likely to contribute to success or failure.
- Women' s shopping attitudes and behavior. What do women like about clothes shopping? Whom do they look to for fashion tips and advice, and where are they most likely to splurge?
This report covers the retail market for women' s outer clothing, including:
- Shirts
- Bottoms
- Suits, separates and jackets
- Outerwear coats and jackets
- Sweaters and vests
- Dresses
- Skirts
- Active sportswear
The report excludes underwear, sleepwear, footwear, and accessories such as handbags, jewelry, hosiery, socks and hats.
Table of Contents
- Scope and Themes
- What you need to know
- Definition
- Consumer research methodology
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
- Executive Summary
- It has been a good period for the bottom line
- Lots of under-served groups means lots of opportunity
- Opportunity, yes, but how do you please older women?
- New concepts for older women sure to draw from a wider age range
- Preparing (bracing?) for the holidays
- Where' s the eco-chic?
- Keeping women happy is as simple as making comfortable and casual say, "You have such a unique style!"
- Get the fit right, and you can change women' s purchasing habits
- Looking beyond brand names
- Shopping for clothes can be overwhelming
- Fashion inspiration is everywhere
- Promotion comes through TV, magazines, and word of mouth; focuses on branding, lifestyles, and the cool factor
- Purchases away from stores remain a niche, but a big one
- Figure 1: Purchases outside of traditional retailers in the past 12 months, by age, January-October 2006
- Leading retail channels
- Almost everyone wants to be somewhere else
- Market Drivers and Future Trends
- Baby Boomers have market power, but are difficult to target
- Figure 2: Female population projections, by age, 2002-12
- Difficulty in targeting Baby Boomers
- Consumer concerns and the economy
- Consumer confidence
- Holiday sales
- Cheap-chic and celebrity fashionistas
- Plus-size shoppers are still overlooked
- Girls and women becoming more athletic
- Where' s the eco-chic?
- Retailers will increasingly give each niche category special attention
- History repeats?--Line extensions may dilute brands
- Market Size and Trends
- Market size
- Figure 3: U.S. retail sales of women' s clothing, at current and constant prices, 2002-07
- Market trends
- Knock-offs
- Holiday cutbacks
- Retailers focus on the "unique"
- Market Segmentation
- Introduction
- Figure 4: Sales of women' s clothing, segmented by type, 2005 and 2007
- Tops
- Figure 5: Sales of women' s tops, at current and constant prices, 2002-07
- Pants, shorts, skirts
- Figure 6: Sales of women' s pants, shorts, and skirts, at current and constant prices, 2002-07
- Jeans and the bottom line
- Sleepwear, undergarments, hosiery
- Figure 7: Sales of women' s sleepwear, undergarments, and hosiery, at current and constant prices, 2002-07
- Dresses and suits
- Figure 8: Sales of women' s dresses and suits, at current and constant prices, 2002-07
- Sportswear and sweats
- Figure 9: Sales of women' s sportswear and sweats, at current and constant prices, 2002-07
- Coats
- Figure 10: Sales of women' s coats, at current and constant prices, 2002-07
- Supply Structure
- Overview
- Retailer strategies in brief
- Ann Taylor
- Gap/Old Navy
- Abercrombie & Fitch
- American Eagle Outfitters
- Bloomingdale' s
- J. Crew
- Coldwater Creek
- Under Armour
- Premium brands continue to thrive
- True Religion
- Liz Claiborne
- "Cheap-chic" specialty stores going after younger consumers
- Advertising and Promotion
- Overview
- It' s All about the Brands
- Woodbury Common Premium Outlets
- Figure 11: Woodbury Common Premium Outlet
- Puma Sportswear
- Figure 12: Puma Sportswear
- Levi' s Original Jeans
- Figure 13: Levi' s Original Jeans
- Coldwater Creek Fashion
- Figure 14: Coldwater Creek Fashion
- American Eagle
- Figure 15: American Eagle
- It Fits My Lifestyle--and it Makes Me Look Good
- Under Armour Clothing
- Figure 16: Under Armour Clothing
- Talbots Womenswear
- Figure 17: Talbots Womenswear
- Cripple Creek Clothing
- Figure 18: Cripple Creek Clothing
- Cool Above All Else
- Gap Unisex Fashion
- Figure 19: Gap Unisex Fashion
- Calvin Klein Men' s and Womenswear
- Figure 20: Calvin Klein men' s and womenswear
- bebe womenswear
- Figure 21: bebe womenswear
- Retail Distribution
- Introduction
- Figure 22: U.S. retail sales of women' s clothing, by channel, 2005 and 2007
- Figure 23: Sales of women' s clothing at clothing stores, at current and constant prices, 2002-07
- Figure 24: Sales of women' s clothing at department stores (other than discount), at current and constant prices, 2002-07
- Figure 25: Sales of women' s clothing at discount or mass merchandiser department stores, at current and constant prices, 2002-07
- Figure 26: Sales of women' s clothing at warehouse clubs and supercenters, at current and constant prices, 2002-07
- Figure 27: Sales of women' s clothing at other channels, at current and constant prices, 2002-07
- The Consumer--Attitudes and Style Choices
- Attitudes about choosing women' s apparel
- Figure 28: Attitudes towards choosing women' s apparel, January-October 2006
- Figure 29: Attitudes towards choosing women' s apparel, by age, January-October 2006
- Comfort, trendy or classic?
- Figure 30: Describe your style of dress, June 2007
- Figure 31: Describe your style of dress, by age, June 2007
- Figure 32: Describe your style of dress, by race/ethnicity, June 2007
- Seeking advice about women' s apparel
- Figure 33: Seeking advice on choosing fashion, June 2007
- Figure 34: Seeking advice on choosing fashion, by age, June 2007
- Sources for fashion ideas
- Figure 35: Sources for fashion inspiration, June 2007
- Items most likely to splurge on
- Figure 36: Items women are most likely to splurge on, by age, June 2007
- Figure 37: Items women are most likely to splurge on, by household income, June 2007
- Figure 38: Items women are most likely to splurge on, by race/ethnicity, June 2007
- Opinions about women' s clothing retailers
- Figure 39: Opinions about clothing retailers, by age, June 2007
- Figure 40: Opinions about clothing retailers, by household income, June 2007
- Figure 41: Opinions about clothing retailers, by race/ethnicity, June 2007
- Style that stands out or blends in?
- Figure 42: Women' s descriptions of their clothing style, June 2007
- Figure 43: Women' s descriptions of their clothing style, by age, June 2007
- Figure 44: Women' s descriptions of their clothing style, by household income, June 2007
- Figure 45: Women' s descriptions of their clothing style, by race/ethnicity, June 2007
- Shopping strategy for women' s clothing
- Figure 46: Attitudes towards shopping and looking for women' s clothing, June 2007
- Figure 47: Attitudes towards shopping and looking for women' s clothing, by age, June 2007
- Figure 48: Attitudes towards shopping and looking for women' s clothing, by race/ethnicity, June 2007
- Market Forecast
- Women' s clothing market
- Figure 56: Forecast of total U.S. retail sales of women' s clothing, at current and constant prices, 2007-12
- Tops
- Figure 57: Forecast of U.S. sales of women' s tops, at current and constant prices, 2007-12
- Pants, shorts, skirts
- Figure 58: Forecast of U.S. sales of women' s pants, shorts, and skirts, at current and constant prices, 2007-12
- Sleepwear, undergarments, hosiery
- Figure 59: Forecast of U.S. sales of women' s sleepwear, undergarments, and hosiery, at current and constant prices, 2007-12
- Dresses and suits
- Figure 60: Forecast of U.S. sales of women' s dresses and suits, at current and constant prices, 2007-12
- Sportswear and sweats
- Figure 61: Forecast of U.S. sales of women' s sportswear and sweats, at current and constant prices, 2007-12
- Coats
- Figure 62: Forecast of U.S. sales of women' s coats, at current and constant prices, 2007-12
- Forecast factors
- Appendix: Trade Associations
