WWD articles from May 2003

WWD archives from May 2003

America's Most Fashionable Colleges.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Throughout the past two months, more than 30 reporters from WWD fanned across the country, combing nearly 70 college campuses, seeking out the trendsetters, the most fashionable classes, the hottest looks and the future industry brains. Inside,...

In Brief.(includes brief articles)
May 1, 2003... GOING FOR GUCCI: An affiliate of France's Pinault-Printemps-Redoute SA spent approximately $112 million to acquire 1.14 million shares of Gucci Group NV, boosting PPR's stake in Gucci to 62.2 percent. The purchases were made on the Amsterdam...

Fashion Scoops.(includes brief articles)
May 1, 2003... IMAN'S CONNECTIONS: Iman, sporting an ultra-coveted Louis Vuitton Takashi Murakami bag at a luncheon Wednesday where she was honored with an Outstanding Mother award by the National Mother's Day Committee, said she can't believe the reaction...

Visa Trial Delayed Again.(class action suit against Visa USA)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Vicki M. Young NEW YORK - For the second time in the same week, a class-action lawsuit by retailers over the fees paid in debit card transactions was delayed moments before the trial was to begin because of settlement talks. Visa...

Saks Sizing Up a Mini-Me.(Saks Fifth Avenue)
May 1, 2003... Byline: David Moin NEW YORK - A Saks Express? Saks Fifth Avenue has cooked up a new strategy for growth - 10,000-square-foot stores specializing in accessories, cosmetics, fragrance, hosiery, women's shoes and jewelry in markets where Saks...

Lauder Profit Surges 73.9%.(Estee Lauder Cos.)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Evan Clark NEW YORK - The third quarter was a charm for The Estee Lauder Cos., which reported a 73.9 percent jump in profits for the period on Wednesday. There was a slight blemish on the sales projection for the year, though, as...

Controversy Over Parsons Show.(Parsons School of Design seniors protest)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Eric Wilson NEW YORK - There's controversy brewing on campus. A major curriculum change, initiated two years ago in the fashion department at Parsons School of Design here, has erupted into a heated disagreement between faculty and...

Delia's Seeking Financing.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... NEW YORK - Teen retailer Delia's Corp. said Wednesday that it was delaying its fourth-quarter and yearend conference call for the second time because it is seeking additional financing. Delia's, which sells apparel, accessories and home...

Dallas: One Plan Down, Another Up.(planned fashion mart)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Holly Haber DALLAS - Developers last week gave up their bid to create a downtown fashion mart here when they failed to garner sufficient interest, but despite the stumbling block, a handful of contemporary sales representatives are not...

DuPont Meet: DTI Sale on Track.(DuPont Textiles & Interiors)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Joshua Greene WILMINGTON, Del. - What a difference a year makes. DuPont's decision to spin off or sell its $6.3 billion intermediates and fibers business may have generated buzz at last year's annual shareholder meeting, but...

Fit for a King.(fitness regime)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Sarah Harris LONDON - It's no secret that Prince William, modern guy that he is, has an action-packed schedule. According to insiders, Wills, who turns 21 next month, prefers to get his exercise out of the way before breakfast - and...

Bridges' Game.(Jordan Bridges)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Jamie Rosen Only an actor with a Hollywood pedigree like Jordan Bridges' could get away with such a nonchalant attitude toward fame. The 29-year-old - who is the son of Beau Bridges, the nephew of Jeff Bridges and grandson of Lloyd...

Eye Scoop.(includes brief articles)
May 1, 2003... CLASS REUNION: While the breakup of their 10-year marriage caused some major waves in the social world last fall, sources report that Pia and Christopher Getty, who have three children together, have reunited. Throughout the winter, he was seen...

Rena's Reality.(Rena Rowan Damone)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Lisa Lockwood PALM BEACH, Fla. - Is there life after Jones? Since retiring from the Jones Apparel Group in September 2000, Rena Rowan Damone, the former executive vice president of design, has embarked on an entirely new lifestyle....

N.Y. State to Pursue Internet, Catalog Tax.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... ALBANY, New York - New York State may become the 39th state to join a coalition to collect sales taxes on purchases made in catalogs and over the Internet. Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, a Republican, and Assembly Speaker Silver,...

Fin.part Names Livolsi Chairman.(Ubaldo Livolsi)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Amanda Kaiser MILAN - Cerruti parent Fin.part named Ubaldo Livolsi as chairman to replace Gianluigi Facchini, who stepped down Sunday after auditors rejected the group's annual results. Fin.part said Livolsi's appointment is just...

SEC Files Suits Against Candie's Execs.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Vicki M. Young NEW YORK - Candie's Inc. and several of its current and former key executives consented to cease-and-desist orders to be entered against them after the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday filed lawsuits in...

Evolution of an Icon.(Levi Strauss & Co.)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Scott Malone SAN FRANCISCO - Levi Strauss & Co. marks its 150th anniversary in business today, a moment in time marked not by precision but by persistency. The choice of date for the anniversary celebration is an arbitrary one. The...

Levi's Sesquicentenary.(Levi Strauss & Co.)
May 1, 2003... 1853 The Founding An immigrant from Buttenheim, Bavaria, named Levi Strauss moves to San Francisco, where he opens a dry-goods business, wholesaling primarily men's clothing to the small general stores of the American West. 1866...

Levi's Takes Center Stage.(Levi Strauss & Co.)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Scott Malone SAN FRANCISCO - Over the past several years, executives at Levi Strauss & Co. had noticed an odd pattern. When they slipped into the office to get a little work done on the weekends, they'd often find clusters of...

Working in the Coal Mine.(vintage jeans)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Scott Malone SAN FRANCISCO - During the high-end jeans boom of the last several years, many American shoppers got used to the idea of paying hefty sums for dungarees, regularly browsing through stores that demand $100, $200 or even $300...

Denim Dish.(jeans maker Mik Serfontaine)
May 1, 2003... Feel These Jeans First-mover advantage is usually a term associated with breakout businesses, especially in the dot-com heyday. But it's becoming a familiar refrain in the crowded denim industry, with players such as Mik Serfontaine...

Miss Selfridge Comes of Age.
May 1, 2003... Byline: Ellen Burney LONDON - The high street's favorite little sister, Miss Selfridge, is growing up. The British brand, with its pink fuzzy heart logo, has long been perceived as a fluffy, girly version of leading high-street names such...

Shopping Spree.(luxury purchases by income groups)
May 1, 2003... Luxury products purchased by consumers with over $100,000 annual income, ranked by percentage of consumers buying products in a specific category. That high-income consumers with household incomes of over $100,000 purchase luxury...

Butterflies are Free Spenders.(cocooning)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Sharon Edelson NEW YORK - Market researchers make their livings coining new terms to identify consumers. Cocooning, the last important behavioral trend, was discovered in the late Eighties. It refers to the lifestyle and buying habits...

Adidas Sees First-Quarter Gains.
May 1, 2003... Byline: Melissa Drier BERLIN - Lead by the Adidas brand and a favorable financial picture, Adidas-Salomon AG scored a strong first quarter, with net earnings and sales posting double-digit gains. Despite the ongoing worldwide economic,...

Sidelines.(Reebok ad)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... REEBOK'S PEACE SIGN: Shakira's call for world peace consists of a new Reebok commercial, which comprises her self-written tribal music, gyrating hips and handmade peace sign in the sands. Sophie Muller, who has worked with No Doubt and Pink,...

'03 America's Most Fashionable Colleges.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... In our first nationwide survey of colleges and universities, wwd takes the fashion temperature at campuses across the land. Our reading? Hot.

From The Editor.(Editorial)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Bridget Foley May Day, in pagan Europe, was a day of revelry heralding the coming of summer. In the late 19th century, the date was appropriated as International Workers' Day. And for millions of high school seniors around the country,...

Scene.(handbags on campus)
May 1, 2003... Fifth Avenue, Rodeo Drive and Collegetown, USA. Designer bags hit campus. Student icons run the gamut from the silver screen to dear old Mom. Bag Ladies "A casual look with a really cool bag makes a statement," says Eleanor Ennis, a...

The Top Ten.(universities with fashionable students)
May 1, 2003... COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE A STYLISH LOT, AND FOR GOOD REASONS. PULLED AWAY FROM THE CLIQUES AND CONFORMITY OF THEIR HINTERLAND HIGH SCHOOLS, THEY COME TOGETHER IN A-HOPEFULLY-MORE DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT. SUDDENLY INDEPENDENT, THEIR FREEDOM COMES WITH...

Honorable Mentions.(universities and colleges)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Kate Bowers, Brooke Magnaghi, Meenal Mistry and Anamaria Wilson Of course, there are more than just ten fashionable colleges and universities in the U.S. More, in fact, than even an additional two pages of honorable mentions can handle....

A League of Their Own.(studying for the fashion industry)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Joshua Greene, Julee Greenberg, Kate Bowers and Kristin Young They don't have sororities, football teams or biology departments, but America's design schools may still be the best place for the committed fashion-phile. CALIFORNIA...

Profile: In The Pink At Cal Arts.(Tyler Rowland, art student)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Kristin Young Tyler Rowland wears all pink. Not just occasionally. Non-stop. More specifically, the Cal Arts second-year graduate art student has worn the rosy hue since May 16, 2002. For almost a year, pink has been his uniform, a...

The Campus Cast.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... When it comes to collegiate chic, coeds from across the country know how to work a range of looks as broad as a liberal arts course catalog.

College Blues.(Levi Strauss)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Trends come and go, but one great designer, Levi Strauss, continues to influence the collegiate fashion psyche from way up there in blues heaven.

Go Fish.(college students and their clothing preferences)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Edmund J. Lee During her first month in the wooded idyll of Wesleyan University, then-freshman Nefatari Cooper found herself fielding an annoying question from fellow students again and again: "Why are you so dressed up?" Cooper, a...

Alpha Beta Glamour.
May 1, 2003... Byline: Dahlia Devkota and Anamaria Wilson Are sororities cliques of look-alike dressers? Sure, but they also set the fashion for campuses across the country. Forget sisterhood: Think fashion pack. Whether you lament sororities as bastions...

...And The Fashion Frat.(Vanderbilt University's Nu Society)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Dahlia Devkota The big joke at Vanderbilt University is that all the girls on campus were prom queens in high school and all the guys were "total nerds." So with such an imbalance of female pulchritude and fashion savvy, it might come...

Just Write.(college journalists)
May 1, 2003... Byline: Nandini D'Souza Student journalists find plenty of fodder in fashion, and the results are fab. Right now, somewhere in America, a college student is furiously hunting and pecking away at the keyboard. The clock is ticking and he or...

Style Cum Laude.
May 1, 2003... Byline: Nandini D' Souza Is Issey Miyake an artist or a fashion designer? He'll say he's a designer, but there are university students out there willing to argue-and bet their bachelors-that he's an artist. Because liberal arts colleges...

The Brands They Wear.(college students)
May 1, 2003... As part of this look at American colleges and universities, WWD surveyed nearly 1,300 college students around the country to gauge their current consumer preferences and brand awareness. The survey also looked at the publications they turn to...

If Money Were No Object.(student preferences)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... These brands made students' hearts beat fast-and long for their first adult paycheck. "Haute couture! Galliano, Dior, you name it, I'd love to be in it," remarks Neasa Coll, a Harvard sophmore. "Walking into classes, you can see any style of...

If I Ruled The (Marketing) World.
May 1, 2003... Byline: Sharon Edelson College students voice their opinions on the best way to sell to their peers. Are you listening, Fashion? In the movie Big, it takes a child to design toys that other kids will actually like. Perhaps the...

Fashion Obsessions.(clothing for thrifty students)
May 1, 2003... STUDENTS ON A BUDGET SEEK OUT GREAT VINTAGE TO QUENCH THEIR THIRST FOR INDIVIDUAL STYLE. Status labels aren't for everyone. Most real-world students just can't afford them, while others find them politically taboo. But whether protesting...

Acknowledgements.
May 1, 2003... American University: Todd Sedmak, director of media relations; Bard College: Annel Cabrera, Erin Cannan, Mark Primoff, Pat Pontecorvo; Bennington College: Linda Anderson, Leah Estell, Andy Spence, Sue Rees, Isabelle Kaplan, Holly McCormack;...

Deep Blue Sea.(Ralph Lauren to offer new women's scent)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... NEW YORK - It seems that Ralph Lauren's favorite color is blue these days. After launching the highly successful Polo Blue last fall, the brand is following up with a women's scent, Ralph Lauren Blue. Coming in September, the fragrance will...

Tommy Talks Escalate, With Jones and VF Said To Be Suitors.(Jones Apparel Group, VF Corp. may be interested in buying Tommy Hilfiger Corp.)
May 2, 2003... Byline: Lisa Lockwood NEW YORK - While Tommy Hilfiger Corp. hasn't officially hung out a "For Sale" sign, sources indicate there appear to be some vigorous discussions going on with suitors Jones Apparel Group and VF Corp. Faced with a...

Liz Claiborne Beats Forecast.
May 2, 2003... Byline: Vicki M. Young NEW YORK - This girl is on a roll. Aided by its strategic acquisitions, Liz Claiborne Inc. on Thursday posted double-digit increases in first-quarter profits and sales and beat earnings-per-share consensus estimates...

Kohl's Sees 1,000 Units Ahead.(plans to more than double its store count)
May 2, 2003... Byline: Doris Hajewski MILWAUKEE - Kohl's, among America's fastest-growing retailers, says it can more than double its store count, reaching at least 1,000 stores in the near future. The promotional department store chain, currently with...

In Brief.(includes United States identifies foreign intellectual property violations)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... U.S. CITES 50 FOR FAKES: The U.S. has singled out 50 countries that failed to adequately enforce intellectual property protection and counterfeit products, including apparel, and listed them in an annual report. Among the countries on the U.S....

Correction.(Correction Notice)
May 2, 2003... A photo of a fire that destroyed Levi Strauss' initial headquarters in the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake was from Bettmann/CORBIS. The photo credit was omitted on page 12 Thursday.

DTI Confirms Moves, Awaiting Sale, Spin Off.(DuPont Textiles & Interiors)
May 2, 2003... Byline: Joshua Greene NEW YORK - Further preparing itself for a buyout or initial public offering, DuPont Textiles & Interiors made several changes to its board and senior-level management Thursday, confirming reports in WWD this week. The...

U.S. Takes Step to Break EU Tax Impasse.
May 2, 2003... Byline: Joanna Ramey WASHINGTON - Congress edged closer Thursday to preventing the European Union from levying $4 billion in punitive tariffs on U.S. imports, including $100 million in apparel and textiles, but the issue is far from resolved....

Cavalli: More&More&More.(Roberto Cavalli launches newest retail store)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... Byline: Anamaria Wilson NEW YORK - Listening to Roberto Cavalli extol the virtues of living life to the fullest while lunching on prosciutto and branzino at Cipriani's, it comes as no surprise that his newest retail store is entitled...

Fashion Scoops.
May 2, 2003... CHARITY CASE: The stars are coming out in droves to support cancer research. Following the news that Nicole Kidman had signed on for Saks Fifth Avenue's Key to the Cure campaign in September, now comes word that Jennifer Connelly, Salma Hayek...

Suzy.
May 2, 2003... Byline: Aileen Mehle Hurley's Lover Boy * Foiled Again * Kate Gets Real Friends of Elizabeth Hurley have noticed she is one happy woman these days and the naughtier ones think they know the reason why. There's her bouncing baby boy, of...

Levi's Big Blue Showcase.(Levi Strauss & Co. celebrates anniversary, opens museum)
May 2, 2003... Byline: Scott Malone SAN FRANCISCO - A crowd of several hundred Levi Strauss & Co. employees, joined by this city's mayor and a few top retailers and suppliers, packed into the square in front of the firm's headquarters Thursday to mark the...

Nautica Reverses Loss in 4th.(Nautica Enterprises Inc. )
May 2, 2003... Byline: Jennifer Weitzman NEW YORK - Stronger-than-expected sales in several divisions and a year-over-year improvement in its women's jeans business paved the way for Nautica Enterprises Inc. to report fourth-quarter profits, reversing a...

Boots Taps Richard Baker CEO.
May 2, 2003... Byline: Sarah Harris LONDON - After a lengthy search, Boots has finally found a new chief executive officer. Richard Baker, 40, chief operating officer at British supermarket chain Asda, will succeed Steve Russell, who, as it was announced,...

Reorganization and Consolidation Lead The Body Shop Net Ahead.
May 2, 2003... Byline: Samantha Conti LONDON - The Body Shop is slowly getting back into shape. Net profit in the 52 weeks ended March 1 more than doubled to $21.6 million from $8.4 million thanks to a healthy rise in operating profits and a drop in...

Chanel Plans Second Half.(product launches to be supported with increased TV advertising)
May 2, 2003... Byline: Julie Naughton NEW YORK - Chanel is putting on a new face for fall, with a lineup that includes major treatment and foundation launches, as well as an increased focus on advertising. "We're firing on all cylinders," said Arie...

Tommy: On the Road With Jeans.(fragrance masterbrand Tommy Jeans to launch in travel retail stores)
May 2, 2003... Byline: Julie Naughton NEW YORK - Tommy Hilfiger is planning to send a little piece of Americana into travel retail doors this summer with his new fragrance masterbrand, Tommy Jeans. "Tommy Hilfiger captures a fresh American spirit in all...

Top Notes.(includes brief articles)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... PARK TO LANCOME: Elizabeth Park, former senior vice president of makeup marketing at Prescriptives, has joined Lancome as the L'Oreal USA brand's vice president of makeup marketing. Park succeeds Elizabeth Mankin, who has moved to Chanel. ...

Versace Plots U.S. Growth.
May 2, 2003... Byline: Stephanie Epiro MILAN - With Donatella Versace clearly hitting her fashion stride, the Milan design house is turning its attention to beauty, with an eye toward rapid growth. Santo Versace, president and chairman of the family firm...

Ralph Lauren: True Blue.(Ralph Lauren Blue, an new women's fragrance, to be launched)
May 2, 2003... Byline: Kristin Finn NEW YORK - Ralph Lauren has found a whole new take on one of his oldest classics for the launch in September of Ralph Lauren Blue, a cool, fresh floral women's scent. The executives in the Ralph Lauren Fragrances...

NACDS: Against the Current.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores Annual Meeting)
May 2, 2003... Byline: Faye Brookman, Laura Klepacki and Andrea M.G. Nagel PALM BEACH - Beauty has taken a licking for the first quarter of 2003, but the 2,200 retailers and suppliers gathered here for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Annual...

Avon Names Mark Alliances.
May 2, 2003... Byline: Pete Born NEW YORK - Avon Products Inc. has formed strategic alliances with Atlantic Records, University of Phoenix, American Legacy and the Makeup Alley Internet beauty site in a sharing of resources for the Aug. 1 launch of Avon's new...

New Salon Helps IFF Shape Scents.(International Flavors & Fragrances; Anderson French)
May 2, 2003... Byline: Julie Naughton NEW YORK - International Flavors & Fragrances is taking the phrase "test case" to a whole new level. The company has partnered with an upscale Manhattan salon company, Anderson French, to install a full-service,...

Spa Industry Exchanges Ideas at New Show.(Medical Spa Expo & Conference; Spa & Resort Expo & Conference)
May 2, 2003... Byline: Matthew W. Evans NEW YORK - New ventures and cautious optimism punctuated two nascent Northeast trade shows - the Medical Spa Expo & Conference (Medi-Spa) and the Spa & Resort Expo & Conference - which were held jointly on Manhattan's...

Gen Art's Freshmen.(International Design Competition Styles 2003)
May 2, 2003... Byline: Venessa Lau Tuesday, April 22nd marked the fifth annual International Design Competition Styles 2003, and, as with any other event with Gen Art at its helm, the evening celebrated innovation. A panel of judges who included designers...

Talley Works for Housing.(Andre Leon Talley; Housing Works Thrift Shop)
May 2, 2003... Byline: Eric Wilson NEW YORK - "I had these looks bagged, labeled and very carefully organized on a rack," boomed Andre Leon Talley to an assistant, who had been dispatched only moments before to retrieve a bag of evening shoes, but had instead...

Stein Mart to Close 16 Stores.(Brief Article)
May 2, 2003... NEW YORK - Unfavorable psychographics contributed to Stein Mart Inc.'s plans to shutter 16 underperforming stores this year. As a group, the 16 doors accounted for $5.2 million in operating losses last year and averaged sales per selling...

Memo Pad.(includes brief articles)
May 2, 2003... MOVING OUT?: In what would be a blow for the Hearst Corp., several industry sources said Thursday that its chief photographer, Patrick Demarchelier, is in serious negotiations with Conde Nast about coming over to the company, where he...

Media Keeps Writer's Case Open.(Christa Worthington's murder case)
May 2, 2003... Byline: Rosemary Feitelberg NEW YORK - Media interest in the Christa Worthington killing continues to steam along, even though no arrests have been made. The freelance writer and former fashion editor was found stabbed in her Cape Cod,...

All Vamped Up.(printed fabricts)
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK - Designers are vamping things up this season with dizzying prints that feature motifs ranging from bold florals to sexy pinup ladies. Here, one example: Loungewear Betty's cotton and Lycra HotPants and halter top. For more prints of...

5th Avenue for Rent: Sean John and Zara Get Ready to Move In.
May 5, 2003... Byline: David Moin NEW YORK - Fifth Avenue is about to get some big-name tenants - Sean John and Zara. Sean "P. Diddy" Combs is poised to enter retailing, with his first Sean John store expected to open on Fifth Avenue and 41st Street, WWD...

Ralph Lauren Cancer Center Opens.(Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention)
May 5, 2003... Byline: Eric Wilson NEW YORK - When the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention opens its doors to the community of East Harlem today, the designer whose name is on the door will have realized an achievement that surpasses any of the...

Apparel Jobs Hit All-Time Low.
May 5, 2003... Byline: Kristi Ellis WASHINGTON - Apparel employment, which has been on the decline for three decades, reached a milestone in April, dropping below 500,000 for the first time on record, according to the Labor Department's employment report...

In Brief.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... GOTTSCHALKS REVISES EARNINGS: Gottschalks Inc. late Friday released its audited fourth-quarter and full year financial results, which showed that its losses for both periods ended Feb. 1 were about $400,0000 deeper than the company had reported...

Correction.(to article about earnings at Nautica Enterprises)(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
May 5, 2003... Fourth-quarter earnings for Nautica Enterprises were $5.6 million, or 16 cents a diluted share. Those numbers were incorrect in a story, on page 5, Friday.

Gap's Fisher Lauds Pressler.(Donald Fisher; Paul Pressler)
May 5, 2003... Byline: Susan Watters WASHINGTON - Gap has already bottomed out - at least according to its chairman, Donald Fisher. Fisher flew in from San Francisco last week with his wife, Doris, co-chairman of the National Gallery of Art's annual...

Coming This Week.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Monday: The Annex by Designers & Agents, New York (through Wednesday). Mercedes Australian Fashion Week, Sydney (through Thursday). Citymeals-On-Wheels Fashion/Beauty benefit, New York. Tuesday: Accessories Circuit and Intermezzo...

Trade Summit Gets Under Way in France.(The Future of Textiles and Clothing After 2005)
May 5, 2003... PARIS - Quotas on textiles and clothing are to be phased out by World Trade Organization members in January 2005. The move will affect some $375 billion worth of international trade between 146 countries and the global ramifications are...