Today's Highlights

• Tigers Back...
• A whole lotta bling
• The caps are falling! The caps are falling!

NEWS

Nicklaus Sportswear adds to sales team

Jack Nicklaus Sportswear hires two new sales representatives for the Carolinas region - John Kinney for the eastern Carolinas and Peter Gauthier for the western Carolinas.

Pukka boasts strong PGA Show

Pukka Headwear reports that a new booth at the PGA Merchandise Show, new product launches and a renewed brand image helped the company enjoy its best show to date.

Briefly

Bob Seligman wins an ING Media Award for his apparel article "Fall Fashion Trends For On and Off The Course" in the summer 2008 issue of GolfTime Magazine. ... Paula Creamer Beauty LLC will launch a new fragrance line under the Paula Creamer Beauty umbrella. The new brand is slated for a launch in key test market doors across the country in late spring, with a full national roll-out planned for early spring 2010. ... Bobby Jones introduces its short sleeve pique polo shirt with ruffled collar and white enamel buttons. Retail price is $145.

SLIDE SHOW

Tigers Back...

Check out what Tiger Woods is wearing at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. View the slide show

FEATURE

A whole lotta bling

By Janice Ferguson
GPA Writer

Style details proved to be a theme at January's PGA Merchandise Show for fall's golf apparel and accessory collections. The use of embroidery, nail heads, screen printing, appliqués, fun buttons, contrast stitching and crystals make outfits pop and allow them to be worn more places than just on the golf course.

Design ingenuity makes sense in what promises to be an economically difficult year - the more versatile the clothing, the smarter the buy.

Birdy & Grace co-designers Sharon Sunoo and Teress Stephens followed the current rule of creativity with their fall 2009 collection for women. Signature polo tops have been reinvented for a fresh, feminine and simple look that effortlessly work within an existing wardrobe. They stay fresh and in sync with present trends, yet pass the test of longevity looking as fantastic with a pair of jeans as they do with golf-specific bottoms.

"We are all about giving our customer a reason to buy," Sunoo said. "We bring novelty and attention to detail in our designs. We follow trends but in a way that is about good design, not gimmicks or 'trying too hard' combinations.

Birdy & Grace is a top driven business that allows customers to purchase pieces that can go with other things in their closet besides golf wear. For buyers, this means they can bring in styles that will freshen existing inventory.

"For our fall 2009 collection called Wild Life and Charmed Life, we created styles that will make women feel and look empowered and confident but in a feminine, appealing way," Sunoo said. "We were inspired by vintage charms that signify important events in women's lives."

The Wild Life group takes a cheetah animal print and turns it into a modern, more edgy graphic using colors of wedgewood and canary as accents that mix classic with fresh. Swarovski crystal encrusted belts in complementary colors add a finishing touch.

The Charmed Life group splashes colors of bright berry, poppy red together with ecru and camel. Modern, but refined, screen prints, attention to details and beautiful fabric make this collection very eye appealing.

An updated version of the Swarovski crystal placket pique polo made from Supima cotton with a touch of stretch is a must-have top. Worn by LPGA player Inbee Park when she won the 2008 U.S. Women's Open Championship, the polo is available in short, long and sleeveless styles, and comes in an array of colors such as white, ecru, black, salmon, olive, lavender, powder blue, bright berry and wedgewood.

Birdy & Grace's signature winged polo and fleur de lis polo are staple best sellers and will continue to be offered for the fall season. The polos are made from Supima cotton and are adorned with unique details.

Another popular returning piece for Birdy & Grace is the zip mini cable-lined cardigan. Pop colors, smart buttons and modern stitching details make this classic sweater a standout. Made from soft, fine-gauged cotton and spandex, the cable sweater is also available in a zip vest.

Retail price points for the fall 2009 Birdy & Grace collection range from $75 to $110. For information, visit www.birdyandgrace.com.