Mainstream retailers try 'cool' on for size

Tag : Knit Stripe
"There's no waistline on the babydoll," she said. "It flows down.It's a style that's really in right now."

2) Tyte Jeans American Standard
These particular Tyte Jeans had rhinestone accents on the pockets,but that's not what drew our shopper. She liked the jeans' tightcuffs around the ankle.

"They're made so you can wear boots with them, high heels withthem, flats with them and they don't cover your shoes. . . . Whywould you buy nice shoes if you have your jeans covering them?"

3) New Balance 442 white leather sneaker
Speaking of nice shoes, this was one of two pairs in the shoedepartment that drew real enthusiasm.

"The thing about New Balance is, it's a fashion athletic shoe,"said our shopper, a softball player. "You could walk around all dayin that shoe, and your feet won't hurt. And they still look nice,and cool."

4) Adidas Ayuna blue sandal
The hit of the trip. Comfortable and fashionable. "They come inbright colors, so it's your perfect summer sandal. You can walkaround in it all the time."

5) Personal Identity teal striped rib tank top
"Bright colors," she explained. She also liked the tank in a pinkstripe.




For J.C. Penney
1) Riviera sunglasses
The trip's big winner, in terms of getting love.

"Chic," "sweet," "cool," and "classy" were the adjectives oursmitten shopper used to describe these dark wraparound frames.

2) The Original Arizona Jean Co. canvas bag with multicolor polka dots
Again, colors caught her eye.

"It was summery, but at the same time it wasn't all over theplace," she said of the large bag. "It was simple."

3) Decree seed-pearl poin telle babydoll top
The Decree line was a hit with our shopper.

"I haven't seen anything like that," she said of the item. She wasespecially taken with the stitching around the sleeves. She alsoliked a Decree seed- pearl V-neck top with a green print, callingit a versatile top.

4) City Triangle black-magenta knit dress
The bold print on the dress was eye-catching, she said. It wasn'tan everyday dress — she'd save it for special occasions. "Likegoing out to dinner, something like that."

5) The Original Arizona Jean Co. puff-sleeve T-shirt in Lyons blueargyle
The colors and patterns made this a fun top, she said.