WWD articles from January 2004

WWD archives from January 2004

SCALING THE HEIGHTS.(using snakes in accessories design)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... NEW YORK -- In Chinese astrology, 2004 may be the Year of the Monkey, but in some fashion circles, it's the year of the snake. Accessories designers are using the slinky reptiles to decorate everything from bags to shoes and jewelry. Here,...

SNOWBOUND.(trends in winter clothing accessories)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... It's the perfect time to bundle up. Just as shoppers rush to catch that end-of-season sale for a hat, scarf or toasty mittens, the cold-weather market is already looking forward to next winter's flurries.

BAILING OUT: CYNTHIA STEFFE ESCAPES LF BRANDS, LANDS AT CHAUS.(Bernard Chaus Inc. acquires Cynthia Steffe)
January 5, 2004... NEW YORK -- It's a girl! Bernard Chaus Inc., the $140 million sportswear firm, is the proud new parent of Cynthia Steffe. Extricating itself just in time from LF Brands, which went out of business Christmas week, Steffe was sold...

IS THERE ROOM FOR ALL THOSE BAGS?(Industry Overview)
January 5, 2004... NEW YORK -- Bags of bags. Competition for main-floor handbag space has become red hot these days, as all types of brands are eager to break into this often-lucrative category. Just as designer companies are chasing that ever-elusive "hot...

SCENE.(trends in clothing accessories)
January 5, 2004... HOT BUTTONS Artist Wendy Cook has long created multimedia books and paintings, but now she has turned her eye to a new material: vintage buttons. After receiving a treasure trove of buttons from her grandmother some years ago, the...

CIT COMMERCIAL BUYS HSBC FACTORING UNIT.(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... NEW YORK -- CIT Commercial Services, already the nation's largest factor, rang in the new year by gobbling up yet another competitor in the consolidating factoring industry. The company, a division of Livingston, N.J.-based CIT Group...

FRANCHINI SEES MAJOR REBOUND FOR BALLY IN '04.(chairman Marco Franchini)
January 5, 2004... LONDON -- Bally is beginning to bounce back. Next year will mark the start of a turnaround for the Swiss-based accessories and ready-to-wear company, said Marco Franchini, who took over as chairman and chief executive of Bally in 2002. He...

COMING THIS WEEK.(clothing industry events)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
January 5, 2004... Monday: New York Fall Apparel Market (through Jan. 16). Thursday: Retailers report on December same-store sales. International Leather Days, Istanbul (through Saturday). Friday: The Labor Department releases the December employment...

REVVING THE ENGINE.(Revlon Corp. ratings revised)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Citing Revlon Corp.'s and Rev Holdings Inc.'s December report that management is exploring transactions to strengthen its balance sheet and to increase equity, Moody's Investors Service last week revised its outlook on the companies' debts to...

WRAP SESSION.(trends in winterwear accessories)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Brrr! It's cold outside. But with plenty of eye-popping accessories, there's enough to spice up a cold winter's day.

MIX MASTERS.(trends in handbags)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Bag designers are mixing fabrics this season. From tweed and leather to nylon and napa, it's all about the combo.

SIRIO'S CIRCUS.(profile of Sirio Maccioni, restaurateur of Le Cirque)(Company Profile)
January 5, 2004... NEW YORK -- "We have 350 reservations tonight," Sirio Maccioni boasts, seating himself at one of Le Cirque 2000's prime tables as the lunchtime crowd thins. Celebrating 30 years this year, the legendary restaurant Maccioni, opened on East...

SOURCES FOR SUCCESS; MAIN-FLOOR ACCESSORIES MAKERS LOOK TO MULTIPLE SOURCES FOR INSPIRATION.
January 5, 2004... Accessories makers catering to the moderate and mass sector look for ideas in a multitude of places -- from Milan streets to museum exhibits, pop tarts like Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera and even other, more upscale handbag designers....

ESTEE LAUDER AIMS FOR NEW IMAGE IN GERMANY.
January 5, 2004... BERLIN -- Estee Lauder wants to change perceptions in Germany. On a recent four-city tour through Europe, Lauder's top brass -- including the Estee Lauder Cos.' group president Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne, who oversees the flagship brand,...

HISS BOOM BAH!
January 5, 2004... NEW YORK -- Not since 1981, when Nastassja Kinski curled up with that python for Richard Avedon, has sporting a snake looked quite so good. The current serpentine revival started with Tom Ford's celebrated Gucci snake dress, cuff and shoes...

BEHIND THE SCENES; THREE DESIGNERS SHAKE UP THE ACCESSORIES MIX AT FASHIONABLE CHAINS.(Emma Hill.)(Interview)
January 5, 2004... GAP Emma Hill loves a label with history, and few things please her more than being able to rummage through the archives for design inspirations. It's no surprise then that when she joined 34-year-old Gap in 2002 as vice president of...

HOME BODIES.
January 5, 2004... NEW YORK -- The season's sweatshirt-and-pants combos have left the track and are warming up at home. Whether the palette is in rich earth tones or soft and pale, the accents are full of charm.

INTIMATE NOTES: BARRY ROSS EXPANDS...PARIS LAUNCH.(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... BARRY ROSS EXPANDS: After a 25-year tenure in the textile and intimate apparel fields, Barry Ross has created Barry Ross Intimate Connection, a global resource company for intimate apparel manufacturers and retailers. Ross was formerly a...

COLOR ME BEAUTIFUL; SEMIPRECIOUS STONES HAVE SPARKED JEWELRY SALES AT ALL PRICE POINTS.
January 5, 2004... Heading into spring, jewelry styles featuring semi-precious stones are taking a few twists and turns as makers experiment with new hues and silhouettes. What isn't changing, however, is that colored stones are driving the jewelry market these...

CARO CUORE LANDS IN U.S.
January 5, 2004... CHICAGO -- Argentina-based lingerie retailer Caro Cuore opened its first American retail outlet late last month at the Woodfield Shopping Center in Schaumburg, Ill., a northwest Chicago suburb. Executives from the high-end lingerie...

THREE TO WATCH; A SNEAK PEAK AT THREE FIRMS MAKING THEIR DEBUTS AT THE UPCOMING TRADE SHOWS.(Fassardi and Rohrscheib, Mindy Johnson, My Flat in London.)
January 5, 2004... FASSARDI & ROHRSCHEIB Husband-and-wife team Silvia Fassardi and Gustavo Rohrscheib, who moved their jewelry business from Venezuela to Miami three years ago, are a good fit for Florida's most fashion-crazed city. "We love fashion,"...

THE BIG CHILL.
January 5, 2004... New Yorkers are getting into the holiday spirit this winter as accessories take center stage. They're pairing winter-white pieces with colorful knits adorned with flower and bow details -- the perfect way to scare away the winter blues.

SALES PITCH.(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Spurred on by reductions, consumers are finally making their move in the U.K., offsetting the sluggish pace of retail in recent months. Stores and retail traffic monitors reported record footfall during Christmas week and the post-Christmas...

FINDINGS: JENNY'Z WORLD...SHOPPING WITH FRIENDS.
January 5, 2004... JENNY'Z WORLD: It would seem that Jennifer Oz LeRoy, daughter of famed restaurateur Warner LeRoy, would have her hands full running the venerable Manhattan restaurant Tavern on the Green. At 24, LeRoy took over managing the restaurant business...

TURKISH DESIGNERS SEEKING GLOBAL RECOGNITION.
January 5, 2004... ISTANBUL -- The green satin mini is part combat, part schoolgirlish gym pleats with a diagonal seam separating the two ideas. Hanging further down the rack, a pale pink sleeveless top is beautifully shaped with a neat set of pleats fanning...

C&B, DRESS BARN SEE DIPS IN COMPS.(Christopher & Banks Corp.)(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... NEW YORK -- Two specialty retailers reported December comparable-store sales ahead of the pack last week, and although the results were not good, they were not unexpected. As forecast, Christopher & Banks Corp.'s December same-store...

MOODY'S LOWERS DILLARD'S RATINGS.
January 5, 2004... NEW YORK -- Dillard's Inc.'s debt ratings were downgraded by Moody's Investors Services last week as the rating agency cited concerns over "the value of the company's franchise over the longer term, and the uncertainty that Dillard's...

TROPICAL FORESEES $130M LOSS.(Tropical Sportswear International)
January 5, 2004... NEW YORK -- Tropical Sportswear International stunned investors, competitors and retailers alike last week when it disclosed that it expects a $130 million loss for the fiscal year ended Sept. 27. The bombshell disclosure came as Tropical...

HAPPY HOUR.(eveningwear trends from Chanel)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2004... PARIS -- In an ultraluxe teaser to the fall couture, Karl Lagerfeld served up a sublime pre-fall collection for Chanel at the house's Rue Cambon salons. Dubbed "Chanel Five to Seven," the feminine, chic line focused on late-day, cocktail and...

KMART STOCK VAULTS 26.6%.
January 6, 2004... NEW YORK -- Shares of Kmart Holding Corp. soared 26.6 percent on Monday following the discounter's forecast of a profit for November and December, even though sales declined in the two months. The retailer said that it expects a...

ESPRIT GRABS SITE ON FIFTH AVE.(will open store in New York)
January 6, 2004... NEW YORK -- Esprit has landed a prime site in the Flatiron district to launch its return to retailing in the U.S. WWD has learned that the company has signed a lease at 110 Fifth Ave., currently occupied by Emporio Armani. Emporio is...

LANE BRYANT TAPS 2 PRESIDENTS.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2004... NEW YORK -- Lorna Nagler has been promoted to president of the Lane Bryant division of Charming Shoppes Inc., and Diane Paccione has joined the firm as president of its Catherine's Plus Sizes unit. Both executives will be responsible for...

IN BRIEF: REGIONAL RESTRUCTURING...BUYBACK BOOST.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2004... REGIONAL RESTRUCTURING: Bon-Ton Stores Inc. plans sharp cutbacks at Elder-Beerman's headquarters in Dayton, Ohio. Bon-Ton said Monday that 132 hourly and 179 management jobs are being cut, leaving only about 140 employees -- primarily...

IN COLOR COSMETICS, TO EACH HER OWN.
January 6, 2004... NEW YORK -- They're not makeup artists or designers, nor are they celebrities or members of a corporate marketing machine. Carisa Janes and Cassandra Mills, rather, are two of beauty's newest entrepreneurs -- and each is set to launch her...

COURT DENIES MOSSIMO APPEAL.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2004... LOS ANGELES -- A California appellate court has denied Mossimo Inc.'s appeal of a June 17 arbitration award and judgment entered in Cherokee Inc.'s favor. The Jan. 2 decision by the Court of Appeals for the 2nd District reaffirmed the...

INTERNATIONAL DIRECT GROUP TO RELAUNCH FUNDAMENTAL THINGS, CASABLANCA LINES.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2004... NEW YORK -- The Fundamental Things and Casablanca career sportswear brands are making a comeback. International Direct Group, based here, will reintroduce the moderately priced labels during this month's market, with initial shipments...

FASHION SCOOPS: FRESH FASHION...NO TIME WASTED.
January 6, 2004... FRESH FASHION: British designers have complained for years that they have the talent but simply lack the cash to make it big. Well, now a few lucky newcomers will get the chance to prove it. Fashion critic and author Colin McDowell is about...

NIGHTS OUT.(trends in eveningwear from Karl Lagerfeld)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2004... PARIS -- It's known as l'heure bleu. For pre-fall, Karl Lagerfeld chose the moment when day turns to night as the ideal time to dress his Chanel customer, and the line defined a new hour for alluring, sexy looks. Using the expertise of the...

CATERING TO THE MASSES.
January 6, 2004... LONDON -- As retailers race into another New Year, there is one certainty, no matter the economic climate or consumer mood -- the growing power of mass. And it's a global phenomenon, propelled by the likes of Zara, H&M, Topshop,...

U.S. MILLS BRACING FOR END OF QUOTAS.(Industry Overview)
January 6, 2004... NEW YORK -- The domestic firms that are still around to kick off the one-year countdown to 2005 are now planning to stick to the strategies that have allowed them to outlast many of their fallen competitors, rather than attempting a...

QUOTA WATCH: EMBARGOES.
January 6, 2004... The U.S. placed embargoes on seven categories of apparel and textile imports in 2003. In addition, the Bush administration in August imposed a complete ban on all imports from Myanmar in response to its military dictatorship's crackdown against...

DOWN, SHEARLING TOPS IN SHOPS.
January 6, 2004... NEW YORK -- Down jackets and shearling coats are repeat winners in this year's outerwear derby, based on a spot check of retailers in various locales. They led the charge in a mostly upbeat season, where cold and stormy weather has...

MEMO PAD: HECTIC TIMES...WELCOME BACK. NOW GET OUT.(personnel changes at The New York Times)
January 6, 2004... HECTIC TIMES: It's going to be a busy month at The New York Times. As staffers return from vacations, hungover but elated with the change in atmosphere, executive editor Bill Keller is overseeing what is bound to be a decisive month in his...

LIGHT YEARS.(comic strip artist, Ariel Schrag)(Interview)
January 6, 2004... NEW YORK -- For as long as she can remember, Ariel Schrag has been drawing comics. In the third grade, she created "Life With Lucy Hound," about a girl whose only wish is for a dog; on the day she gets one, her dad becomes a millionaire. In...

HUDSON'S EDGE.(singer Sarah Hudson)(Interview)
January 6, 2004... LOS ANGELES -- Striding into the Four Seasons Hotel with her bright red hair and leopard print Marc Jacobs sweater, Sarah Hudson, 22, is the very picture of Hollywood rocker chic -- until she opens her mouth. "I rode my bike here," she...

HOLIDAY IN.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2004... A new crop of swanky hotels might be turning up in sun spots far and wide, but they're also places where New York's social set should feel right at home. Chris Burch, whose wife, Tory, will launch her own clothing line in New York next month,...

THE CLUB SET; LONG LIVE THE PREPPY! THIS TONY GIRL KEEPS HER CHIC STYLE COOL, CLEAN AND UNFUSSY.
January 6, 2004... 2004 Economic Forecast...Trunk Show Trends...Portland's PEARL

SCENE.
January 6, 2004... L.A.'S OTHER DISNEY ATTRACTION If you've never had a reason to explore downtown L.A. before, you have one now -- in the form of the undulating ribbons of stainless steel that compose the Frank Gehry-designed 2,265-seat Walt Disney...

MARKET CALENDAR.(Calendar)
January 6, 2004... The California Market Center, New Mart, the Gerry Building and the Cooper Building present Los Angeles Market Week, Summer 2004, Jan. 16-20, 2004. CALIFORNIA MARKET CENTER 110 East Ninth Street Market hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. ...

WESTERN EXPANSION? THE NATIONAL ECONOMY IS SAID TO BE IMPROVING, BUT SIX CITIES HAVE THEIR OWN TALES TO TELL.
January 6, 2004... Amid reports that the U.S. economy is expanding at its fastest clip since 1984, and with consumer confidence up higher than it's been in more than a year, six major cities in the West remain in their own economic microclimates. For better or...

WHAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN; THE TRADITIONAL DESIGNER TRUNK SHOW HAS BEEN REVAMPED TO APPEAL TO TODAY'S BUSY SHOPPERS.
January 6, 2004... The trunk show, a tried-and-true tool, is as important as ever, but, in response to today's challenging retail environment, retailers are giving it a new spin. This is no longer your grandmother's event. "Trunk shows are a win-win for...

IN THE COUNTRY.(trends in women's sportswear)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2004... You don't have to be heading off to the country club to pull off that classic look of sunny-day casual. Try a cool pair of bermuda shorts, a golf jacket or maybe a flirty tennis skirt.

CROWNED BY SUCCESS; JUDGING BY FIVE CROWN, HIS LATEST APPAREL VENTURE, JOHN BERNARD JUST CAN'T MISS.(Company Profile)
January 6, 2004... Callers to John Bernard's cell phone are reminded by his voice-mail message to "have a cocktail in your hand at all times." That's good advice from someone who has every reason to celebrate these days. Bernard, who has a history of...

BAG LADY; DESIGNER AND NEW PRESIDENT LESLIE NEWTON IS LEADING L.A.-BASED HANDBAG COMPANY TIMI & LESLIE IN A FRESH DIRECTION.(Company Profile)
January 6, 2004... It all started three and a half years ago with some vintage fabric and a dream. Since then, Timi & Leslie handbags has tripled its growth into a $700,000 company with plans to increase sales by 50 percent in 2004. That's due in part to this...

OH, DEER! A CANADIAN COUPLE INVADES LOS ANGELES WITH THEIR LINE OF TRENDY APPAREL NAMED AFTER A PORCELAIN FAWN.(Gentle Fawn )(Company Profile)
January 6, 2004... When Gentle Fawn was making its fall 2003 debut, the economy was reeling and the fashion industry was in a slump, leaving the idea of launching a new brand laughable, at best. Daniel Hogg knew that, and went ahead anyway. "I did have...

NEW LINES; A SNEAK PEEK AT THE LATEST FASHIONS TO HIT THE MARKET.(Buyers Guide)
January 6, 2004... CALIFORNIA MARKET CENTER LIFESTYLE CLOTHIERS, Suite A259 Jelly Kelly Jelly Kelly Inc. received big buzz from the fashion industry when it introduced a rubber fabric version of the popular "Kelly" bag made famous by French fashion...

THE JEWEL OF PORTLAND; A CONSTRUCTION BOOM IN PORTLAND'S PEARL DISTRICT HAS POLISHED THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S RETAIL APPEAL.
January 6, 2004... Following the lead of New York's TriBeCa, the Pearl of Portland, Ore., has evolved from a dingy warehouse-packed industrial district into a hot spot for the artsy and cool-with-cash. Coming by its nickname in the early Eighties, and initially...

IN CHAINS.(trends in clothing accessories)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2004... Wearing chains doesn't necessarily mean you're a biker. In fact, the season's newest linked looks have a delicate, dare we say, almost girlie air to them.

AROUND TOWN.
January 6, 2004... GETTING LUCKY "It's not like they're getting a chicken Kiev dinner and a boring speech," declared Gene Montesano, co-founder of Lucky Brand Dungarees. Indeed, the cuisine -- filet mignon and a dessert trio -- and key diversions...

MEETING OF THE MINDS; WITH HELP FROM THEIR MENTORS, FASHION DESIGN STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT FABRIC, FITTING AND PHYSICS.
January 6, 2004... Imagine a dress or a suit that reflects the colors and images of its surroundings, and you get a little closer to understanding what designer Isabel Toledo, illustrator Ruben Toledo and the senior class at the Otis School of Fashion Design are...

COLOR ME PREPPY.(trends in women's clothing)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2004... NEW YORK -- Preppy isn't all about plaids and khakis. For spring, designers are stretching the look from traditional pieces to those that are almost sex kittenish, but keeping the vivid shades. Here, from the doyenne of prep, Lilly Pulitzer,...

KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY: ESTEE LAUDER COS. TAPS WILLIAM LAUDER AS CEO.
January 7, 2004... NEW YORK -- One of the beauty industry's most venerable companies will get a new chief executive this summer -- and one who's already in the family. William Lauder, 43, currently chief operating officer of the Estee Lauder Cos. and...

COUTURE EXPECTED TO FLY WITHOUT A HITCH.
January 7, 2004... PARIS -- They are furiously sewing up the world's most expensive dresses -- and they expect to parade them before full audiences in just a few weeks. Downplaying the risk of canceled trans-Atlantic flights and the specter of heightened...

IMPORTER STUDY CITES FREE-TRADE BENEFITS.
January 7, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Retailers and apparel importers went on the offensive Tuesday, reiterating their opposition to quotas and tariffs. As the stakes get higher in the final year of apparel and textile trade restrained by quotas, trade...

DECEMBER SALES AIDED BY UPSCALE, ONLINE INCREASES.(Industry Overview)
January 7, 2004... NEW YORK -- December was in many ways scarier than October for apparel retailers, but upscale, unique and online stores managed a very happy holiday nonetheless. Retail analysts said there were some retailers who shined brighter than...

IN BRIEF: MORE WINSTON SALONS...BOGNER PROMOTES...BOLAND EXPANDS ROLE AT MCNAUGHTON.
January 7, 2004... MORE WINSTON SALONS: Harry Winston is adding two more salons later this year. The venerable Fifth Avenue jeweler will open a 1,000-square-foot salon at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and an 800-square-foot unit at the Regent...

CORRECTIONS.(Correction Notice)
January 7, 2004... The Designers & Agents trade show in Tokyo will be held March 16-18. There were two sets of dates reported in the International Trade Shows calendar that ran Nov. 26, page 27, section II. In other updates, D&A Annex will take place Jan. 16-19...

SUZY: THE ASPEN REPORT: NEWS FROM THE SLOPES, THE SHOPS AND THE SIZZLING SPOTS.
January 7, 2004... Francesco Scavullo, after spending the holidays at his home in Southampton with his partner, Sean Byrnes, and his beloved King Charles spaniel, Winston, returned to his New York apartment saying he wasn't feeling well. He died shortly...

COLOR ME PREPPY.(trends in women's clothing)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2004... NEW YORK -- Designers are pulling out their dog-eared copies of "The Official Preppy Handbook" this season, and the outcome is fresh and colorful. There are plenty of cableknit sweaters, shrunken polos, seersucker skirts, playful mules and...

LAUDER UNDER LANGHAMMER.(Estee Lauder's performance under CEO Fred Langhammer)
January 7, 2004... NEW YORK -- Fred Langhammer's tenure as chief executive officer of Estee Lauder Cos. has seen historic highs as well as tough times. Under Langhammer, Lauder breached the $5 billion annual sales barrier for the first time. At the same...

LITTLE IMPACT FROM LF WOES SEEN IN MARKET.(LF Brands to file for bankruptcy)
January 7, 2004... NEW YORK -- While the downfall of LF Brands has had a dramatic impact on its employees, it is not expected to create any seismic activity in the moderate sportswear market. The $120 million LF Brands, which shut down operations Christmas...

KELLWOOD TAPS WALLACE.(Kellwood Co. hires Sarah A. Wallace as vice president of strategic planning and new business development)
January 7, 2004... NEW YORK -- Kellwood Co., already a major Seventh Avenue deal maker, has beefed up its ability to assess acquisition targets and new business opportunities. Sarah A. Wallace has been brought on board as vice president of strategic...

BROADLINE STATS: DISCOUNTERS GAINING.
January 7, 2004... NEW YORK -- As the key to real estate is location, the cornerstone to broadline retailing over the past half-dozen years has been value. In her annual compendium of statistics covering a wide sample of broadline retailers over the last...

ELIZABETH ARDEN PLANS TO OFFER $150M IN NOTES.(Brief Article)
January 7, 2004... NEW YORK -- Elizabeth Arden Inc. said it plans to offer $150 million of its senior subordinated notes due 2014. The deal is subject to market and other conditions. The New York-based prestige fragrance and beauty products company...

D.C. GETS ITS OWN DANCE.(Suzanne Farrell Ballet plays the Kennedy Center)(Company Profile)
January 7, 2004... WASHINGTON -- First intermission on opening night last month at the Kennedy Center for the Suzanne Farrell Ballet and the company's much-celebrated artistic director is working it. Up in the President's Box with First Lady Laura Bush and a...

PHOTOGRAPHER FRANCESCO SCAVULLO, 82.(Obituary)
January 7, 2004... NEW YORK -- Francesco Scavullo, the legendary fashion photographer behind Cosmopolitan's most iconic pictures, died Tuesday. He was 82. Sean Byrnes, Scavullo's life partner and the sittings editor on most of his work, said the cause of...

JEWELRY FIT FOR A QUEENIE.(Queenie Dhody, jewelry designer, introduces collection)
January 7, 2004... LOS ANGELES -- Even inside Les Habitudes, the stone-walled Robertson Boulevard boutique that's already another world of exotic displays, the Mumbai, India-based socialite -- and now jewelry designer -- Queenie Dhody cuts a dramatic...

INNOVO'S TRIPLE PLAY.
January 7, 2004... LOS ANGELES -- Da-Nang, Joe's Jeans and Yanuk are three contemporary lines sharing not only a sparkling run at retail, but also a connected ownership. Apparel veterans Albert Dahan and Joe Dahan, who are brothers, and Paul Guez,...

CALIF. IMPORTERS FACE TARIFF HIKES AT PORTS.(California)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2004... LOS ANGELES -- A 5 percent tariff increase that took effect Jan. 1 at the port of Long Beach is spreading throughout California. The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners quietly approved the increase, the first for the port since a 10...

FASHION SCOOPS: TAKING A WALK?...MARY'S MOMENT.
January 7, 2004... TAKING A WALK?: If the shoe doesn't fit, don't wear it. That seems to be the case for London-based shoe designer Patrick Cox and Charles Jourdan. Sources in Europe said Cox, who joined the French footwear and accessories firm a year ago as its...

LINE DRIVE.(Fabrics.)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2004... Get into the swing with such preppy staples as stripes, pleats and crisp colors.

TONING BODIES, EXPANDING MINDS.(Stott Pilates.)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2004... Amanda Taylor promises to grease those synapses that connect the brain to the body at BodyMindDesign, her new Stott Pilates studio in Dallas. What is Stott Pilates? Moira Stott Merrithew, a Pilates instructor based in Toronto, developed a...

GOING TO THE DOGS.(Iris.)(Restaurant Review)
January 7, 2004... Iris may be named for a dead basenji hound, but there is nothing sad about this hot new restaurant. Opened in September, Iris quickly became the neighborhood choice of the wealthy Park Cities crowd and has hosted First Lady Laura Bush....

A WORLD OF FLAVORS.(Republic.)(Restaurant Review)
January 7, 2004... Republic, a new tapas restaurant and bar near downtown Dallas, has quickly become a favorite with the young and glamorous crowd. It's easy to see why, thanks to its multicultural menu, fabulous cocktails and Riviera-chic ambience, including...