Who is the Contemporary Contemporary Woman?

I was over at my client Cynthia Steffe’s showroom last night prepping for a very important interview (stay tuned) when an interesting conversation began between myself, Creative Director Shaun Kearney, President of Sales & Marketing Annette Mathieu and VP of Communications Sasha Stiles. What is the contemporary women’s fashion market anyway these days?

Shaun, who is a Central Saint Martin’s grad and industry vet, commented that the contemporary market was all about “feminine, head-to-toe looks even a year ago.” But it couldn’t be less true a scant year later.  Now, contemporary that sells is far more complex: Pretty, but tough. Feminine, but edgy. And those brands that are transitioning quickly are surviving while those who are not are shutting their doors. 

The scholar in me can’t help but consider that the changing face of the women’s contemporary market reflects the changing face of women today. Shaun, a Brit, made a really interesting observation that when he travels to the UK he can barely tell that he’s left New York from the look of the women around him. Style seems to be far more global and far less local now than ever before, which makes sense. I can see what Alexa Chung is wearing on the streets of London hours after she leaves her flat thanks to my favorite blogs. I can buy gold jewelry from India from the comfort of my bed thanks to global marketplaces such as eBay. And I travel globally for work and play several times a year—something my grandmother can’t really say.

From where I sit, the change in the women’s contemporary market is promising. It signals a change in the position and lifestyle of women everywhere. I like to think that I’m pretty, but tough. Feminine, but edgy. So bring on the leather jacket and the ruffled skirt. I’m ready, sister.

Sources: www.elleuk.com, www.zimbio.com