As an editor of Retail Dive, it’s my job to keep tabs on every piece of retail-related news—the good, the bad, and the silly. From El Chapo’s flashy fashion preferences to the return of the Bumpit, here are some of the most interesting stories from around the Web.
Wanted for being fabulous (among other crimes)
Forget the fact that he’s posing with a wanted drug lord. The first thing that caught our eye when looking at pictures of actor Sean Penn’s meeting with notorious Mexican drug lord “El Chapo,” who at the time was in hiding after escaping from a Mexican prison, was El Chapo’s shirt – striped, printed, and oh so silky.
Apparently it caught the eye of many others, too, including the U.S. shirt maker that manufactures it, Barbaras. After advertising the shirt on its Instagram, a representative from Barbaras told BBC the shirt has seen “increased sales” and is currently on back order.
#FLOTUS fashion
In another instance of “they wore it, so I’ll wear it too,” the (citrus? mango? starburst?) Narciso Rodriguez dress that First Lady Michelle Obama wore to Tuesday’s State of the Union address has sold out at Neiman Marcus, Racked reports.
Shiny little things
An Internet frenzy was ignited once again this week, this time around ”mermaid pillows.” The sequined pillows change color with the swipe of a hand, which led to a viral video showcasing their magic, which inevitably led to (what else?) the product selling out at the retailer stocking them – Nebraska Furniture Mart.
The Bumpit is back
Retailers, be aware: the Bumpit, that hair-raising accessory of mid-2000s fame, is back. After pop star Katy Perry rocked a sky-high coiffure at the Golden Globes on Sunday – which may or may not have been manufactured with the help of a Bumpit (the jury is still out) – the hair accessory has returned to stores for the first time in three years due to “insane interest” in the product, according to Vanity Fair.
Best thing that will happen at the #goldenglobes all night. https://t.co/g421MlX14k
— Amy Odell (@amyodell) January 11, 2016
Worst Wal-Mart brawl ever
After being confronted for shoplifting condoms, lubricant, and underwear, a Wal-Mart shopper allegedly fought two store employees, the Smoking Gun reports. A brawl ensued, including hair pulling, punching, and bitten-off finger.
