Last year we gushed about JC Penney's forward thinking pop-up spring break merch and their little 'Trend-based' pop-up shop in ladies wear. We didn't see any of that sort of thinking this spring but we did see some new lines take to the floor.

In Juniors and Kids, South Pole is now a big player occupying corners, several 4 ways and showing up in banners and imagery throughout the store. Nicole Miller's space was no where near as large as in the past and in young men's, Nickit was nixed in favor of a mensy Liz Clairborne line. In boys, the X games display was gone and Avirex took the spot with more of the same type of merch that resides on the rest of the boy floor. Blue Brand is a new name in boys and they offer the best looking knit tops we have seen in a long time and in girls, a dress-up brand called Stevies (Steve Madden's girl's collection) was the new kid in town. Arizona jeans was not looking as hip as we would have hoped in any of the departments; key silhouettes, details and washes were notably absent from their mix in jeans while their tops continued to be relevant and well priced. In infants and toddlers, Okie Dokie is still the leading presence followed by Carters and an assortment of licensed product in sets and tees.

Tons of spring and summer screens and appliques are found on tops, bottoms and sets. Nike is back with I/T sets that pack some girly punch!