WWD articles from December 2007

WWD archives from December 2007

Two on the town.(Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Alessandra Ilari Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are about to cap off their year with a $15 million present to themselves. The designers spent that amount to refurbish and expand their New York flagship at 825-827 Madison...

Shearer exits Estee Lauder.(Philip Shearer)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Pete Born, Molly Prior NEW YORK -- In a surprise move, Philip Shearer resigned Friday as a group president at the Este Lauder Cos. Inc. after six years with the company. Shearer could not be reached for comment and neither...

Ungaro looks to Cortazar for stability.(Emanuel Ungaro, Esteban Cortazar)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Robert Murphy PARIS -- Emanuel Ungaro said Friday that it has hired Esteban Cortazar as the house's new women's wear designer, confirming a WWD report the 23-year-old Colombian would become the latest person to try to reinvigorate...

In brief: Puma extends licensing deal ... Pringle bows in Hong Kong.(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... PUMA EXTENDS LICENSING DEAL: Puma has extended its partnership with United Legwear Co. to make it the exclusive sock licensee for the brand in the U.S. The partnership is a three-year agreement that for the first time allows United Legwear...

Painting the town.(party sponsored by Calvin Klein)
December 3, 2007... There were drag queens in the basement, New York Rangers in the stairwell, movie stars on the top floor and painters all around Wednesday night at the First Look party at the New Museum on the Bowery, sponsored by Calvin Klein. "I flew in...

Versace bows jewelry shop.
December 3, 2007... Byline: Luisa Zargani MILAN -- Versace's first store dedicated to jewelry and watches will open in Rome this week and marks the first step in the company's medium- to long-term strategy to open such stores around the world. "Versace...

Camuto unit acquires Development Clothing.(Camuto Group)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Julee Greenberg Kaplan VCS Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Camuto Group, has acquired a majority stake in Development Clothing LLC, a contemporary apparel brand designed by Erica Davies, who will stay on as creative...

Memo pad: Steve Floiro hospitalized ... out of the frying pan ... best man...
December 3, 2007... Byline: Irin Carmon, Stephanie D. Smith STEVE FLORIO HOSPITALIZED: Former Cond Nast Publications Inc. chief executive officer Steve Florio has been hospitalized and is seriously ill following a recent heart attack. Florio, 58, has a history...

Fashion scoops: celebrity arrival ... guess rocks the movies ... Dover Street Santa ...
December 3, 2007... CELEBRITY ARRIVAL: Polo Ralph Lauren has found its new director of celebrity dressing in the magazine world. Manhattan man-about-town Kimball Hastings will start in that role on Wednesday, joining from Teen Vogue, where he was a senior editor....

De la Rental boutique to open at South Coast Plaza.(Oscar de la Renta Ltd.)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Rosemary Feitelberg Oscar de la Renta Ltd. is seeing the sunny side of retail by opening a South Coast Plaza store in February. The new 2,600-square-foot boutique will be the second the designer will have unveiled in Southern...

Brands hedge their bets on China.
December 3, 2007... Byline: Karyn Monget The Made in China label is starting to lose its luster for many innerwear firms. The manufacturing and sourcing process has evolved since the early Nineties, when U.S. companies began in earnest to move production...

Watch sales keep ticking despite tough times.
December 3, 2007... Byline: Robert Murphy PARIS -- Financial markets have been riding a roller coaster and analysts are predicting continued turbulence, but the economic turmoil isn't affecting Switzerland's high-end watch trade. Business continues to...

Michael Wunderman: new face of corium.
December 3, 2007... Byline: Sophia Chabbott Swiss watchmakers are known for deft work, dedication and upholding centuries-old traditions, but Geneva isn't exactly bursting with youthful energy. Enter Michael Wunderman, the 32-year-old son of watch veteran...

Jimmy Choo making faces with Richard Phillips.
December 3, 2007... Byline: Samantha Conti Tamara Mellon is ready to offer handbag junkies and contemporary art lovers a fresh object of desire. Mellon will unveil two limited edition bags -- a clutch and a tote -- at Art Basel Miami Beach this week that...

Platonic takes democratic approach to diamonds.
December 3, 2007... Byline: Samantha Conti For her latest diamond jewelry collection, Platonic, Solange Azagury-Partridge didn't discriminate between the finest fancy colored diamonds, the industrial ones and even the muddy-toned rocks. "I wanted to go...

Opulent accessories glitter for holiday.
December 3, 2007... Byline: Katya Foreman, Lucie Greene PARIS -- A cornucopia of bejeweled accessories emerged in the run-up to the holiday season and price doesn't seem to be an object. Some notable items include Taryn Rose's $250,000 slippers adorned...

Sunglasses shine as must-have item.
December 3, 2007... Byline: Caroline Tell Sunglasses have achieved high-visibility status as designers and companies jump into the category. This year alone Pucci, Jimmy Choo, Balenciaga, Proenza Schouler, Karl Lagerfeld and Tiffany have entered the...

For fashion and retail, health care could be key issue.
December 3, 2007... Byline: Vicki M. Young Attracting quality individuals to a career in retail and fashion is hard to do when the industry is notorious for lackluster benefits and long hours, but the upcoming presidential election could result in positive...

Benefits packages impact retention.
December 3, 2007... Byline: Jeanine Poggi Retailers are boosting their efforts to reduce turnover of store managers by cutting hours, increasing bonuses and providing extra compensation time. According to a survey conducted by Career Management, an...

Challenges ahead for luxury market in '08.
December 3, 2007... Byline: Rachel Strugatz The luxury market, once insulated from economic woes plaguing downstream segments, now faces softer sales and other challenges ahead. In the short term, the threat comes from a retreating aspirational shopper,...

N.Y. retailers upbeat on holiday '07 sales.(New York)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Jessica Best ALBANY, N.Y. -- More than three-quarters of New York retailers believe their sales during the upcoming holiday shopping season will be at least as good or better than last year's, according to a survey by the Retail...

Legal briefs.
December 3, 2007... Byline: Liza Casabona The TJX Cos. reached a settlement agreement last week with Visa USA Inc. and Visa Inc. in litigation that arose out of TJX's previously reported unauthorized computer intrusions, according to a statement from the...

Fast stats.(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Citigroup's same-store sales estimate for November: +4.8% Citigroup's same-store sales estimate for November in the department store channel: +8.4% Goldman Sachs' price target on shares of Sears Holdings corp.: $126 Friday's...

Poll: super rich plan to spend $46K on fashion this holiday.
December 3, 2007... Byline: Valerie Seckler Yacht charters, automobiles and other vehicles; jewelry; charitable donations, and villa rentals are projected to command the highest levels of holiday spending among Americans with net worths north of $10 million,...

Rising sales lift Tiffany.(Tiffany & Co.)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Jeanine Poggi Jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co.'s earnings more than tripled in the third quarter, buoyed by the sale of its Tokyo flagship. The company also raised full-year-guidance. For the three months ended Oct. 31, earnings...

Mood swing.(fashion designers taste in lingerie and loungewear )(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Some designers favor a dark, brooding approach to fall lingerie and loungewear, with black pieces in shapes that blend severity and sensuality. Case in point: Cadolle's silk and spandex satin and lace minidress. Emilio Cavallini tights;...

SIL looks to romance visitors.(Salon International de la Lingerie)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Katya Foreman PARIS -- Good old-fashioned romance will be the underlying theme at the upcoming Salon International de la Lingerie, to be held at the Porte de Versailles here Jan. 24 to 27 -- or as the event's organizer Eurovet puts...

An eclectic menu of 'green' designers.
December 3, 2007... Byline: Katya Foreman PARIS -- A crop of emerging brands are paving the way for innerwear's green future. Here are a few of the movement's pioneers who will be showing in the Salon International de la Lingerie's "Spicy Garden." ...

Racy Lace.(Paris Lace Inc.'s lingerie design)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Laurent Folcher PARIS Lace is always among the most romantic of materials, and it's trimming evocative, erotic lingerie looks at the moment. Designers are playing with patterns and transparency and using those elements in such...

Scene: causing a flap ... round and about ... after dark.
December 3, 2007... Byline: Meredith Batastini, Allegra Farina, Chantal Goupil, Christine Cheng CAUSING A FLAP Fashions from the Roaring Twenties are alive and well at the Galliera fashion museum in Paris. Its current exhibit, titled "Les Anes Folles:...

Best buds.(pre-fall collection's fashion show)(Brief article)
December 4, 2007... Nothing's informal chez Oscar de la Renta. He staged a proper Park Avenue fashion show for his proper garden party of a pre-fall collection, which featured lively floral prints tempered by tailored tweeds. Here, a brocade jacket worn with a...

Hooray for weak dollar: flood of tourists boosts retailers' holiday traffic.
December 4, 2007... Byline: Sharon Edelson, Marcy Medina, Rachel Brown, Georgia Lee, Katherine Bowers Foreigners could be the salvation of this year's holiday retail season. While the sluggish economy and high gas prices may be leaving Americans feeling...

Italian television program alleges fashion misconduct.
December 4, 2007... Byline: Alessandra Ilari, Luisa Zargani MILAN -- The Italian fashion industry was abuzz Monday following the airing the night before of a major investigation into industry practices on the TV program "Report." The documentary on the...

CORRECTION.
December 4, 2007... The journal arts publication, which will publish a Helmut Lang interview in it s winter 2007 issue, founded the Journal Gallery in Brooklyn, N.Y., which is presenting Lang's "Next Ever After" installation. This affiliation was unclear in a...

In brief: Warnaco negotiates sale of Lejaby ... Galeries Lafayette expanding.(Warnaco Group Inc.)(Brief article)
December 4, 2007... WARNACO NEGOTIATES SALE OF LEJABY The Warnaco Group Inc., which earlier this fall said it planned to sell its Lejaby intimate apparel and swimwear brand, is negotiating exclusively with Palmers Textil AG, a lingerie and intimate apparel...

Material world.(launch of Gap's (Product) Red designer collaborations )
December 4, 2007... At the Cinema Society and Piaget screening of "Revolver" on Sunday, the film's director, Guy Ritchie, and his wife Madonna were asked every imaginable question about their marriage and life in general. What did she first notice about...

Side show.
December 4, 2007... Byline: Elisa Lipsky-Karasz Collectors, gallerists and a lot of hangers-on descend upon Miami this week for the sixth incarnation of Art Basel Miami Beach. The art may be the official attraction, but it's in danger of being overshadowed by...

It's in the air.(latest crop of new designers)
December 4, 2007... Byline: Jessica Iredale, Vronique Hyland, Sarah Haight, Venessa Lau The latest crop of new designers knows how to use a light touch, showing airy confections that incorporate everything from sculptural ruched silk to ostrich feathers. ...

Smart and sassy.(Oscar de la Renta's collection )(Brief article)
December 4, 2007... NEW YORK -- Oscar de la Renta presented his pre-fall collection with the fanfare of fashion week -- 63 looks shown at the Park Avenue church he used for spring minus the frenzy. His apparent inspiration: spring's floral fever. He lavished...

Retailers, vendors cheer on chilly weather.
December 4, 2007... Byline: Rosemary Feitelberg No one relishes a cold snap like outerwear makers and retailers, so it's no surprise they welcomed the thermometer's recent drop with glee. In fact, stores are saying coats and other cold-weather gear are...

Coat companies widen net for store openings.
December 4, 2007... Byline: Rosemary Feitelberg Three outerwear makers are opening stores at home and abroad, but not necessarily on familiar terrain. J.Mendel's unit in Moscow launched last week, Dennis Basso's Atlantic City location welcomed its first...

War, immigration replace textiles as top S.C. issue.
December 4, 2007... Byline: Joyce Barrett The erosion of the once mighty textile industry in South Carolina has been supplanted as the top issue among most voters in the state's presidential primaries -- the first in the South. Although tens of thousands...

Election seen slowing trade deals.
December 4, 2007... Byline: Kristi Ellis WASHINGTON -- Congress is expected to consider a full slate of trade measures next year amid the heat of a presidential campaign. Key legislation on the table includes: A bill that would pressure China to raise the...

Carriers sound alarm on fuel.
December 4, 2007... Byline: Ross Tucker NEW YORK -- Ocean freight carriers are giving apparel importers advance warning about their intent to move aggressively in the next two years to recoup rapidly rising fuel costs. Freight rate contract negotiations...

Good chemistry.
December 4, 2007... Byline: Court Williams On Dec. 10, IntertechPira's three-day "Smart and Intelligent Textiles" conference begins in Prague with an entire day dedicated to nanotextiles. "The most promising technologies being researched today are the ones...

Designers doing double-time with non-fashion ads.
December 4, 2007... Byline: Rosemary Feitelberg Having your designs featured in a non-fashion company's advertising may sound like a dicey venture, but a few ready-to-wear designers see it as a new way of branding. While forking over the money for a...

Hotels welcome apparel alliances.
December 4, 2007... Byline: Rosemary Feitelberg Giorgio Armani, Bulgari and Versace have gotten into the hotel business, but designers at other brands are collaborating with hotels on smaller scales. French designer Pascal Humbert has worked with...

Maier shines at St. Regis.(Brief article)
December 4, 2007... MILAN -- Tomas Maier has just signed off on his second collaboration with the St. Regis Hotel. After a first suite in the hotel's New York unit, Bottega Veneta's creative director furnished a sprawling space inside Rome's St. Regis Grand...

Memo pad: last words... back to basics.
December 4, 2007... Byline: Stephanie D. Smith, Irin Carmon LAST WORDS: Did Evel Knievel underestimate his own resilience? Knievel, who died Friday at age 69, has been slipping away for years, resuscitating himself after stunts gone bad, liver failure and a...

Hiltons eyeing Jourdan.
December 4, 2007... PARIS -- There soon could be another Hilton in the fashion business -- this time, mom Kathy. Rick and Kathy Hilton -- the parents of Paris and Nicky -- are investment partners in the American group Omniscient that is mulling a purchase of...

Beauty sales in Italy to rise 2.5%... Esteem Lauder sued by Nefeli...
December 4, 2007... MILAN -- Unipro, the association for Italian cosmetics industries, has released preliminary sales results for 2007 and recapped the history of the Italian beauty industry during the 40 years since the association was founded. Italys beauty...

Facchinetti ending deal with Moncler.(Alessandra Facchinetti, Moncler Gamme Rouge )
December 4, 2007... Byline: Alessandra Ilari MILAN -- In a predictable move, Alessandra Facchinetti is ending her Moncler Gamme Rouge partnership to focus on Valentino, where she will present her first ready-to-wear show in March. Her last effort for Moncler...

Tiffany and Swatch in 20-year alliance.
December 4, 2007... Byline: Robert Murphy PARIS -- Swatch Group is lending its muscle to Tiffany & Co. in the New York jeweler's bid to grow its watch business worldwide. The Swiss watch firm and Tiffany on Monday said they had sealed a 20-year strategic...

Calvin boosts PH net.(Phillips-Van Heusen Corp.)
December 4, 2007... Byline: Jeanine Poggi Phillips-Van Heusen Corp. posted a 20 percent jump in third-quarter earnings, driven by strong sales in its Calvin Klein licensing business. For the three months ended Nov. 4, net income rose to $60.9 million, or...

Iconix adds to management.(Iconix Brand Group Inc.)(Brief article)
December 4, 2007... Iconix Brand Group Inc. has hired four executives to new positions in its senior management team. Kimberly Lee Minor is vice president of brand management, overseeing the company's London Fog, Joe Boxer and Rampage brands. Minor comes to...

Showtime for De Beers watches.
December 4, 2007... Byline: Sophia Chabbott For De Beers, it's about time. The diamond jewelry firm has launched its first watch collection in De Beers stores after two years in development. Unlike the Swiss watch powerhouses, De Beers has...

Post-Black Friday traffic slow, but normal.
December 4, 2007... Byline: David Moin Compared with the din of Black Friday, this month's retail traffic simmered down, but retailers still aren't pushing the panic button. "It started out slower," said one Eastern department store principal, referring...

Selfridges, Harrods go deeper into accessories.
December 4, 2007... Byline: Nina Jones LONDON -- Although "It" bags that sell for thousands of dollars may build buzz about accessories, two London department stores are spotlighting some often-overlooked categories in the sector. Selfridges last month...

Fortnum & Mason gets a facelift.
December 4, 2007... Byline: Samantha Conti, Brid Costello LONDON -- Three hundred years ago, when America was a part of the British colonies and tea had yet to be shipped to Boston harbor, the legendary London food emporium Fortnum & Mason was opening its...

Fashion scoops: La Dolce Vita... the mob on film.
December 4, 2007... LA DOLCE VITA: As soon as Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce touched down in New York Friday night, the two began to "make the fun," Gabbana said with a smile at the reopening of their Madison Avenue boutique on Monday. Over the course of the...

Fresh coat.(Brief article)
December 5, 2007... With Valentino set to take his final bow on the couture runway in January, successor Alessandra Facchinetti faced the daunting task of presenting her first collection while the legend is still in-house. In New York on Tuesday, she rose to the...

Playing in the majors: L.A.'s Robertson Blvd. makes the big leagues.(Los Angeles)
December 5, 2007... Byline: Marcy Medina, Rachel Brown LOS ANGELES - Robertson Boulevard, one of this city's hottest shopping streets, is about to get a jolt from some of the biggest names in fashion. Dolce & Gabbana's D&G concept and Chanel are set next...

Retail focus fuels Guess.
December 5, 2007... Byline: Vicki M. Young The momentum keeps building at Guess Inc. Coming off double-digit growth in earnings and sales for the third quarter, company executives on Tuesday raised their earnings per share guidance for the year and...

PVH shares tumble after forecast.(Phillips-Van Heusen Corp.)
December 5, 2007... Byline: Jeanine Poggi Phillips-Van Heusen Corp. shares slid 13.1 percent Tuesday after the company forecasted fourth-quarter and 2008 earnings below Wall Street expectations. The apparel maker said in its earnings release after the...

In brief: Oscar'S gold star... wear me a dream...(Oscar de la Renta )(Brief article)
December 5, 2007... OSCAR'S GOLD STAR: Oscar de la Renta will be honored Saturday in The Great Hall of the City College of New York to celebrate the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute's 15th anniversary. The event will also salute the school's 35,000-plus Dominican...

Lacroix lands a Manhattan address.(Christian Lacroix)
December 5, 2007... Byline: Rosemary Feitelberg Twenty years after the U.S. helped Christian Lacroix make a name for himself, he is opening his first Manhattan store. With its mirrored tiles, customized chandeliers and walnut veneer walls with...

McQueen heads West.(Alexander McQueen )
December 5, 2007... Byline: Samantha Conti LONDON - Alexander McQueen is moving west of the Rocky Mountains. The London designer has two new units planned: Las Vegas, which will open a few days before Christmas, and Los Angeles, which opens in April. ...

HsU iNDICTED bY gRAND jURY.
December 5, 2007... Byline: Kristi Ellis A federal grand jury on Tuesday indicted Democratic fund-raiser Norman Hsu, a former men's sportswear executive, on charges of duping investors of at least $20 million in a Ponzi scheme and using some of the money to...

Urbane studies; attention, seventh avenue set: a new group of designers has arrived, ready to make its mark on fashion with chic, polished looks for both day and night.
December 5, 2007... Byline: Venessa Lau, JEssica Iredale, Sarah Haight, Vronique Hyland MICHAEL ANGEL Backstory: Aussie Michael Angel, 32, had quite a prolific styling career before launching his own line. At the age of 16, he began working the sales...

Markdown demands may force mergers.
December 5, 2007... The dismal retail numbers reported this season alleviated only by early sales mean one thing to vendors: markdown money. Facing these profit-eating demands come January, many midsize moderate and better manufacturers are turning to the...

Remaining Liz brands to seal fates in 2008.(Liz Claiborne Inc.)
December 5, 2007... Byline: Whitney Beckett Seven down in 2007- nine more brands to divest of in 2008. Since Liz Claiborne Inc. said on July 11 that it was putting 16 of its brands under review, the industry and investment community alike have been...

Kellwood feeling the heat as takeover pressure builds.
December 5, 2007... Byline: Whitney Beckett Kellwood Co. is stuck between a fed-up Wall Street and an angry major shareholder and it must either deliver to the first or risk a hostile takeover by the second in 2008. Since Sun Capital Securities Group LLC...

Proportion play.(Brief article)
December 5, 2007... NEW YORK Could pre-fall be the next resort season? With increasing demand for a constant flow of new merchandise, designers are now delivering full, trend-driven collections. This time around, Carolina Herrera, Valentino and Zac Posen took the...

Facchinetti's first take.(Alessandra Facchinetti)
December 5, 2007... Byline: Marc Karimzadeh NEW YORK - There was no red in sight, just a hint of cerise. In town to present her first Valentino effort for pre-fall, Alessandra Facchinetti showed a few new shades for the iconic fashion house, while...

Memo pad: Nueva Kate... cartoon trouble... what journalistic ethics?...
December 5, 2007... Byline: Marc Karimzadeh, Amy Wicks, Whitney Beckett, Marcy Medina, Andrew Roberts, Stephanie D. Smith NUEVA KATE: Donna Karan's new Collection campaign features a sun-kissed Kate Moss showing off her sexy and sultry side - a far cry from...

Senate oks Peru trade deal.
December 5, 2007... Byline: Kristi Ellis WASHINGTON - The Senate overwhelmingly passed a free trade agreement with Peru Tuesday and sent the first trade agreement of the year to President Bush's desk for his signature. The trade accord with Peru, which...

'Tis the season for retail parties.
December 5, 2007... Byline: David Moin Retail parties were in full swing last week, with New York-based construction manager Richter + Ratner celebrating its 95th anniversary last Thursday with more than 200 fashion executives, architects, interior designers...

Beauty beat: Burberry's latest scent set in motion at launch ...
December 5, 2007... LONDON - Christopher Bailey sure knows how to set pulses racing. The Burberry designer strategically placed a 3-ton chandelier featuring hundreds of cascading bottles of The Beat, the brand's latest fragrance, above a dance floor throbbing to...

Fashion scoops: VIP Room ... Smooth as silk ... Cream of the crop ...
December 5, 2007... VIP ROOM: Leave it to Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel to draw a glitzy, international front row to a fashion show in December. Among those expected at Thursday's presentation of Chanel's luxury pre-fall collection in London are Lily Allen, Rinko...

Chico's earnings plummet 44%.(Financial report)(Brief article)
December 5, 2007... Byline: Jeanine Poggi Women's apparel retailer Chico's FAS Inc. posted a 44 percent plunge in third-quarter earnings, hurt by sluggish same-store sales and higher markdowns. For the three months ended Nov. 3, net income fell to $23.6...

Jil Sander units go 'off the beaten path'.(Brief article)
December 5, 2007... NEW YORK- Jil Sander has a minimalist take on fashion. But when it comes to choosing retail locations, it's eclectic. This fall, the firm, already opened in Moscow's Red Square, revealed plans to open in St. Petersburg. It also has selected...

Gap's Donald Fisher touts plans for contemporary art museum.(Gap Inc., The Contemporary Art Museum at the Presidio)
December 5, 2007... Byline: Joanna Ramey SAN FRANCISCO- "It's going to be an amazing place once this gets done," said Donald Fisher, former Gap Inc. chairman, addressing a packed audience Monday night here in his hometown. The crowd in the Presidio Officers'...

Main events.(Brief article)
December 5, 2007... As economic worries increase, organizers seek to make their trade shows must-attend affairs.

Scene: Southern hospitality... Home cooking ... State of the art ...(Gansevoort South Hotel, restaurant Comme , The New Museum)
December 5, 2007... Byline: Elizabeth Thurman, Amanda FitzSimons, Diana Ryu Southern Hospitality MIAMI BEACH- If luxury is the name and hotels are the game, then there's no bigger player in South Beach than Gansevoort South. This behemoth of a resort...