Thank you NOLA, Friday came quicker this week!

Pipedreams.  Piperlime, an online boutique owned by Gap Inc. will be shut down by the end of February.  This is a classic case of why retailers should not try to be all things to all people.  Piperlime launched in 2006 and quickly became a favorite shoe site.  The sales figures mistakenly convinced Gap to expand Piperlime into an everything-kind of website increasing inventory to include shoes, clothes, accessories etc. as a direct competitor to Zappos.com.

Gap decided to open a bricks and mortar Piper lime in Soho September 2012.  reversecommuter was there in person, as was Rachel Zoe who was hosting a NYFW event.

Piperlime has been big in seeking out celebrity spokespersons, but apparently not big in sales.  Piperlime was responsible for a whopping 1% of Gap’s jaw-dropping $16 BILLION in annual sales.  Poor little Piperlime is no more, which should be viewed as great news for smaller high fashion online operations.

Not Well Suited.  Jones New York, the brand that represented suits for women since 1970, is closing down operations.

Workwear for women is now a redefined industry that allows interpretation, style and separates to form the outfits in boardrooms.  reversecommuter was the proud owner of a few JNY suits during my career as a stockbroker, usually in hot pink, navy, red and black. And yes, there was a rotation of suiting that reflected the market!

Alas, present day Jones New York is more Ally McBeal than Amal Clooney, clearly that just wasn’t working.

Just for giggles choose the shorter the hemline, ignore the snow drifts and own those pumps…while raising the champagne flute to the PATS on Superbowl Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xo reversecommuter