Fashion during recession Current economic trends present an opportunity for many people to look at fashion in a way they haven’t before. Many consumers are looking for fashion that is not only affordable, but stylish as well. According to some fashion experts, this has forced designers and retailers to lose the excess fluff and get back to the meat and potatoes of their lines and offerings. That can mean clothes with a better fit and designs that are more in tune with their target markets, says Amanda Lovell, department chair of Fashion Design at The Art Institute of New York City. “By making less and offering less, there is a stronger focus on producing items that are known sellers,” Lovell says. “Designers and retailers need to get the most out of every purchase a customer makes, due to the fact that customers are thinking twice before buying excess pieces.” Each fashion brand, designer, and retailer has items that are known sellers, Lovell explains. “For example, the Gap most likely sells their shortsleeve Crewneck or V-neck, black fitted T-shirts for both men and women season after season regardless of the economy or forces in the trend cycle,” she offers. Designers also have responded by offering lower-priced bridge lines, adds Mary Hall, who provides money-saving tips on fashion, dining out, and entertainment in her blog The Recessionista. “There are