WWD articles from December 2004

WWD archives from December 2004

SAIL AWAY.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- When Prince Albert Edward stepped out in his sailor suit in the 1840s, little did he know it would start a trend in civilian fashion that is still going strong today. From seersucker bermudas to sailor collars, spring's sportswear...

BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST: MORE RETAIL MERGERS SEEN IN MEGA ERA.
December 1, 2004... Byline: David Moin NEW YORK -- Welcome to another monolithic era. A heated climate of mergers and acquisitions is developing in retailing following the flurry of dramatic moves this year, from Kmart's deal for Sears to Jones Apparel...

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE DECLINES IN NOV.
December 1, 2004... Byline: Vicki M. Young NEW YORK -- Worry over jobs and lower expectations about economic gains in early 2005 sent the Consumer Confidence Index falling in November for the fourth straight month to its lowest level since March. ...

IN BRIEF: PPR SALE... BULGARI'S SELL... NEW DEAL.
December 1, 2004... PPR SALE: Pinault-Printemps-Redoute, the French retailer that owns Gucci Group, on Tuesday said it was in exclusive talks to unload its electrical equipment supplier, Rexel, to a consortium headed by investment firm Eurazeo and Merrill Lynch's...

TOMMY TAPS EXECUTIVE PAIR.(Lynn Shanahan and Bob Rosenblatt)
December 1, 2004... Byline: Evan Clark NEW YORK -- Tommy Hilfiger executive Lynn Shanahan has been picked for the new position of group president of Tommy Hilfiger U.S.A. Inc.'s wholesale business. In addition, Bob Rosenblatt, 47, who last month was...

FASHION SCOOPS: ARMANI'S ATELIER... VALLEY'S PEAK... NEW THREADS.
December 1, 2004... ARMANI'S ATELIER: With the official couture ranks leaner than ever, Giorgio Armani wants to do his part for the world of haute. WWD has learned that Armani will today reveal plans to present his new custom collection, Giorgio Armani Atelier, in...

MALANDRINO'S NEW STYLIZED HOME.
December 1, 2004... Byline: Rosemary Feitelberg NEW YORK -- More than a platform to show off her hard-to-find, high-end collection, Catherine Malandrino's new kaleidoscopic flagship is a glimpse of her expanding world. Eighteen months after securing the...

CHICO'S WEATHERS STORMS: EARNINGS, SALES UP IN THIRD.
December 1, 2004... Byline: Meredith Derby NEW YORK -- Despite a sales scare from several summer hurricanes, women's specialty retailer Chico's FAS delivered robust sales and earnings. The retailer said Tuesday that net income for the third quarter...

SUZY: A YOUNG MCGREGOR?... TURNING SCARLETT... LONDON CALLING.
December 1, 2004... Byline: Aileen Mehle No matter that Paul McCartney is a billionaire -- he and his wife, Heather, will appear on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" on Christmas Day. If they win any money, they will give it to charities that help clear the...

RANK AND STYLE.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- From Jessica Lange's cutoff shorts in the Seventies remake of "King Kong" to Jackie O's sailing whites, nautical style has always had fans among American "It" girls. Caption(s): Joseph A's viscose and nylon sweater. / Loro...

PERRY ELLIS SIGNATURE WRITTEN OFF.(Patrick Robinson resigns)
December 1, 2004... Byline: Eric Wilson NEW YORK -- Patrick Robinson's spring collection for Perry Ellis International has become the ultimate example of an exercise in fashion futility. George Feldenkreis, chief executive officer of PEI, said Tuesday...

VENDORS: SPRING ORDERS TREND UP.
December 1, 2004... Byline: Rusty Williamson DALLAS -- Fast fashion at mass prices has pressured moderate and better vendors to rev up the trends while holding down prices for spring. The strategy is paying off with spring orders that are up about 10...

CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE WHERE THEY LIVE.
December 1, 2004... Byline: Valerie Seckler NEW YORK -- By establishing a presence in people's everyday lives, fashion marketers can shake off the stamp of sameness that curtails their effectiveness in communicating with consumers. "By starting out with...

CHINA'S FLEDGLING DESIGNERS EAGER TO GROW.
December 1, 2004... Byline: Betsy Lowther BEIJING -- When Chinese fashion designer Xie Feng got his start in the industry two decades ago, there was hardly any fashion to design. At the time, China was still a land of simple clothes and sturdy fabrics....

PARIS IN THE EAST.
December 1, 2004... Byline: Betsy Lowther BEIJING -- China Fashion Week welcomed a French invasion last week when eight Paris-based designers staged a show to much fanfare in the country's capital. The show, part of "The Year of France in China" -- a...

APPAREL MAKERS ANXIOUS ON QUICK-TURN MEXICAN GOODS.
December 1, 2004... Byline: Nola Sarkisian-Miller LOS ANGELES -- A provision of the North American Free Trade Agreement that allows U.S. apparel manufacturers to cut expenses on goods assembled in Mexico for quick turnarounds is set to expire at the end of...

FOUR SCORE.
December 1, 2004... Byline: Marcy Medina Los Angeles has always set trends in the contemporary market, including accessories. Four designers, in particular, are getting attention for their hot-selling handbags, channeling everything from Seventies' rock to...

HOT TOPIC LOWERS GUIDANCE FOR QTR.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Byline: Michelle Dalton Tyree LOS ANGELES -- Hot Topic looked frosty going into the holiday season. Three analysts on Tuesday cut their rating of the company as Hot Topic lowered its fourth-quarter earnings forecast to 37 cents to 43...

BLUEFLY SETS UP SHOP OUTSIDE THE WEB.
December 1, 2004... Byline: Meredith Derby NEW YORK -- Shoppers didn't just come for the blue martinis and blue M&Ms. More than 300 people came to preview Bluefly Inc.'s second retail store for deals on designer apparel and accessories. For...

CARTIER AND JACOB AGREE TO INJUNCTION, SEEK SETTLEMENT.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Byline: Ross Tucker NEW YORK -- Cartier's case against hip-hop jeweler Jacob Arabo took a step forward as both sides agreed to a preliminary injunction and an expedited schedule for turning over evidence. Arabo's company is working...

NATURA BISSE FOCUSING ON SPA.
December 1, 2004... Byline: Holly Haber, Brid Costello, Melissa Drier IRVING, Tex. -- Natura Bisse is going back to its pampered roots -- the spa. The company is extending U.S. distribution of its luxury skin treatments beyond retailers to spas and...

START YOUR ENGINES.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
December 2, 2004... PARIS -- Motocross-inspired styles, including the classic snap-collar jacket and skinny jeans with patches, are hitting a fever pitch in France. Here, Diesel's leather jacket and Levi's denim jeans. For more on the trend, see pages 6 and 7....

NEIMAN MARCUS MAGIC: NET PROFITS SOAR 14% ON LUXURY AND FASHION.(Company Profile)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Meredith Derby NEW YORK -- The luxury machine that is Neiman Marcus Group Inc. continues to motor along. Helped by increased full-price selling and a continuation of stringent inventory management, fiscal first-quarter...

IN BRIEF: J. CREW REFINANCES...LOEWS GRABS REST OF BULOVA...REEBOK CONVERSION.
December 2, 2004... J. CREW REFINANCES: J. Crew Group Inc. has entered into a commitment letter with Wachovia Bank National Association and Congress Financial Corp. to refinance a $180 million secured loan agreement among J. Crew Operating Corp. and certain of its...

IMPORTER ASSOCIATION SUES U.S. GOVERNMENT.
December 2, 2004... Byline: Kristi Ellis WASHINGTON -- The battle over curbing Chinese imports reached a new level Wednesday when the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles & Apparel sued five government agencies to stop further review of China safeguard...

ARMANI TAKES IT UP A NOTCH.(Brief Article)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Alessandra Ilari MILAN -- Giorgio Armani has officially elevated his fashion style to new heights. Confirming a WWD report on Wednesday, the Italian designer said he will stage an off-calendar show for 300 special guests,...

FED: LUXE LEADING SPENDING.(Industry Overview)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Joanna Ramey WASHINGTON -- Consumer spending across the U.S., including apparel, is uneven as luxury revenue grows and discounters lag the high end, according to a Federal Reserve report. The Fed's Beige Book survey, an...

UPDATING THE CLASSICS; ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF LOS ANGELES' CONTEMPORARY ART SCENE, TWO STARTLING NEW PRODUCTIONS TAKE ON THE CLASSICS.(Critical Essay)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Kevin West PROJECTING TRISTAN To the uninitiated, the cumbrous titles of Wagner's operas -- consider "Gotterdammerung," with its pimply umlauts -- evoke hours of sitting in the dark, listening to fat people caterwaul about...

ALL FIRED UP; WITH OIL-SPLATTERED JEANS AND ELBOW PADS GALORE, MOTOCROSS CHIC IS REVVING UP EUROPE'S DENIM AND SPORTSWEAR SCENE.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Katya Foreman PARIS -- "The look has an exciting, rebellious attitude that fits with the thrill and danger aspects associated with the sport," says Susan Hopgood, marketing director for the Italian jeans brand Gas, which sponsors...

GIRL WONDER.
December 2, 2004... Byline: Emilie Marsh PARIS -- When the lights went out at the Palais Omnisport in Bercy, Paris' equivalent of Madison Square Garden, all eyes were on the white-and-blue Yamaha motocross bike that came roaring into the stadium. It...

LA RINASCENTE ATTRACTS MANY POTENTIAL BIDDERS.(Company Profile)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Luisa Zargani MILAN -- With its prestigious real estate and name -- La Rinascente SpA is one of Italy's best-known properties and investment funds -- entrepreneurs and property companies are lining up to buy the group after...

CALIF. WORKER COVERAGE MEASURE LOSS STANDS AFTER BALLOT MIX-UP.(Brief Article)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Nola Sarkisian-Miller LOS ANGELES -- Faulty ballot information from one county temporarily cast doubt on the Nov. 2 defeat of a statewide proposition in California that would have mandated health insurance coverage. But...

JACK STAR'S BROAD ARRAY.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Nola Sarkisian-Miller Designer Angie Furlong has returned to her indigo roots and has launched a denim line called Jack Star Jeans. A former designer for Guess, Esprit and Lucky Brand Dungarees, Furlong shied away from the...

AMERICA'S MELTIN' POT.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Lauren DeCarlo Meltin' Pot is making its way to the country that inspired its name. For 10 years, the Italian premium denim collection, owned by Romano SpA, was only available in Europe. After a soft launch last month in the...

BRIDAL BLUES.(Olivier Lapidus )(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Tina Isaac French fashion designer Olivier Lapidus has taken the old wedding-day adage -- something blue -- to a new extreme. He's created a bridal gown with a denim bustier-style top and back pockets that are just like...

HUB OUTLET GOES NATIONAL.(Hub Holding Corp. acquires Designs Inc.)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Arnold J. Karr One firm's excess is another's opportunity. Hub Holding Corp., the Ontario, Calif.-based operator of the Anchor Blue specialty chain, last week acquired Designs Inc., operator of Levi's and Dockers outlet stores...

A LITTLE BIT OF COUNTRY.(LeAnn Rimes )
December 2, 2004... Byline: Lauren DeCarlo NEW YORK -- When it comes to fashion, country singer LeAnn Rimes has a West Coast sensibility. "When I lived in Los Angeles, I was into vintage Ts and that laid-back kind of vibe," said Rimes, 22, at The...

A TRIPLE SCOOP.(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Lauren DeCarlo NEW YORK -- Scoop boutiques are taking over Washington Street here. A new Scoop offering just women's apparel opened this week at 861 Washington Street, next door to the famed saloon Hogs & Heifers. The...

LIM'S BREAKING DEVELOPMENT.(Phillip Lim )(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Lauren DeCarlo NEW YORK -- Phillip Lim has left the Los Angeles-based company Development to move to New York and launch his own label, 3.1. "As a designer, you just can't help but face the fact that you have to come out...

NEXT PHASE FOR NORTH FACE.(Company Profile)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Melanie Kletter NEW YORK -- While increasing its European operations, The North Face is breaking ground with a dramatically expanded showroom here, a wider selection of sportswear and more merchandise for women. The outdoor...

SPORT HITS THE STREETS.(Industry Overview)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Emilie Marsh PARIS -- Once selling only at the foot of Europe's highest peaks, outdoor apparel brands in Europe are taking their sporty message to the city streets. Spurred by a growing interest in casual apparel on the...

THE WWD LIST: SYNTHETIC FIBER PRODUCERS; THE TOP GLOBAL SYNTHETIC FIBER PRODUCERS IN 2004, RANKED BY CAPACITY IN TONS.(Industry Overview)
December 2, 2004... The global synthetic fibers market in 2004 has seen continued growth driven by Chinese expansion and the strength of polyester. Demand for polyester is expected to grow 7 percent this year, following similar growth in 2003. All other synthetic...

FASHION SCOOPS: UP WITH PEOPLE...COMING UP TRUMPS...STARS AND STRIPES.
December 2, 2004... UP WITH PEOPLE: Things are clicking into place over at Time Inc. Two weeks ago, WWD reported that People managing editor Martha Nelson had taken on a slightly larger role within the company and was now overseeing Teen People, as well. Then on...

SISLEY'S LATEST UPSCALE ENTRY.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Dana Wood NEW YORK -- Brace yourself for the next $300-plus day cream. Having based its entire portfolio on products that push the price envelope, Sisley is banking on the notion that its core customers won't suffer sticker...

LVMH OUTLINES CHINA'S EXPANSION PLANS AT IHT.(Company Profile)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Vicki Rothrock HONG KONG -- LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton has some ambitious plans for China over the next year. Its Louis Vuitton brand is expanding the size and visibility of its stores here, said Yves Carcelle, chief...

ANN TAYLOR LOFT THINKS CHILDREN.(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
December 2, 2004... Byline: David Moin NEW YORK -- Ann Taylor Loft, the standout division of Ann Taylor Stores Corp., is getting experimental. It's deep into testing children's wear and will make a decision next year on whether to roll out a children's...

WET SEAL LOSS WIDENS IN THIRD.(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
December 2, 2004... Byline: Arthur Zaczkiewicz NEW YORK -- Amid work to turn around its sagging business, Wet Seal Inc. delivered third-quarter results that showed declining sales, a wider loss and eroding gross margins. The Foothill Ranch, Calif.-based...

BLOOMINGDALE'S KARLSTEIN TO RETIRE.(Kenneth Karlstein)(Brief Article)
December 2, 2004... Byline: David Moin NEW YORK -- Kenneth Karlstein, vice president and general merchandise manager of ready-to-wear for Bloomingdale's Direct, will retire on Jan. 30 after 44 years in retail and wholesale. "I worked very intense. Now I...

SEA CHANGE.(Michael Kors to launch fragrance, Island MIchael Kors)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- Michael Kors seems ready for a getaway as he prepares to launch his latest women's fragrance, Island Michael Kors, the first scent to be released since the Estee Lauder Cos. acquired his beauty license from LVMH Moet Hennessy...

TOKYO TEMPLE: CHANEL OPENS 10-STORY TOWER IN BOOMING GINZA.
December 3, 2004... Byline: Miles Socha TOKYO -- From its computerized underground parking garage up to its sumptuous Alain Ducasse restaurant on the 10th floor, the world's largest Chanel store bows here Saturday in the burgeoning Ginza shopping district....

NEW LAUNCH COSTS HIT KELLWOOD NET.
December 3, 2004... Byline: Evan Clark NEW YORK -- Kellwood Co. reported a healthy sales bump Thursday because of new products -- from the acquired Phat Farm fashions to licensed Calvin Klein sportswear -- but third-quarter earnings dropped 6.3 percent,...

QUOTE OF THE WEEK.(Brief Article)
December 3, 2004... "There's a lot of money out there, easy access to it and everybody agrees that there are too many retailers, so the best answer is to consolidate." -- Allen Questrom, chairman and chief executive officer, J.C. Penney & Co. Inc.

A&F PLANS CANADIAN GROWTH.
December 3, 2004... Byline: Brian Dunn MONTREAL -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is planning to open its first stores in Canada next year. The company is currently scouting potential locations and performing due diligence in the Canadian market, according to...

IN BRIEF: PVH GETS TRUMPED... HELPING OUT.(Brief Article)
December 3, 2004... PVH GETS TRUMPED: Fresh off the launch of his fragrance and tailored clothing collection, Donald Trump has signed a deal with Phillips-Van Heusen Corp. to manufacture and distribute men's dress shirts and neckwear under the Donald J. Trump...

CORRECTION.(Correction Notice)
December 3, 2004... A lawsuit filed by the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel against the government seeks to invalidate government rules allowing threat-based petitions. This was incorrectly worded in a page 3 story, Thursday.

SUZY: CELEBRATING ST. MORITZ... POOR PENELOPE... FREUD'S NEW FRIEND.
December 3, 2004... Byline: Aileen Mehle The superexclusive Corviglia Ski Club in St. Moritz, that stronghold of royals, blue bloods and the merely mightily rich, will celebrate its 75th Diamond Jubilee on the weekend of Feb. 2. Festivities will include a...

NOVEMBER COMPS A TURKEY, HIGH END STILL A BRIGHT SPOT.
December 3, 2004... Byline: Meredith Derby NEW YORK -- The caution light kept flashing over the holiday season Thursday as retailers reported some of their weakest comp sales gains of the year, despite strong performances at the luxury end. For many...

MET CONFIRMS CHANEL EXHIBIT.
December 3, 2004... Byline: Eric Wilson NEW YORK -- The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute confirmed Thursday that it will stage its major spring exhibition on the history of Chanel, incorporating looks from the late designer and contemporary...

LANCOME'S NEW STORYTELLER.(Gucci Westman)
December 3, 2004... Byline: Pete Born, With contributions from Holly Miller NEW YORK -- Gucci Westman, international creative director at Lancome, has created her first cosmetics color story for the brand by putting the girly back into glamour. It's...

HUDIS ELEVATED AT BEAUTYBANK.(Brief Article)
December 3, 2004... NEW YORK -- The bank has a new president -- BeautyBank, that is. Jane Hudis, who had been senior vice president and general manager of BeautyBank -- the newest division of the Estee Lauder Cos. -- was elevated Thursday to its...

HERMES ADDS A BLOSSOM TO ITS GARDEN.
December 3, 2004... Byline: Brid Costello PARIS -- Hermes' olfactive garden keeps on growing. The venerable French leather goods, apparel and fragrance house will introduce Un Jardin Sur Le Nil (A Garden on the Nile, in English), a unisex scent, next...

MICHAEL'S NEW KORS: LAUNCHES WITH LAUDER.
December 3, 2004... Byline: Julie Naughton NEW YORK -- Michael Kors, one of America's most traveled designers, has come up with a fragrance concept that matches his wanderlust -- Island Michael Kors. It is the first scent to be launched since the...

THE DONALD TRUMPS COMPETITORS AT MACY'S.(Brief Article)
December 3, 2004... Byline: Julie Naughton NEW YORK -- Donald Trump is proving to be an ace at retail. With a success that's likely to lead to many more sales associates hearing "You're hired," Trump's product lines showed Macy's Herald Square the money...

EUCERIN TARGETS FACIAL REDNESS.
December 3, 2004... Byline: Molly Prior NEW YORK -- For women who panic over wrinkles or occasional blemishes, there's an abundance of elixirs on the market that take aim at these common skin concerns. Eucerin, a $47 million skin care brand that has dabbled...

CLINIQUE'S NEW SPIN ON SHAVING.
December 3, 2004... Byline: Matthew W. Evans NEW YORK -- Clinique wants a kinder, gentler shave. To that end, the Estee Lauder Cos.' 28-year-old grooming collection, Clinique Skin Supplies for Men, will be repositioned in the spring to emphasize a link...

RETAILERS RAISE $1.8 MILLION.(Brief Article)
December 3, 2004... Byline: Molly Prior NEW YORK -- Mass retail executives gathered in Manhattan Tuesday for the sixth annual National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation Dinner. The event, held at the Sheraton New York, raised more than $1.8...

CHAINS TAKE AIM AT WAL-MART.
December 3, 2004... Byline: Faye Brookman NEW YORK -- This holiday season, retailers figure if they can't beat Wal-Mart, they'll join the giant. Retailers from every mass-market channel are slashing prices and offering value to keep up with the nation's...

TOP NOTES: MOSCHINO'S NEW LOVE... WOLFER TO RESIGN... FREE MAN...(ColorMetrics and Freeman Beauty Labs launch new products)
December 3, 2004... MOSCHINO'S NEW LOVE: Fresh after rolling out Moschino Couture worldwide, Euroitalia held a launch event in Milan Nov. 23 for the quirky and girly fashion brand's new scent called I Love Love. The fragrance, under Moschino's Cheap and Chic line,...

A DESPERATE HOUSEWIFE GETS GLOWING.(NuGlow skin care line can turn back the clock)
December 3, 2004... Byline: Dana Wood NEW YORK -- Talk about dumb luck. When the marketing team behind the indie skin care brand NuGlow cast Nicollette Sheridan as its spokesperson two years ago, little did they know they'd have a Desperate Housewife on...

THE OLSENS' BICOASTAL SCENT.
December 3, 2004... Byline: Molly Prior NEW YORK -- Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have built a billion-dollar empire on cuteness. Over the summer, which began with their 18th birthday and ended with a move to the East Coast to attend New York University, the...

AND THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST.
December 3, 2004... Byline: Sara James NEW YORK -- The best way to reach the top of a masthead: start at the bottom. Skim way down to the name that appears next to "assistant to the editor in chief." Not only is he or she the gatekeeper to a certain...

MEMO PAD: RED ALERT... HOLIDAY CHEER LEADERS... NICHE ADDS MASS.
December 3, 2004... Byline: Jeff Bercovici, Sara James RED ALERT: Time Inc. has Real Simple; Hearst has Oprah. Now Hachette Filipacchi Media is making its own grab at the market share being freed up by the decline of the traditional women's service books....

FASHION SCOOPS: NOT OSCAR THIS TIME... PACK MENTALITY... EURO STARS...
December 3, 2004... NOT OSCAR THIS TIME: First Lady Laura Bush is highlighting another favorite designer: Peggy Jennings. Bush, at a Thursday preview of White House Christmas decorations, wore a warm red silk matelasse suit in a geometric pattern with a short...

MEASURED APPROACH BEST FOR CHINA.
December 3, 2004... Byline: Vicki Rothrock HONG KONG -- China might have huge potential for luxury brands in the long run, but companies should take things at a slow, steady pace in entering the market, according to industry executives. Christian...

SANTA, BABY.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... NEW YORK -- What would be better than to find that some beautiful dolls and great handbags had been left for Christmas morning? Nothing, as this lineup proves: An Alexandra Fairchild Ford-as-Holly Golightly doll in a "Breakfast at Tiffany's"...

BLUE CHRISTMAS: EUROPEAN STORES SEE TOUGH HOLIDAY AHEAD.
December 6, 2004... Byline: Robert Murphy, With contributions from Adam P. Schneider, Paris, Samantha Conti and Nina Jones, London, Damien McGuinness, Berlin, Luisa Zargani, Milan PARIS -- It isn't only the U.S. that seems to have a bit of the Christmas...

BCBG IN $153M FINANCING DEAL.
December 6, 2004... Byline: Vicki M. Young NEW YORK -- BCBG Max Azria Group on Friday completed its $53 million bond offering, and at the same time entered into a new $100 million working capital credit facility. The investment grade bonds are backed...

RETAIL SEES JOB LOSS IN NOV.
December 6, 2004... Byline: Joanna Ramey WASHINGTON -- Retailers evidently felt they had enough help in the stores to meet the holiday shopping blitz, shedding instead of adding jobs in November, the Labor Department reported Friday in its monthly...

COMING THIS WEEK.
December 6, 2004... Tuesday: FFANY New York Shoe Expo, New York (through Thursday). G-III Apparel Group reports on third-quarter sales and earnings. Wednesday: Storexpo, New York (through Thursday). Movado Group reports on third-quarter sales and...

YSL'S SCHULMAN LATEST EXEC EXPECTED TO EXIT GUCCI GROUP.(Joshua Schulman)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Byline: Robert Murphy PARIS -- Gucci Group is losing another top merchant. Joshua Schulman, executive vice president of worldwide merchandising at Yves Saint Laurent, is leaving the Paris fashion house, sources said. A spokesman...

TOP TORTES.(Lady M Mille Crepes opens new cake shop)
December 6, 2004... Byline: Jamie Rosen NEW YORK -- The Lady M Cake Boutique, which opened this weekend, is striving to be the Cartier of cakes, offering up perfectly round European-style confections in a white, narrow space on East 78th Street, just off...

WORKING IT.(Jamee Gregory, Nina Griscom)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... NEW YORK -- Thousands of tourists held up foot traffic on Fifth Avenue Tuesday night for the tree lighting in Rockefeller Center, but Jamee Gregory's friends broke through the police blockades to fete the fledgling author and her new book,...

SPECIAL ENTRY.(49 Grove is latest exclusive nightclub)
December 6, 2004... Byline: Anamaria Wilson NEW YORK -- Exclusivity, it seems, is the key for nightlife impresarios these days as yet another lounge boasting a restrictive guest list -- 49 Grove -- enters the fray on the heels of Frederick's and NA. ...

OH, YOU BEAUTIFUL DOLL.(Alexander Doll Co. markets)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... NEW YORK -- The fashion-conscious clique of high school girls in the movie "Mean Girls" is called the Plastics, but they have nothing on the Alex line of dolls -- which includes fashion editor Alexandra Fairchild Ford and her pals Jadde Lee...