Eileen Fisher Needs to Attract Younger Clientele
A few weeks ago I accompanied a friend to a blowout sale at a store called Eileen Fisher. Now, if you’re a woman of a certain age (and class), you know all about Eileen Fisher. In fact, nearly everyone in the store was of a certain age. My friend loves the Eileen Fisher look and wears it almost to the exclusion of any other designer. Well, except for Chico’s, which also appeals to women of a certain age (and class). But now the New York Times reports that designer Eileen Fisher, 58, has decided she needs to reconceptualize her approach because her customers are getting older and she needs to draw in new, younger clients. Personally, I’ve never taken to the Eileen Fisher look but I have been known to purchase a thing or two at Chico’s. And you? Do you wear any of these clothes?
October 14th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Love the clothes at Eileen Fisher, but unfortunately the prices have usually been a bit steep for me. I do usually catch some great sales at Ann Taylor though.
I wonder how they will be changed. Although the looks are supposed to be quite similar, I’ve never been a fan of Chico’s.
October 14th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Chico’s is like Eileen Fisher for ex-hippies. Both are overpriced, IMHO. Le Boomerangs Booteek, c’est moi!
October 15th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Eileen Fisher used to have great fabrics, simple lines, and high prices. A few years after introduction, the lines and styles remained the same, the prices rose slightly, and the fabric quality declined significantly.
I am a professional “woman of a certain age” with a short, slightly overweight body. While I think E.F.”s clothes do a great job of “hiding figure flaws”, they also announce to anyone looking that they are “hiding figure flaws” in much the same way that anything without close fit or seamed tailoring would. UUGGH!! I’d rather wrap a 800 count sheet.
So, while Chico’s succeeds with a crowd that likes the bright colors, the flashy fabrics and the “travelers” slinky pieces that never wrinkle, always fit somehow and stretch to cover a multitude of flaws” – (I don’t like them either) – No-one has yet come out with a line that 1) fits a grown woman’s body with butt, hips, thighs, etc. and flatters like an Armani without an Armani pricetag. Now, that would be a line I’d promote!!
October 15th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Naomi, how right you are: the bagginess says “hiding figure flaws’. Chico’s is pricey but, I think, nice looking. However, I’ve stopped buying it.
October 24th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I can’t believe that the fashion industry hasn’t woken up to the enormous market for mature women. Eileen Fisher is lovely–but too expensive for my pocketbook. I personally “listen” to Sherrie Mathieson’s fashion advice but I’ve gone even further to research the topic–
http://www.50somethinginfo.com/Directory/Lifestyle/Wardrobe/Women’s-Clothes.aspx
Hope this helps.
Sue