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¡°Sexy¡± was the key word in men's and women¡¯s fashions in 2007 while sophisticated and so-called ¡°well-being¡± products were the most popular items in food and home electronics. Slim-fit suits were the top hit among men, with the chest and waist trimmed down by about 4 cm and tighter pants to show off the bodyline. Miniskirts stayed popular among women this year but hemlines inched ever higher, giving rise to a new fashion lingo, the ¡°micro-mini.¡± In food and home electronics, more and more consumers chose top-notch health-conscious goods, as shown by a surge in sales of espresso machines that cost up to W3 million (US$1=W924).
These trends were evident at Shinsegae Department Store as it compared its 2007 sales figures to those of last year on Monday. Sales in its men¡¯s slim-fit suit stores rose by 30 percent, with slim and less-than-8 cm-wide ties selling more than three times as much as last year. Sales of men¡¯s skinny jeans also jumped by 28 percent and more men shopped for slender winter jackets and coats to accentuate their bodies.
Women¡¯s apparel, meanwhile, got shorter. Sales of mini-dresses that are 10 cm above the knee rose 36.7 percent, micro-minis that come down just 23 cm from the waist were up 34 percent, and 21 cm-long hot pants were up 28 percent. The cold weather also boosted sales of leggings, a popular item with mini-skirts, by a factor of 300.
In food and home electronics, wines recorded 72 percent growth compared to last year. Cheese and salamis, with increased sales of more than 60 percent, have become the No. 1 items in imported and processed foods. Sales of espresso machines leaped more than 200 percent and more consumers opted for bigger TVs, with 50-inch digital TVs outselling 40-inch ones.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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