WWD articles from January 2008

WWD archives from January 2008

Sunny forecast.(Malandrino)(Brief article)
January 2, 2008... The new lineup of dresses for summer has a fresh charm. Looks are bright and cheery, but still plenty sophisticated. Here, Malandrino's silk chiffon ribbon coat and suede and patent leather belt worn over Nanette Lepore's cotton and...

Luxury's latest frontier: brands rush to expand in surging Middle East.
January 2, 2008... Byline: Miles Socha, With contributions from Alessandra Ilari, Milan PARIS - Building fashion fortunes on sand? You bet. Encouraged by a gusher of oil wealth and rising tourism, Europe's luxury players are stepping on the gas in the...

2007 a tough year for retail shares.(Financial report)
January 2, 2008... Byline: Arthur Zaczkiewicz As major stock indices such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 showed gains of 6.3 and 3.7, respectively, for 2007, the retail sector posted steep declines. From the first day of trading in...

Unrest in Pakistan disrupts industry exports.
January 2, 2008... Byline: Mahlia Sukhera Lone LAHORE, Pakistan - The next few weeks are an uncertain time for Pakistan mills after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto on Dec. 27 and the violent unrest that followed. Though it is relatively more secure...

In brief.(breach of merger agreements)(Brief article)
January 2, 2008... JUDGE ORDERS FINISH LINE: A Tennessee judge has ordered The Finish Line Inc. to fulfill the terms of its merger agreement with Genesco Inc. The Chancery Court for the State of Tennessee, where Genesco filed its lawsuit, said The Finish Line...

Macy's to shutter nine underperforming units.(Macy's Inc.)
January 2, 2008... Byline: David Moin Macy's Inc. will close nine underperforming stores within the next several weeks, affecting just under 900 workers. The stores did minimal volumes and are in malls where Macy's sees little growth potential and...

Warnaco sells off three businesses.(Warnaco Group Inc.)(Brief article)
January 2, 2008... Byline: Vicki M. Young The Warnaco Group said Friday that it sold its Anne Cole, Cole of California and Catalina businesses to In Mocean Group in a deal valued at $26 million. The deal is comprised of $21 million in cash and $5 million...

Rainbow brights.(summer fashion)(Brief article)
January 2, 2008... Byline: Antonia Sardone Whether it's bold electric blue or lively lemon yellow, vivid shades are what make these little dresses perfect summertime treats. Caption(s): Rebecca Taylor's silk dress and Mai's cashmere tank. / Silk dress...

Fitness-bound in 2008.
January 2, 2008... Byline: Whitney Beckett The New Year brings another flock of resolution-happy patrons to the gym. During the holidays, activewear retailers reported shoppers were purchasing layering outerwear, like technical jackets and vests. Other...

Edward A. Brennan, former Sears chief, 73.(Obituary)
January 2, 2008... Byline: David Moin Edward A. Brennan, who as chairman and chief executive officer of Sears, Roebuck & Co. in the Eighties and Nineties masterminded one of the largest corporate restructurings in retail history, died Thursday at home after...

Cereus set to roll out own line of men's scents.(Cereus Pour Homme)
January 2, 2008... Byline: Matthew W. Evans, Brid Costello NEW YORK - A type of cactus known as the night-blooming Cereus has inspired a new collection of men's fragrances of the same name. Cereus Pour Homme, which features four scents numbered 4, 5, 7...

Ecco Domani names foundation winners.(Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation)
January 2, 2008... Byline: Marc Karimzadeh NEW YORK - Ecco Domani is once again raising a glass to emerging designers and labels. The recipients of the winemaker's annual Fashion Foundation awards are Elise Overland, Alexander Wang, Ryes by Jos Ramn...

Memo pad: that time of year ... more proof, if needed, that Brooklyn is fashionable ... wandering love.(Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal)
January 2, 2008... Byline: Irin Carmon, Stephanie D. Smith THAT TIME OF YEAR: A fresh New Year offers magazine executives, like anyone else, the opportunity to follow the advice of their own cover lines. Teen Vogue editor in chief Amy Astley has promised...

Burberry, Ballantyne open new Tokyo units.(Brief article)
January 2, 2008... Byline: Samantha Conti LONDON - Two British brands, Burberry and Ballantyne, have increased their presences in Tokyo. Burberry has opened its third Tokyo unit in Marunouchi, a growing luxury retail area in the city's central business...

Two new lines help California get dressier.(Nela and Ani Lee)
January 2, 2008... Byline: Diana Ryu, Rachel Rees LOS ANGELES - Whether paired with boots in the fall or sandals in the spring, the dress has become a fashion staple that transcends the seasons - and rings up cash registers. According to market research firm...

Adding another spin: Kritik updates sweatsuits (again).
January 2, 2008... Byline: Nola Sarkisian-Miller Eisbar co-founder Bobby Benveniste, and his three partners, including Lizzie Grubman's former business partner Jonathan Cheban, aren't reinventing the fashion wheel. Instead, they're giving it a new spin in...

Field work.(stylish accessories)(Brief article)
January 2, 2008... It's easy to get wrapped up in light-colored accessories that are both stylish and homespun. Caption(s): On The Cover: CEJON's nylon scarf, PORTOLANO PRODUCTS' cashmere gloves and CAROLINA AMATO's cashmere wrap. Tony Cohen dress, Inhabit...

Eyes on the prize; from haute to hot: a look at this season's newest sunglasses.
January 2, 2008... Byline: Caroline Tell, Rachel Brown, Kristen Carr Jandoli, Katya Foreman, Lauren Benet Stephenson, Sophia Chabbott Who: Balenciaga (partnered with Safilo) What: Plastic and metal styles that echo the futuristic spirit of the French...

Greener pastures; more companies are trumpeting the eco-conscious credentials of their products.
January 2, 2008... Byline: Caroline Tell Given the retail craze over Anya Hindmarch's I'm Not a Plastic Bag - a limited edition canvas tote benefiting the organization We Are What We Do - accessories brands are capitalizing on the green movement. ...

Above and beyond; for Cynthia O'Connor, representing the brands in her showroom is only part of the job.(COC + Co.)(Financial report)
January 2, 2008... Byline: Joanna Ramey Cynthia O'Connor quickly made a name for herself when she took her experience as a Dallas retail buyer and set up a namesake wholesale fashion showroom in New York 15 years ago. From her 12,000-square-foot...

Hats amore; the fashion world's love affair with headwear continues unabated.
January 2, 2008... Byline: Kavita Daswani Mischa Barton, Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson may have kick-started the trend, but these days hats don't need celebrities vouching for them anymore. In what is being largely regarded as the renaissance of...

Sail away; Tumi's new luxury store concept evokes a bygone era of travel and entices multiple handbag purchases.(Tumi Luggage Inc.)
January 2, 2008... Byline: Sophia Chabbott While traveling today typically connotes waiting in line at security checkpoints and flight delays, Tumi's David Chu is set on the glamour of yesteryear, when taking a cruise meant packing tuxedoes and evening...

Winter wonderland.(Brief article)
January 2, 2008... A little romance is the ideal antidote to icy weather, as watercolor pastels set off the season's creams and grays. Photographed by Pasha Antonov. This feature styled by Mayte Allende; model: Ania/Supreme; hair by Stacey Ross and makeup by...

It's only natural.(Brief article)
January 3, 2008... Eco-conscious apparel is gaining momentum for 2008, even in the denim market, where environmentally friendly designers are making strides. According to the charitable organization Organic Exchange, sales of organic cotton are expected to reach...

The New Year's blahs: retail shares decline on downbeat outlook.
January 3, 2008... Byline: Jeanine Poggi It's a new year, but the same old stock market story. On 2008's first day of trading, retail shares fell sharply as oil prices reached $100 a barrel for the first time ever. And, after 12 months of steep erosion...

Golden Globes in talks to go on.
January 3, 2008... Byline: Marcy Medina LOS ANGELES - The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, owner of the Golden Globes, is in talks about a deal to let the award show proceed as planned on Jan. 13 despite the Hollywood writers' strike. The HFPA issued...

Americans abroad feeling the pinch.
January 3, 2008... Byline: Samantha Conti, With contributions from Chantal Goupil, Paris; Francesca Vuotto, Milan, and Natalie Hughes, London LONDON - While the Brits, French and Italians race through U.S. department stores, flaunting their almighty pounds...

In brief: honorable Brits ... Kenneth Cole donates.(Kenneth Cole Inc.)(Brief article)
January 3, 2008... HONORABLE BRITS: Another round of British fashion figures has been honored in Queen Elizabeth II's New Year Honors list. Stuart Rose, chief executive of Marks & Spencer, has been awarded a knighthood for services to the retail industry and...

Anxiety persists despite post-christmas lift.
January 3, 2008... Byline: David Moin, Contributions from Marcy Medina and Rachel Brown, Los Angeles; Kate Bowers, Boston, and Sharon Edelson, New York Post-Christmas clearances and gift card redemptions have brought some relief to retailers' holiday...

The ones that got away.(Brief article)
January 3, 2008... The jet set may have taken a respite from movie sets or design studios during the holidays, but it seems there's no such thing as a vacation from personal style (save, perhaps, a be-snorkled Linda Evangelista). While some hit the beach in bold...

More data safety issues expected in year ahead.(Privacy Rights Clearinghouse)
January 3, 2008... Byline: Denise Power Last year was an embarrassing one for business in terms of safeguarding personal data, and companies, including retailers, are bracing for another rocky year in 2008. "My guess is that it will be worse," said Paul...

Minnesota bans mercury from cosmetics, scents.
January 3, 2008... Byline: Evan Clark, Julie Naughton WASHINGTON - Taking the better-safe-than-sorry route, Minnesota is banning mercury from cosmetics, toiletries and fragrances. The state law, which took hold Tuesday, could result in fines of up to...

Memo pad: forget Iowa, look at Kansas ... fast mover ... no law for now.
January 3, 2008... Byline: Amy Wicks, Irin Carmon, Nina Jones FORGET IOWA, LOOK AT KANSAS: The Iowa caucus today makes it officially an election year, and over at Vogue, that means ramped-up political coverage. The fashion title has a long history of covering...

Green day.(green products used in denims)(Brief article)
January 3, 2008... Byline: Kim Friday Organic, sustainable and natural - they're the latest buzzwords in fashion. Though the processes are not yet perfect, here's what a few noteworthy denim lines are doing to live up to that billing. Levi's Eco: Levi's...

Holiday season proves positive for premium.
January 3, 2008... Byline: Ross Tucker Specialty stores saw no evidence of a consumer slowdown when it came to premium denim this holiday season. Despite widespread discounting at department stores, specialty retailers found that consumers were more than...

Yong makes a 'pur' play.(Hae Yong)
January 3, 2008... Byline: Ross Tucker NEW YORK - Hae Yong is making the transition from denim manufacturer to premium label owner with the launch of Pur Premium Denim. Yong has more than 15 years of experience in the denim industry, working in...

Lending contemporary brands a hand.(Imitation of Christ)
January 3, 2008... Byline: Julee Kaplan Josh Sparks had a full plate but that didn't stop him from launching a new business. Sparks, who took Sydney-based contemporary label Sass & Bide from $5 million to $30 million in five years as chief executive...

Betsey bundles up.(Betsey Johnson will have no problem keeping warm this fall)
January 3, 2008... Byline: Julee Kaplan NEW YORK - Betsey Johnson will have no problem keeping warm this fall. The designer, known for her quirky contemporary style, has signed a licensing agreement with The Levy Group here to produce a full collection...

Designers amp up Tel Aviv's electric district.
January 3, 2008... Byline: Jessica Steinberg When Nait Rosenfeld opened her clothing boutique, Nait, in Tel Aviv's Gan Hahashmal in 2002, she was something of a pioneer. At the time, she was the only designer in the southern Tel Aviv neighborhood, which was...

Pedder red launches new retail concept in Hong Kong.(Pedder Group)
January 3, 2008... Byline: Constance Haisma-Kwok HONG KONG - Pedder Red, the private label division of Pedder Group, has opened its first flagship in Hong Kong's Central District. Although there are already 14 Pedder Red stores in Asia, the...

Subliminal messages; top 10 network prime-time TV programs ranked by number of product placement occurrences from Jan. 1 to Nov. 25, 2007.
January 3, 2008... Byline: Cecily Hall The writer's strike has been putting a damper on the filming of TV programs lately, and the gaps in networks' schedules are being filled by a slew of new reality programs. That's good news for major brands, though (and...

Legal briefs.
January 3, 2008... Byline: Liza Casabona According to a Dec. 22 statement by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan, Michael Bodner was arrested and charged with stealing more than $4 million from his former employer. Neither legal sources nor the U.S....

Erin Snow to 'pop up' at Sundance.(Brief article)
January 3, 2008... Byline: Whitney Beckett Erin Snow is dabbling in retail for the first time with a pop-up store at the Sundance Film Festival. The brand, known best for its high-end skiwear, will host an 825-square-foot space in Park City, Utah, from...

Innovation next step for China.
January 3, 2008... Byline: Kathleen E. McLaughlin BEIJING - With its vast low-cost labor force and a consuming 20-year thirst for economic growth, China was a natural to become the world's factory. Now its central government faces the new, vastly more...

Firm of former retail exec acquires stake in Hanover.(Brief article)
January 3, 2008... Byline: Vicki M. Young NEW YORK - Shawn Zachary Design Inc., an investment group formed by former retail executive Zachary Belil, last month acquired a 49 percent stake in Hanover Industries for an undisclosed sum. Hanover, founded in...

Down the aisle.(Vera Wang newest fragrance)(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... Vera Wang is tossing Bouquet, her newest fragrance, into this spring's fragrance fray. The scent, coming in April, will be available in about 500 specialty stores in the U.S. And that's not all that Wang has in the way of florals this spring:...

Keen on Simon Kneen: Banana Republic taps new creative director.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Sharon Edelson Banana Republic is getting serious about trading up. On Thursday, the fashion retailer appointed Simon Kneen, formerly of Brooks Brothers parent Retail Brand Alliance, as executive vice president of design and...

L'oral stake in Armani seen as unlikely.(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... Byline: Jennifer Weil, Paris, and Stephanie Epiro, Milan MILAN - Industry sources generally dismissed reports of a possible L'Oral investment in Giorgio Armani, which resurfaced Wednesday in the Italian newspaper Milano Finanza. While...

Dolce & Gabbana taps new U.S. president.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Andrew Roberts Dolce & Gabbana on Thursday named Christophe Albarran as president of its U.S. subsidiary, replacing Glenn McMahon, who left in August to become chief executive officer of St. John. Albarran was most recently...

In brief: theft at McQueen...Maus builds Gant stake.(Alexander McQueen)(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... THEFT AT MCQUEEN: Alexander McQueen has become the latest victim of fashion thieves raiding London shops and studios. On Dec. 27, thieves broke into McQueen's East End headquarters, stealing computers and some handbag samples from the fall 2008...

Hong Kong market comes of age.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Jennifer Weil HONG KONG - Beauty is showing its true colors here. Walking down a street in Hong Kong just a decade ago, it was rare to spot women wearing foundation or nail polish. Now though, it's hard to find a bevy of...

Cosmoprof Asia attracts niche brands.(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... Byline: Jennifer Weil HONG KONG - This city has become a veritable magnet for niche brands - many of whose products have a "green" positioning - thanks in no small part to the Cosmoprof trade show, which focuses on natural health. ...

Vera Wang: a return engagement with new scents.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Julie Naughton It's time for another trip to the altar for Vera Wang. The designer is launching two new fragrances this spring: Bouquet, which joins her bridal-themed Signature scent collection, and Flower Princess, which will...

Jami Morse Heidegger prepares to reenter the beauty fray.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Pete Born Jami Morse Heidegger, who built Kiehl's Since 1851 into one of the brightest marquee names of the Nineties' indie boom, is stepping back into the ring. Seven years after she sold Kiehl's to L'Oral, Heidegger is...

Ricky's flirts with outer NYC markets.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Molly Prior Ricky's - the New York City retailer with a crass sense of humor and irreverent style - is growing up. That's not to suggest Ricky's is doing away with the array of adult toys - partially shrouded behind a beaded...

Wet 'n' Wild aims to show 'benefits' of minerals..
January 4, 2008... Byline: Michelle Edgar Markwins Wet 'n' Wild is diving into the mineral makeup market with Beauty Benefits, a new collection of color cosmetics containing lotus extract and marine minerals as the key ingredient. Wet 'n' Wild is...

Philosophy names Gretchen Price CFO.(chief financial officer)
January 4, 2008... Byline: Molly Prior Philosophy Inc. has tapped former Procter & Gamble executive Gretchen Price as its chief financial officer. Price, who will assume her new post Monday, will help round out Philosophy's management team led by chief...

Del has full spring lineup.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Faye Brookman NEW YORK - Retailers hope Coty Inc. will plow forward with the bevy of new beauty products Del Laboratories has on its docket for 2008. Coty recently acquired Del Labs' parent company, DLI Holding Corp., from the New...

Food and beauty pros partner for products.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Andrea Nagel A Manhattan-based nutritionist has teamed up with a mass market beauty company to create a line of skin care products containing antioxidants believed to have antiaging effects. Woodridge Labs, the maker of...

Reality show success spurs Sunset Tan growth.(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... Byline: Rachel Brown LOS ANGELES - Sunset Tan is going national. The L.A.-based company is capitalizing on the spotlight provided by the E network to peddle its brand of tanning salon to franchisees. The six-unit chain is expected to...

Brow maven Eliza opens post at Exhale spa.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Rachel Brown LOS ANGELES - Another eyebrow queen cometh to conquer the celebrity lair. Eliza Petrescu, the force behind Eliza's Eyes, is opening a Southern California outpost this month at Exhale Spa in Santa Monica. That puts...

Apivita sets goal to go global in 2008.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Matthew W. Evans Athens-based skin care marketer Apivita is shifting its focus to the international stage, launching new products and upgrading packaging in a bid to top 32.5 million euros, or $47.9 million at current exchange, in...

Avon signs Orman as financial adviser.(television host Suze Orman)
January 4, 2008... Byline: Michelle Edgar Avon Products Inc. has tapped renowned personal finance expert and award-winning television host Suze Orman to act as "special personal finance adviser" to Avon representatives, to offer them money management advice....

SCENT OF WARHOL.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Joan Kron To the Editor: I read with interest your story about Andy Warhol and Bond No. 9 - describing Bond's latest Warhol-inspired fragrance (WWD, Dec. 28, page 6). I would like to add to the historical record. I...

Kellwood to repurchase $80 million of its stock.(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... Byline: Lisa Lockwood NEW YORK - Confirming its belief in its future growth prospects, Kellwood Co. said Thursday it has entered into an $80 million accelerated share repurchase agreement with the Bank of America N.A. Kellwood will...

Local luxe franchises flourishing in Turkey.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Suna Erdem ISTANBUL - Luxury is booming here, and it's making franchising a big business. Sephora, Dolce & Gabbana, Chlo, Jimmy Choo, Coach and Prada are just a few of the names that, during the last 12 months, have opened...

The science of covers: celebs, cleavage and sparkle.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Stephanie D. Smith In the early Eighties, People magazine founding editor Dick Stolley created "Stolley's Law of Covers," a mantra that some editors today can still recite from memory: "Young is better than old. Pretty is better...

Memo pad: last laugh...like, the constitution is sooo hot...all change.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Stephanie D. Smith, Amy Wicks and S.D.S., Miles Socha, Rosemary Feitelberg LAST LAUGH?: Details editor in chief Dan Peres has been beaten up in the blogosphere and in print for deciding to put Kevin Federline on the magazine's...

The secret weapon.(actor Michael Kenneth Williams)(Interview)
January 4, 2008... Byline: Jacob Bernstein Until fairly recently, "diversity" on the air often amounted to an overweight wisecracking black guy or an Asian forensics investigator. Then came "The Sopranos," "Lost" and "The Wire," which features - perhaps most...

Madame Alix Gres exhibit celebrates fashion's 'sphinx'.(Brief article)
January 4, 2008... Byline: Rosemary Feitelberg Madame Alix Grs will be getting her due at The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, where an exhibition in her honor is set to bow next month. More than 14 years after her death in...

Fashion scoops: farewell, Janet Brown...bidding at the chance...the artist known as Prince.
January 4, 2008... FAREWELL, JANET BROWN: The new year is going to have to get along without Janet Brown. The Port Washington, N.Y., designer boutique, which was in business for 24 years, officially closed its doors a few days before Christmas. According to one...

Thailand retail anticipates growth under new government.
January 4, 2008... Byline: Joyce Barrett BANGKOK - Thailand's largest retail property manager believes that business will improve in 2008 because of rising consumer confidence after the election last month that seeks to restore democracy for the first time...

LET'S DANCE.(leg wear)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Twirl, ballerina, twirl. Colorful opaque and shimmering metallic legwear are just right for taking a bow. Here, knee-highs from Chinese Laundry Legwear and Via Spiga's tights, both in nylon and spandex, worn with Chris Han's dress and Capezio...

PRIVATE EQUITY GROUP SAID CLOSE TO BUYING ELLEN TRACY FROM LIZ.(Windsong Brands, Liz Claiborne Inc., Ellen Tracy Inc.)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Vicki M. Young, With contributions from Whitney Beckett Liz Claiborne Inc. is said to be close to a deal to sell the Ellen Tracy brand to a consortium led by Windsong Brands, a Westport, Conn.-based private equity firm. A...

CELINE NAMES NEW U.S. PRESIDENT.(Celine Inc.'s Simona Zerchi )
January 7, 2008... Byline: Miles Socha PARIS - Aiming to kick-start its wholesale business in America, Celine has tapped Simona Zerchi as its new U.S. president, effective today. Zerchi joins Celine from Prada USA Corp., where she was vice president of...

RAIN STORMS BATTER CALIFORNIA.
January 7, 2008... Byline: Joanna Ramey and Anne Riley-Katz A third storm in as many days battered much of California on Saturday, and retailers were left struggling to recover from the rain-soaked weekend with lighter than usual traffic evident at malls and...

IN BRIEF: GOING GREEN.(Clothing industry's Earth Pledge's FutureFashion )(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... GOING GREEN: Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Jil Sander, Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Narciso Rodriguez and Versace are among the companies that have signed up for Earth Pledge's FutureFashion Jan. 31 runway show at Gotham...

BELK TAPS KATHY BUFANO FOR MERCHANDISING POST.(Belk Inc)
January 7, 2008... Byline: David Moin Kathy Bufano, a merchant with a wide range of department and specialty store experience, has become president of merchandising and marketing for Belk Inc. Bufano becomes the highest ranking official in the Charlotte,...

FASHION SCOOPS: HAIR APPARENT...GUTEN TAG, ZAC...LUELLA LOVES LONDON...ELIE FOR ENGLAND.(John Galliano, Zac Posen, Luella Bartley, Saab Elie)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... HAIR APPARENT: John Galliano decided to start 2008 on a humorous note. Christian Dior's greeting cards for the New Year feature a collage by Galliano depicting the late couturier - natty in a pinstripe suit and pink tie - putting rollers into...

FIG LEAF NOT NEEDED.(Dolce & Gabbana S.R.L.' advertising campaign)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Courtney Colavita MILAN - Michelangelo may have sculpted his David out of marble, but Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have sourced one in the flesh. David Gandy - the bod in Dolce & Gabbana's steamy Light Blue Pour Homme...

TALBOTS EXITING KIDS', MEN'S.(Talbots Inc.'s discontinuation of kids' and men's apparel business)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Arthur Zaczkiewicz and David Moin Talbots Inc., battling weak sales and seeing its stock price tumble, will discontinue its kids' and men's businesses by the fall to help the company focus on its core misses', special sizes,...

DOUBLE VISION.(eyewear)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... The social swirl these days is looking less like a scene out of "High Society" and more like something straight from "Revenge of the Nerds." Actresses Cate Blanchett, Amy Sedaris and Dana Delaney have all hit the red carpet bespectacled in...

HAUTE CHOCOLATE.(Puerto Cacao)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Chantal Goupil Forget fancy cocktails and hoity-toity mixologists. The newest bars in France are serving up chocolate. Puerto Cacao, a friendly destination in Paris' 17th arrondissement, sells rich hot chocolate spiked with...

SEPARATION ANXIETY.(A Golden Age, portrayal of India-Pakistan War)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Vanessa Lawrence With the success of novels such as Jhumpa Lahiri's "The Namesake," Monica Ali's "Brick Lane" and, of course, Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner," South Asia and its immigrants have clearly caught the interest of a...