WWD articles from December 2005

WWD archives from December 2005

SOLID GOLD.(fashion accents)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- Metal, metal everywhere -- but not too much. Gold accents on zippers, buttons and embroidery glitz up spring's ramped military trend. Here, Tsubi's Lurex cardigan, cotton T-shirt and cotton denim shorts trimmed with gold...

FASHION VERSUS FINANCE: PRADA'S BERTELLI CRITICIZES ANALYSTS' NUMBERS GAME.(Patrizio Bertelli)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Amanda Kaiser, With contributions from Courtney Colavita, Milan MILAN -- Fashion is not a numbers game -- at least according to Patrizio Bertelli. But while the president and chief executive officer of Prada Holding NV is...

In brief: Polo board addition...De Beers appointments...Fashion first for Thailand.(Bangkok Fashion Trend Center opens)
December 1, 2005... POLO BOARD ADDITION: Rodale Inc. president and chief executive officer Steven P. Murphy has been elected to Polo Ralph Lauren's board, bringing the number of directors to 10. Ralph Lauren, Polo's chairman and ceo, said in a statement that...

HILLARY CLINTON AND MAC TEAM UP TO FIGHT AIDS.(MAC Cosmetics and MAC AIDS Fund)(World Aids Day)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Julie Naughton NEW YORK -- "There's an old saying that you can tell the state of the economy by whether or not women are buying lipstick," said Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, N.Y.), surveying a packed room of press and Estee Lauder...

TIFFANY 3Q PROFITS RISE 37%.
December 1, 2005... Byline: Meredith Derby NEW YORK -- Tiffany & Co. reported a 37 percent jump in third-quarter net profits, because of higher gross margins and a jump in consolidated same-store sales. The company, however, had a weaker-than-expected gain...

ROSWELL BRAYTON SR., FORMER WOOLRICH CHAIRMAN.(Obituary)
December 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- Roswell Brayton Sr., former chairman and executive vice president of Woolrich Inc., the 175-year-old apparel company, died of natural causes on Tuesday at his home in Fall River, Mass. He was 88. Brayton joined the Woolrich,...

IMG, LAKME CREATE NEW FASHION WEEK IN INDIA.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Marc Karimzadeh NEW YORK -- India will have a new fashion week next year, courtesy of IMG and local cosmetics brand Lakme. The firms have teamed to create Lakme Fashion Week, scheduled for March 28-April 1 at Mumbai's...

OUT AND ABOUT.
December 1, 2005... Byline: Emilie Marsh PARIS -- Shyness is hardly an issue for celebrity offspring, as a handful of debutantes proved at the Hotel de Crillon's annual ball on Saturday. Consider Molly Flattery, the 18-year-old granddaughter of Steve...

CROUCHING TIGER.(Gong Li in "Memoirs of a Geisha")(Biography)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Vanessa Lawrence NEW YORK -- The white makeup is long gone. The exquisite, brightly colored kimonos undoubtedly have been relegated to a costume archive. But even in a plush, cozy sweater and furry snow boots, Chinese actress...

HOTELS GET MORE FASHIONABLE.(Hotel Missonis)(Byblos Art Hotel)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Alessandra Ilari, Luisa Zargani MILAN -- Two more fashion brands have jumped into the hotel business: Missoni and Byblos. Missoni, which has a successful home furnishings collection, has signed a worldwide licensing agreement...

FED: SALES RISE HEADING INTO HOLIDAY.(United States Federal Reserve Board)(consumer goods)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Evan Clark WASHINGTON -- Sales rose across much of the country from mid-October to mid-November, and inventories were generally in line, according to the Federal Reserve's Beige Book, an anecdotal take on the state of the U.S....

MADE TO METAL.(fashion accessories)(gold)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- Stay gold. This season, easy looks such as camo prints and cargo pants get a shot of glam with metallic embellishments. Caption(s): Sass & Bide's silk vest and shorts and polyester and viscose knit minidress. Arianne Jeannot...

Vincent commits to Cyn.(Cynthia Vincent's new denim line)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Khanh T.L. Tran Cynthia Vincent, the Los Angeles-based designer behind Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, is adding an avenue of opportunity next spring with a denim brand called Cyn. The new line represents Vincent's first...

Return to paradise.(Made in Heaven revamp)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Nina Jones Seventies denim may conjure images of "Charlie's Angels" and bell-bottoms, but Made in Heaven takes its cue from a simpler, more European interpretation of the decade. Chloe Lonsdale, whose godfather, Tony O'Gorman,...

SCANNING THE PERFECT FIT.(tailor-made jeans)(Bodymetrics)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Emilie Marsh It's not enough for jeans to look smart -- the fit must be intelligent. And now Bodymetrics, a London-based firm, has unveiled scanning technology that takes the exact measurements of a customer's figure in order to...

DALLAS GETS JUICY.(Juicy Couture)(Texas)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Holly Haber DALLAS -- Fake cupcakes? Check. Cheeky slogans? Check. Charms galore? Check. Last month's opening of a gumball-laden Juicy Couture store at the NorthPark Center here was the first of eight to 10 store openings in...

A BOOST FOR RETAIL MAFIA.(Boost Mobile contract)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Kavita Daswani LOS ANGELES -- The head of Benjamin Franklin and an illustration of a Russian cargo ship adorn a new limited-edition line of cell phones designed by the six-member streetwear collective, The Retail Mafia. The...

MICHAEL STARS STORES GLITTER IN L.A.(t-shirts)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Michelle Dalton Tyree LOS ANGELES -- Michael Stars, the nearly 20-year-old T-shirt company many credit with giving birth to the trend for fitted Ts, is expanding its retail operation with two new stores. On Friday, its third...

LUNA ROSSA APPAREL SETS SAIL.(by Prada)(Italy)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Luisa Zargani MILAN -- Capitalizing on its sailing experience, Prada will introduce a unisex line called Luna Rossa at Pitti Uomo, the international men's wear exhibition held in Florence next month. The sailing, sports and...

SPEEDO SUITS UP FOR WINTER OLYMPICS.(Fastskin FSII Ice Speed Suit)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Melanie Kletter NEW YORK -- Speedo is taking what it has learned in the pool and bringing it to the slopes. The swimwear giant has developed a line of high-tech suits to be worn by sledding athletes at the Winter Olympics in...

GLOBAL SYNTHETIC LEADERS; TOP SYNTHETIC FIBER PRODUCERS, RANKED BY 2005 ANNUAL CAPACITIES IN TONS.(Industry Overview)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Cecily Hall, Emily Kaiser In its analysis of 2005's top synthetic fiber producers, PCI Fibres noted that the companies represented reflect the dominance of Asia and particularly China. There are four Chinese-based companies in the...

VICTOR ALFARO RETURNS WITH EXCLUSIVE LINE.
December 1, 2005... Byline: Marc Karimzadeh NEW YORK -- Victor Alfaro is ready to give fashion another spin. The designer, who once had a namesake collection, is putting together a small line of evening-inspired looks, which will be exclusive to Ron...

MEMO PAD: CARBON COPY BLUEPRINTS.
December 1, 2005... Byline: Sara James CARBON COPY BLUEPRINTS: When Advertising Age reported last week the new magazine in development at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia would be called Blueprint, several editors in the lifestyle sector were stumped....

More accessories for MAGIC.(MAGIC International to launch Modeurope, an accessories show of European labels )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Sophia Chabbott NEW YORK -- MAGIC International is delving even deeper into accessories. In February, MAGIC will launch Modeurope, an accessories show of European labels in partnership with Reed Exhibitions, which produces...

FASHION SCOOPS: VISIONS OF KARL...I DO...REFINED HOTELS.(Karl Lagerfeld designs)(Marilyn Manson weds)(hotel prices)
December 1, 2005... VISIONS OF KARL: Karl Lagerfeld is hung up on Selma Blair. The designer has dressed the actress many times, including the two identical dresses he did for her wedding -- one, a pale pink one-shouldered number for the ceremony, the other a...

Friedman's settles with SEC.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Byline: Vicki M. Young NEW YORK -- Bankrupt jewelry retailer Friedman's Inc. has agreed to pay $2 million into the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Consumer Fraud Fund to settle securities fraud charges. The U.S. Attorney's Office in...

CLINIQUE'S NEW AGE.(Estee Lauder Cos.)(Lynne Greene to be appointed)
December 2, 2005... Byline: Julie Naughton NEW YORK -- With a new president and two additions to one of its best-selling skin care lines, Clinique is about to enter the next chapter in its 37-year history. The Estee Lauder Cos., Clinique's parent, is...

TASK FORCE TARGETS JEWELRY THEFT RING.
December 2, 2005... Byline: Kristi Ellis WASHINGTON -- The FBI, joining with the jewelry and gem industry and local law enforcement, has launched a task force to catch a ring of thieves that has burglarized 50 jewelry stores of more than $5.1 million in...

Quote of the week.(Terry Lundgren on Target's marketing capabilities)(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... "I have tremendous amount of respect for Target's marketing capabilities. To me, no one else out there has done the job. I think we are next." Terry Lundgren, Federated Department Stores Inc.

JONES SHAKES UP FRONT OFFICE.(Jones Apparel Group Inc. appointments)
December 2, 2005... Byline: Julee Greenberg NEW YORK -- In an effort to improve its overall performance, Jones Apparel Group Inc. has realigned some key management positions. The company has promoted Lynne Cote to the newly created post of chief...

IN BRIEF: NEW HOME FOR SHAWMUT...KELLEY NAMED RETAIL DIRECTOR.(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... NEW HOME FOR SHAWMUT: Construction management firm Shawmut Design and Construction will open a New York headquarters today for its retail division at 3 East 54th St. in the heart of the city's luxury shopping district. The Boston-based firm...

DENEUVE CREATES LINE FOR MAC.(Interview)
December 2, 2005... Byline: Julie Naughton NEW YORK -- Catherine Deneuve has definite opinions on a lot of things, not the least of which is makeup. Clad in a green print dress and wedge heels during an interview with WWD at the Mercer Hotel here, the...

DIDDY DELIVERS NEW SCENT TO SAKS.(Sean "Diddy" Combs )
December 2, 2005... Byline: Julie Naughton, Pete Born NEW YORK -- No one will ever accuse Sean "Diddy" Combs of being understated. The dapper rapper made a very important delivery to Saks Fifth Avenue's Manhattan flagship Thursday morning, driving a...

FEDERATED MERCHANDISING NAMES DEBBIE MURTHA TO COSMETICS POST.(Federated Department Stores Inc.)(Macy's New York)(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... NEW YORK -- In a long-awaited announcement, Federated Department Stores has tapped Debbie Murtha as senior vice president of cosmetics of the Macy's Merchandising Group. For the last nine years, Murtha spearheaded group buying of...

IFF, VISIONAIRE REUNITE FOR COLLABORATION.(International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.)
December 2, 2005... Byline: Molly Prior NEW YORK -- International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. and Visionaire have joined creative forces to introduce Visionaire 47 Taste, a limited-edition art publication that pairs images with flavors. The effort, which...

COVER GIRL'S ROYAL EXPANSION.(Cover Girl Queen Collection)
December 2, 2005... Byline: Andrea Nagel NEW YORK -- Procter & Gamble is putting forward its biggest effort in five years behind Cover Girl's January launches, which include a comprehensive ethnic makeup line, a foundation claiming to erase five years off...

BARE ESCENTUALS WORKS THE NIGHT SHIFT.(RareMinerals Skin Revival Treatment Night)(Markwins International consolidation)
December 2, 2005... Byline: Faye Brookman NEW YORK -- Leslie Blodgett wants to start a nighttime beauty revolution. Blodgett, the president and chief executive officer of Bare Escentuals, hopes women will "stop wearing their husbands' T-shirts to bed...

COSMEDICINE: KLINGER'S PRESCRIPTION FOR SKIN CARE.(Klinger Advanced Aesthetics)
December 2, 2005... Byline: Molly Prior NEW YORK -- As an antidote to the bulging skin care market, Sephora will prescribe an over-the-counter-grade collection for its product mix. This spring, the retailer will clear room for Cosmedicine, a skin care...

SALONS TO DEFINE TONI&GUY'S FUTURE.(Bruno Mascolo)(Interview)
December 2, 2005... Byline: Andrea Nagel NEW YORK -- Bruno Mascolo, chairman and chief executive officer of Toni&Guy USA, attempted to enter the U.S. professional hair care arena two times before he finally found success with one Dallas-based salon in 1985....

Sell-through still on a slide.(more than half of magazines sent to newsstands end up as returns)
December 2, 2005... Byline: Jeff Bercovici NEW YORK -- It was another good year to be in the business of shredding, recycling or otherwise disposing of unsold magazines. Poor efficiency of single-copy sales has long required American magazine publishers...

MEMO PAD: POACHING GOOD EGGS...HEARST'S HEART SLEEVES...UPPER LIPMAN HIRES.(Ann Armstrong appointed at "House Beautiful"/fund raising for the United Way/Conde Nast appointments and Christmas lunch)(various)
December 2, 2005... Byline: Sara James, Jeff Bercovici POACHING GOOD EGGS: Nowhere does the old adage "good help is hard to find" apply more than in the media world, where underlings go on to pen tell-all romans a clef, and seasoned editors frequently decamp...

NOV. COMPS: UNEVEN SURPRISE.
December 2, 2005... Byline: Meredith Derby, With contributions from Liza Casabona NEW YORK -- November comps were a reversal of fortune at retail as several of the top-hot performers, such as the high-end department stores, posted surprisingly weak results...

A HAPPY ONLINE HOLIDAY AHEAD.
December 2, 2005... Byline: Sharon Edelson NEW YORK -- Price is no object for online shoppers this holiday season. Customers are pointing and clicking on furs, diamonds and designer handbags at Web sites operated by stores ranging from Neiman Marcus to...

Marc Jacobs welcomes Santa Claus on Bleecker Street.(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... Byline: Marc Karimzadeh NEW YORK -- That jingling-tingling feeling swept into Marc by Marc Jacobs on Bleecker Street here Wednesday evening when Santa Claus made his first appearance in the boutique's window display. Thursdays...

POL DECRIES MEXICAN-MADE UNIFORMS.(politician Robin Hayes)
December 2, 2005... Byline: Kristi Ellis WASHINGTON -- Rep. Robin Hayes (R., N.C.), reacting to a report that revealed U.S. Border Patrol uniforms are being made in Mexico, vowed to reintroduce legislation that would require the agency to purchase apparel...

U.S. FUROR OVER CHINA'S BUSINESS BAILOUT.(United States)(WorldBest Group Co.)
December 2, 2005... Byline: Evan Clark WASHINGTON -- The Chinese government is giving WorldBest Group Co., a state-operated firm that houses the country's largest textile and pharmaceutical businesses, a $618 million bailout that has U.S. producers crying...

Fashion scoops: Sick ashore...First dibs...Cole's public aid.(Karen Elson's performance)(Versace Couture sample sale)(Kenneth Cole launches "We All Have AIDS" public service campaign )
December 2, 2005... SICK ASHORE: A very pregnant Karen Elson wowed the crowds attending Art Basel Miami Wednesday night at a performance by the musical group/performance artist collective Citizens' Band. Elson, who wed White Stripes lead singer Jack White in the...

SPRING CHICKENS.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 5, 2005... NEW YORK -- This season, it's good to be a little chicken -- at least when it comes to accessories. For those who are convinced that the sky is falling, there's a patent leather bag from Moschino Jeans Red, shown here. For more...

LUXURY RUSHES EAST: HONG KONG BOOMS WITH NEW FLAGSHIPS.(Industry Overview)
December 5, 2005... Byline: Miles Socha HONG KONG -- Look out New York. Watch your back Tokyo. This booming metropolis -- and preeminent gateway to fast-growing China -- has become the hottest international retail capital as fashion and luxury goods...

INDUSTRY EMPLOYMENT STEADIES IN REBOUND FROM HURRICANES.(Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita)
December 5, 2005... Byline: Evan Clark WASHINGTON -- Accessories and apparel shops shed jobs and department stores boosted payrolls last month as the U.S. economy added 215,000 positions, the biggest gain since July and a turnaround from weak growth caused...

IN BRIEF: LUXURY BOOM.(Harrods)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... LUXURY BOOM: A strong demand for luxury brands helped lift Harrods' sales in 2004, the company said in a statement Thursday. Sales at the London department store rose 4.2 percent, to 492.3 million pounds, or $902.3 million at average exchange...

CORRECTION.
December 5, 2005... The name of Donald Horowitz was omitted from an obituary of his brother, Everlast chairman and chief executive officer George Horowitz, on page 3, Wednesday.

PAINTING THE TOWN.
December 5, 2005... NEW YORK -- From artsy gatherings to charitable shopping events, a round-the-clock schedule of lunches, cocktails and black-tie affairs last week kicked off the holiday party frenzy. On Tuesday, Christy Turlington helped unveil a portrait...

ANIMAL PLANET.(animal motifs)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... NEW YORK -- Spring has gone to the birds -- and alligators, frogs and elephants, too. Inspired by Dr. Dolittle, designers are showing accessories in a menagerie of fun creatures, big and small. Caption(s): Raffia hat from Tropical...

VERSACE: MIXING FUNCTION AND FASHION.(Donatella Versace)(accessories)
December 5, 2005... Byline: Alessandra Ilari MILAN -- Donatella Versace takes a daily driving test. Not of a car, but of a bag. It's all part of her goal to design bags that are as practical as they are pretty. "Accessories today have to be anything but...

NICOLE MILLER'S ENSEMBLE ACT.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Hirshlag NEW YORK -- Now when Nicole Miller dresses her customers, she will do it from head to toe. The designer and president of the 23-year-old eponymous brand is rolling out footwear, handbags, belts and jewelry...

VAN CLEEF SHINES AT 100.(Van Cleef & Arpels Inc.)(Company Profile)
December 5, 2005... Byline: Sophia Chabbott NEW YORK -- Van Cleef & Arpels is readying some special polish for its 100th anniversary next year. The Paris-based company is renovating stores, increasing categories such as watches and high jewelry, and...

ME&RO'S TRANQUIL L.A. OUTPOST.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Michelle Dalton Tyree LOS ANGELES -- Melrose Place has another jewel on its block here -- Me&Ro. The 1,200-square-foot jewelry boutique, across the street from Marc Jacobs, is the third store for founders and designers Robin...

GOLD GLITTERS DESPITE HIGH PRICES.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Laura Klepacki NEW YORK -- Welcome to the latest gold rush. Prices for the precious metal have increased steadily in 2005, growing 13 percent to close the year at an average of $409 an ounce, according to the Jewelry...

BRANDS PLAY THE HIGH-LOW GAME.(accessories)
December 5, 2005... Byline: Katya Foreman PARIS -- Designer accessories aren't getting any cheaper for spring and summer. But as price tags for the season's most luxurious offerings continue to skyrocket, a crop of more affordable options is emerging....

SPRING'S STERLING SATCHELS.(handbags)
December 5, 2005... Byline: Sophia Chabbott NEW YORK -- High-end retailers are queuing up for spring's must-have handbags even as consumers are busy making their lists for holiday gifts. "If you're looking for news, it's `Edith,"' said Sarah Easley,...

FINDINGS: MULBERRY AND MEISEL...ANOTHER PRETTY FACE...BOND STREET'S DIAMOND RUSH.
December 5, 2005... MULBERRY AND MEISEL: Mulberry has picked Steven Meisel to shoot its spring ad campaign showcasing Stuart Vevers' first collection for the brand. The Meisel images feature models Lily Donaldson and Irena, who used to be the drummer for...

KNOCKOFFS' SUBURBAN SPRAWL WORRIES VENDORS.(luxury brand counterfeiting)
December 5, 2005... Byline: Liza Casabona NEW YORK -- Counterfeiting is more rampant than ever, especially when it comes to accessories. Of the infringing goods seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 14 percent fell into the...

TUTTI FRUITY.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 5, 2005... NEW YORK -- A blast of citrus is making a splash on spring 2006 legwear. Fruity colors, such as bright orange, lime green and lemon yellow, are a key trend on socks, tights and even legwarmers. Get 'em while they're ripe. Caption(s):...

CHINA'S FOOTHOLD ON SOCKS.(exports to the United States)
December 5, 2005... Byline: Evan Clark WASHINGTON -- Even under the restraints of a new trade deal, Chinese socks and hosiery producers are likely to ship enough of their wares to the U.S. market next year to outfit every man, woman and child with about 2.6...

VICTORIA'S SECRET KEEPS THE HEAT ON.('Very Sexy')(Company Profile)
December 5, 2005... Byline: Karyn Monget NEW YORK -- Victoria's Secret is poised to keep its sizzle going in 2006. The innerwear powerhouse -- with $4.23 billion in annual sales -- should again strut its main attribute as a refreshing alternative to...

VENDORS COOL HEELS AFTER RETAIL MERGERS.(Industry Overview)
December 5, 2005... Byline: Karyn Monget NEW YORK -- The repercussions of retail consolidation, particularly Federated Department Stores acquisition of May Department Stores, is creating uncertainty going into 2006 for many small and independent innerwear...

SARA LEE ON TRACK.(fashion)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
December 5, 2005... Byline: Karyn Monget NEW YORK -- Sara Lee Corp.'s bombshell in the spring that it would split apart its $4.5 billion apparel operation and business in the Americas-Asia territories and sell its $1.2 billion European apparel business, was...

WWD STOCK INDEX SLIDES 2.9%.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Meredith Derby NEW YORK -- A government employment report showing the strongest addition of jobs since July as well as a batch of mostly strong monthly retail sales reports failed to buoy the stock market last week, contributing...

ANALYST URGES STRONG `BUY' FOR COACH.(Goldman, Sachs & Co.)(Company Profile)
December 5, 2005... Byline: Arthur Zaczkiewicz NEW YORK -- Goldman, Sachs & Co. analyst Margaret Mager issued a bullish report on Coach Inc. last week after several store visits and channel checks, as well as an "extensive" talk with management of the...

KELLWOOD NET UP IN 3RD QTR.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Meredith Derby NEW YORK -- Despite being in the midst of a restructuring, sportswear manufacturer Kellwood Co. reported third-quarter earnings that exceeded the company's expectation, thanks to share repurchases and lower...

WELLS FARGO CEO OFFERS '06 OUTLOOK.(Interview)(Industry Overview)
December 5, 2005... NEW YORK -- Although retail consolidation has changed the dynamics of the apparel business, 2005 was a surprisingly good year -- despite macroeconomic forces that threatened consumer spending. Thomas V. Pizzo, president and chief...

FIRMS FUND $37.5M LOAN FOR ACQUISITION.(Levtran Enterprises acquisition)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... Byline: Arthur Zaczkiewicz NEW YORK -- CapitalSource Finance LLC and private equity firm Golub Capital said last week that they funded a $37.5 million loan to Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co. so it could acquire Levtran Enterprises,...

GETTING CHIC FOR HOLIDAY IN CANADA.(Holt, Renfrew and Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
December 5, 2005... Byline: Sharon Edelson NEW YORK -- Holt Renfrew is sticking to Canada when it comes to its holiday windows at its Toronto flagship. Its theme, "Canadiana chic," was conceived by John Gerhardt, director of creative services, and is...

YOOX MIXES AND MATCHES BAGS.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Cate T. Corcoran NEW YORK -- "Little, better, yellow, different." It was a famous advertising slogan for Nuprin, but it also could describe a line of whimsical, semicustomizable bags created by eight artists and architects for...

VON WULFFEN EXITS YSL AMERICA POST.(Shirin von Wulffen)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... NEW YORK -- Another high-profile fashion public relations executive is leaving her post. Shirin von Wulffen, Yves Saint Laurent America's public relations director, has resigned and her last day will be Dec. 15. Von Wulffen, who joined...

MEMO PAD: RICHEMONT'S REVENGE...SHAPING UP...TRUMP'S JACKPOT.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Samantha Conti, Jeff Bercovici RICHEMONT'S REVENGE: Advertisers can be a tricky bunch, and Compagnie Financiere Richemont's outspoken South African chief executive Johann Rupert is no exception. A Richemont spokeswoman has...

BEAUTY BEAT: TOM FORD MAKES LAUDER DEBUT IN PARIS...FRAGRANCE FOUNDATION APPOINTEES.(Estee Lauder Inc.)(Donald J. Loftus appointed new chairman)
December 5, 2005... Byline: Ellen Groves, With contributions from Emilie Marsh and Stephanie Epiro PARIS -- The extended Estee Lauder family just keeps on growing. That seemed to be the case last Thursday when the venerable U.S. brand feted the imminent...

FASHION SCOOPS: WORLD AFFAIRS...COLLINSWOOD...CAMERA SHY.
December 5, 2005... WORLD AFFAIRS: It's rare that A-list Hollywood actors show up to screen a film in which they don't appear, but the rules seem to change when a worthwhile charity is involved. On Thursday night, Renee Zellweger, Scarlett Johansson and her beau,...

SOFT AS IRON.(Sam Beam)(Interview)
December 5, 2005... Byline: Jeff Bercovici NEW YORK -- Being quieter than everyone else is not the fastest way to get recognized in the music world. But it's worked well enough for Sam Beam, the singer better known as Iron & Wine. Over the course of two...

THE TOP 10 STORIES OF '05.
December 6, 2005... NEW YORK -- This year saw shake-ups of all sorts, from a slew of massive retail mergers to hurricanes to a dramatic change in fashion direction. Macy's Coast-to-Coast: Federated-May Deal Forges New Retail Giant The Runway Spotlight:...

STEVEN KOLB SAID ELECTED TO HEAD CFDA.
December 6, 2005... Byline: Marc Karimzadeh NEW YORK -- The Council of Fashion Designers of America is said to have chosen its next executive director. According to sources, the CFDA's board elected Steven Kolb to the post at a meeting on Monday...

J. JILL BOARD TO EXPLORE STRATEGIC OPTIONS.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2005... Byline: Julee Greenberg NEW YORK -- The board of J. Jill Group Inc. may consider selling the company. The Quincy, Mass.-based company said Monday it will begin to explore strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value, including...

IN BRIEF: PRICE SET...GISELE THE ARCHITECT.(Safilo S.p.A.)(Gisele Bundchen)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2005... PRICE SET: Eyewear group Safilo SpA's public offer ended on Friday. Late Monday, the price was set at 4.90 euros, or $5.73 at current exchange, per share, which is on the lower end of an indicative price range of 4.80 euros, or $5.62, to 7...