WWD articles from March 2008

WWD archives from March 2008

BIG LOVE.(Marc Jacobs' collection)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Marc Jacobs has an affection for boldly shaped silhouettes, and he showed it with the overscaled versions in his remarkable fall collection for Louis Vuitton. Here, a jacket with pleated details at the hips and a full skirt, both in the thick,...

DAVID YURMAN'S BIG PUSH: JEWELER HEADS OVERSEAS STARTING WITH FAR EAST.(David Yurman Inc.'s plan of business expansion)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Sophia Chabbott Some might be concerned about the fate of luxury goods in today's uncertain economy, but David Yurman feels the time is right to get aggressive about expanding overseas. The 28-year-old fine jewelry and watch...

WANG INKS LAVENDER HANDBAG LICENSE.(Vera Wang's licensing deal with Accessory Network)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Caroline Tell Vera Wang's Lavender Label is getting on the licensing path. The designer's contemporary division is teaming with the Accessory Network Group in a three-year deal to produce and distribute handbags and small...

CHARITY SALE OFFERS A LOOK INSIDE KARAN'S CLOSET.(Donna Karan's charity bazaar)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Julee Kaplan The designer has rummaged through 35 years' worth of her belongings and gathered more than 2,000 items to sell in the name of charity. There are racks of couture gowns, shoes, handbags, jewelry, photographs, sculptures...

BODY CONFIRMED AS MODEL'S.(death of Katoucha Niane)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... French police on Friday confirmed that a body pulled out of the Seine River was Katoucha Niane, the former Yves Saint Laurent muse. Niane, 47, disappeared after friends dropped her off at her houseboat after a night on the town. Investigators...

CORRECTION.(Correction notice)
March 3, 2008... Due to an editing error, a quote on page 17, Friday, was incorrect. Gap Inc. chairman and chief executive officer Glenn Murphy was referring to an imbalance in the three product components of Old Navy - fashion, family and value - that could be...

EUROPE'S DEPARTMENT STORE ARENA SHIFTING.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Robert Murphy KarstadtQuelle parent Arcandor of Germany in December sealed a deal with Italy's La Rinascente and France's Printemps to create a premium pan-European department store alliance that augurs for further consolidation in...

CHANGE OF PACE.(Lee Pace )(Interview)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Amanda FitzSimons He may play Amy Adams' dreamy inamorata in the comedy of errors "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day," in theaters March 7, but Lee Pace is a little worried about swooning moviegoers accusing him of false advertising....

HIGH NOTES.(Interview)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Emily Holt That British singer-songwriter David Ford is even a musician at all is kind of an anomaly. Neither one of his parents are musically inclined ("My father is clinically tone deaf," he says) and he hasn't had a shred of...

REVENGE OF THE NERD.(Interview)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Sarah Kessler There seems to be a place for everybody in the fashion industry among them a swarthy French designer who takes his runway bows in astronaut suits and pirate getups and an Icelandic songstress who also wears swans on...

BON CHIC AND BRITISH CHEEK; THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO CREATE AN APPEALING COLLECTION. KARL LAGERFELD DID IT FOR CHANEL WITH STYLISH REAL CLOTHES IN CUTAWAY LINEAR SHAPES, WHILE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN OFFERED A FAIRYTALE NARRATIVE REPLETE WITH WITTY VERSIONS OF VICTORIAN AND INDIAN LOOKS.
March 3, 2008... Chanel: Forget the Carrousel du Louvre. On Friday morning, Karl Lagerfeld unveiled a brand-new set he commissioned just for this season: the Carrousel du Chanel. His pale gold-and-white merry-go-luxe had not a gaudy painted animal in sight;...

STRUCTURED AND CURVED.
March 3, 2008... Marc Jacobs created distinctive, boldly constructed shapes for Louis Vuitton, while Olivier Theyskens undone looks for Nina Ricci fell in slender curves. Louis Vuitton: Richard Prince? He and his high-voltage artwork are so last...

MADE IN THE SHADES; RICH FALL COLORS, OFTEN COMBINED WITH EARTHY NEUTRALS, PLAYED A STRONG ROLE ON THE RUNWAYS, IN LOOKS RANGING FROM FUR-TRIMMED COATS TO FLUID PRINT DRESSES.
March 3, 2008... John Galliano: "It's not the egg rolls, Harry. It's the last 10 years." So quipped the put-upon wife to her husband in an old New Yorker cartoon. In the increasingly listless marriage that is this industry's show system (retailers and press,...

FASHION SCOOPS: SPARKLING SCENT... STAIR CASE... SHORT CUTS.
March 3, 2008... SPARKLING SCENT: Could Swarovski be zeroing in on a fragrance deal? According to industry sources, the Austrian crystal giant has been in talks with Groupe Clarins. The likelihood of an agreement could not immediately be learned. A...

IN THE MOOD; THE TONE OF THE COLLECTIONS SWUNG FROM HAPPY-GO-LUCKY TO DARK AND EDGY, WITH A LITTLE DRAMATIC SPARKLE IN THE MIX.
March 3, 2008... Sonia Rykiel: Whatever Sonia Rykiel's backstage secret is, she should bottle it up and sell it. Once again she sent out a parade of prancing models, happier than you've seen them since the last Rykiel show. They skipped and smiled down the...

PUFFER PIECE.(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Moncler Gamme Rouge: Giambattista Valli used many of the same tricks featured in his own collection - luxe duchesse satins, feathers, fur and ribbon effects - in his first outing for Moncler Gamme Rouge. But here he adjusted the volume...

VUITTON ROCKS ON.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Miles Socha PARIS No matinee idols for Louis Vuitton. Its latest poster boy, Keith Richards, has deep wrinkles, smudged eyeliner and unruly hair as he sits strumming a guitar in an untidy hotel suite. And Antoine Arnault,...

TIME AND AGAIN.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Miles Socha PARIS Marc Jacobs actually designed his first watch for Louis Vuitton 12 years ago, but only luxury titan Bernard Arnault saw the sketch. It was part of a submission to LVMH Mot Hennessy Louis Vuitton that ultimately...

FASHION SCOOPS: WATERWORLD... DOWN TIME... AIR SUPPLY...
March 3, 2008... WATERWORLD: Japanese actress Shinobu Terajima, who was born into a famous kabuki family, took in her first Paris fashion show when she went to Kenzo on Saturday. Another first: Terajima just portrayed a mermaid in a "monster" film aimed at...

FASHION SCOOPS: FOR SALE... WORK IN PROGRESS... BLACK GOLD...
March 3, 2008... FOR SALE: It looks like Versace's Italian villa is up for sale. WWD has learned from a source that the Versace family is in talks to vend Villa Le Fontanelle in Moltrasio on Lake Como to Australia's Sunland Group Ltd., its partner in the...

ONCE IN LOVE WITH AMY.(Amy Winehouse)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Emilie Marsh, Ellen Groves PARIS Leave it to Amy Winehouse to open a concert during Paris Fashion Week by talking about the mumps. "It is so big I can see it out of my eye," the songstress said of her swollen left cheek as she...

STEVE & BARRY SECURE $197M LOAN FROM GE.(GE Commercial Finance Corporate Lending)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Vicki M. Young Low price point specialty apparel retailer Steve & Barry's got a $197 million asset-based loan from GE Commercial Finance Corporate Lending, which will be used for "ongoing capital needs." This is the first loan...

MEMO PAD: UNDER THE BIG TOP... FASHION AND POLITICS... GOING FOR IMPACT...
March 3, 2008... Byline: Irin Cameron, Amy Wicks, Stephanie D. Smith UNDER THE BIG TOP: Ex-Cond Nast Publications executives James Truman and Mitch Fox are teaming up but not for a media project. Sources close to Truman, the publishing company's one-time...

RUNWAY POP FUELS SPRING POWER.(legwear trend)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Caroline Tell Legwear is having a spring awakening. With its consistent presence on February's runways in styles such as sheer, sparkled Lurex and strong blocks of color the category shows no signs of slowing even while...

STEVE MADDEN FILLS THE SHOE.(Steve Madden Ltd.'s will start on the legwear business)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Caroline Tell Steven Madden Ltd., the contemporary shoe and accessories firm known for trendy styles, is going into legwear starting this fall with a collection to be produced and distributed by the New York-based Gina Group. ...

PIAGET BOOSTS STORE COUNT, JEWELRY QUOTIENT.(Piaget S.A.)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Sophia Chabbott Piaget is pushing ahead with expansion in the face of economic turbulence and dire forecasts from some industry analysts. The 134-year-old fine jewelry and watch firm, which is owned by Compagnie Financire...

FINDINGS: BOTKIER GOES LIVE... DIDDY CARES... PROJECT ACCESSORY.(Botkier.com, Sean Diddy Combs' scarf, accessory designer competition)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... BOTKIER GOES LIVE: Botkier, the New York-based accessories company, has relaunched its Web site, Botkier.com. The site showcases all of the brand's categories, including new products such as footwear, belts, small leather goods and some...

VENDORS FUME OVER MUDDLED MARKET.(clothing vendors and retail)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Karyn Monget The uncertain economy, cautious retailers with slimmer budgets and two competing trade shows created an unsettling environment at last month's New York market. The precarious climate permeated the month's...

A FEMMY NIGHT TO REMEMBER.(2008 Femmy Awards )(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Karyn Monget The 2008 Femmy Awards marked the 50th anniversary of the industry organization's annual cocktail and dinner gala, which drew about 630 retail and innerwear executives. The honorees were William T. Dillard 3rd, vice...

BRINGING THE EDGE BACK TO HUGO.(Hugo Boss AG's brand)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Melissa Drier BERLIN Hugo, the most cutting-edge brand in the Hugo Boss Group, has just gotten a cut edgier. "It's absolutely a relaunch," said Andr Maeder, Hugo Boss managing board member responsible for retail, licenses and...

BEAUTY BEAT: GROWING BRAND LOOKS TO MAKE EVERY DAY A RITUAL... UNILEVER RESTRUCTURES.(Rituals' expansion)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Brid Costello LONDON Rituals hopes to make the mundane marvelous worldwide. The Amsterdam-based beauty brand is ramping up its international presence with U.K. store openings and plans to enter Germany, Israel and the Baltics...

FRENCH POLICE CONFIRM BODY FOUND IS MODELS.(Katoucha Niane)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Robert Murphy PARIS - Police on Friday confirmed that a body pulled out of the Seine River was Katoucha Niane, the former Yves Saint Laurent muse. Niane, 47, disappeared after friends dropped her off at her houseboat after a...

APPAREL SLIPPING IN PURCHASE PRIORITY, NPD FINDS.(NPD Group Inc.'s report find that apparel as least affordable according to consumers)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Valerie Seckler Apparel is among a few things consumers are now finding least affordable, as they cope with a fast-changing economy where their sense of wealth has diminished along with home prices. That's part of the picture...

FAST STATS.(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Top "stickiest" Web site in January: Fulltiltpoker.com Average time person spent on the site: 10 hours, 22 minutes Cumulative hours waited for all Web pages to download: 4.9 billion Approximate number of book titles published in the...

ESCADA EARNINGS DROP IN QUARTER.(Escada AG)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Melissa Drier BERLIN A weak response to Escada Group's fall and winter 2007 offering as well as delivery shifts for spring items resulted in a steep drop in pretax earnings for the first quarter. For the quarter ended Jan. 31,...

CHARMING SHOPPES INVESTORS PREP PRESENTATION.(Charming Shoppes Inc.'s investor relations)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Byline: Vicki M. Young In what may be an unusual move, the Charming Shoppes Full Value Committee on Thursday filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission an investor presentation for Charming Shoppes Inc. The presentation outlines...

LEGAL BRIEFS.
March 3, 2008... Byline: Liza Casabona Diadora America Inc. and Diadora SpA filed a lawsuit against Skechers USA Inc. for alleged trademark infringement. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Seattle on Feb. 12. According to court documents, the...

L&T PARENT NRDC SET TO REVIVE FORTUNOFF.(NRDC Equity Partners' acquisition of Fortunoff Fine Jewelry and Silverware Inc.)
March 3, 2008... Byline: David Moin NEW YORK A reversal of fortune is in store for Fortunoff. Last week, NRDC Equity Partners received court approval to buy Fortunoff out of bankruptcy, and this week, most likely Wednesday, the deal will close,...

TRIM CHANCE.(Alber Elbaz )(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Alber Elbaz made modern glamour look effortless in the beautiful fall collection he showed for Lanvin, which centered around all sorts of ribbons, including velvet, radzimir and grosgrain. Here, one of his imaginative uses of the trimmings: a...

THE POWER OF PARIS: SUITS, JEWELRY, LBDS LEAVE BUYERS UPBEAT.(Paris Fashion Week )
March 4, 2008... Byline: WWD Staff PARIS Bookended by strong collections from Balenciaga and Lanvin, Paris Fashion Week delivered enough fashion excitement to leave retailers smiling. While some lamented a preponderance of all-black dressing, a dearth...

JUDGE RULES ON ESMERIAN JEWELRY SALE.(Ralph Esmerian's case)
March 4, 2008... Byline: Evan Clark, with contributions by Sophia Chabbott NEW YORK A New York Supreme Court hearing last week resembled a horse-trading session of sorts when a judge divvied up how to sell off millions of dollars of jewelry that Ralph...

ARNOLD ORLICK OUT AT FORTUNOFF.(Fortunoff Fine Jewelry and Silverware Inc. ousted chief executive officer)(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Byline: David Moin NEW YORK Fortunoff, which is being purchased by NRDC Equity Partners, has ousted chief executive officer Arnold Orlick, sources said Monday. "He told his employees that he's going," said a source close to the...

KORS NAMES WILMOTTE TO EUROPEAN POST.(Michael Kors Inc.'s Cedric Wilmotte)(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Michael Kors said Monday that it has hired Cedric Wilmotte for the newly created post of senior vice president of European operations. The European market is a priority for Kors, which plans to significantly expand its global retail reach...

IN BRIEF: CAST YOUR BALLOTS... AEFFE BUYBACK... TWO SIDES SETTLE.(Council of Fashion Designers of America awards, Aeffe SpA, Genesco Inc. and Finish Line Inc.'s settlement)(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... CAST YOUR BALLOTS: Today's presidential primaries could be decisive ones for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain, but the fashion crowd has a little more time to play with to vote for this year's Council of Fashion Designer of America...

RIBBON DEVELOPMENT.(Alber Elbaz's modern collection)(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Lanvin: Making old glamour new seems a simple, not to mention common, design concept. And how hard can it really be? Well, once Alber Elbaz's modern, glamorous, gorgeous fall collection for Lanvin took to the runway on Sunday evening, it was...

FASHION SCOOPS: IN CHARACTER... LET'S GO CRAZY... A ROYAL TEE?...(Zhang Ziyi's upcoming movie, Mischa Barton, Prince Harry's t-shirt)
March 4, 2008... IN CHARACTER: Zhang Ziyi will be putting away her swords and flexing her funny bone in her next picture, "Lost for Words." "It's a romantic comedy with Hugh Grant. We're shooting in London," she said Sunday night at Louis Vuitton's dinner for...

IN DETAIL.(Miuccia Prada and Ralph Rucci)
March 4, 2008... Miuccia Prada played with graphic cutouts and color for Miu Miu, while Ralph Rucci dressed up his signature styles with braided straps and cording for Chado. Miu Miu: Miuccia Prada loves to leave her audience in the dark. Conceptually,...

A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA.(fashion design)(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Byline: Roxanne Robinson-Escriout The runways weren't the only places in Paris to find the excitement of the season. Hotel suites, ateliers and salons set a different stage to showcase some of the best accessories around. Caption(s):...

FRESH POLISH.(Limi Yamamoto's collection)(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Limi Feu: To those critics who mentioned Limi Yamamoto's close aping of her daddy's ethos in her Paris debut last season, this collection offered up a retort: So what? Like father, like daughter. Mannish baggy pants; wide, ballooning skirts;...

MORE FROM THE SHOWS.(fashion shows and designers' collection)
March 4, 2008... Jean-Charles de Castelbajac: "Why can't a woman look more like a Rubik's Cube?" was among Jean-Charles de Castelbajac's eye-popping propositions, as he put that graphic pattern on a catsuit, but beyond the wackier fare were wearable new-rave...

ROBB REPORT.(AnnaSophia Robb)
March 4, 2008... Byline: Jenny Sundel SUNDANCE, Utah AnnaSophia Robb has starred alongside mega movie stars like Johnny Depp and Hilary Swank, nabbed a Critics' Choice nomination for her role in the fantasy film "Bridge to Terabithia" and next will get...

BEACH READING.(Brian Antoni's South Beach)(Interview)(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Byline: Mengly Taing Brian Antoni arrived in South Beach, Fla., by mistake. A canceled flight from New York to the Bahamas 20 years ago left the now 48-year-old writer stranded in a transitioning seaside oasis where old Jewish couples and...

EASY RIDERS.(celebrity styles)(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Spring is right around the corner, but there are some girls for whom a flirty floral frock clearly won't do. At the recent Paris collections, skintight black leather pants formed a veritable uniform for some showgoers. Parisian "It Girl" Alice...

BON-TON TAPS ALFARO FOR PRIVATE LABEL.(The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. hires Victor Alfaro)(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Byline: David Moin Designer Victor Alfaro is getting back into fashion by teaming with The Bon-Ton Stores Inc., the York, Pa.-based department store chain, on a major private label program, according to sources. Alfaro has had an array...

UMBRO CEO EXITS FIRM AS NIKE COMPLETES DEAL.(Umbro International Ltd.'s Steve Makin's resignation, acquisition by Nike Inc.)(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Byline: Whitney Beckett Umbro chief executive officer Steve Makin exited the U.K. soccer brand Monday, the same day Nike Inc. completed its $565 million acquisition of the company. Matthew Cook, general manager of Nike Italy, succeeds...

MEMO PAD: BACHELOR PARTY... APAX ON THE PROWL, AGAIN...(Time 100's, Cosmopolitan's Fun Fearless Male of the Year party, Apax Partners Worldwide L.L.P. eyes Reed Business Information Ltd., editors' interview)
March 4, 2008... Byline: Stephanie D. Smith, Samantha Conti, Sharon Edelson, Amy Wicks BACHELOR PARTY: What's the bigger honor: being a member of the Time 100, the newsweekly's annual roster of most influential thinkers, politicians and performers, or...

L'OREAL BUYS REMAINDER OF LE CLUB... ORGNANIC ITEMS GET STANDARDS.(L'Oreal Paris' acquisition of Le Club Createurs de Beaute)
March 4, 2008... Byline: Andrea Nagel PARIS L'Oral, which already owns 50 percent of Le Club des Crateurs de Beaut, has agreed to acquire the 50 percent share held by Groupe 3 Suisses International, the French beauty giant announced Monday. Terms of...

VIETNAM PROGRAM WORRIES IMPORTERS.(textile industry)
March 4, 2008... Byline: Anne Riley-Katz LAS VEGAS Facing an uncertain economy and weak U.S. dollar, foreign manufacturers offered numerous concessions to strike deals with price-conscious designers and private label makers at sourcing and textile trade...

PRICE PRESSURE BUILDS AT SOURCING SHOWS.
March 4, 2008... Byline: Khanh T.L. Tran LAS VEGAS Facing an uncertain economy and weak U.S. dollar, foreign manufacturers offered numerous concessions to strike deals with price-conscious designers and private label makers at sourcing and textile trade...

PANEL PUSHES U.S. TO MOVE ON COUNTERFEIT INITIATIVE.(International Chamber of Commerce's Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy)(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Byline: Liza Casabona International trade agreements and increased consumer education are imperative in fighting global counterfeiting, according to industry executives affiliated with Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy, an...

POOR ORGANIZATION HINDERS BERLIN FASHION WEEK.
March 4, 2008... Byline: Melissa Drier, with contributions by Damien McGuinness BERLIN There were some strong moments, but too few runway shows over too many days and not enough buyers to go around diluted the impact of fashion week here. Under the...

VON FURSTENBERG, NONPROFIT LAUNCH 'WOMEN CAN'.(Diane von Furstenberg and Vital Voices Global Partnership, women empowerment)
March 4, 2008... Byline: Rosemary Feitelberg In recognition of the upcoming International Women's Day, Diane von Furstenberg on Monday helped the nonprofit Vital Voices Global Partnership kick off its "Women Can" campaign, an international effort by...

HSBC, NEIMAN'S IN COURT OVER CREDIT CARDS.(Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd., Neiman Marcus Group Inc.)(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Byline: Holly Haber DALLAS Neiman Marcus Group and HSBC, which owns the luxury chain's private label credit card accounts, are battling in court over HSBC's efforts to increase card charges and interest rates. The retailer filed a...

INFIGHTING AMONG LACOSTE FAMILY.(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Byline: Robert Murphy PARIS - The Lacoste family is squabbling, and sources here said descendants of French tennis star Ren Lacoste, who founded the sports lifestyle brand and created its popular insignia, have appointed a former French...

ZWERN RETIREMENT TRIGGERS EXEC MOVES AT BELK.(Belk Inc.'s Linda Zwern's upcoming retirement )(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Byline: David Moin Belk Inc. on Monday unveiled several changes at the senior executive level, including the upcoming retirement of Linda Zwern as chair of the 77-unit Western Division based in Birmingham, Ala. Zwern's retirement on...

PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM APAX SAID EYEING STAKE IN ESCADA.(Apax Partners Worldwide L.L.P., Escada AG)(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Byline: Melissa Drier BERLIN Apax Partners, the global private equity group, might be eyeing a stake in Escada. The German financial daily Handelsblatt reported on Monday that the London-based owner of Tommy Hilfiger and the German...

SURVEY FINDS PRICE TOP FACTOR FOR SHOPPERS.(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Byline: Evan Clark NEW YORK Given the economy, shoppers are zeroing in on price more than ever and are increasingly bypassing monobrand specialty retailers in favor of department stores. That's according to the results of the 2008...

GEOX TWO STEP: FOOTWEAR AND FASHION.
March 4, 2008... Byline: David Moin Geox, Italy's largest footwear brand, has just given itself a tall order. "We want our business to be 50 percent footwear and 50 percent apparel," said Geox founder and chief executive Mario Moretti Polegato. ...

NORTH FACE TRADES WEB CONTENT CONTROL FOR TRAFFIC.(North Face Inc's website management )(Brief article)
March 4, 2008... Byline: Denise Power What The North Face gave up in Web content control, it gained in site traffic through a new widget that lets online visitors post their own and North Face-produced videos to other sites. "At the start, it makes...

CONSOLIDATED JAPAN RETAILERS COPE WITH RECESSION.
March 4, 2008... Byline: Akira Miura TOKYO After sweeping consolidation a year ago, Japanese department store retailers face challenges from an ongoing recession. Following the creation of J. Front Retailing Co. Ltd. by Daimaru and Matsuzakaya...

TAILOR MADE.(Karl Lagerfeld )(Brief article)
March 5, 2008... Karl Lagerfeld is no stranger to a chic suit. The look, of course, is an iconic one at Chanel, and this fall he served it up in everything from classic tweeds to slightly frayed and shredded versions. Here, a stylish wool number with unusual...

BOOM TIMES IN BOSTON: LUXE BRANDS, DEVELOPERS LEADING A RETAIL REVIVAL.
March 5, 2008... Byline: Katherine Bowers BOSTON Recession? Boston didn't get the memo. Retail growth is galloping ahead in the metropolitan region after a decade in which it lagged behind the rest of the U.S. New players have elbowed in, luxury...

UNIQLO'S LATEST YOUNG DESIGNERS.(Fast Retailing Company Ltd.'s Designer Invitation Project)(Brief article)
March 5, 2008... Byline: Sharon Edelson NEW YORK Uniqlo is pursuing its Designer Invitation Project, which taps young designers for capsule collections. The spring installment features Juliana Jabour, Alexander Wang, Tim Hamilton and Loden Dager. ...

RECESSION CONCERNS EXPECTED TO HIT COMPS.(recession will affect stock markets and retail)
March 5, 2008... Byline: Jeanine Poggi Wall Street had the jitters on Tuesday, but rebounded in afternoon trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank more than 200 points earlier in the day after Merrill Lynch lowered its full-year earnings guidance...

IN BRIEF: BERGLASS APPOINTMENTS... WHITE TO UNITED... GARAGE SALE...(Berglass + Associates, United Retail Group Inc.'s Gary White, Nygrd Mfg.'s closure of its factory)(Brief article)
March 5, 2008... - BERGLASS APPOINTMENTS: Berglass + Associates has promoted Matthew Berglass to president and Cynthia Aherne to executive vice president. They were both senior associates. Also, Jeannie Amos was promoted to vice president from associate. An...

SUIT 'EM UP.(suit styles)(Brief article)
March 5, 2008... Suit dreams are made of these. From a prettily beribboned number to a more austere version with a shot of bright blue, designers offered plenty of stylish wares for both boardroom babes and socialites. Caption(s): Jean Paul Gaultier /...

TOMMY HILFIGER TO DO OWN SHOES.(Tommy Hilfiger Corp.)(Brief article)
March 5, 2008... Byline: Sophia Chabbott Tommy Hilfiger will bring most of its footwear business in-house as of January 2009. Stride Rite, a division of Collective Brands Inc., has been the licensee for Hilfiger's women's, men's and children's...

LILLY PULITZER FINDS ITS SPACE IN MANHATTAN.(Lilly Pulitzer Inc.)
March 5, 2008... Byline: Julee Kaplan NEW YORK After 49 years in business, Lilly Pulitzer has finally found a pad in Manhattan. The brand, rooted in Palm Beach, Fla., and now based in King of Prussia, Pa., has signed a lease for its first Manhattan...

CHINA BUSINESS LAWS DEFENDED.
March 5, 2008... Byline: Kathleen E. McLaughlin BEIJING Legislation raising taxes on foreign companies and toughening labor standards have increased the costs of doing business in China, but will result in overall benefits by making companies more...

SENATE TO ADDRESS PRODUCT SAFETY BILL.
March 5, 2008... Byline: Kristi Ellis WASHINGTON The Senate voted Monday night to take up a comprehensive product safety bill that would increase the fines on U.S. companies importing tainted and toxic products and overhaul the agency responsible for...

MACERICH, DMB AGREE TO PARTNER.
March 5, 2008... Byline: Sharon Edelson The retail battleground in North Phoenix has shifted. The affluent area is highly coveted by developers. The Macerich Westcor division's Palisene project and DMB Associates' One Scottsdale, as well as Related...

KENNETH COLE POSTS LOSS.
March 5, 2008... Byline: Evan Clark A $10.6 million impairment charge drove fourth-quarter results at Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. into the red. The company's board also approved a stock buyback of four million shares and cut its quarterly dividend in...

MAIDENFORM NET SURGES IN QUARTER.(Brief article)
March 5, 2008... Byline: Vicki M. Young Maidenform Brands Inc. said Tuesday said that fourth-quarter income almost doubled from a year ago, powered by rising sales from key products. For the quarter ended Dec. 29, income jumped 97.1 percent to $6.4...

MEMO PAD: A NEW LENS... FIRST MONROE, NOW MINOGUE... CRACKING A VICTORIAN WHIP...(Elle's creative director, Joe Zee, Lindsay Lohan as cover girl of Paper Magazine, James Frey's art gallery)
March 5, 2008... Byline: Stephanie D. Smith, Hellin Kay, Irin Carmon, Amy Wicks, Valerie Seckler A NEW LENS: Joe Zee's arrival at Elle as creative director has ushered in a fresh look, while longtime creative head Gilles Bensimon's involvement in the...