I always love seeing those 'What's In, What's Out' lists you inevitably see this time of year. After my eyes jump back and forth over two columns of familiar items, my first reaction is always, "Who says so?" I imagine a group of bored editors sitting around a glossy table with tons of tear sheets throwing out comments like, "Yes! I agree, I'm starting to hate pink skirts too..."
The following is a current list I tore out of a trade magazine. This list of Ins & Outs were submitted by retailers commenting on what they say customers like and don't like.
Some of my favorites (with personal commentary included):
IN
Monograms (Why wouldn't they be? They're personal!)
Scent diffusers (Wrong. We've all learned it was a great idea but short lived. Most are not worth their money and rarely scent a room.)
Cheeseboards, platters and bowls (Seriously, these are 'in'?)
Decorative bathroom rugs (So many choices, so little time.)
Window treatments. (As opposed to bottles of Windex).
Owls, penguins, monkeys and Buddhas. (Please, not on the same shelf).
Rustic glamour. (I would love to know what this is).
Living rooms as lounges. (Consult your local air traffic controller).
Jewel tones. (Someone please put these on the OUT list).
Permanent botanicals. (A nice word for fake plants).
Velvets, linen, cotton and silk fabric (What's left, corduroy?)
Comfort (I hope so).
OUT
High maintenance furniture (Oh darn, I was so hoping to sell some!)
Unnecessary extravagance (Does this include two-ply tissue?)
Muddy earth tones (However, bright, fluorescent earth tones are in!)
Boring lamps
Boring lampshades (Really!, These were listed separately)
Matchy-matchy (I love that they used this description as if it were in Websters)
Country, primitive, shabby, Victorian or vintage looks (Wanted: Buyer for retail store in Prairie Village, KS)
My own short list of What's In/What's Out
IN: Buying something significant and useful with an emotional reaction. From a fancy coffee to a well-made, comfortable sofa- enjoy it!
OUT: Buying to buy. Buying to feed the hoarder in you. Adding to a collection. Enough already!
.
.
The following is a current list I tore out of a trade magazine. This list of Ins & Outs were submitted by retailers commenting on what they say customers like and don't like.
Some of my favorites (with personal commentary included):
IN
Monograms (Why wouldn't they be? They're personal!)
Scent diffusers (Wrong. We've all learned it was a great idea but short lived. Most are not worth their money and rarely scent a room.)
Cheeseboards, platters and bowls (Seriously, these are 'in'?)Decorative bathroom rugs (So many choices, so little time.)
Window treatments. (As opposed to bottles of Windex).
Owls, penguins, monkeys and Buddhas. (Please, not on the same shelf).
Rustic glamour. (I would love to know what this is).Living rooms as lounges. (Consult your local air traffic controller).
Jewel tones. (Someone please put these on the OUT list).
Permanent botanicals. (A nice word for fake plants).Velvets, linen, cotton and silk fabric (What's left, corduroy?)
Comfort (I hope so).
OUT
High maintenance furniture (Oh darn, I was so hoping to sell some!)
Unnecessary extravagance (Does this include two-ply tissue?)
Muddy earth tones (However, bright, fluorescent earth tones are in!)
Boring lampsBoring lampshades (Really!, These were listed separately)
Matchy-matchy (I love that they used this description as if it were in Websters)
Country, primitive, shabby, Victorian or vintage looks (Wanted: Buyer for retail store in Prairie Village, KS)
My own short list of What's In/What's Out
IN: Buying something significant and useful with an emotional reaction. From a fancy coffee to a well-made, comfortable sofa- enjoy it!
OUT: Buying to buy. Buying to feed the hoarder in you. Adding to a collection. Enough already!
.
.
35 comments:
Oh my gosh your post made me laugh! That was great! I agree with your comments- Have a Terrific Tuesday!~Smiles~Tam!
I refuse to believe those lists and insist they're created by Anna Wintour wannabes in a high rise office far far removed from the real world. For instance, I recently read in a magazine that skinny jeans were still in. For who? kate Moss? Any item of apparel which necessitates the use of heroine on a regular basis in so not IN. I'll take my scruffy Levi's with the frayed cuffs and a bit of wiggle room any day.
OK so now that I know I am in the out crowd ( and I am not alone), I need to know what the definition of boring is for the lampshades and lamps...I have a strange feeling that boring might also be my kind of thing if it is vintage, shabby, victorian etc, but what if boring is a jewel tone??? Ahh what is a girl to do.....perhaps make my own decisions on what I love as you said?
Kiss Noises Linda Lilly Cottage
Do not agree! I'm sorry, but vintage is very IN, and as far as I'm concerned, always in. Take a look at the new issue of British Living Etc., which considers itself a "modern living" magazine- there's a fab vintage Frenchie Australian apt. with white floors in it. Do check it out, Deb.
Finally...someone else who's not feeling it (or smelling it) with the diffusers...and really? Jewel tones? Are you kidding me? Does someone on this committee have stock in a "Jewel Tone" manufacturing company? Thanks for the post, going to giggle about this one all day...matchy matchy...grin
Oh Debbie! I love your In's and Out's so much better!! They are more the every average day gal!!
Have a great week!
Hmmmmm, so if Country, primitive, shabby, Victorian or vintage looks are out...what's left? Modern? Ugh-O. LOL.
Thanks for the list. Did you see anything cool or remarkable at Market?
c
Who really came up with that list?? Ugh! I for one can't believe bright jewel tones are in (yuck) and country, primitive, shabby, Victorian or vintage are out. Someone may be pushing those ideas, but women have better taste than that. Comfy and cozy will prevail.
Marge
www.emmasnookandgranny.com
This (edited) list was taken from a survey coast to coast. What is 'In' in one place is not in always 'In' in another. As a retailer, of course I want my favorites to be in- but in another city they may not be. Take all with a grain of salt...
Hi, Deb--
I was one of the retailers who contributed to this year's list. HAT surveyed a group of us from coast to coast and yes, some of what made it onto the list is definitely a little "duh"-worthy, or at least warrants a head scratch. You are absolutely right that what is 'in' in one market may not be 'in' another. When I made my contributions, I considered not only what I was seeing in design magazines, at Markets, and from the most "on-trend" designers {and yes, some of them are 'modern'), but from what gets grabbed up in my shop and what sits. It's great, as always, to hear your take...and I mean that without a whit of sarcasm! :)
--Abby
I love that cheeseboards are IN. HAHA!
And your comment about Country, primitive, shabby, Victorian or vintage looks....priceless. Made me laugh out loud.
Hi, I'm new to your blog but wanted to leave a comment about what's "in". I for one love the old, vintage french items i.e. old french opera glasses, vintage ephemera from France, the color white as in French Swedish design, linens in natural hemp, burlap, muslin and cottons.
Great pictures of what you have been up to!! Wished I lived near your shop.
Kris
AMEN!!! Your commentary on their absurd list hits the mark...they odviously are not in touch with the "real people" of this world and do not know a thing about what makes people happy.
Somehow I think you could manage to make all those "outs" look charmingly "in."
Owls, penguins, monkeys and Buddhas? Sounds like the 70's to me... oh my. We attended the LA Mart and made the mistake of rushing through in 2 days. Not enough time, but hopefully we chose some winners.
LOL!!! That list made me laugh! I love coming upon those lists in magazines and online it's always a hoot to read and wonder "who comes up with this stuff!?"
Ok I'm off to google "Rustic glamour" ;)
This post is fantastic! Thanks for the good laugh!
Umm, sounds like the emperor is not wearing any clothes. I find it interesting that the magazines that are focusing on the "in" items are the same ones that are closing down. They have been trying to force the
70's look on us for several years now and it's just not working. Keep the faith, Debbie, and trust your instincts. We're with you!
Brvo and thanks so much for the details. I guess I don't know anything. FOR SALE: contents of the house. Hugs,Terri
Umm, the nick-nacks and colors were hideous.
But the 'muddy earthtones" , well I am out because my house is made up of those along with an ecletic mix of these styles: Country, primitive, shabby, Victorian or vintage looks.
Fun post!
ARE YOU SURE THAT THEY WEREN'T ALL MEN???????? LOL SHAME ON ME!!!!!!!!
Too cute!
I totally agree with you. I hate those lists.
Ness xx
I like your list much better. It's the truth.
hugs,
shell
One of my favorite posts - ever.
I think I may have almost fallen out of my chair laughing!! :)
Home "fashion" trends are like couture fashion trends -- they have to keep us second-guessing our style pics so we can keep them in biz, I guess.
But take heart -- your store and your style are what Chanel is to, oh I don't know, American Eagle. You're timeless -- them, not so much! :)
-Ruth
Hey now! I like jewel tones - especially ruby red :)
Seriously, though, being true to our own unique selves is always IN.
On a business note, the trend of reusing and re-purposing items has turned into a lifestyle all its own. I think there's an odd contradiction in that being trendy means NOT buying trendy stuff to use for a season or two then trashing it. In other words, classic buying-for-keeps is back. Classic and quality is back. Hope my attempt at an explanation makes sense.
I also predict that vintage will be IN for a long, long, long time. Interior designers are ALL incorporating vintage pieces in their rooms -- even in modern rooms.
And, c'mon, FAKE flowers are in? NEVAH, EVAH!!!
Wonderful post. I agree, WHO writes those lists?!?! I loved your added commentary. So true, so true.
Ahh..... Starbucks is OUT? Okay, maybe $4 coffee with foo-foo toppings is out, but rich, dark espresso demitasse is just too classic. Obviously, I have a coffee addiction. Nope, I do not live in Seattle.
Gosh, I guess these lists confirm what I've always known - I am NOT fashionable or "in".
Laughing in Alaska ~ Eileen @ Star's Fault
No Starbucks is not out! You read wrong. Coffee is always in!
Love your post ad your list is much better! OUT....caring what is in! :)
Thanks for the laugh! Great, great post. Several of the what's "in" things from the main list made me think that they are REALLY trying to help stores get rid of some less than fab (and very overdone) trends that are taking up too much room on the shelves- like monkeys and jewel tones - ick! And the diffusers? Well for anyone with kids under the age of 10, those are just disasters waiting to happen. Talk about a kid-spill magnet! Thanks for sharing -have a great weekend!
I had many of the same bemusings at that list!
How can 'permanent botanicals' be IN and yet 'faux flowerrs' are OUT??? Very little on those lists made ANY sense to me!
Instead of an in/out list, they should do a 'trend watch' list and offer up 'inspirational fresh ideas to watch for' AND explain WHY or WHERE they are seeing these trends.
Here in the Northwest, we are always considerably 'behind the times'. sometimes so much so that we are only hitting a trend for the FIRST time, wheh it's making it's second spurt of popularity!
aj @ Sophie's Cottage
Tooo cute of a post! Your blog always brings a smile to my face! Blessings on you and your business!
Crystal
Thanks for this post, this was really funny!
Old still sells here. I have an antique/gift shop in Peoria Illinos- and old sells. Shabby-Chippy-Euro-all of it. I think people that decorate with it, will always like it. They are going to live with vintage forever. They might add a new piece here or there, but customers that I have met, want to be cozy and homey.
Pretty never goes out of style :)
oh, im so looking forward to when the jewel tone thing passes! those colors make my head hurt!
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