The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Kmart Fashion Spring/Summer 2011 Blogger Brunch




Last week I attended a Spring/Summer 2011 fashion preview in New York City hosted by Kmart Fashion, where bloggers were invited to check out the latest trends and chat with designers. I interviewed Kathy Huynh, VP of Women's Apparel Design for Kmart, (click here to watch), got the scoop on the design process from Tori Gibbs and Mary Mendez, and talked social media with Kmart Fashion blogger Donna Kim and Kmart Fashion's Social Media Manager Sarah Reynolds (above). When the people behind a brand are excited about their work and eager to share with customers, it makes such a positive impact, and that's exactly how I felt about the Kmart crew.

Now, on to the fashion: Everything was casual and easy to wear, with subtle boho '70s details and soft fabrications. Think short shorts, jumpsuits, open-back tees, colorful day dresses, floral prints and understated military influences. Priced mostly under $20, Kmart Fashion's got all the makings of a carefree summer wardrobe that can take you from picnics in the park to the beach and beyond. I can't wait to check out my nearest store. It's a 30 minute drive, so I don't get there very often, but I'm hoping to visit soon. Have you been to Kmart recently? Do you like the direction they're headed?

Click through for more photos.

Shown above: The gorgeous girl behind @KmartFashion, Sarah Reynolds, wearing a Kmart jumpsuit.


Models show off the latest Kmart fashions.






Kathy Huynh, VP of Women's Apparel Design for Kmart (in an Attention for Kmart dress)


Tori Gibbs, Design Director, Apostrophe & Attention (in an Attention for Kmart jumpsuit)


Mary Mendez, Design Director, Denim Brands (in Route 66 for Kmart)




















(from left) Dianna from TheBudgetBabe.com, Jennine from TheCoveted.com and Donna from Donna Daily and Kmart's Fashion Blog





Photo credit: TheBudgetBabe.com
Comments
Ha.. there's Jennine. Isn't she a great girl. Kmart has got some great stuff going on these days. Just found your page on a link that @kmartfashion tweeted. They were so nice to send me some goodies when I was at NYFW.

Lee
x

http://leeoliveira.com
#1 Lee Oliveira (Homepage) on 2011-03-21 11:09 (Reply)
Loving all floral prints and jumpsuits, efinitely trying the trend out!

#2 Cess O (Homepage) on 2011-03-21 11:58 (Reply)
I love all these great pieces! Is there a link to where they are availble online?

thanks!
#3 Jen on 2011-03-21 11:59 (Reply)
Wow I am impressed with KMart's upgrade! I have to say that this beats out the stuff I have been seeing at my local WalMart. But just like you the closest KMart is 30 mins away. I like where they are going, but they still have a long way to go to catch up with Target.

xoxo
J

www.talkprettytome.blogspot.com
#4 Talk Pretty To Me (Homepage) on 2011-03-21 12:30 (Reply)
Really like the purple dress - LOVE the grey jacket - think I need that.
#5 danielle on 2011-03-21 13:18 (Reply)
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!! Please visit our blog

http://www.fromustwoyou.com/

xox Cybelle & Fabi
#6 Fabi (Homepage) on 2011-03-21 14:04 (Reply)
I live in the heart of Appalachia and the K-mart/Walmart here provides the clothing for many adolescent/teenage girls. It is an unfortunate fact that many girls are ridiculed for wearing clothing that is not considered part of the current fashion zeitgeist, and their self-esteem suffers for it. Unfortunately many brands are far too expensive for a lot of the people who live here.


K-mart clothing had seriously declined in quality for the last decade or so so I am glad to see the new clothing lines revitalizing their inventory. I'm happy to know these ladies are working on providing more reasonably priced, chic clothing to K-mart. I'm sure lots of girls and women in rural areas feel the same way.

PS anyone who has fashionable clothing that an adolescent/teenage girl would wear that isn't getting much love in their wardrobes should donate it if it's financially feasible, I knew many girls growing up who appreciated it...
#7 sobriquet on 2011-03-21 15:49 (Reply)
Some very cute clothes for cheap prices!! I love the purple dress,the military jacket and the long tank with the rose on the front...even I can afford these clothes(and I'm just this side of 50,but even we can have financial issues that force us to look for creative clothing choices).
#8 Angelcat47 on 2011-03-21 17:57 (Reply)
Cute finds! The K-marts up here are never this well stocked. Hope they get some of this up in Canada!
#9 MizzJ (Homepage) on 2011-03-21 19:33 (Reply)
Can you tell me the brand of the black top the model in the strappy orange heels is wearing?

Thanks!
#10 Christine on 2011-03-21 20:39 (Reply)
Honestly that was a better showing than I expected. Most of the K-marts around me are long gone, though.

While I appreciate they used real women for models, both of the models wearing jump suits are not flattered by the cut of the garment. Perhaps that's the nature of jumpsuits though??
#11 Alicia D on 2011-03-22 08:48 (Reply)
I Love the Romper Tori is wearing. Can you help find some open toe ankle boots like the ones she's wearing also?
#12 Kim R. on 2011-03-22 09:16 (Reply)
Totally second the jumpsuit comment. I can get down with a good romper, but jumpsuits just don't do it for me. The rest of the collection looks really promising though, I'm glad to see K-Mart upping their fashion game.

That grey jacket WILL be mine :-)
#13 Sara (Homepage) on 2011-03-22 10:21 (Reply)
These look kinda similar, $34.99 at jcp.com:

http://jcp.is/g4sXVZ
#14 The Budget Babe on 2011-03-22 16:43 (Reply)
I inquired about the shirt and was told it's actually a piece from the Summer collection, which has not hit stores yet. The product should be in stores within the next few weeks.
#15 The Budget Babe on 2011-03-27 20:11 (Reply)
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