Anthropologie gets the modesty thumbs up

USA Today spies a trend, and that trend is: modesty! Especially for teens, who have been facing less than decent options when it comes to clothes lately. What stores did young ladies in training and their parental units identify as hip yet classy? American Eagle, my new nemesis Banana Republic (aka Nanaban), J.Crew, Ann Taylor, Delia*s and Anthropologie!

American Eagle and Delia*s, sure. J.Crew and Anthropologie, probably. But what teens are wearing Ann Taylor or Nanaban exactly? Their clothes don’t really strike me as high-school ready. But I digress. Anthropologie has some revealing options to be sure but I agree most of their stuff is hip yet classy. And for a store that says its target audience is affluent 30-somethings I sure see a whole lot of college-aged kids and fellow 20-somethings there. (Not too mention a lot of tasteful fashionistas in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond!)

While you keep it classy, here’s the money quote from the article:
“People want to be more comfortable and more covered,” says Barnett. “You’re not seeing nearly as much risk taking.”

The trend is forcing a shift in the way retailers do business. Just as teen retailers have come to target the gothic girl, the diva and the street-wear aficionado, they now must recognize that skin is simply not always in. For every girl who embraces strapless tops and micro-mini dresses, there might be one who is trying to abide by either a school or moral dress code. Modest fashion typically calls for covered shoulders, thighs and cleavage but is hardly the definition of frumpy that the term often calls to mind.