Attention Clothing Retailers : At 12Blueprints

6 Responses to “Attention Clothing Retailers : At 12Blueprints”

1. Fil on February 16th, 2010 11:15 am

   Christine,

   I have often wished such retailers did indeed exist. What a missed business oportunity! Today I found this interesting online retailer in the UK, alas, but how very promising. Their colors seem to be based on the CMB 4 season system or something very close:

   http://www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk/acatalog/colour_story_page.html

   Do you know of any others?
2. Trisha on February 16th, 2010 1:46 pm

   Hi Fil,
   Thanks for that link to Kettlewell, its really brilliant, and I will try them. Their colour catergories are quite general, but very accurate. I did the quiz and came out as an Autumn, which is what the CMB advisor diagonsed me as last year. She is listed in their consultants section too and was brilliant (Sue Treviskis, Cheltenham). I wish the big hair colorant manufacturers, such as l’oreal would split their colours into groups like this too. Its not easy from the packs, or even the names of colours to tell how warm or cool for instance a colour is and this would help tremendously.
3. Christine Scaman on February 17th, 2010 7:20 pm

   Fil,

   A consumer who understands what shades of each colour to wear is really not what retailers want. It means they have to make more colours and they can’t convince us that we all can wear turquoise. They end up with too much unsold merchandise.
   I was directed to Newport News recently, who have a few collections loosely based on colour.
   Like makeup, this should be so much easier than it is for consumers and would make the retailer a fortune.
4. Fil on February 18th, 2010 12:40 pm

   Hi Christine and Trisha,

   Why retailers think women (and men) wouldn’t be interested is truly amazing, but like you suggest, it would take thinking about the whole issue in an entirely different way. When I think about retailers such as JCrew, LandsEnd, LLBean, JJill, to name just a few, I cannot tell you the number of times I went to their websites and ended up not buying anything because either the colors I wanted were not available, or they were the wrong shade, even though I liked the items (and how many black, gray and navy cardigans can I have??).

   Trisha, I seem to remember you were working with your consultant to find your personal style. I recently got interested in doing the same, and found a couple of great books:

   - I “heart” your style by Amanda Brooks (teenagish title, but very elegant and knowledgeable)
   - The Lucky guide to mastering any style by Kim France and Andrea Linett

   Turns out, I am a classic minimalist, which I knew, but it is nice to know it’s a style, not a cop out!

   And also my little favorite “Color, Image, Style” by Shigenobu Kobayashi, a little gem of a book about colors, color combinations, and the image they project.

   I am starting a couple more, and will comment upon when I’m farther along.
5. Trisha on February 19th, 2010 5:39 am

   Hi Fil,

   Thanks for the tips, I will have a look at them if I can find them in the UK. I am trying to go more towards the Creative, and its nice to be feminine and boho at times, but at moments I also have the desire to rip everything off and get my old jeans and walking boots on, which is apparently the Natural side of me coming out. I cam out 50/50 between these two groups on all the questionnaires, etc, so its a bit confusing. I like the sound of Classic Minimalist, that has a very classy ring about it, what does that look like? I have always been quite minimal in dress, although not classic, more just laid back minimal, so am having some problems with lots of scarves and jewellery of the Creative at times. Is there a group for just scruffy?! Take care and have a good weekend!
6. Fil on February 22nd, 2010 12:40 pm

   Trisha,

   Let me summarize the styles covered in the two books:

   “The Lucky Guide to Mastering any Style”:

   - Euro Chic
   - California Casual
   - Rock and Roll
   - Posh Eclectic
   - Mod
   - American Classic
   - Bombshell
   - Arty Slick
   - Bohemian
   - Gamine
   (- Mix and Match)

   Within each style, there is an overview, some pages on essential pieces and accessories, how to get the look and key and iconic items, a couple of “Lucky Girls” — women who exemplify the style and some favorite pieces from their own closets, putting it together — examples of how to combine the essential pieces, examples of pieces that can be worn all year long and in different ways/for different occasions, and smart shopping and store guide tips.

   “I Love your Style”:

   I. Definable Style:

   - Classic
   - Bohemian
   - Minimal

   II. Undefinable Style:

   - High Fashion
   - Street
   - Eclectic

   III. Shopping (what to look for, where to find it, evening):

   - Basics
   - Cheap Chic
   - Designer
   - Vintage

   Under each style, she discusses her our foray into that particular style, favorite pieces and accessories that define the style, mixing it up, “pushing it” (high risk, high reward), evening, getting it right, icons and new originals — women (and some men) who have embodied/redefined the style, refining your style (see below), and inspiration — books, movies, etc. Lots of great photos.

   I thought the two books were very helpful and complemented each other. The style I identidied with in the “Lucky” book was American Classic. However, the simple/minimal/ladylike side of it appeals more to me than the sporty side. In Amanda Brooks book, I identified with the Minimal style, which she further refines as Uniform Minimal, Classic Minimal, and Androgynous Minimal, Classic Minimal definitely being it for me.

   For the other styles:

   - Classic: French Classic, Ladylike Classic, Sunday Best Classic, English Classic, and Men’s Wear Classic. Plus the sporty types: Tennis, Riding, Sailing, Cricket, Skiing.

   - Bohemian: Bourgeois Bohemian, Vintage Bohemian, Ethnic Bohemian, Pared-Down Bohemian, Rock Goddess Bohemian.

   - High Fashion: Eccentric High Fashion, Parisian High Fashion, Ghetto Fabulous (love it!), and Park Avenue High Fashion.

   - Street: New Wave, Punk, Goth, Mod, Grunge, Black is Beautiful, Rastafarian, Hip-Hop.

   - Eclectic: lots of mixing.

   Too much fun, isn’t it?

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