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Girls Rule: Beauty & the Beach
Written by: Mari Davis
Photos by Gruber-FWD
Dec 28, 2001/ FW/ --- Every season, I always look forward to the Girls Rule show. For several
seasons, it was the only stage at New York Fashion Week that dealt with the teen market.
It is always refreshing and interesting to see what our kids will be wearing next season.
Season after season, I am always amazed at the sophistication level of what our kids will
be wearing. Either I am getting older or becoming conservative, maybe I'm both.
No matter what my state of mind is, the Girls Rule show continue to hold my interest.
For Spring 2002, Girls Rule featured Billabong, a very popular brand for surfers. Having
been a kama'aina in Hawaii, what they showed was true to the style of Billabong that I
remember from my Hawaii days. Comfortable clothes, something you can wear at the beach or
just to hang out.
Billabong had stayed true to its main market for years, and Spring 2002 is no exception. The
only complaint I have on this collection - I am not in Hawaii to see the clothes being worn
at the North Beach.
Next was Coolwear, which has shown several times on this stage. Showing mostly denim, I could
see that this will be popular in high school campuses around the nation. And they also
updated the shirt dress for the younger market. Denim was embellished with patches and embroidery.
Remember the 1970s with the slashed denim legs? Well, they're back!
Planet Yumthing is the mainstay of Girls Rule. After all, this show is their brainchild! Without
the duo from Planet Yumthing doing the legwork for the original show, there will be no Girls Rule
stage at Fashion Week.
This season, they stayed with what they do best - fun clothes that can go anywhere if you are
a teen-ager. They brought back the pedal pusher this season and updated the workman's jumpsuit
into a fashion item.
Newcomer to the show Smashing Grandpa brought a smile to my face because of its name. Reminded
me of Smashing Pumpkins. Ah, the great Seattle sound (is my age showing?)
Thank goodness that the reference to the Seattle sound ended with the name and the looks that
Smashing Grandpa presented is very far from grunge. Personally, grunge is look that I totally
love, but I also totally believe that it does not belong on the runway!
Lots of denim and plaid in this collection. Cute skirts and interesting prints on t-shirts
caught the attention of the audience and hopefully the retail buyers.
Coolwear Fashion
Coolwear Fashion
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