Underground fashion

04 : 05 : 2016 Lyst : New York : Guerilla Marketing

New York – Lyst is targeting online shoppers on their commute with a new advertising campaign on the New York subway.

  • The campaign borrows from the design language of existing Metropolitan Transportation Authority posters
  • Lyst’s research showed that most of its New York users shopped after work
Planned Wardrobe Changes campaign by Lyst, New York Planned Wardrobe Changes campaign by Lyst, New York
Planned Wardrobe Changes campaign by Lyst, New York Planned Wardrobe Changes campaign by Lyst, New York
Planned Wardrobe Changes campaign by Lyst, New York Planned Wardrobe Changes campaign by Lyst, New York

The fashion e-commerce platform has created a range of flyers that mimic the design of their official Metropolitan Transportation Authority counterparts. The posters make wry comments about the negative aspects of travelling on the subway, offering shopping on Lyst as a potential remedy. One example reads: ‘If you didn’t see someone peeing on the tracks today, you will soon. Prepare by storing endorphins. Looking good helps.’

Lyst created the campaign after analysing user data that showed that purchases in New York soared after work at 7:00pm. The research also revealed that each Manhattan neighbourhood had distinct shopping habits, with Soho exhibiting a 15% higher search volume than Midtown, for instance, although the latter had a 62% better conversion rate.

‘That smell on the train doesn’t always make sense and neither does fashion, but it’s a lot more fun. New York is a diverse city with so many different personalities that are often unified in their discomfort on the train,’ said a Lyst spokesperson.

The Big Picture

Big data is big news in fashion retail at the moment, with businesses such as Lyst, Yoox Net-A-Porter and United Colors of Benetton using data analysis to create more personalised conversations with their customers.

Discover More Daily Signals
The Trend: Human by Design

Daily Signals

The Trend: Human by Design

LS:N Global’s coverage of design in 2025 explored humanising design and branding in the age of elasticity.
Design : Creativity : Branding
The Big Idea: Branding in the Age of Elasticity

Daily Signals

The Big Idea: Branding in the Age of Elasticity

LS:N Global’s coverage of design in 2025 explored humanising design and branding in the age of elasticity.
Design
The Campaign: New Forest’s rebranding turns tourists into custodians

Daily Signals

The Campaign: New Forest’s rebranding turns tourists into custodians

LS:N Global’s coverage of design in 2025 explored humanising design and branding in the age of elasticity. 
Design
The Viewpoint: Rehumanising 3D Design

Daily Signals

The Viewpoint: Rehumanising 3D Design

LS:N Global’s coverage of design in 2025 explored humanising design and branding in the age of elasticity. 
Design
The Space: Glossier unveils immersive experience for Fleur fragrance launch in Paris

Daily Signals

The Space: Glossier unveils immersive experience for Fleur fragrance launch in Paris

LS:N Global’s coverage of design in 2025 explored humanising design and branding in the age of elasticity.
Design
The Trend: The Great Beauty Blur

Daily Signals

The Trend: The Great Beauty Blur

2025 marks a critical inflection point for beauty. The sector, once defined by diversity and creativity, has grown increasingly monotonous, as glob...
Beauty : Wellness : Identity
The Big Idea: Neo-community Market

Daily Signals

The Big Idea: Neo-community Market

Brands are redefining engagement by transforming followers into communities where belonging is the ultimate currency.
Beauty : Engagement : Community
The Campaign: The Ordinary exposes beauty industry buzzwords in dystopian new video

Daily Signals

The Campaign: The Ordinary exposes beauty industry buzzwords in dystopian new video

In a provocative campaign in October 2025, skincare brand The Ordinary called out the beauty industry’s reliance on pseudo-scientific language.
Beauty : Skincare : Cosmetics
The Viewpoint: Reframing Ageing

Daily Signals

The Viewpoint: Reframing Ageing

Jacynth Bassett, founder and CEO of Ageism Is Never In Style, is reshaping the conversation around ageing, positioning it as a privilege rather tha...
Beauty : Marketing : Ageing
The Space: Koyia perfumery asks customers to pay with time rather than money

Daily Signals

The Space: Koyia perfumery asks customers to pay with time rather than money

In September 2025, Swedish fragrance brand Koyia introduced a forest-based retail concept where the only currency is time.
Beauty : Retail : Fragrance
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN