WWD articles from May 2002

WWD archives from May 2002

LAUDER TO BUFF PROFITS WITH $108M IN CUTS, CLOSES TOMMY SHOPS.(Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Tommy Hilfiger Corp.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- The Estee Lauder Cos. is hoping a $108 million makeover will create a more beautiful bottom line. The struggling beauty company Tuesday said it will close its in-store Tommy Hilfiger shops, shift Gloss.com eastward and tweak...

PIECE CORPS.
May 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- Polyester leisure suits and blue frosted eye shadow are trends from the past that should stay there. But another Seventies fave that's back and looking great is patchwork. Crazy, colorful patterns that are pieced, knitted or...

IN BRIEF.(multiple topics)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... CHARRON TO CHAIR AAFA: The American Apparel & Footwear Association is expected to elect Paul Charron, Liz Claiborne's chairman and chief executive officer, as its new chairman at the organization's annual meeting in Bermuda, set for this...

POSSIBLE DATE SWAP FOR N.Y. AND LONDON.(international fashion calendar dates)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- Organizers of London's fashion week have agreed to trade places with New York on the fashion calendar in a one-season deal to avoid expected conflicts in Manhattan, where observances of the first anniversary of the Sept. 11...

FASHION DIRECTOR RESIGNS AT POLO.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- Lillian Wang von Stauffenberg has left her post as fashion director of women's design at Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. after just eight months on the job. She worked with Ralph Lauren's design, merchandise and retail groups,...

CORRECTIONS.
May 1, 2002... In "Getting Into The Swing," a story on page 10 in Monday's WWD Accessories supplement, the name of fyvebydora, a Los Angeles producer of mufflers and hats, was spelled incorrectly. The parent company of Liberto Jeans is Vivarte. It was...

JONES' NET PLUNGES 26.5% IN 1ST QUARTER.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- While reductions in first-quarter earnings guidance helped Jones Apparel Group beat Wall Street profit estimates by 12 cents, income still dropped by 26.5 percent as earnings per share plummeted 34 percent. For the three...

FASHION SCOOPS.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... CANNES PLAN: Celebrities still haven't had their fill of vintage fashions. Chanel in Paris recently opened its archives for French actress Virginie Ledoyen, who asked to borrow a vintage black dress for the closing ceremonies of the Cannes Film...

ISN'T IT RICH?(Trends to watch for)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- Peasant skirts, patchwork tops, strapless dresses and lots of embroidery and beading -- just a few of the holiday trends to watch for this season.

BEST DRESSED.(This season's crop of dresses)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- When it comes to party clothes, nothing beats a luxurious dress. This season's crop runs the gamut from flocked velvet to vintage prints and lace -- often in strapless shapes.

INTERMEZZO GETS READY FOR THE MIX.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- It's time to mix it up at Intermezzo again, and that's precisely what vendors have in mind with their offerings for fall and holiday. As makers prepare for another edition of the ENK-produced show May 5-7, most said that...

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE DROPS IN APRIL.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- Absorbing steep losses in the equity markets, continuing turmoil abroad and uncertain labor conditions, consumer confidence retreated slightly in April following a seven-month high in March. The Conference Board's monthly...

CHAUS BACK TO BLACK IN 3RD QUARTER.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- Healthier margins and lower operating costs more than offset slightly depressed sales to return Bernard Chaus Inc. to profitability in the third quarter. For the three months ended March 31, the New York-based women's apparel...

SUZY.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Claudia Schiffer not only has her prince in the form of producer Matthew Vaughan, whom she'll marry on May 25 in a white Valentino extravaganza, but now she has a castle to play in. The supermodel shelled out a cool $6 million to buy an English...

SOLID START FOR PREMIERE.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... ATLANTA -- The launch of Premiere, with its trade-show format, is aimed at bringing "AmericasMart apparel to a national focus," said John Portman, the mart's founder and chairman. The Premiere show ran April 12-14, during the women's and...

VIA C GETS A FACELIFT IN SEATTLE.(Via C concept stores of Nordstrom)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... SEATTLE -- In an almost clairvoyant sense of timing, Nordstrom rolled out the first of its redesigned Via C concept stores in its downtown unit here on April 19, just a month after the closing of two nearby specialty boutiques. In March,...

SULLIVAN TO RETIRE, METTLER BECOMING MACY'S WEST CEO.(Jeremiah J. Sullivan and Robert L. Mettler)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... LOS ANGELES -- The torch is being passed at Macy's West, as Federated Department Stores announced Tuesday the June 1 retirement of the division's chairman and chief executive officer, Jeremiah J. Sullivan, and the succession of Robert L....

PIECE CORPS.(Patchwork patterns from the 70s)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- Although the Seventies have been mined to a fare-thee-well for inspiration lately, there's one look from that decade that's more than welcome for a repeat performance. Patchwork patterns -- both stitched and printed -- are...

MIX IT UP.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- Everyone needs a little romance now and then. And the designers at the Intermezzo show are making sure there's plenty of it to go around with lots of flirty, whispery tops and feminine patchworks. Case in point, this green and...

IN BRIEF.(clothing industry news briefs)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2002... INTIMATE OSCAR: Oscar de la Renta Ltd. and the Biflex unit of Kellwood Co. have signed a licensing agreement for a collection of foundations. The collection of bras and coordinating panties as well as shapers will be distributed exclusively to...

FASHION SCOOPS.(fashion industry news briefs)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2002... BERGDORF BRIDAL: Settling down at last? Ron Frasch, chairman and chief executive officer of Bergdorf Goodman, has popped the question and gotten his answer -- the one he wanted. He's engaged to be married to Georgia Hobaica, vice president of...

J.CREW'S EXECUTIVE PURGE.(Brief Article)
May 2, 2002... NEW YORK -- J. Crew's cleaning house. Three key executives, including chief executive officer Mark Sarvary, have left the company, leaving a big talent void in the preppy catalog and retail operation. The top executives who departed are...

MAKING CONTINENTAL MOVES.(the Japanese fashion scene)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2002... NEW YORK -- A rush of contemporary American designers want some European chic and have a yen for Japan. "The Japanese market wants what's next, and they are finding that in American design," said Andy Oshrin, president of Milly, a New...

DENIM DISH.(Statistical Data Included)
May 2, 2002... Girbaud Jeans Retools Girbaud jeans is trading up. I.C. Isaacs & Co., the U.S. licensee of the Marithe & Francois Girbaud denim line, is changing the line's positioning from junior to contemporary, taking a step up in price and design...

THE RISKS AND THE REWARDS.(Wal-Mart is expected to open more urban stores)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2002... NEW YORK -- Wal-Mart on Broadway? Wall Street doesn't think it will happen anytime soon, but analysts agree the discounter's leanings toward more urban locations has some downside -- and the potential for great profits. Lazard...

ROBERTSON APPOINTED AT COLES MYER UNIT.(Dawn Robertson named dirctor of Myer Grace Brothers division)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2002... NEW YORK -- Dawn Robertson has joined Coles Myer, Australia's largest retailer, as managing director of the Myer Grace Bros. division, which operates 73 department stores, has 29,000 employees and posted sales of $3.7 billion in 2001. Coles...

TARIFFS DEBATED AT ITC HEARING.(US International Trade Commission)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2002... WASHINGTON -- The debate over tariffs kicked up a notch Wednesday as the International Trade Commission held hearings on the economic impact of reducing or eliminating U.S. tariffs on all industrial products, including apparel and textiles....

WORLDWIDE WEB.
May 2, 2002... "I was never a big Spider-Man fan," Kirsten Dunst admitted Monday night. The 20-year-old actress, adorably, was the first person to arrive at Hollywood's Mann Village Theatre for the premiere of "Spider-Man" -- but she came in high...

BLYTHE SPIRIT.
May 2, 2002... NEW YORK -- Those who know her, love her. Those who don't, will. Blythe, that cute and kooky doll from the Seventies, is back, thanks to photographer Gina Garan. In her book, "This is Blythe," Garan chronicles the toy's international...

HEADING DOWNTOWN: WAL-MART MUST BE HIPPER AND SMALLER.(planning new urban sotres)
May 2, 2002... Dallas -- Wal-Mart already plays in the fields of suburbia, but can it be as big in the concrete jungle? Wal-Mart's newest format, to be seen in Dallas, is a sure sign the world's largest company sees urban America as the next frontier....

SIDELINES.
May 2, 2002... RETTON LIVE: With three daughters and another due this summer, Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton was less than her limber self as the emcee of Hanes' mom-friendly fashion show at the W Hotel on Lexington Avenue in New York Wednesday morning. But...

DIGGING UP SOME OLD FAVORITES.
May 2, 2002... NEW YORK -- In most circles, "old-school" isn't exactly a compliment. But in a strange twist, the typically technical athletic market is brimming with nods to the past, and sports fans and fashion-conscious shoppers alike are clamoring...

DILLARD'S DEBT RATING DROPPED TWO NOTCHES.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 2, 2002... NEW YORK -- Citing "major challenges" to Dillard's Inc.'s operations, Moody's Investors Service cut the firm's senior implied debt rating two notches, to "Ba3" with a negative outlook. The rating, which previously had rested just below...

DKI NIXES MEN'S LINE FOR SPRING.(Donna Karan International)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2002... NEW YORK -- Donna Karan International will not produce its spring men's Collection line for wholesale, as it looks to improve retail distribution with a relaunch planned for fall 2003. It will be the first season that the company skips a...

BLYTHE SPIRIT.(Blythe Spirit doll and marketing women's apparel)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2002... NEW YORK -- James Dean, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison -- and Blythe? The first three died young, catapulting them from merely famous to legendary status overnight. But for those who don't recall the diminutive Blythe, well, her life was short,...

KENNETH COLE NET UP 21.2%.(Kenneth Cole Productions 1st-quarter earnings report)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 2, 2002... NEW YORK -- Kenneth Cole Productions on Wednesday posted a 21.2 percent spike in first-quarter earnings despite a 16.4 percent drop in its same-store sales. For the three months ended March 31, income was $5.5 million, or 27 cents a...

LUCKY STRIKE.(Brief Article)
May 2, 2002... NEW YORK -- Chris O'Donnell has had it good. At 22, he starred opposite Al Pacino in "Scent of a Woman," and by 27 had played Robin to both George Clooney's and Val Kilmer's Batman. Along the way he married his college sweetheart, had...

MEICHNER RESIGNS SAKS POST.(Wayne Meichner to leave Saks Fifth Avenne)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- After 23 years with Saks Fifth Avenue, Wayne Meichner, one of the store's two top merchants, is leaving "to pursue other interests," the company said Thursday. His last day on the job will be May 17. Meichner held the post of...

N.Y. MAKES BEST OF BAD TIMING.
May 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- It will be a difficult season, by all accounts. As organizers of Fashion Weeks in New York, London, Paris and Milan continued to hammer out details this week of their respective show calendars for September and October,...

IN BRIEF.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... POSITIVE SPIN: The House approved a farm bill Thursday that includes enhanced subsidies for domestic yarn spinners that buy U.S. cotton. President Bush has said he will sign the measure, which is designed to boost U.S. commodities in the face...

FASHION SCOOPS.
May 3, 2002... IS THE REAL KENZO BACK? Kenzo Takada, who retired from his namesake fashion house in 1999, looks set to return to the world of fashion. The designer has called a press conference in Paris on May 15 to announce "something important," according...

APPAREL BOOSTS SALES AT ADIDAS.(Adidas-Salomon 1st-quarter earnings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- Led by apparel sales and strong growth in Asia and North America, Adidas-Salomon posted first-quarter revenue gains that failed to translate to the bottom line. For the three months ended March 31, the Herzogenaurach,...

WORKERS TO CLAIM MAKERS LIABLE.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... WASHINGTON -- An attorney representing workers at a Brooklyn garment contractor facing federal charges for allegedly not paying employees overtime, said Thursday that he also wants manufacturers that placed work in the shop to share liability...

L'OREAL'S YOUTH QUAKE.(Lancome's appeal to the youth market)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- For a dowager in her 60s, Lancome is turning into one hip brand. The global brand, which updated its act by innovative makeup artist Fred Farrugia in 1996, is now taking several more steps in its bid to enhance relevance. The...

LANCOME ADDS TO PRODUCT LINEUP.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- Lancome has a whole new look. In addition to the signing of four new faces (see adjoining story), the brand is launching a host of new products beginning late this summer, all aimed at enlarging the beauty brand's reach to...

KIEHL'S CELEBRATES APPOINTMENT OF EDGAR HUBER.(new president)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- Kiehl's Since 1851 feted its new president, Edgar Huber, with a soiree Monday night at the Cafe Carlyle. Speaking to a crowd that included Luc Nadeu, president of L'Oreal's Luxury Product Division, and former president Jami Morse...

ARDENBEAUTY: A NEW BEGINNING.(new Elizabeth Arden scent)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- Elizabeth Arden has a new beauty. Ardenbeauty, that is. The new scent -- the first from the house since the former French Fragrances Inc. acquired Arden from Unilever in January 2001 -- is also the first with Arden's...

TRUMAN'S 15 MINUTES OF ZEN.(James Truman, editorial director, Conde Nast Publications Inc.; Buddhist retreat)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- "No news is good news": It's a saying the New York media community is intent on reinventing with its ongoing coverage of Conde Nast editorial director James Truman's month-long Buddhist retreat and its aftermath. The New York...

SAVING THE YSL ATELIER.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... PARIS -- Disbelief seized Patrice Bouygues when Yves Saint Laurent announced his retirement from couture on Jan. 7. "I repeated over and over to myself, `This is impossible,"' Bouygues recalled in a recent interview. "I said, `No, this...

GLOBALSHOP: CONTROL THE AIRWAVES.(GlobalShop 2002, merchandising tools)(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
May 3, 2002... CHICAGO -- Author and retail anthropologist Paco Underhill had astute observations for those who attended his seminar at GlobalShop 2002, held April 18-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Among them: "The retail toolbox is getting more...

SUZY.
May 3, 2002... Who was the famous journalist seen Thursday afternoon at Honmura An, his favorite Japanese restaurant, lunching on noodles with his beloved wife of 15 years? Who was the famous journalist seen Thursday night at the Gershwin Theater taking...

TOMMY'S NEW SCENT SUITS LAUDER GROWTH PLAN TO A T.
May 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- Tommy Hilfiger is attacking the fragrance business with a new scent, called T Girl, at a time when his beauty business is showing signs of rejuvenation. When the fragrance is launched at the end of July, the designer expects...

TECHNO BOY.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- Eight years after CK One, Calvin Klein is hoping to reach a whole new generation of young men with Crave, his newest fragrance. Set to launch in a global distribution network of 20,000 doors in 90 countries this fall, the scent...

NEIMAN MARCUS POSTS 7.1% DROP IN COMP SALES.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- The Neiman Marcus Group said Thursday that comparable-store sales in April fell 7.1 percent, but the Dallas-based luxury retailer said sales of full-price merchandise and lower inventories should help its third-quarter earnings...

WAL-MART ALLEGATIONS SPUR NLRB HEARINGS.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- The National Labor Relations Board will initiate two hearings this month into charges that Wal-Mart Stores committed multiple violations of federal labor law at stores in California and Texas where its employees were trying to...

TARGET'S NEW LINE: STARCK RAVING MOD.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- Don't mistake the new Philippe Starck product line at Target Stores as a superficial marketing ploy. This collection, the designer said, is all about politics. While all of France postulates on Sunday's presidential runoff...

SPIRITS RENEWED AT SEASIDE GATHERING.(Industry Overview)
May 3, 2002... PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Annual conference resembled a revival meeting. The 2,000 members of the industry who congregated at The Breakers Hotel rejoiced that the drugstore segment is successfully...

CALVIN HAS A NEW CRAVING.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- Calvin Klein struck gold with Generation X in 1994 when he launched CK One. Now he's hoping to attract a new generation of young men with the launch of Crave. From its concept to its bottle, the fragrance has been designed to...

PROFITS FUELING MARIONNAUD GROWTH.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 3, 2002... PARIS -- Parfumeries Marionnaud is still in overdrive. France's largest -- and ever-acquisitive -- perfumery chain said at its yearly analyst meeting here on Monday that it will open new markets and continue its expansion,...

IS ATKINSON'S THE NEXT BRAND ON UNILEVER'S BLOCK?(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... MILAN -- Skin-care brand J&E Atkinsons may be the next to go as part of Unilever PLC/NC's five-year strategic plan -- one component of which includes the disposal of 1,200 of its underperforming brands "that do not meet performance...

SAKS' SPRITZ OF INTRUSION.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... NEW YORK -- At his first personal appearance for his new women's scent, Intrusion, Oscar de la Renta demonstrated the power of the personal touch. The designer personally spritzed his new fragrance on the more than 300 women that...

MEMO PAD.
May 3, 2002... FEKKAI'S NEW FORUM: Clearly what worries Allure doesn't upset In Style. In February, Allure severed its ties with makeup artist and monthly columnist Kevyn Aucoin over what could have been perceived as conflict of interest since Aucoin now has...

SAINT LAURENT, COLETTE REVISITING 'NASTY LULU'.
May 3, 2002... PARIS -- Retiring couturier Yves Saint Laurent is going out on a naughty note. Saint Laurent, in partnership with the hip Paris boutique Colette, is relaunching a book of his notorious "Nasty Lulu" cartoons, featuring a plump, ribald...

VIVA VELVET.(accessories designers using velvet)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK -- Velvet has long been favored for the coronation robes of kings and queens, but it's not just for bluebloods. Jimi Hendrix, who reigned supreme in his own guitar world, was synonymous with psychedelic velvet jackets. Right now,...

NAKED CITY.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... LOS ANGELES -- Of the three threats on his life that Paul Young collected while working on "L.A. Exposed" -- a compendium of Hollywood and Los Angeles gossip, rumors and urban legends, painstakingly researched and frequently debunked --...

TOMMY DANCES TO THE BEAT AT THE BEACH.(Tommy Hilfiger U.S.A. buys exclusive sponsorship rights to Long Island's Jones Beach Theater)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK -- Tommy Hilfiger is bringing his love of music directly to concert-goers. In a multimillion dollar deal, Tommy Hilfiger U.S.A. has acquired exclusive sponsorship rights to Long Island's Jones Beach Theater and has renamed it...

AMERICANA FLAVORS B-T-S LOOKS.(back-to-school accessories for teens feature Americana look)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK -- Teens can expect plenty of Americana when they shop for accessories this fall. In coming up with their back-to-school accessories offerings, vendors cited American prairie and military influences as their key trends. From...

CORRECTIONS.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... The photo of Shirley Lord Rosenthal on page 16, May 3, was by Sonia Moskowitz/Globe Photos. The photo credit was omitted. The Stephen Burrows collection was relaunched in February at Henri Bendel. The store was incorrect in a Fashion Scoop...

TEXTILE, APPAREL JOB LOSS CONTINUES TO TAPER OFF.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... WASHINGTON -- As the nation's unemployment rate in April edged up to 6 percent -- the highest level in almost eight years -- job loss in the domestic textile and apparel industries was tempered, with each sector dropping 2,000 workers, the...

CFDA AWARDS: WHO GETS TO GO?(Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK -- The Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards this year could turn into the first case of too few cooks spoiling the pot. Divvying up the 450 available tickets to the June 3 event -- down from roughly 2,000 last year...

GOODY SPORT.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... LOS ANGELES -- "I don't ever want to be that invitation you get in the mail and say, `Um, let me think of an excuse not to go to this,"' says Nancy Davis. She needn't worry. For 10 years, Davis, along with her mother, Barbara, has...

MADDEN FINED $500,000.(footwear entrepreneur Steve Madden)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK -- Footwear entrepreneur Steve Madden wound up with a heftier fine than expected at his Friday sentencing in Brooklyn federal court. Judge John Gleeson fined Madden $500,000, a sum significantly higher than the $81,000 ordered...

LEG BEAT.(Saks Inc. offers Tip Toes product)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW PETALS: A new product for the feet has been slipping into hosiery departments. Tip Toes, a ball-of-foot cushion shaped as a petal that is designed to be worn with high heels and strappy sandals, is being offered in a number of legwear...

MAYOR'S POSTS FOURTH-QUARTER LOSS, PLANS TO RESTRUCTURE.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK -- Troubled retailer Mayor's Jewelers Inc. said last week it will close nearly a third of its stores as part of a massive restructuring effort. The company also reported losses of $54.7 million for the fourth quarter and said it...

LONDON CALLING.(new colors for London accessories)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... LONDON -- The British capital may be notorious for its gloomy weather forecasts, but London's accessories makers are showing their sunny side with new offerings in colors such as purple, iris, apple and pear, and richer tones like chocolate...

OMEGA'S NEW FACET: JEWELRY.(Omega gets back into the jewelry business)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... PARIS -- Omega is getting back into the jewelry business. The luxury watch brand, owned by Switzerland's Swatch Group, launched its first new line of women's jewelry in more than three decades recently in Paris. Omega had discontinued...

HARDY'S HOME SWEET HOME IN SOHO.(John Hardy Inc. finishes showroom and sales office in Soho)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK -- Jewelry designer John Hardy has just put the finishing touches on his new showroom and sales headquarters in SoHo here. "We are going back to the roots of SoHo," said Hardy last week, referring to the trendy neighborhood's...

DOMESTIC CHALLENGE TOPS THA TALK.(Hosiery Association has plans for the hosiery industry)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Members of the Hosiery Association did some serious soul searching at their 97th annual convention held here at the end of last month. Executives discussed ways to turn the hosiery industry into a less...

SAKS' LEGWEAR GETTING A LIFT TO EIGHTH FLOOR.(Saks Fifth Avenue's legwear department gets refurbished)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK -- Saks Fifth Avenue's legwear is taking an elevator ride. The specialty store is moving its legwear department from the busy main floor to the eighth floor, where it will be located adjacent to the intimate apparel department....

THREE'S COMPANY.(new designers)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK -- The economy is still sputtering along and retail continues to be challenging, but that's not stopping a batch of new designers from breaking through on the accessories scene. Here's a look at what they're doing: Michele...

FASHION MEETS ART ON MADISON.(Madison Avenue's Where Fashion Meets Art event)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK -- Revelers were out in force Thursday night at the Madison Avenue: Where Fashion Meets Art event. The 29-block party, where participating stores held cocktail receptions up and down Madison Avenue, drew a mixed crowd of Ladies Who...

IFF PROFITS DOUBLE DESPITE SALES DROP.(International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. 1st-quarter earnings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK -- International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. doubled its first-quarter profits despite flat fragrance sales in North America. Net income for the three months ended March 31 gained 106 percent to $41.9 million, or 44 cents a diluted...

UNITE TARGETS GUCCI IN BRYLANE UNION FLAP.(Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees attacks anti-union attitude)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK -- Nearly 150 UNITE members gathered Friday at the Gucci store on Fifth Avenue to distribute leaflets and protest alleged antiunion behavior at a Brylane Inc. distribution center in Indianapolis. In an effort to bring more attention...

MAKERS PUTTING ON THE GLITZ.(Legwear industry's new licensing deals)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK -- The May market is generally a hodgepodge selling period for the legwear industry, as makers show offerings for fall, late fall and holiday with a little resort thrown into the mix. Among the biggest trends expected this week...