“These are the days that try men’s souls.”

These words were uttered by Thomas Paine during the Revolutionary War but some would say it’s also the perfect phrase to describe the average American shopper’s mindset today.

Dazed and confused by the job market, the financial markets and natural disasters galore, what is a consumer to think? And more importantly what are they to do? As indicated by March’s recent retail reports, it appears that consumers answering this question by shedding their fears and heading back to the mall.

So what are they buying? As a Creative Marketing Agency, these are the kinds of questions we ask, and recently I came across an interesting article by the Pantone Color Institute that discussed fashion purchases and specifically, how the economy will impact color choice in women’s clothing this year.

According to Pantone Color Institute Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman, “Now, more than ever, women are vigilant when it comes to spending,” she said in the report. “Instead of reinventing their wardrobe at the start of each season, consumers want pieces to complement what they already own. Pairing a bold color with a basic piece or freshening up their look with bright accents addresses the need for practicality, as well as fun.”

The rest of the report was even more interesting, and I’d highly recommend reading it for yourself. You’ll get a new glimpse at new sketches by Maria Pinto, Adrienne Vittadini, Badgley Mischka, Tommy Hilfiger as well as commentary on trends in the new economy by Nicole Fishcelis, Fashion Director at Macy’s and Clinton Kelly from TLC’s “What Not to Wear.”

Check it out here.

Related Posts:

• A Product that Saves The Planet?
• Food Retail E-Mail Subject Lines of the Month
• Wal-Mart Said to Plan Test of Online Grocery Delivery Service in San Jose
• Food Retail Subject Lines of the Month for November 2010
• Gap Decides to Keep Classic Blue Box Logo

Stevens & Tate Marketing, a full-service advertising agency, developed The Daily Twitch to consolidate and provide useful information surrounding advertising and marketing. We are devoted to serving content useful to an array of industries including B2B, Hospitality, Real Estate, Education, Senior Living, Food, Packaging and Retail.

We encourage you to view our work on the S&T website in the following categories:

B2B Advertising
Food Retail Advertising
Healthcare Advertising
Real Estate Advertising
Senior Living Advertising
Hospitality Advertising