Fashion doesn't have it easy these days.
Michael Fink came to town recently to talk style to a group at the Freedom Tower in downtown Miami. He was dressed in a rather startling combination of a gray Ralph Lauren suit, purple and white gingham-print shirt and pink striped tie.
Fink was here as a guest of the local chapter of Fashion Group International, but he is usually associated with Saks Fifth Avenue, where he is women's fashion director.
I was curious how things were looking from the retailer's prospective.
''Business is tough,'' Fink said. ``Anyone telling you otherwise is lying.''
Many Saks customers are leaving with just one item, rather than three, he said. And that single purchase better stop traffic. ``What's selling are wow-items. We've done very well with Chanel jackets, ornamental tweed.''
I wondered aloud if the gloomy economic climate meant fewer people were buying into trends. I mean, do we really need an ombre dress when home equity is going to pot?
Fink looked a little surprised.
''At the end of the day, it's just a dress,'' he said. ``Is a dress going to change the world?''
No. But a massive sale at Saks/Bal Harbour would definitely rock my world. So, can we expect great discounts on all that dreamy Diane von Furstenberg?
Here, Mr. Fink looked, um, a little exasperated. ''Draw your conclusion,'' he said.
See you at the sales racks.
IT'S IN THE BAG
Vogue magazine: Don't do me any favors. Please.
I recently had to renew my subscription. All I wanted was my monthly read.
But what also arrived in the mail was what Condé Nast advertised as ``the exclusive Vogue Bag -- FREE with your paid subscription!''
Wow. The bag's scratchy, red material was a textile horror. Plastic tubing had already slipped from the vinyl handles.
Wait a minute. Isn't this the sort of abomination that Vogue is busy trying to squelch while it promotes $800 Prada shoes?
I wish I could say the bag is going to a worthy charity. But frankly, I'm too embarrassed to send it on to Burma.
