Fall Renewal

Now that it’s March, it’s time to think back-to-school, and luckily with show season upon us, we’ve all got our fall hats on. Fall is my favorite time in fashion, with jewel tones and deep colors, warm knits and layers. It’s a time of change—a new class, new schedule, new friends.

In the spirit of change, we’ve switched up a few things in this issue. We’ve reorganized a bit and tweaked our trend pages to truly make them sing. We’ve covered some great brands that are steeped in history—on this side of the pond and across. Our retail spotlight features an amazing boutique in Springfield, MO, that underwent a renovation to remember. (We look forward to celebrating more inspiring retailers, so let us know what you’re up to!)

We also covered the collections at Pitti Bimbo with the help of our on-the-ground correspondent Francesca Sammaritano, an assistant professor at Parsons New School for Design. As always, the fashions were beautiful, with artisanal detailing, precision tailoring and dramatic presentation. Speaking of enchanting European appeal, our fashion pages—shot by acclaimed photographer Cleo Sullivan—are a study in Scandinavian storybook simplicity, with prints, kerchiefs, chunky knits and vests. It’s a dreamy romp through an idyllic childhood.

As for news, we’re getting to the bottom of the group-buying phenomenon. We all know that sites like Groupon are all the rage amongst the service industry, so we sussed out how retailers can make the most of these deals. Don’t miss tips from those who have tried it: If you’re thinking about giving it a whirl, it’s an essential read. Another key read is our conversation with Claesen’s U.S. CEO, Kelley Fitch, who is building Claesen’s to be a player in the American children’s market. It’s always inspiring to hear the tale of someone who followed her heart and listened to her gut.

The issue ends with a new page, Remix, where we culled a closet full of clothes and accessories from our friends at the showrooms, and let a child go wild to see what she would beeline toward for Fall ’11. It’s grounding to see the fruits of our industry through the eyes of a child.