RETAILERS ARE LOOKING FOR ACCESSORIES TO SPARKLE THIS HOLIDAY

According to reports retailers are hopefull that shoppers with load up on accessories such as cashmere shawls, crocodile-skin clutches and diamond-encrusted charm necklaces.

Buyers and fashion directors for major chains and specialty stores are confident that the boom in this category will continue through the gift-giving season, and cite bags, belts and jewelry as key items.

"Accessories are such a gifty thing," said Rick Weinstein, director of sales and marketing for Searle, which has seven boutiques in Manhattan. "Accessories make up a huge portion of everyday sales and that's bound to increase for holiday."

Buyers are taking their cues from key fall trends - bags in exotic or metallic skins and clutches. They’re also banking on belts and jewelry - charms predicted to be a hot seller, as well as anything with trendy motifs such as skulls. Store buyers are also confident that designer labels will save the season, most notably Nancy Gonzalez’s black and gold bags.

Brian Bolke, co-owner, Forty Five Ten, Dallas said: "Accessories overall for our store is 20 percent of our business [during the holiday season]. We've been buying a ton of patent leather looks in black and white. Evening clutches will be the big thing, like Michael Teperson, which does satin, fur and crystal clutches. Last season, we did phenomenally with python. We're also banking that we can sell white accessories for fall and holiday. In general, people are much more selective and are looking for special items. If something looks expensive, they'll spend the money. There is so much fast fashion that consumers appreciate vendors at the high end giving them value that can't be knocked off or done on the cheap."

Rick Weinstein, director of sales and marketing, Searle, New York: " Anything we put together in novelty gift-set packaging sells exceptionally well. We have a large hat and glove collection, and those things tend to fly off shelves. Charm necklaces are huge, especially diamond-encrusted skulls, and belts are trending the strongest, especially the thick wide patent belts and cummerbund wrap belts, which are absolutely the belts of the season."

Fraser Ross, owner, Kitson, Los Angeles: "There's a void in the market for small leather goods — coin purses, credit card cases — which is a growing business and which nobody is really tapping into. The handbag business has overtaken ready-to-wear in gift-giving. Fashion jewelry will be very strong and our number-one accessory is headbands. We're selling hundreds a week."

Ashley Arno accessory buyer Stanley Korshak in Dallas said: " We are buying more in the accessories division. Handbags are huge. A lot more vendors are creating the ‘It' bag at different price points. Also, Rodo evening bags in gold, black and bronze are easier to work back to holiday pieces. There are also Lambertson Truex's framed satin clutches.