WWD articles from October 2005

WWD archives from October 2005

CACTUS FLOWER.(Donatella Versace's spring Versace collection )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... MILAN -- There are many ways of interpreting the current less-is-more fashion message, and the one Donatella Versace chose for her spring Versace collection was particularly effective. She dropped overt dazzle and bright shades in favor of...

DRESSES TO THE RESCUE: SAVE OTHERWISE SAFE, CHAOTIC MILAN SEASON.
October 3, 2005... Byline: WWD Staff MILAN -- It's hard to be angry at pretty dresses. After a grueling, controversial and often-underwhelming Milan season, that key item cheered retailers, many of whom left the Italian fashion capital with a positive...

WAL-MART SHUFFLES EXEC PAIR.
October 3, 2005... Byline: Katherine Bowers BOSTON -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is flipping the roles of two of its top domestic and international executives as the world's largest retailer seeks to grow sales. John B. Menzer, chief executive officer of...

BOSTON SFA SET FOR MODERNIZATION.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Byline: Katherine Bowers BOSTON -- Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship here is getting a $25 million-plus makeover as the retailer modernizes key stores. "Consumers vote for us in Boston," said Andrew Jennings, Saks president and chief...

COMING THIS WEEK.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
October 3, 2005... MONDAY: Paris Ready-to-Wear Collections (through Oct. 11). WEDNESDAY: Interstoff Asia, Hong Kong (through Friday). Burlington Coat Factory reports first-quarter sales and earnings. THURSDAY: Major U.S. retailers report same-store...

CORRECTIONS.(Correction Notice)
October 3, 2005... The incorrect photo ran with an item on designer Matthew Ames in "Paris Preview, Ones to Watch" on page 14, Thursday. The correct photo is pictured here. The Sienna Miller photo on page 13 of the Sept. 29 WWD was incorrectly credited. The...

LEARNING CURVES.(actor Erika Christensen)(Interview)
October 3, 2005... Byline: Marcy Medina BURBANK, Calif. -- Weathering bad fashion moments can be tough, but having to do it under the glare of paparazzi flashbulbs is worse. Just ask Erika Christensen, who remembers her share of public fashion blunders...

PARIS SCENE; FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO SPARE DURING PARIS FASHION WEEK, HERE ARE A FEW NEW SPOTS TO CHECK OUT FOR EITHER IMBIBING, INSPIRATION OR SHEER RELAXATION.
October 3, 2005... DEAR LIZA After working at several five-star Paris hotels, Liza Soughayar has cultivated a deep understanding of service and chic -- lessons she applied seamlessly to her first restaurant here, Chez Liza, a stylish repair for what might...

ESPRIT DEALING WITH UNCERTAINTY.
October 3, 2005... Byline: Lauren DeCarlo NEW YORK -- Things are in flux at Esprit. In recent months, three top executives have resigned, key department stores have stopped carrying the brand and a number of licensing agreements have been put on hold....

SHADES OF DIFFERENCE; FASHION IS HEADED INTO QUIETER WATERS, AND FOR MANY DESIGNERS, THAT MEANT A CHANGE IN THEIR PALETTES TO DESERT TONES, WHITE OR BLACK. FOR SOME, THOUGH, BRIGHTS ARE STILL BEST.
October 3, 2005... Versace: Minimal means different things to different people. To Donatella Versace, it means trading in frenetic flash for the toned-down tenor of the desert. Versace's new, sultry restraint struck her during a recent visit to Palm Springs,...

HIGH TIME; SPRING ACCESSORIES REACHED NEW HEIGHTS WITH STRIKING WEDGES AND STRUCTURED BAGS.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Tod's: Tod's takes a high-spirited approach to spring with a group of cotton canvas bags and shoes featuring a witty print created by artist Michael Roberts, who turned Tod's iconic driving shoes into boats pulling water-skiers. Giuseppe...

DOIN' WHAT COMES NATURALLY; SOME DESIGNERS AND HOUSES SIMPLY FOLLOWED THEIR OWN INCLINATIONS FOR SPRING, WITH RESULTS RANGING FROM PRETTY LAYERED DRESSES TO GRAPHICALLY PRINTED SKIRTS AND EVEN TOPS IN PASTA PATTERNS.
October 3, 2005... Etro: Veronica Etro gathered together a flurry of some of the boldest prints around -- exotic arabesques, mandalas and scrolling florals -- into one buoyant spring collection. On some runways, such a whirlwind of patterns and cultures would...

FEMININE NOTIONS; THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT IMAGES OF WOMEN, FROM SUPERSEXY SIRENS TO ROMANTIC HEROINES, AND A VARIETY OF THEM ARE TURNING UP ON THE RUNWAYS FOR SPRING.
October 3, 2005... Alessandro Dell'Acqua: He's no stranger to the boudoir as the creative mind guiding La Perla, so it's hardly a surprise that Alessandro Dell'Acqua served up some hypersexed looks for his signature line, as well. Drawing inspiration from Marilyn...

FASHION SCOOPS: BLUE CLUES... BIRTHDAY BOY... GOLD RUSH...
October 3, 2005... BLUE CLUES: There were two keen students of Italy at Roberto Cavalli on Friday: Eva Amurri and Victoria Beckham. "I'm actually studying in Bologna for one semester," said Amurri, the daughter of Susan Sarandon, a budding actress and an Italian...

VOGUE, DESIGNERS FETE YOUNG TALENT.
October 3, 2005... MILAN -- Cynics might claim that fashion isn't doing enough to find and support new talent, but nearly every marquee designer who shows in this city turned out for Vogue and Italian Vogue's Fashion Fund dinner to support that very cause. ...

DOUBLE DUTCH.(Viktor & Rolf.)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Amsterdam-based Viktor & Rolf, slated to show their spring-summer collection in Paris tonight, will soon be moonlighting in Italy, as well. WWD has learned that Allegri, the pioneering outerwear and rainwear firm, has tapped the Dutch design...

TOMMY LOOKS TO BOOST ASIAN PRESENCE.
October 3, 2005... Byline: Lisa Movius SHANGHAI -- Tommy Hilfiger is on an Asian push. The designer visited Shanghai last month for a fashion show and party at Shanghai Film Studios, followed by similar events in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul. The visit...

HILFIGER CORP. TO RESTATE ANNUAL FINANCIAL RESULTS.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Byline: Vicki M. Young NEW YORK -- Tommy Hilfiger Corp. Friday posted preliminary net income results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, and said prior-year financial statements will be adjusted due to an accounting restatement....

CHINA QUOTAS HURT LUEN THAI.
October 3, 2005... Byline: Vicki Rothrock HONG KONG -- The post-quota era hasn't been kind to Luen Thai Holdings, a global sourcing firm based here, which reported a 1.1 percent drop in sales to $267.5 million for the first half compared with the same...

DESIGNERS SHOWCASE LUXE LINGERIE.
October 3, 2005... Byline: Karyn Monget NEW YORK -- Several European lingerie designers will be breaking out of the boudoir this week with a customized luxury lingerie presentation in Paris called Showroom Lingerie Dessous. The three-day event begins...

SARA LEE DEALS EURO BRANDS.
October 3, 2005... Byline: Vicki M. Young NEW YORK -- Sara Lee Corp. has entered into an exclusive negotiation period with Sun European Partners for the sale of its branded European intimate apparel businesses, the company said on Friday. SEP is an...

BEAUTY BEAT: BERGDORF'S HOSTS STARR-STUDDED BOOK LAUNCH... FTC OKS P&G, GILLETTE DEAL... BOND NO. 9 FETES NEW SHOP.(Book Review)
October 3, 2005... Byline: Julie Naughton, Molly Prior, Bryn Kenny Bergdorf's Hosts Starr-Studded Book Launch NEW YORK -- Makeup artist Paul Starr has beautified a bevy of famous faces over the years -- and Thursday night at Bergdorf Goodman, several...

JUDITH LEIBER THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
October 3, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Hirshlag NEW YORK -- Judith Leiber increasingly wants to be a house that can go from day to night. The New York-based luxury brand is renowned for its jeweled evening minaudieres that have been carried by every first...

H.STERN SPARKLES AT 60.
October 3, 2005... Byline: Sophia Chabbott NEW YORK -- After 60 years in business, the family that runs H.Stern hasn't lost its passion for gems or its entrepreneurial spirit. H.Stern has secured a foothold in the fine jewelry marketplace during its...

GRAFF'S RODEO DRIVE REAL ESTATE.
October 3, 2005... Byline: Rose Apodaca BEVERLY HILLS -- Graff finally has its space for a West Coast flagship. The London-based jewelry house has signed a long-term lease on a 1,800-square-foot store at 317 North Rodeo Drive. "This one in...

WWD STOCK INDEX GETS 2.5% LIFT.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Byline: Arthur Zaczkiewicz NEW YORK -- Declining oil prices offset fears of a spending pullback due to eroding consumer confidence, which pushed the WWD Composite Stock Index up 2.5 percent for the week. The index rose to 1,050.73 on...

INDUSTRY FORMS NONPROFIT GROUP FOR DISASTER VICTIMS.(Fashion Delivers Charitable Foundation Inc. is formed.)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2005... Byline: Vicki M. Young NEW YORK -- The nonprofit organization formed for fashion and home goods firms to help disaster victims now has an official name: Fashion Delivers Charitable Foundation Inc. While Hurricane Katrina inspired...

WALL STREET BULLISH ON ANN TAYLOR'S WEIL.
October 3, 2005... Byline: Meredith Derby NEW YORK -- Wall Street is betting on the arrival of former American Eagle Outfitters Inc. chief financial officer Laura A. Weil at Ann Taylor Stores Corp. today as the key to the retailer's turnaround success. ...

DVF SIZZLES IN LOS ANGELES.(Diane Von Furstenberg.)
October 3, 2005... Byline: Rose Apodaca LOS ANGELES -- Diane von Furstenberg's dresses have been characterized as sultry, which also could describe the designer. And that image was never more appropriate than at the opening Thursday of her Melrose...

MEMO PAD: THE OVEREXPOSURE INDEX... VERTICAL'S LEAP.
October 3, 2005... Byline: Sara James, Jeff Bercovici THE OVEREXPOSURE INDEX: It's widely acknowledged that gossip columnists have a symbiotic relationship with B-list stars. For instance, a columnist can turn a mediocre event into a legitimate item as long...

KAMALI'S CATALOGUE COMEBACK.
October 3, 2005... Byline: Marc Karimzadeh NEW YORK -- Norma Kamali's newest project is a homecoming of sorts. In the mid-Eighties, Kamali produced exclusive pieces for the Spiegel catalogue, which were so successful the company even spun off a...

COLOR, VINTAGE DETAILS ABOUND AT PARIS SHOWS.
October 3, 2005... PARIS -- Black may be the new runway religion, but color ruled at the Pret a Porter and Who's Next trade shows here. Romantic confections, feminine frills with embroidery and lingerie looks again will be the staples of summer, retailers...

DAFFY'S KICKS OFF NEW AD CAMPAIGN.
October 3, 2005... Byline: David Moin NEW YORK -- Daffy's will today launch its biggest advertising effort in five years, a quirky campaign depicting the lives of three "spokesmannequins" named "Deb," "Tanya" and "Jackie." Their story will be told through...

AVEDON'S ICONIC EXHIBIT IS REVISITED BY MUSEUM.
October 3, 2005... Byline: Holly Haber FORT WORTH, Tex. -- Richard Avedon's groundbreaking portrait exhibit, "In the American West," was both vilified and praised when it opened 20 years ago at the Amon Carter Museum here. A critic for the Fort Worth...

PRADA IN THE DESERT.(The Art Production Fund and Ballroom Marfa are influenced by socioeconomics in the 'Prada Marfa' sculpture. )
October 3, 2005... Byline: Sharon Edelson NEW YORK -- After driving for several hours on U.S. 90 from El Paso toward Valentine, Tex., and seeing nothing but desert, the eye is lulled into submission by the flat, barren landscape. Imagine, then, seeing an...

PRETTY CLEAN.(Milan)(Karl Lagerfeld for Fendi)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... MILAN -- For spring, Karl Lagerfeld revamped his Fendi collection with chic looks that had a Parisian joie de vivre. As he put it, "We cleaned up a lot, non?" The key styles included charming dresses, some belted, some with flirty bows and...

GAULTIER'S GROWTH YEAR: COMPANY BACK ON TRACK FOLLOWING RESTRUCTURING.(Interview)
October 4, 2005... Byline: Miles Socha PARIS -- After a dark period that saw 31 employees axed from the payroll and a spotlight shone on its deep financial woes, Jean Paul Gaultier is on the rebound. Ready-to-wear sales are advancing at a double-digit...

SAKS 1Q PROFITS DOWN 20%.
October 4, 2005... Byline: Vicki M. Young NEW YORK -- Saks Inc. filed its long awaited first-quarter results Monday that showed profits declining 20 percent on a small sales gain The retailer also said it would post second-quarter earnings by...

IN BRIEF: DESIGNER RETURN... SAFILO EYES IPO... SAFEGUARD DELAY.(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... DESIGNER RETURN: Prada said Monday that Simonetta Ciampi has been appointed as design director of bags and accessories. Ciampi returns to the Italian fashion house after her experience as design director of leather goods at Yves Saint Laurent,...

CORRECTION.(Correction Notice)
October 4, 2005... Kay Krill, president of Ann Taylor Stores Corp., assumed the additional role of chief executive officer of the company on Oct. 1, replacing J. Patrick Spainhour. This information was unclear in a story that ran on page 20, Monday.

MEMO PAD: TABLOIDS IN REHAB?... CONFIDENTIALLY SPEAKING... LAST LAUGH.
October 4, 2005... Byline: Samantha Conti, Jeff Bercovici TABLOIDS IN REHAB?: It looks like the media tide may be turning for Kate Moss now that she's checked herself into The Meadows rehabilitation clinic near Phoenix. The Daily Mirror, which broke the...

WILLIAMSON SIGNS ON AT PUCCI.(Matthew Williamson )
October 4, 2005... Byline: Miles Socha PARIS -- Emilio Pucci said Monday that Matthew Williamson would become its new artistic director, showing his first collection for the Florentine house next February. WWD first reported Sept. 28 that Pucci was...

CALVIN INKS GLOBAL COLLECTION DEAL WITH FINGEN.
October 4, 2005... Byline: Marc Karimzadeh NEW YORK -- Calvin Klein Inc. said Monday it has signed an agreement with Fingen SpA to produce and distribute Calvin Klein Collection women's and men's apparel and accessories worldwide. The deal confirms a...

BERGDORF'S PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON RENOVATED FIFTH FLOOR.
October 4, 2005... Byline: Rosemary Feitelberg NEW YORK -- Bergdorf Goodman martinis, an after-hours lavender lighting system and a flashy "5F" mailer are a few of the finishing touches the store has cooked up for its renovated fifth floor. With most...

HIGH CONCEPTS; THE PARIS SPRING COLLECTIONS GOT UNDER WAY WITH SOME DESIGNERS PLAYING WITH ABSTRACT IDEAS, AND THE RESULTS RANGED FROM FRILLED, CAMOUFLAGE VICTORIANA TO DECONSTRUCTED TS. THE BEST LOOKS, HOWEVER, WERE ROOTED IN REALITY: SHORT, SWINGY DRESSES AND ASYMMETRIC JACKETS.
October 4, 2005... Yohji Yamamoto: Is Yohji Yamamoto goading his audience? The collection he showed on Sunday night made for something of a conundrum. His typically inventive cuts just weren't enough, yet were way too much in a relentless display of statement...

OPENING GAMBITS; GRAND VISUAL STATEMENTS, GREAT PAINTINGS AND FANCIFUL COSTUMES ARE INSPIRING PARIS DESIGNERS FOR SPRING.
October 4, 2005... "Sunday in the countryside." -- Jean Paul Gaultier "I created an imaginary voyage of a modern women visiting an exotic fantasy realm." -- Ivana Omazic for Celine "The Cecil Beaton Ascot scene in `My Fair Lady.' " -- Vanessa Seward...

RETAILERS PRIMP UP.("a fashion garden")("apartment of fashion")
October 4, 2005... Byline: Robert Murphy PARIS -- Retailers here, faced with a tepid economy and mounting fast-fashion competition, are using more personal and quirky flourishes to set themselves apart from the competition. Take Galeries Lafayette, the...

FASHION SCOOPS: VARIETY SHOW... CHANGING PLACES... ONLY FOR MEN...(various)
October 4, 2005... VARIETY SHOW: Teen idol? Check. Controversial rock star? Check? Burlesque performer? Check. Charlie's Angel? Check. Christian Dior promises that range of VIPs and more in its front row tonight. Among those expected are Hilary Duff, Marilyn...

TIE ONE ON.(Paris scarves)
October 4, 2005... Byline: Katya Foreman PARIS -- We've seen them slung around the hips of Kate Moss and adorning the heads of Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson. Now, scarves are about to experience a full-throttle revival, thanks to top fashion houses such...

COUNTRY GENTLEMAN.(includes "Zakarian's Picks")(New York, New York)(Restaurant Review)
October 4, 2005... Byline: Vanessa Lawrence NEW YORK -- Anyone who has ever eaten at Town, the pillar of sophisticated, high-end cuisine nestled in the basement of the Chambers hotel, may be intrigued to learn its chef and co-owner of four years, Geoffrey...

PARIS SCENE.(includes related article "Young Blood - J'en Reve, art exhibition at Foundation Cartier")(France)(Restaurant Review)
October 4, 2005... STAR ON HIS OWN When chef Alain Senderens spurned his hard-earned three Michelin stars in 2004, closing his storied Lucas Carton gastronomic temple after 26 years by saying he'd had enough of the red guidebook's dictatorial ways, he sent...

ITALIAN SHOWS JOIN FORCES AT MILANO UNICA.(textile industry against foreign competition)(includes "Trend Watch" table)
October 4, 2005... Byline: Sofia Celeste MILAN -- The fate of the Italian textile industry will depend on presenting a united front against growing foreign competition, Milano Unica exhibitors and organizers said. Italy's four major textile shows --...

PRATO MILLS PONDER HOME-FIELD EDGE.(Prato Expo trade show)
October 4, 2005... Byline: Sofia Celeste FLORENCE -- An intimate group of about 100 Tuscan textile designers celebrated their deep-seated roots at the Prato Expo trade show, which ended its three-day run here Sept. 17. Some 6,000 visitors made their...

TEXWORLD BUYERS PROVIDE BULLISH OUTLOOK.
October 4, 2005... Byline: Robert Murphy PARIS -- Buyers at the Texworld fabric fair here last week sought more sophisticated fabrics to stimulate sales in a tough retail environment. "There is more demand for higher quality," said Aruna Murarka,...

TURNING 10, HELEN WANG EYES BIGGER FUTURE.(Interview)
October 4, 2005... Byline: Julee Greenberg NEW YORK -- Designer Helen Wang, marking her 10th year in business, is playing by her own rules. Wang's contemporary sportswear and dress company is relatively small, bringing in about $4 million in annual...

DALLAS' AVANT TO SHUTTER.
October 4, 2005... Byline: Holly Haber DALLAS -- Avant, after a 28-year run as one of the leading contemporary stores in Dallas, will close in December. Owner Donna Chalker said her lease is up and the store's location on lower Greenville Avenue is to...

WTO TALKS FACE NUMEROUS OBSTACLES.(World Trade Organization)
October 4, 2005... Byline: Evan Clark and Kristi Ellis WASHINGTON -- The potential for lowering trade barriers is great, but the obstacles are many for upcoming World Trade Organization talks. Trade officials from around the world face political and...

MOONLIGHTING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.(young fashion designers)
October 4, 2005... Byline: Marc Karimzadeh NEW YORK -- Note to designers fresh from fashion school -- don't get accustomed to a life without extracurricular activities just yet. More so than ever, young designers are required to look beyond their own...

BEAUTY BEAT: FOLLOWING GILLETTE DEAL, P&G REAFFIRMS GROWTH... BOOTS, ALLIANCE UNICHEM TO MERGE... WATSON TO BUY RUSSIAN RETAILER.
October 4, 2005... Byline: Meredith Derby, Brid Costello, Ellen Groves Following Gillette Deal, P&G Reaffirms Growth NEW YORK -- Consumer products giant Procter & Gamble Co. completed the $57 billion acquisition of Gillette Co. on Saturday, and on...

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS RISE IN NUMBER, WORTH.
October 4, 2005... Byline: Arthur Zaczkiewicz NEW YORK -- Mergers and acquisitions are on a record pace this year, with the number of deals 1.2 percent higher than at the same period last year and the price tag of disclosed transactions more than double...

HARVEY NICHOLS OPENS FIRST STORE IN ASIA.
October 4, 2005... Byline: Vicki Rothrock, With contributions from Fionnuala McHugh HONG KONG -- The Landmark luxury shopping mall has gotten a bit funkier with the opening of Hong Kong's first Harvey Nichols. The British retailer opened its doors here...

FROTH ON BY.(Nicolas Ghesquiere collection for Balenciaga)(Brief Article)
October 5, 2005... PARIS -- Nicolas Ghesquiere electrified his audience on Tuesday with a spring collection for Balenciaga that combined the strong shapes for which the house is known and plenty of ornamentation. The result was a range of distinctive looks,...

ARMANI UPBEAT: PROFITS RISE IN HALF, SPRING '06 ORDERS CLIMB.
October 5, 2005... Byline: Amanda Kaiser MILAN -- Giorgio Armani SpA on Tuesday reported double-digit profit growth in the first half and wholesale orders for spring 2006 are already up by at least 5 percent. Armani released first-half figures showing...

NEIMAN DEAL NEAR CLOSING.(acquisition of Neiman Marcus Group Inc. by Texas Pacific Group and Warburg Pincus)
October 5, 2005... Byline: Vicki M. Young, With contributions from David Moin NEW YORK -- The $5.1 billion acquisition of Neiman Marcus Group Inc. by Texas Pacific Group and Warburg Pincus could close as early as today. The two private-equity groups...

HOLIDAY SPENDING SEEN RISING.
October 5, 2005... Byline: Valerie Seckler NEW YORK -- Consumers are planning to spend 4 percent more this holiday season than last year, despite the pressures of rising oil and gas prices -- but fashion players better act quickly if they expect to reap...

IN BRIEF: NEW HIRE... SEARS CONNECTION.(Brief Article)
October 5, 2005... NEW HIRE: Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. on Tuesday appointed Wendy E. Burden to the position of chief operating officer, effective Nov. 8. Burden will report to Seth Johnson, the specialty chain's chief executive officer. Her...

SEPARATE TEXTILE TRADE TALKS SOUGHT.(World Trade Organization)
October 5, 2005... Byline: Evan Clark WASHINGTON -- A coalition of 97 apparel and textile industry groups is pushing the countries of the World Trade Organization to address textiles separately in the current round of global trade talks. The call for a...

CLARIFICATION.(Correction Notice)
October 5, 2005... Charges against Sears, Roebuck & Co. were dismissed in December concerning the company's 2002 contribution to a Texas political action committee. Sears is not currently involved in any aspects of the recent indictment of House Majority Leader...

WWD/DNR CEO SUMMIT TO FEATURE AGENTS OF CHANGE.
October 5, 2005... NEW YORK -- It's about dealing with change. That's mandatory for any chief executive officer to succeed in the turbulent and rapidly consolidating worlds of fashion and retail. Making strategic shifts and staying creative without a lot of...

VERNON RESIGNS CALVIN POST.
October 5, 2005... Byline: Rosemary Feitelberg NEW YORK -- After weeks of speculation, Kim Vernon has resigned as senior vice president of global advertising and communications at Calvin Klein Inc. The announcement confirms a WWD report last month. ...

MEMO PAD: MOSS CASE CLOSED?... YOU READER, ME JANE... KODAK MOMENTS.
October 5, 2005... Byline: Samantha Conti, Jeff Bercovici MOSS CASE CLOSED?: Will history repeat itself in London's High Court? Sources say a team of lawyers working on behalf of the Mirror Group has been looking into the possibility of "reexamining" the...

GIVENCHY GAINING TRACTION WITH TISCI.
October 5, 2005... Byline: Miles Socha PARIS -- Major construction is under way on the Faubourg Saint Honore here for a new Givenchy flagship, suggesting the French house, after many topsy-turvy years, has found a solid foundation on which to build its...

IVANA OMAZIC BRINGS FEMININE TOUCH TO CELINE.(Interview)
October 5, 2005... PARIS -- If there's a fashion gene, Ivana Omazic surely inherited it. Growing up in then-Communist Zagreb, she announced at age five that clothes would be her career. Her Yugoslavia-born aunt, Franka Stael von Holstein, has the same make...

THEME PLAYERS; AS THE PARIS SPRING COLLECTIONS MOVED INTO HIGH GEAR, DESIGNERS AT SOME OF THE CITY'S TOP HOUSES WERE EXPLORING HIGHLY DISTINCTIVE MOTIFS, FROM ROCK 'N' ROLL BAROQUE TO TIME REVERSAL TO PEASANT DREAMS.
October 5, 2005... Balenciaga: C'est magnifique! Nicolas Ghesquiere exploded the Paris season into a flurry of fabulousness on Tuesday morning. His brash, brilliant collection for Balenciaga dismissed fall's furred and feathered minimalism in favor of baroque...

A PLACE IN THE SUN.(Brief Article)
October 5, 2005... With a nod to the paintings of Ingres, Paul Poiret and the exoticism of Marrakech, Loulou de la Falaise confected a delightful collection with what she called "airy and loose silhouettes" adapted to "lounging in the sun." That translated into...

IN SHORT.(Brief Article)
October 5, 2005... Holland & Holland: Its heritage is in guns. So it made sense that this Chanel-owned house showed plenty of safari-themed clothes. AF Vandevorst: Belgian duo Filip Arickx and An Vandevorst used mirror tricks to jazz up their presentation of...

COOL HUNTERS - AND GATHERERS; THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO CONVEY A STYLISH EDGE, AND, FOR SPRING, DESIGNERS WERE TRYING TO DO IT WITH LOOKS RANGING FROM MESSAGE TS TO RESTYLED TRENCHCOATS.
October 5, 2005... Junya Watanabe: If a pack of the East Village punks loitering on St. Marks enrolled at Saint Martin's, they might turn out something like Junya Watanabe's spring look. Watanabe's new-school thrashers stormed the runway in some fantastic frock...

WHERE THERE'S SMOKE.(Yves Saint Laurent exhibit)(Brief Article)
October 5, 2005... "It seems like a homecoming," laughed Loulou de la Falaise as she sat down Monday evening to caviar and vodka to celebrate the opening of "Smoking Forever," the exhibit at the Pierre Berge and Yves Saint Laurent Foundation devoted to the...

FASHION SCOOPS: WEISZ MOVE... SISTER ACT... STAND AND DELIVER...(actress Rachel Weisz)
October 5, 2005... WEISZ MOVE: It looks like actress Rachel Weisz might have a new starring role -- as the face of Burberry fragrances. Rumor has it the 34-year-old British actress (of "The Constant Gardener" and "The Fountain") is set to replace Kate Moss in...

THE BONO SHOW.(photographer Anton Corbijn exhibiting 20 year's of U2 photos)(Brief Article)
October 5, 2005... Few images are burned into the rock psyche as deeply as that of U2's Bono, Larry Mullen, Adam Clayton and The Edge in all their mullet-ed, moody passion at Joshua Tree in 1987. The man responsible was Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn, who's...

ASSOULINE PUTS BOOKS ON A PEDESTAL.
October 5, 2005... PARIS -- Fashion designers are typically driven to open their own stores to showcase their entire collection, instead of the piecemeal selections carried by their wholesale customers. Ditto for book publisher Prosper Assouline, who will...

SUZY: IN HER SHOES ... NO STONE LEFT UNTURNED ... TRU STORY.(celebrities; various)
October 5, 2005... Byline: Aileen Mehle Much to the delight of shoe fetishists the world over, the vast collection of Imelda Marcos' high and low heels, gowns and jewelry are the focus of a bidding war between Christie's and Sotheby's. It comes after the...

ATWITTER OVER A ROYAL VISIT.(Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall visit to Washington DC)
October 5, 2005... Byline: Susan Watters WASHINGTON -- On the surface, Washington's social scene looks discreetly subdued -- a luncheon and Rena Lange fashion show for the Salvation Army; a black-tie dinner at the Library of Congress for the National...

UPBIN LEAVES A TRANSFORMED KELLWOOD.
October 5, 2005... Byline: Julee Greenberg NEW YORK -- Hal Upbin is ready to hand over the reins. Come January, Upbin will forgo his title of chairman and his corner office here at Kellwood Co.; close up and sell his home near the company's...