WWD articles from February 2008

WWD archives from February 2008

WEB SIGHT.(Brief article)(Photograph)
February 6, 2008... Byline: Beth Wilson Kate and Laura Mulleavy spun a magical tale for fall, sending out a Rodarte collection full of perfect imperfections. Their dreamy knits, for example, were purled out of sheer nothingness. Here, one such dress, worn...

CHARMING SHOPPES CLOSING STORES, CUTTING JOBS.
February 6, 2008... Byline: Jeanine Poggi Charming Shoppes Inc. is the latest retailer to adopt restructuring plans, saying on Tuesday it will close 150 underperforming stores and cut about 200 jobs in an effort to boost profits. The plus-size women's...

RETAIL SHARES SLIDE WITH BROADER MARKET.(Brief article)
February 6, 2008... Byline: Jeanine Poggi Retail shares were trampled after an unexpected contraction in the service sector further signaled a recession. As a result, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged more than 300 points, closing down 2.9...

N BRIEF: PERRY ELLIS GETS LIZ BRANDS...ASTON JOINS ROGER VIVIER.(Brief article)
February 6, 2008... PERRY ELLIS GETS LIZ BRANDS: Liz Claiborne has completed the sale of Laundry By Design and C&C California to Perry Ellis International for $37 million. An agreement to sell the two brands was reached in January. Only three of the initial 16...

CORRECTIONS.(Correction notice)
February 6, 2008... Mark Lee is chief executive officer of Gucci, which operates 42 stores in the U.S. and 233 units worldwide. This was incorrect in a story on page 1, Tuesday. Kyle Ericksen was a photographer backstage at the Oscar de la Renta show on...

CROWDED HOUSE.
February 6, 2008... Cool chick Chlo Sevigny has loads of equally hip friends to call on when she decides to throw a party. But even she was surprised by the turnout at the bash she hosted at Webster Hall Monday night - along with MAC Cosmetics, Self-Service...

EARLY BIRDS.(Brief article)
February 6, 2008... Look at you Tory, Milla, Georgina and L'Wren. So ahead of the game on your own collections that you have time to skip out of the studio and check out your friends' shows. While other designers work up until the last minute (example: Marc...

CLASS ACTS.
February 6, 2008... There's more than one way to create an air of distinction. Proenza Schouler did it with structured curves, Badgley Mischka with controlled flash and Rodarte with charming romance. Proenza Schouler: After last season's too-safe collection,...

TO THE MAX.
February 6, 2008... Oh, the joys of extravagance. Designers laid it on thick for fall, from lush furs to ornate embellishments to supersized patterns. J.Mendel: Is there such a thing as too much luxe? Not according to Gilles Mendel. For fall, the...

REACH OUT AND TOUCH.
February 6, 2008... That was the directive for fall, as designers filled their runways with shiny silks, rich velvets, cutout cashmeres and more. MaxAzria: The ever-hardworking Max Azria, who in just four days showed three collections, took cues from...

MORE FROM THE SHOWS.
February 6, 2008... Charlotte Ronson: With a packed front row of young social types (Fabiola, Zani, Eleanor), Charlotte Ronson showed a collegiate side, sending forth cashmere cardigans, denim and tweed jumpers and several refreshing petal-print dresses. ...

THE GOLD STANDARD.(Brief article)
February 5, 2008... Oscar de la Renta knows a thing or two about luxury, and he showed it with a terrific fall collection that featured many opulent pieces in brocade or metallic tweed, some lavished with embroidery or fur. Here, the richest shearling coat...

NRDC SAID EYEING KLEINFELD'S.
February 5, 2008... Byline: David Moin, With contributions from Zara Wong NRDC Equity Partners has bridal on its brain. According to sources, the investment company has shown interest in Kleinfeld's, the famous bridal emporium, though no deal is cooking....

TJX BOARD APPROVES $1B STOCK BUYBACK.(Brief article)
February 5, 2008... Byline: Vicki M. Young Off-pricer TJX Cos. Inc. said on Monday that its board approved a new stock repurchase program of up to $1 billion of TJX common stock, or 7.5 percent of the company's outstanding common shares, at current prices....

IN BRIEF: STOCKS SINK...CHANEL'S LONGER DEAL.(Brief article)
February 5, 2008... STOCKS SINK: Wall Street anxiously anticipated dismal January same-store sales, which will be released later in the week, by sending retail shares into free fall on Monday. The WWD Composite Stock Index fell 2.5 percent to 893.14, while the...

ENCHANTED EVENING.
February 5, 2008... Byline: Max Padilla With its moody, patterned fabrics and Schiele-worthy palette, Prada's spring collection was a study in dark fairy-tale allure. So it is rather surprising to learn that James Jean, the artist behind those prints, toils...

LIFE DRAWING.(Interview)
February 5, 2008... Byline: Vanessa Lawrence E-mail has replaced the fine art of letter-writing. Texting stands in for actual human conversation. And photography is advancing at such dizzying speeds that it's easy to forget that illustration used to be the...

SHOW SOME CONFIDENCE.
February 5, 2008... Pretty, polished and a little bit punky. That was a favorite runway recipe, resulting in a batch of self-assured looks for fall. Tuleh: Barack Obama, fashion muse? Before his show, designer Bryan Bradley said he was inspired by Obama's...

THEME PARK.
February 5, 2008... Designers went all out with motifs ranging from the icy outdoors to Brancusi sculptures, with a touch of the Sixties thrown in between. Y-3: After last season's man-made rainstorm, early messages warning patrons to dress warmly for Yohji...

DIESEL EXPANDS OFFERING WITH LAUNCH OF BLACK GOLD.(denim line)
February 5, 2008... Byline: Luisa Zargani MILAN - With oil close to the $100 a barrel mark, it's perhaps only appropriate for Diesel to launch a new label called Black Gold. Aimed at a higher end of the market compared with the Diesel or Diesel Denim...

GUCCI IN ROME: A FACELIFT AT 70.(Gucci Group N.V.'s clothing store in Italy)(Brief article)
February 5, 2008... Byline: Alessandra Ilari Gucci's Rome store is celebrating its 70th birthday with a brand new look and, just like the New York flagship, it reopens today. Located on Via Condotti since 1938, the 10,400-square-foot store retraces its...

UNICA EXHIBITORS UPBEAT DESPITE DOLLAR WOES.(textile industry)
February 5, 2008... Byline: Stephanie Epiro and Chiara Hughes MILAN - Italian textile manufacturers are hopeful about the year ahead, despite a possible recession and a worsening euro-dollar exchange rate. Executives from some of Italy's top textile...

ITALIAN TEXTILES OVERCOME ODDS.(textile industry)(Brief article)
February 5, 2008... Byline: Sophia Chabbott, With contributions from Marc Karimzadeh Italian Trade Commission president Umberto Vattani said his country's textile industry is facing the challenges of doing business with the U.S. by emphasizing its expertise...

PAKISTAN MILLS COPING WITH UNEASY BUYERS.
February 5, 2008... Byline: Mahlia S. Lone LAHORE, Pakistan - Pakistani mills, operating in a country in crisis, are trying to convey a sense of stability to foreign buyers. The mills are emphasizing their ability to maintain competitive prices and...

CAROLINA HERRERA'S BOUTIQUE SET TO BOW IN DALLAS.(Brief article)
February 5, 2008... Byline: Rosemary Feitelberg Carolina Herrera is heading to the Lone Star State and will open a freestanding store in Dallas next month. Mario Grauso, president of Puig Fashion, the Spanish-owned company that controls Carolina Herrera...

GLOBE-TROTTERS.(London fashion designers)(Quotation)
February 5, 2008... London designers are going around the worlds - real and fantasy - for inspirations this fall. "I'm looking at something quite childish and subverting it. Like Dorothy going back to Oz and killing all the monkeys.Dorothy meets 'Tomb...

A LITTLE POLISH.(Diane von Furstenberg's collection)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Diane von Furstenberg may be famous for her effortless dresses, but there's more to her repertoire than fab frocks. And she proved it with the stylish fall collection she showed on Sunday, which centered on a vagabond heroine in polished,...

REMEMBER RECESSIONS? INDUSTRY VETS PRESCRIBE WAYS TO COPE WITH BLAHS.(clothing industry)
February 4, 2008... Byline: WWD Staff As New York Fashion Week kicks into high gear, everyone from the designers in their ateliers to the retail executives in the front row and perhaps even the models on the runways has one word on their minds beginning...

NRDC TO ACQUIRE FORTUNOFF.(NRDC Equity Partners, Fortunoff Fine Jewelry and Silverware Inc.)
February 4, 2008... Byline: David Moin NEW YORK - NRDC Equity Partners, the parent of Lord & Taylor and Creative Design Studio, has entered into an agreement to purchase Fortunoff for $110 million. Meanwhile, Fortunoff was expected to electronically...

CROW SEEKS RIGHT NOTE FOR DENIM.(Sheryl Crow's denim-based collection)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Ross Tucker NEW YORK - With a new album out Tuesday and her first apparel line slated to hit the sales floor in late June, 2008 promises to be a busy year for Sheryl Crow. As first reported in WWD on Oct. 10, the nine-time...

IN BRIEF.(Lane Bryant Inc.'s closure to honor gun violence victim in ther Chicago stores)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... LANE BRYANT HONORS VICTIMS: Lane Bryant's greater-Chicago area stores were closed on Sunday in mourning for the five people who were shot and killed at the retailer's Tinley Park, Ill., location the day before. Charming Shoppes Inc., the...

PREP SCHOOL; FROM CETAPHIL TO CYANIDE CAPSULES, THE FASHION FLOCK GETS CREATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO CONTENDING WITH THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF COLLECTIONS.(Simon Doonan)
February 4, 2008... SIMON DOONAN, executive vice president, of creative service, Barneys New York and author Shows he'll attend: "I don't go to a ton of shows - just enough to get the general drift. Narciso, DVF etc...." Parties he'll attend: "I'm...

FEMALE PERSUASION; FEMININE WITH A HINT OF RETRO - THAT'S WHAT TRIUMPHED ON THE FALL RUNWAYS, WITH SMART BLAZERS, FULL SKIRTS AND SOME DROP-DEAD DRESSES.(Diane von Furstenberg's designs)
February 4, 2008... Diane von Furstenberg: "She always knew she would find her way through the raindrops." So Diane von Furstenberg mused in her program notes of this season's heroine, a mysterious sort whose travels take her from Berlin to New York by way of...

FASHION SCOOPS: WHITE MISCHIEF...SUPER SUNDAY:...FASHION TRENCHES...PRIORITY PLACEMENT...SEATLESS SIMMONS SISTERS.(wedding of Nicolas Sarkoz and Carla Bruni , Herv Lger show, and Diane von Furstenberg's show )
February 4, 2008... WHITE MISCHIEF: When French President Nicolas Sarkozy wed Carla Bruni in Paris on Saturday, there was little fanfare, but plenty of fashion elements. The bride, a pop singer and former model, wore a short, sleeveless, off-white dress by...

DOUBLE ACT; SOPHISTICATION AND SCHOOLGIRL CHIC SHARED THE STAGE THIS SEASON WHEN EDGY ELEGANCE MET GLAMMED-UP GRUNGE.(Max Azria's collection, Gap Inc.'s new collection and Ashleigh Verrier's collection)
February 4, 2008... Herv Lger by Max Azria: With a new generation of Hollywood starlets pouring their Pilates-toned bods into Herv Lger's signature bandage dresses, Max Azria decided to present his first Lger runway show since acquiring the company. Yet instead...

IT'S A MUSE THING; FROM PHOTOGRAPHER LEE MILLER TO ALPINE MAIDENS, DOWNTOWN GIRLS TO A PERFECT CIRCLE, AND EVEN "FABULOSITY" - ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING GOT DESIGNERS' CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING FOR FALL.(Lacoste's collections, Baby Phat's collection and Alexander Wang's collection)
February 4, 2008... Lacoste: Lacoste's spirited collection, shown on sheepskin carpeting in a virtual snowstorm, looked just right for the Alpine schoolgirls who inspired designer Christophe Lemaire. But that's not to say their urban sisters wouldn't also be...

MORE FROM THE SHOWS.(fashion show trends)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Wayne: Inspired by haberdashery, Wayne D. Lee's collection contained excellent well-tailored pieces with a modern twist that made everything decidedly feminine. Rag & Bone: With the 1982 film "Blade Runner" on their minds, David Neville...

GRAD IT UP.(Academy of Art University's fresh graduate fashion designers)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Academy of Art University: For 10 recent graduates of the San Francisco-based school of fashion, the opportunity to unveil their collections during New York Fashion Week is a chance to launch their careers. And career gals, albeit ones with a...

MORE FROM THE SHOWS.(trends from the fashion shows)
February 4, 2008... Twinkle by Wenlan: Wenlan Chia stayed true to her penchant for tossing textured knits over light fabrics like silk georgette, while adding signature whimsical touches, such as a charming trompe l'oeil button motif on an intarsia sweater. ...

FASHION SCOOPS: THE BIGGER PICTURE...PULVERIZED...PICTURE THIS...SCHOOL DAZE...ROCK ON.(support for Barack Obama, Rock & Republic's runway show, Mariska Hargitay )
February 4, 2008... THE BIGGER PICTURE: The Super Bowl isn't the only American event conflicting with New York Fashion Week, as viewers at the Charles Nolan show reminded the fashion set with buttons supporting Barack Obama. Nolan's partner, Democratic party big...

ADAM LIPPES TO DO LINE FOR MANGO.(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Julee Kaplan NEW YORK - Adam Lippes is adding some Spanish flair as the contemporary designer has signed an agreement to do a collection for Barcelona-based retailer Mango. Lippes, who operates the Adam Adam Lippes brand,...

TWO SIDES OF YAMAMOTO HIT MEATPACKING DISTRICT.(Yohji Yamamoto's store)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Sharon Edelson NEW YORK - Two sides of Yohji Yamamoto were revealed in the Meatpacking District over the weekend when a signature store bowed at 1 Gansevoort Street and a Y-3 unit was unveiled across the street at 317 West 13th...

GLOBAL REACH HELPS LAUDER POST GAINS.(The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Molly Prior The Este Lauder Cos. Inc.'s global sprawl helped shield the beauty firm - which reported a 7.7 percent increase in second-quarter profits Friday - from a weakening U.S. market. The beauty firm is also expanding...

CAMUTO GROUP BUYS 50 PERCENT STAKE IN SANCTUARY CLOTHING.
February 4, 2008... Byline: Julee Kaplan The Camuto Group clearly is interested in contemporary fashion as it has just made its second acquisition in the category. This time, Camuto has acquired a 50 percent stake in Sanctuary Clothing, the North...

ANALYSTS LINK ASIA, MIDEAST TO LUXE GROWTH.(luxury goods industry)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Miles Socha PARIS - Amid doom and gloom aplenty, the luxury goods sector got a blast of good news from investment firm HSBC, whose analysts contend that robust demand from Asia, the Middle East and Russia should boost top-line...

MEMO PAD: OUCH, IT HURTS...HOLY SMOKES.(periodical publishing affected by recession, Equinox Fitness Clubs' advertising controversy)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Amy Wicks, Irin Carmon and Stephanie D. Smith, Rosemary Feitelberg OUCH, IT HURTS: Magazine publishers are already feeling the pinch from fears of a recession - and many observers expect things to get worse before they get...

MIU MIU TAKES MACAU.
February 4, 2008... Byline: Constance Haisma-Kwok MACAU - The seas were choppy and chilly winds were blowing as guests boarded the chartered ferry from Hong Kong, but no one seemed to mind the weather when they arrived in Macau to see that Miu Miu had...

CFDA, GQ CELEBRATE NEW MEN'S DESIGNERS.(Council of Fashion Designers of America's The Best New Menswear Designers in America )(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Stephanie D. Smith NEW YORK - Though most of the attention during New York Fashion Week is paid to women's wear, the Council of Fashion Designers of America and GQ celebrated men's designers in Midtown last week to help kick off...

KENTSHIRE'S GENERATIONAL PLAY.(family owned business)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Sophia Chabbott For Carrie Imberman, jewelry is a family affair. Imberman, the granddaughter of Kentshire founder Benson Imberman, worked in costume design, styling and even floral design before joining the business three...

MANNING ADDS DIAMONDS WITH PRECIOUS FUSION.(Melissa Joy Manning)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Sophia Chabbott Like many designers, Melissa Joy Manning has been creating wares since she was a child. She styled her Barbie dolls and made jewelry for fun growing up, but it wasn't until several failed attempts at retail...

GETTING A HANDLE ON LOUBOUTIN.(Christian Louboutin's handbag collection)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Miles Socha PARIS - Christian Louboutin is outfitting his business with a new platform of controlled growth. Key legs of the plan include a concerted push into handbags, a rollout of boutiques and more aggressive protection...

SEVIGNY TAKES ON SAMSONITE'S BLACK LABEL.(Chloe Sevigny's endorsement for Samsonite Corp.)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Caroline Tell Samsonite has tapped another fashion star to represent the brand's latest extension in its premier Black Label series. Chlo Sevigny is stepping into the role as Samsonite ambassador to help launch the Trunk...

FINDINGS: JEWEL BOX...BASSO'S BAGS...TURKEY BAIT.(Catherine Malandrino's jewelry collection, Dennis Basso's handbag collection designed by Darby Scott, Turkish Leather Fair )
February 4, 2008... JEWEL BOX: Catherine Malandrino will launch her first jewelry collection today at her fall show. Composed of raw minerals and semiprecious stones - including African jade, aventurine, tigereye and agate and enamel - each piece is enhanced...

WINE COUNTY.(burgundies for lingerie design and color)(Photograph)
February 4, 2008... Lingerie designers are serving up plenty of fine burgundies for fall. The newest crop is full of charming, slender shapes in romantic laces and satins. Caption(s): Claire Pettibone's nylon, rayon, polyester and spandex chemise. Sandals...

WILD THINGS.(animal prints)(Photograph)
February 4, 2008... It's a jungle out there, as designers show sexy or playful shapes in a range of animal prints with unexpected splashes of color. Caption(s): Jezebel's lace-trimmed nylon and elastic bra and skirt. / Polyester chiffon baby doll from Betsey...

CHINA STORM, U.S. ECONOMY CLOUD OUTLOOK.(clothing industy)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Karyn Monget, With contributions from Whitney Beckett and Kristi Ellis As retailers and vendors fill the showrooms of Seventh Avenue and the tents at Bryant Park with eyes on finding the best fall fashions, they'll also be...

DEBORAH MARQUIT'S FANTASY LINGERIE LAND.
February 4, 2008... Byline: Karyn Monget NEW YORK - A combination of lingerie in bright neon colors, an updated e-commerce Web site, a fairy tale-inspired boutique and a celebrity following that includes Madonna, Susan Sarandon and Gretchen Mol is putting...

HANESBRANDS INCOME LEAPS 109.3% IN QTR.(Hanesbrands Inc.)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Vicki M. Young Hanesbrands Inc. topped off a difficult year with a strong fourth quarter led by its Champion brand, which has posted double-digit sales growth for three consecutive years. In the fourth quarter ended Dec. 29,...

INTIMACY EXPANDS ITS FIT PHILOSOPHY.
February 4, 2008... Byline: Katherine Bowers BOSTON - Susan Nethero, founder of Intimacy lingerie stores, was fussing about making sure the women milling around her newest shop for breakfast were served quiche, orange juice or, if chocolate is required, a...

DBA APPAREL BUYSLOVABLE, CELEBRITY.(Lovable World Trading Co.)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Karyn Monget DBA Apparel has acquired the apparel-related trademarks of Lovable and Celebrity from Lovable World Trading Co. Financial terms were not disclosed, but annual wholesale sales of intimate apparel and related...

INVISTA LIFTS LINGERIE AT LYCRA BRA-SSERIE.
February 4, 2008... Byline: Katya Foreman and Karyn Monget Invista Inc. is supporting lingerie with an aggressive multimillion-dollar advertising and marketing campaign for Lycra spandex in Paris and New York. Invista, which is a sponsor of...

RETAIL SHARES RALLY, COMPS ON TAP.
February 4, 2008... Byline: Jeanine Poggi and Arthur Zaczkiewicz, With contributions fromAnne Riley-Katz Retail shares posted gains last week after the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates and the sector was upgraded by analysts. This week, Wall...

BULGARI PROFIT GOAL IN SIGHT.(Bulgari S.p.A.)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Andrew Roberts MILAN - Bulgari SpA said Thursday it would likely reach its double-digit profit target for 2007, after beating full-year revenue forecasts. "We should get there," Bulgari chief executive officer Francesco...

INDUSTRY WEIGHS ICAHN MOTIVE FOR PENNEY'S STAKE.(Carl Icahn, J.C. Penney Corporation Inc.,)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Sharon Edelson NEW YORK - What are Carl Icahn's intentions for J.C. Penney? The billionaire investor has reportedly amassed a stake in Penney's, and like jittery parents of the bride, retail experts want to know what Icahn's...

CLAIBORNE SELLS PRANA BACK TO FOUNDERS.(Liz Claiborne Inc.)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Whitney Beckett Thirteen down, three to go. Liz Claiborne Inc. has sold active brand Prana for $36.5 million, plus as much as $4 million more based on 2008 performance. Prana Living LLC, a company formed by Prana's management...

FAST STATS.(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Number of times Phil the groundhog has seen his shadow on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, during the last 111 years, indicating six more weeks of winter in the U.S.: 96 Cost of damages inflicted on China by the three weeks of abnormal winter...

INDUSTRY PAYROLLS TRIMMED IN JAN.(fashion industry)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Kristi Ellis WASHINGTON - The fashion industry, jittery about the faltering economy, cut payrolls across the manufacturing and retail sectors last month as the overall employment picture worsened and fears of a recession...

THE SIXTIES SENSE.(Tony Burch's inspiration)(Brief article)
February 2, 2008... There's something about Penelope...and Julie and Joni. For fall, Tory Burch has channeled that trio of Aquarian icons - not to mention a certain quartet of dapper young men. Her collection, Burch says, "juxtaposes the casually chic rock 'n'...

IN BRIEF: CAHN INTERESTED IN PENNEY'S.(Carl Icahn, J.C. Penney Corporation Inc.)(Brief article)
February 2, 2008... CAHN INTERESTED IN PENNEY'S?: A spokesman for Carl Icahn declined to comment on a Wall Street Journal report the billionaire investor has acquired a large stake in J.C. Penney Co. Inc. According to the report, Icahn is now one of the...

FASHION WEEK ON WWD.COM.
February 2, 2008... WWD.com has kicked off its coverage of New York Fashion Week and the subsequent fall 2008 collections in London, Milan and Paris. Visitors to WWD.com and its dedicated fashion week microsite, at WWD.com/fashionweek/fall2008, will have...

PARTY LINES; WHERE THE FASHION CROWD WILL UNWIND THIS WEEK. REMEMBER, BY INVITE ONLY.(fashion industry's parties)(Brief article)
February 2, 2008... SATURDAY Alexander Wang party at The Annex (this time with air-conditioning!). SUNDAY Diane von Furstenberg dinner at the DVF studio on 14th Street. Rodnik performs at The Box. Miss Sixty dinner at Socialista (expect...

UNDER COVER.(celebrities' pregnancy and maternity clothing)
February 2, 2008... Byline: Jessica Iredale Tabloids sell a lot of magazines with their "celebrity bump watch" features. While most stars make it easy, tooling around in tight, midriff-hugging gear, Jennifer Lopez has put up a fight. Her defense: discreet...

CHEAT SHEET; THESE DAYS, IT SEEMS EVERYONE AND THEIR GREAT-AUNT LILLIAN HAS A FASHION LINE. HERE, A PRIMER ON EIGHT TALENTS SHOWING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEW YORK THAT WILL MAKE AN EXPERT OUT OF ANY TENT GOER.
February 2, 2008... Byline: Vronique Hyland LYELL: Saturday, Feb. 2, 4 p.m., National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South Designer: Emma Fletcher When Fletcher found a vintage embroidered runner at a flea market, she knew she'd unearthed the...

THE STARTING LINEUP.(fashion models)
February 2, 2008... Byline: Cinnamon St. John Let the buzz begin. After New York Fashion Week, these models may just enter the big leagues. Skye Stracke/DNA Hometown: Perth, Australia Age: 17 Height: 5 feet 11 inches Hair: Blonde Eyes:...

LEGENDS OF THE FALL.(inspiration of fashion designers)(Quotation)
February 2, 2008... Byline: Venessa Lau What inspires designers these days? Anyone and anything, from Bianca Jagger and the Berkshires to Olive Oyl and a tasty beet-and-spinach salad. Here, a look at what's behind the New York collections this season. - ...

POLISHING IT OFF; NEW YORK SHOWS AND PRESENTATIONS ARE OFF AND RUNNING, OFFERING VARYING TAKES ON SOPHISTICATION - FROM ELEGANT JEWEL-TONED PIECES TO AN UPTOWN-TRIBAL MLANGE.
February 1, 2008... Vera Wang Lavender Label: Vera Wang channeled tony schoolgirls - of the sexy, glamorous variety - in her first Lavender Label runway show, though the collection was launched two-and-a-half years ago. A silver lam blouse got dressed down by a...

MORE FROM THE SHOWS.(Brief article)(Photograph)
February 1, 2008... Byline: Whitney Beckett Converse by John Varvatos: John Varvatos' boy-meets-girl vibe took a glitzy-grunge turn this season, with urbane separates like sequined stovepipes and vintage-inspired jackets. Degrees of Freedom: Travelwear...