WWD articles from November 2003

WWD archives from November 2003

A SIMPLE PLAN.(Calvin Klein to introduce soft, simple spring line)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Not every girl is into flou and flounce. So fans of streamlined chic will be happy to note that Calvin Klein is branching out with a better-priced collection that will be shown to stores Wednesday. The line features no-fuss looks...

INTRIGUE GROWS AT LVMH: KARAN SAID UP FOR SALE, COULD JACOBS BE NEXT?(LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton to divest Donna Karan International)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Donna Karan International is for sale, after all. LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton is preparing to sell the fashion house, possibly by the end of the year, according to numerous sources familiar with the two companies. In the...

VENDORS MEMOAN KMART'S SILENT SPRING.(Kmart Holding Corp. slow to order spring merchandise)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Kmart Holding Corp. says it's being "strategic" about its spring ordering, but some of its vendors have another word for the approach -- slow. While many of its competitors, such as giants Wal-Mart Stores and Target Corp.,...

DEJA VU FOR FIN.PART, KPMG.
November 3, 2003... MILAN -- History is repeating itself for Fin.part. The heavily indebted multibrand group that owns Cerruti is once again at odds with KPMG. The auditing firm has declined to certify the company's accounts, this time for the first six...

COMING THIS WEEK.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
November 3, 2003... MONDAY: New York Spring Accessories Market Week. TUESDAY: Fatex and Interselection trade shows, Paris (through Thursday). WEDNESDAY: WWD/DNR CEO Summit, New York (through Friday). Filo yarn fair, Cernobbio, Italy (through Friday)....

IN BRIEF: ZALE SHINES...BRANDS SWELL FOR HOLIDAY?(Brief Article)
November 3, 2003... ZALE SHINES: Shares of Zale Corp. rose to their highest levels in four years, following Goldman Sachs' upgrade of the stock. Analyst Adrianne Shapira raised her rating on Zales to "outperform" from "in line," elevated her fiscal 2004 earnings...

DE BEERS TAKES RODEO LOCALE.(will open store in Los Angeles, California)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- De Beers LV revealed Friday that it plans to open its second U.S. store late next year in the former Fred location on Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles. De Beers LV, which is the joint jewelry retail venture between De Beers and...

SIGHTS OF FANCY.
November 3, 2003... Emanuel Ungaro designer Giambattista Valli made a rare appearance at the Madison Avenue boutique last week for a lunch in his honor. Lauren du Pont, Marjorie Raein, Renee Rockefeller, Ann Jones and Iman came to check out his new set of...

THE BUTLER DID IT.
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Some might say that rules are made to be broken. Not Arthur Inch. The former butler, who served everyone from Winston Churchill to the Queen Mother in his day, prides himself on doing things properly. And judging by his new book,...

BERG NAMED AT BENETTON.(Joel Berg named art director at United Colors of Benetton)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Aiming for a fresh image, the United Colors of Benetton brand has named Joel Berg as art director. In the new post, Berg will shape Benetton's brand identity, with a special focus on advertising, sales outlets and collections...

BRAG FETES INDUSTRY ACHIEVERS.(Black Retail Action Group )(Brief Article)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Following its tradition of recognizing achievements in retailing and other industries, the Black Retail Action Group held its annual awards dinner and scholarship fund-raiser, called "Something for the Soul," Oct. 24 at the...

CALVIN'S BETTER MOUSETRAP.(Calvin Klein introduces lower-priced line)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Calvin Klein Inc. is banking on its new better-price line, known simply as Calvin Klein, to be a winner right out of the box. Taking its design cues from Klein's Collection, sources estimate the better line will generate close...

FASHION'S POINT OF REFERENCE.(Fashion Group International's annual designer benefit)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- J'accuse! It was slow going for the first hour of Fashion Group International's annual designer benefit on Thursday, but boy did things heat up when Donna Karan took the podium and pointed the finger at her own chief...

NORTHERN STAR.(interview with fashion designer Dries Van Noten)(Interview)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- If you were to cast Dries Van Noten in a movie, the role of fashion designer would probably not be the first choice. In his comfortable-looking, chalk-striped jacket and nubby V-neck sweater -- all worn with a slightly serious,...

FASHION SCOOPS: FREE RIDE...NO, NO ANASTACIA...ADVANTAGE WILLIAMS.
November 3, 2003... FREE RIDE: During Fashion Week, it's usually the magazine editors and stylists reaping the goodies. Not so during Mercedes-Benz Shows LA, where a handful of designers enjoyed the use of a Mercedes-Benz CLK 500 for the week. Too bad the...

DESTINATION ANYWHERE; FASHION IS A JOURNEY AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE YOU'LL END UP -- THE MEXICAN RIVIERA, JAPAN OR EVEN NANTUCKET.
November 3, 2003... Mon Petit Oiseau: Alright kids, it's time to pack up the station wagon, turn up the tunes and head off for a seaside vacation, maybe in Nantucket. And make sure to pack a bag of Mon Petit Oiseau pieces. Designer Tracy Wilkinson has long been...

IN THE TIME OF BUTTERFLIES.(Hayley Starr, Darren Romanelli, KAtherine Azarmi introduce line called Butterfly Effect)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2003... Into every life a little fairy dust must fall. At least, that's designer Hayley Starr's philosophy. She fluttered around, sprinkling glitter over guests at Tuesday night's Butterfly Effect presentation at the Spider Club. Starr is part of...

INDEPENDENCE DAY.(Erica Davies introduces clothing line via short-subject documentary)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2003... Everything about Erica Davies' debut is a declaration of independence. This is the Welsh-born Angeleno's first solo project after eight years of designing for Richard Tyler, Marc Jacobs, Sportmax and BCBG Max Azria. Her presentation late...

NOM'S MOMS.(Naissance on Melrose shows new maternity clothing line)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2003... With babies being the newest, hottest accessory of late, Jennifer Noonan's NOM maternity line has perfect timing. Short for Naissance on Melrose, the store and label serve up hip looks that even non-pregnant women could covet. For spring,...

VARIETY IS THE SPICE.(trends in lingerie)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- When it comes to bedtime, lingerie choices are as varied as the gals doing the choosing. For sheer comfort, consider airy cotton voile pajamas; for its sensual appeal, a slinky satin nightgown, and just for lounging, why not a...

RETHINKING STRATEGIES, REDOING CATEGORIES.
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- This week's market will be a time of reflection for many retailers and vendors. Despite a spike in retail sales of intimate apparel, sleepwear and at-homewear for fall, gaining consumer confidence remains challenging, and...

INTIMATE NOTES: GOODFELLAS...COSABELLA'S NEW DIGS...2004 MARKET DATES.
November 3, 2003... GOODFELLAS: More than 100 executives of the intimate apparel industry turned out for the annual Goodfellowship Corset Club's cocktail party and installation dinner at the 200 Fifth Avenue Club in Manhattan. Recipients of the 2003 Service...

NECESSARY OBJECTS ENTERS INTIMATE ARENA.(licensing agreement with International Intimates Inc.)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- International Intimates Inc. has signed a licensing agreement with Necessary Objects to produce a collection of daywear, panties and bras bearing the Necessary Objects name. First-year wholesale sales are projected between...

ALL LINED UP.(trends in women's hosiery)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Spring's happy-go-lucky attitude serves as the perfect inspiration for fun stripes in candy colors, be it over-the-knee, classic socks or anklets.

JUICY SQUEEZES INTO JEWELRY, HANDBAGS.(Juicy Couture)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Cult contemporary brand Juicy Couture is bringing its candy-colored vision into accessories for spring, with the launch of handbags and fashion jewelry. The baubles and bags, which are being shown to retailers this week, are...

PRADA'S CAR SHOE SHIFTS INTO HIGH GEAR.
November 3, 2003... MILAN -- Two years after acquiring Car Shoe, Prada is spicing up the footwear label with a full-fledged women's shoe collection and the launch of handbags for next spring. Traditionally known for its classic pebble-sole driving shoe,...

A ROSIER OUTLOOK AT SILMO.(eyewear trade show trends)
November 3, 2003... PARIS -- Sporty styles tempered with fashion touches dominated the trends at the Silmo eyewear trade show at the Porte de Versailles here. Buyers shopping for spring and summer merchandise said strictly technical frames, which were a big...

FINDINGS: A NICE RING TO IT...TIFFANY'S FASHION MOMENTS...STEPPING OUT.(fashion industry news briefs)
November 3, 2003... A NICE RING TO IT: Chloe has its hands full with its handbag business these days. Creative director Phoebe Philo scored an instant hit when she showed handbags along with her first collection for spring 2002: the bracelet bag. Chloe...

BACKING DANCERS' NEXT CAREER MOVES.(Movado sponsors gala event for professional dancers)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Movado sponsored the ninth annual Career Transition for Dancers Gala, which supports dancers ready to move on to their next careers, on Oct. 27. Held at the City Center in New York, the gala was themed Gotta Dance: A Dance...

SECTOR REGROUPS FOR GROWTH.(watchmaker signs multiple licensing agreements)
November 3, 2003... MILAN -- Sector Group is quickly becoming the next watch powerhouse. Over the past two years, the Italian watchmaker has signed licenses with a range of fashion houses such as Roberto Cavalli, Moschino, Valentino, United Colors of...

D&G LAUNCH SCENT AT SAKS.(Dolce & Gabbana launch new fragrance with special appearance in New York)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana made a grand entrance on the cosmetics floor of Saks Fifth Avenue's Manhattan flagship Thursday afternoon. They were there to mark the launch of their new fragrance, called Sicily, in the design...

SIMON-TAUBMAN WAR TAKES ITS TOLL ON BOTH.(Simon Property Group, Taubman Centers report earnings)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- An exhaustive and ultimately fruitless takeover bid coupled with a court's ruling against the company pushed Simon Property Group to mixed third-quarter results. Meanwhile, demonstrating that a good defense doesn't come...

COLUMBIA NET BOUNDS IN QUARTER.(Brief Article)
November 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Columbia Sportswear Co. managed double-digit gains in earnings and sales for both the third-quarter and year-to-date periods. In the three months ended Sept. 30, income jumped 11.8 percent to $63.6 million, or $1.56 a diluted...

SWING OUT, SISTER.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2003... LOS ANGELES -- The Forties? Fabulous. Louis Verdad flirted with femininity in a spring collection that recalled the bygone glamour of screen sirens Lupe Velez and Rita Hayworth. Amid suits with giant pinstripes, high-waisted trousers and...

THINKING OUT OF ITS BOX, GAP EXPLORES NEW ROADS FOR INTERNATIONAL GROWTH.
November 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Gap Inc. is looking to break its mold. The retailer, which has built a global reputation on operating wholly owned stores, said Monday it is considering alternative growth avenues for its international business, including...

A GUCCI ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY?(Brief Article)
November 4, 2003... PARIS -- They may have missed their targeted Nov. 1 deadline to conclude employment negotiations with Gucci Group, but Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole could let the outcome of their contract talks with Pinault-Printemps-Redoute be known to...

MAY CO. HITS PLAN, SHARES GAIN.
November 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Shares of May Department Stores Co. rallied 65 cents, or 2.3 percent, to close at $28.61 Monday on the New York Stock Exchange after the retailer said October same-store sales were on plan. The St. Louis-based operator of the...

J.C. PENNEY: GOING SMALL AWAY FROM MALL.
November 4, 2003... CEDAR HILL, Tex. -- Good things come in smaller packages for J.C. Penney. The retailer expects to produce higher sales and profits per square foot than its average at a smaller, freestanding store prototype unveiled Monday in this south...

IN BRIEF: BROWNELL JOINS COLDWATER...FORRAY INTO HUGHES.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2003... BROWNELL JOINS COLDWATER: Multichannel women's apparel retailer Coldwater Creek has named James Brownell as senior vice president and chief information officer. He succeeds Tom Scott, who resigned in September, and will report to Melvin Dick,...

CORRECTION.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2003... The stock price of Coach Inc. increased 735 percent between the time of its IPO on Oct. 4, 2000, and Oct. 22, 2003. The percentage in the WWDList, Thursday, page 14, was incorrect.

GAULTIER TOUTS LINE AT MACY'S FLAGSHIP.
November 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- The latest stop on Jean Paul Gaultier's launch tour for his new men's cosmetics line, called Tout Beau Tout Propre, was Macy's Herald Square Monday, where the designer made an appearance at noon to mark the launch of the...

MOVIE STAR PROFITS SURGE 27.3%.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- A warning about the lateness of spring orders tarnished Movie Star's double-digit increase in first-quarter profits. For the three months ended Sept. 30, the New York-based intimate apparel manufacturer said earnings jumped...

SHOPKO STORES NAMES PAUL WHITE SENIOR VP.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Paul White has joined ShopKo Stores Inc. as senior vice president and general merchandise manager, softlines, of the ShopKo division. He assumes responsibility for the merchandising and profitability of apparel, accessories,...

MICHELLE K OPENS FIRST STORE.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Michelle K, a division of Skechers USA, has opened its first store at 108 South Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles. The nearly 1,400-square-foot boutique, designed by architect Allen Wix and designer Michelle K, features a...

CHAUS EARNINGS FALL 35% IN QTR.
November 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Bernard Chaus Inc. posted first-quarter profits that fell from year-ago levels because of higher operating costs and a bigger tax liability stemming from its S.L. Danielle acquisition last year. For the three months ended...

FASHION SCOOPS: TOMS TOMS...JEWELS ALL AROUND...GENE REJUVENATION.
November 4, 2003... TOMS TOMS: New school met old school last Wednesday night when Tom Ford and Bottega Veneta creative director Tomas Maier entertained 60 of their L.A. pals at Diaghilev, a Russian five-star that's as opulent as it is campy, and the unlikeliest...

THE LAND OF PLENTY; THE WORD IN L.A. IS "ANYTHING GOES," AS DESIGNERS CHANNELED HOPEFUL ROMANTICS, FORTIES STARLETS, SEVENTIES SIRENS AND EVEN A FEW PROM QUEENS.
November 4, 2003... Richard Tyler: Richard Tyler is in the mood for love. In what was one of the more romantic -- and focused -- presentations last week, one got the feeling that Tyler is simply giddy about life. And just as his Tyler and bridal collections,...

FIVE MINUTES WITH NICOLE MILLER.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2003... WWD: You showed a few Miller Girl looks during New York Fashion Week. Why keep the full collection for Los Angeles? Nicole Miller: Miller Girl came from being in L.A. I have an L.A. door, and I always wanted to do clothes that were more...

FROM SICILY TO HOLLYWOOD.
November 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Glamour, decadence and red-carpet frenzy fuel the Dolce & Gabbana image. But powering their way through a recent two-part New York tour, including gala events, a book party, a perfume launch and four trips to and from JFK,...

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- It's easy to get swept up in romance with this season's bridal gowns. Slim silhouettes radiate charm when peppered with floral appliques or draped delicately, while more traditional looks get an added frill or two by way of pretty...

SELFRIDGES' SUPER HEROES.
November 4, 2003... LONDON -- It's just about six weeks after opening a splashy, space-age megastore in Birmingham, England, but Selfridges doesn't want its customers to forget about its Oxford Street store here. So, it has given the site something of a new...

ADJAYE'S ATTITUDE.
November 4, 2003... LONDON -- For the past two years, the Tanzanian-born, London-based architect David Adjaye has been falling in love with fashion. Although the 37-year-old designer of Selfridges' Superbrands area is already considered a wunderkind in his...

ASSESSING PRICING WOES AT IFFE.
November 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Much of the talk at last month's International Fashion Fabric Exhibition focused on fending off price competition. Domestic converters and importers said they were responding to lower-priced competitors by developing novelty...

DOW FIBER HIGHLIGHTS DESIGNERS.
November 4, 2003... PARIS -- Designers were stretching it out at the most recent edition of Premiere Vision. Dow Fiber Solutions -- maker of the new XLA elastic fiber -- presented capsule collections at the fair from the five designers picked to...

QUOTA WATCH: EMBARGO COUNTDOWN.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2003... When a foreign country sends the maximum amount of goods in a particular category allowed under quota rules into the U.S., Customs places an embargo on the category and no more goods are let in. By the end of October, five countries had...

L.A.: VIVID HUES, SURFACE TOUCHES IN DEMAND.
November 4, 2003... LOS ANGELES -- Buyers at last month's Los Angeles International Textile Show said they were on the hunt for fabrics with bright colors and bold patterns, as well as embroidery, beading and other surface treatments, to help banish the retail...

WIMPFHEIMER ACQUIRES TUSSAH.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- In a move to expand beyond its traditional velvet business, converter Wimpfheimer Inc. last month acquired a 50 percent stake in converter Tussah Co. Inc., which specializes in fabric for garment-dyed applications. "It's a...

DESIGN: THE NEXT GENERATION.
November 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- "Design or die" might sound a bit severe, but the reality isn't that far from what shoppers want, provided they have a laugh or two along the way. That was the consensus among design experts at "Design or Die: Why Design Is...

LIFE THROUGH LEIFER'S LENS.
November 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Neil Leifer's ticket to the premier sporting events started with a borrowed Brownie-type camera. Decades before his portraits would redefine sports photojournalism, he joined the Henry Street Settlement's camera club -- just...

ASIA WATCH: FAST WATCH TRACK...PAIR OF BEAUTIES.
November 4, 2003... FAST TRACK: Tadashi Yanai, chairman and chief executive officer of Fast Retailing Co. Ltd., wants to build his company into a $9.3 billion, or 1 trillion yen, empire. In a message to shareholders released last week, Yanai said Fast Retailing...

LAMBERT MEMORIAL SET.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Oscar de la Renta and Harold Koda, curator of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, are among the speakers who will pay tribute to Eleanor Lambert during a memorial for the late publicist on Nov. 24 in the...

AMERICAN APPAREL'S STORE-OPENING TRIFECTA.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2003... LOS ANGELES -- American Apparel is drawing a really big triangle with its first three stores. After unveiling its first outpost at 3523 St. Laurent Boulevard in Montreal on Oct. 12, the sportswear maker, based here, opened a...

MEMO PAD: WAR OF THE ROS(I)ES...SEPARATE BUT EQUAL.
November 4, 2003... WAR OF THE ROS(I)ES: "I think it's going really well, although it's painful to sit through," said Rosie O'Donnell on the third day in court as the defendant in the $100 million lawsuit Gruner + Jahr has filed against her for terminating their...

STORES AT STYLEMAX SHOOT FOR DIVERSITY.
November 4, 2003... CHICAGO -- While Chicago Cubs fans licked their wounds from another missed chance at the World Series, retailers and vendors at the StyleMax show here were chipper. A sampling of smaller retailers, who live by differentiating themselves...

FEMININITY AND COLOR ABOUND IN PARIS.
November 4, 2003... PARIS -- Echoing trends seen on other European runways, spring 2004 collections shown at Paris' latest round of apparel trade shows were awash with color and feminine details. Workshop ran Oct. 8-12 and Tranoi Oct. 9-12, while Paris Sur...

THE BIG BREAKUP.(Tom Ford, Domenico De Sole to resign from Gucci Group)
November 5, 2003... MILAN -- So the Tom and Dom show is over. Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole -- the dynamic duo who built Gucci Group into one of fashion's hottest houses -- stunned the industry Tuesday by announcing their plans to resign, effective April...

WAL-MART PROBE SET FOR DEC.(illegal immigrant case)
November 5, 2003... BOSTON -- Wal-Mart expects a grand jury to begin sifting through evidence in the illegal immigrant cleaning crew case in mid-December, according to a company spokeswoman. Sticking to a tightly worded script, the spokeswoman acknowledged...

LAMY STANDS TOUGH ON EU DUTY THREAT.(European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy)
November 5, 2003... WASHINGTON -- European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said Tuesday he won't back off an end-of-year deadline for Europe to start levying up to $4 billion in punitive duties on U.S. imports should the U.S. Congress fail to repeal an export...

SURVEY: WEALTHY SHUN LUXE LABEL FOR TOP-END ITEMS.
November 5, 2003... NEW YORK -- Affluent Americans are having an identity crisis. Members of that economic group -- defined in a new Money magazine/RoperASW study as adults with annual income of $75,000 or more -- overwhelmingly are rejecting the use of...

AMID SLUMPING SALES AEO RESETS TOP TIER.(American Eagle Outfitters Inc. appoints Jim O'Donnell, Roger Markfield)(Brief Article)
November 5, 2003... NEW YORK -- Reorganizing to turn around its slumping retail operations, American Eagle Outfitters Inc. named Jim O'Donnell chief executive officer, and Roger Markfield vice chairman and president of the American Eagle division. O'Donnell...

SUZY: THE ROAR OF THE LIBRARY LIONS...MARIAH'S LONDON DEBUT...BLANCHETT AND THE BATHTUB.
November 5, 2003... When this year's Library Lions roared at the New York Public Library's dinner celebrating the Lions' contribution to the arts, it was a refined and distinguished roar. Because who is more refined and distinguished than the library's 2003 vastly...

THE RUMORS START.(on who will be new Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent designers)
November 5, 2003... PARIS -- The guessing game begins: Who will be the new designers at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent? On Tuesday, as the fashion world digested the news of Tom Ford's departure as creative director of Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent,...

GUCCI GROUP ON THE STREET.(Brief Article)(Chronology)
November 5, 2003... Since fluctuating wildly in the late Nineties, Gucci Group shares have traded within a fairly narrow range regardless of external events or company performance. Here are some of the principal events during that time span: 1) September...

A LEGEND UNFOLDS.(Domenico De Sole, Tom Ford years at Gucci)
November 5, 2003... LONDON -- A decade has passed since Domenico De Sole saved the job of Tom Ford -- and the rest of the Gucci design staff -- after Maurizio Gucci, in a fit of pique, insisted on firing them. Since then, De Sole and Ford have turned the...

YVES, BERGE SAY 'BYE BYE TOM'.(Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Berge, Tom Ford)
November 5, 2003... PARIS -- Yves Saint Laurent and his business partner, Pierre Berge, applauded Tuesday's revelation that Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole would relinquish their positions at Gucci Group in April and that, consequently, Ford would no longer design...

GIVING BEAUTY THE EDGE.(Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci)
November 5, 2003... PARIS -- Tom Ford's impact on the Yves Saint Laurent and Gucci beauty businesses goes far beyond the cosmetic. Simply put, he did more than help give the brands a makeover -- he brought controversy back to them. As creative director at...

FORD'S FASHION.(Tom Ford, Gucci Group)
November 5, 2003... Tom Ford's career at Gucci Group has been of the no-guts, no-glory kind. He developed a razor-sharp identity for the house by infusing smart, chic, wearable clothes with a now-iconic audacity and sexual presence. Ford entered the...

INDUSTRY REACTS TO FASHION SHOCKER.(Tom Ford, Domenico De Sole to leave Gucci Group)
November 5, 2003... The departure of Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole from Gucci Group will be a watershed moment for the luxury goods industry, one that portends a giant shift in the dynamics of global branding, designers for hire and rebuilding a historic label --...

CATALOGUES, WEB SITES AND STORES -- OH MY!(business models)
November 5, 2003... ATLANTA -- The triple threat of catalogues, e-commerce Web sites and stores -- once considered an uneasy combination that could prompt cannibalization -- is proving to be a brand-building business model. "A few years back, these...

FASHION SCOOPS: LANVIN LEGACY...THE MOMMY TRACK...STILL A WONDERFUL LIFE.
November 5, 2003... LANVIN LEGACY: Jacques Levy is said to be out as Lanvin's chief executive officer, according to sources. On Tuesday, a company spokeswoman would not comment on speculation circulating in the industry in Paris. Levy could not be reached. ...

FROM CENTER COURT TO CENTER STAGE.
November 5, 2003... LOS ANGELES -- The Williams sisters, reigning queens of the tennis court, plan to conquer another game -- fashion. At Monday night's WTA charity dinner at the Fairmont Miramar hotel here, Venus presented her 10-piece sportswear...

AFFLUENT APPEAL? SHOW SOME EMOTION.(Brief Article)
November 5, 2003... NEW YORK -- A desire for individual style or status -- once the key catalyst of luxury purchases -- is no longer enough to spur most affluent Americans to consume high-end products. Instead, a trio of emotional triggers are driving...

HARRISON & SHRIFTMAN BOUGHT BY OMNICOM UNIT.
November 5, 2003... NEW YORK -- Harrison & Shriftman, an eight-year-old public relations firm known for hooking up brands with high-flying celebrities, tastemakers and socialites, has been sold to Omnicom's Radiate Group, which specializes in event-driven...

CLAIRE'S STORES TO SPLIT STOCK.(Brief Article)
November 5, 2003... NEW YORK -- Specialty retailer Claire's Stores Inc. said its board declared a 2-for-1 split on its common and class A common stock. The Pembroke Pines, Fla.-based company also said that the dividend would remain at its current per share...