• September 11, 2007

When Wal-Mart Stores attempted to offer more upscale apparel in recent months, consumers held their noses, and the company quickly reverted to its "well, at least it's cheap" positioning.

But Women's Wear Daily reports that walmart.com isn't playing it quite so safe these days, testing z.b.d. designs, a collection that hits on all the current trends, from sailor-stripe sweaters to trapeze jackets. The 24-piece z.b.d. collection is predominantly white, black and slate blue, with plenty of sleeve options, which WWD has proclaimed the season's focal point.

Wal-Mart's online business has been estimated at between $1 billion and $2 billion.

--Sarah Mahoney