WWD articles from September 2003

WWD archives from September 2003

NIGHT LIGHT.(photograph caption)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Vibrant colors are sure to spice things up this season. Hot pink, for example, adds a provocative touch to an otherwise simple dress with a handkerchief hem. Here, an asymmetric silk number with suede details from Laundry by...

BASICS TAKE BACKSEAT AS MOD STYLES IGNITE EARLY SELLING FOR FALL.(1960s clothing styles expected to be big sellers in 2003)(Industry Overview)
September 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Is fashion back? The Sixties styles that flooded fall runways might just have been the tonic that retailers and consumers were craving, because stores around the country say fall business is off to a strong start. And forget...

SAKS ENTERS MAG GAME WITH 5.
September 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Saks Fifth Avenue is jumping into the magazine game. This fall, the retailer will launch 5, a publication officials say will have a different format from other magalogs, catalogs and catazines recently spawned by retailers....

MILL LOBBYISTS HITTING NEW YORK.
September 2, 2003... WASHINGTON -- After spending the last month agitating in the South, a coalition of textile, fiber and cotton executives are taking their campaign to limit Chinese imports to the Northeast. It's no coincidence the unveiling Wednesday in...

COMING THIS WEEK.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Tuesday: Tissu Premier textile show, Lille, France (through Wednesday). Montreal Fashion Week (through Friday). L'Oreal reports in financial results for the first half of the year. Wednesday: International Fashion Jewelry &...

DE SOLE SEES STRONG FALL FOR GUCCI.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... MILAN -- Gucci expects sales to start heating up. "I feel very confident going forward that we'll have a strong fall for the Gucci brand," chairman and chief executive Domenico De Sole told WWD in a phone interview Monday, citing the...

BURBERRY ACCESSORIES' NEW PAD.
September 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Burberry accessories, the British luxury goods firm's fastest-growing segment, has a new home at Bloomingdale's Manhattan flagship. A 940-square-foot, in-store shop devoted exclusively to Burberry's nonapparel offerings has...

IN BRIEF: CUSTOMS QUESTION...PERRY CLARIFIES...NEW POST FOR MARZORATI.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... CUSTOMS QUESTION: Inditex, the Spanish retailer that operates the Zara chain, has denied allegations of contraband by Mexican customs officials. Authorities in Mexico have begun to investigate whether Inditex, in the period from 2001 to 2002,...

SO SKETCHY.(David Remfry)
September 2, 2003... When he was illustrating last year's campaign for Stella McCartney's advertising launch, the artist David Remfry never expected his intensely provocative drawings of Ukrainian model Tetyana Brazhnyk to end up anywhere but a magazine recycling...

TEEN DREAM.
September 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- While most teenage girls channel their love of fashion in more pedestrian ways -- say, shopping -- Erin Ralph has turned her obsession into a full-time job. As chief executive, editor in chief and scribe of...

WILD BOYS.(Duran Duran returned to Webster Hall)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... The original fab five, Duran Duran, returned to Webster Hall -- the site of their first New York City show in 1981 -- for a 25th anniversary concert last Wednesday. Die-hard fans and celebrity supporters like Moby, Chloe Sevigny and Philip...

NEW FERRE SCENT KEEPS THE HEAT ON.
September 2, 2003... MILAN -- Gianfranco Ferre's latest women's launch proves the sensual, sexy series of Italian fragrance introductions won't cool off any time soon. Essence D'eau Gianfranco Ferre is bottled in a curvy golden flacon created to suggest the...

NIGHT LIGHTS.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Resort is a virtual celebration of color. And most of the partying goes on after dark, with bold fuchsias and rich melon tones lighting up the night.

SOMETHING NEW: A HIGH-END BRIDAL FAIR.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Wedding March on Madison, the pet project of Bride's and Modern Bride magazine, is turning out to be just like a real wedding: There's a big event, a little feuding and strenuous planning that will likely pay off in the end. ...

MARKET BASKET: MENDEL AT MANHASSET...DIRECT TO BONAPARTE.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... MENDEL AT MANHASSET: Ready-to-Wear and fur design house J. Mendel is opening a 500-square-foot shop inside Hirshleifer's, the high-end retailer at the Americana Manhasset shopping center on Long Island. The firm has another shop inside...

ARANGO RELAUNCHES FOR SPRING.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Designer Gustavo Arango is making a New York comeback. The designer's Sept. 15 fashion week runway show will mark the relaunch of the Gustavo Arango collection. However, the new designs are significantly different from the...

QUOTA WATCH.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... Pakistan Pakistan, which is seen as one of the handful of countries that will likely be able to hold its own against China when quotas are dropped in 2005, maneuvered for more textile and apparel trade breaks from the U.S. this year. The...

JORDAN TRADES ON STABILITY.
September 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- "Jordan is the eye of a hurricane," said Costanzi Yaghnam, a Jordanian apparel factory owner. "We're surrounded by turmoil, but then you have an oasis that's calm and beautiful." With Israel on one side and Iraq on the other,...

COUNTRY FOCUS: JORDAN.(poverty and unemployment are major problems)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... GDP: $22.8 billion/$4,300 per capita (2002). GDP Change: +3.5 percent. Population: 5.5 million. Unemployment: 16 percent.* Textile & Apparel Exports to U.S.: $483.4 million, up 89.2 percent.** Key Products: Women's and...

KMART CUTS LOSS DRASTICALLY.(Kmart Holding Corp. reduces second-quarter loss)
September 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Kmart's slimmed-down version of itself is paying off, but retail observers said the discount chain still has more work to do to trim the fat and its losses. Kmart Holding Corp. last week dramatically scaled back its...

SINGH PLANS NEW LOOK BID.(founder and shareholder may buy New Look)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... LONDON -- Tom Singh, the founder and shareholder of reference at New Look, has made a preliminary offer for the company, according to a statement issued Monday. New Look, the fast-fashion, high street retailer, said its board was considering...

FRANCE'S TATI TO REORGANIZE.(family-owned discount chain)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... PARIS -- Falling to competition from Europe's fast-fashion retailers, one of France's oldest discount institutions, Tati, has filed the equivalent of Chapter 11 proceedings here. Paris' Tribune de Commerce is expected to outline a turnaround...

FRIEDMAN'S FORGES AHEAD.(Friedman's Inc. will push new store growth in 2004)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2003... NEW YORK -- Jewelry retailer Friedman's Inc. said last week it plans to accelerate new store growth in 2004 and also expects sales and earnings results above current estimates for next year. The Savannah, Ga.-based firm now plans to have...

FLIRTY PRETTY THING.(WWDMAGIC convention)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- The fun was back at this year's WWDMAGIC convention, where bright colors, prints and feminine looks were just a few of the elements that livened things up. Here, Hot Kiss' cotton dress with a tulle underskirt, photographed...

COUNTING DOWN TO 2005: CHINA'S STRONG CURRENCY HEIGHTENS TRADE DEBATE.(Chinese government may float its currency)
September 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- As the end of quotas in 2005 looms closer, industry experts have two major questions on their mind regarding China, which has the potential to be the world's dominant supplier of apparel. Looking toward Beijing, they wonder if...

PILOT LANDS IN POLO RETAIL SEAT.(Ken Pilot hired by Polo Ralph Lauren Corp.)
September 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- After a short flight at J. Crew, Ken Pilot has landed at Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. The retail veteran joined Polo on Monday as president of factory stores and retail concept development, responsible for the operations of its...

IN BRIEF: SAKS' LEGAL EAGLE...LEATHER BUY...ONGOING HOSTILITIES.(Charles Hansen, new Saks executive vice president and general counsel)
September 3, 2003... SAKS' LEGAL EAGLE: Saks Inc. has promoted Charles Hansen to executive vice president and general counsel. He succeeds Brian Martin, who will concentrate on real estate and international development for the Birmingham, Ala.-based retailer's Saks...

KMART TAPS TRIO OF TOP EXECS.(Lisa Schultz, new chief creative officer)
September 3, 2003... BOSTON -- With its losses narrowed and $10 million worth of stock available to reward key executives, Kmart has begun cherry-picking talent to fill top roles. The Troy, Mich.-based discounter said Tuesday it has hired former Gap veteran...

LEVI'S TO CUT 300 JOBS IN EUROPE.(Levi Strauss & Co. will streamline production and delivery )(Brief Article)
September 3, 2003... PARIS -- Levi Strauss & Co. on Tuesday said it would cut 300 jobs in its European division as it moves to streamline production and delivery in Europe's increasingly competitive jeans market. The change at the Brussels-based division...

DTI APPLICATIONS LAUNCHING AT LYON FAIR.(Mode City trade fair in Lyon, France)
September 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- DuPont Textiles & Interiors will be launching an extension of several revolutionary concepts at the Lyon, Mode City trade fair in Lyon, France this Sunday. They are applications on yarn-based finishes and microincapsulated...

FASHION SCOOPS: SWIM LIKE EVA...WIGGED PUT...DESTINATION BRYANT PARK.(Herzigova's new swimwear collection)
September 3, 2003... SWIM LIKE EVA: The role fashion has played in Eva Herzigova's life has always been a large one, but it's about to get even bigger. The model's spokeswoman confirmed Herzigova is about to launch a swimwear collection. The line, featuring about...

LA DOLCE VITA.(new spring collection)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Alison Miller, the creative force behind AlidioMichelli, followed up her debut fall collection with a lineup for spring that features artistically constructed jackets in cotton or eel skin and little dresses with eel skin details....

DUNHILL CLOSING OLD BOND STREET UNIT.(Alfred Dunhill will close London's Old Bond Street)
September 3, 2003... LONDON -- The downsizing at Dunhill is stretching across the Atlantic. Alfred Dunhill said in a statement it will shutter its unit on London's Old Bond Street in February. A spokeswoman for Dunhill's parent, Compagnie Financiere...

FLIRTY PRETTY THINGS.(WWDMAGIC and ISAM trade shows)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- There was a feeling of optimism at this year's WWDMAGIC and ISAM shows. The important looks included vibrant colors and playful prints in Hawaiian, Pop Art-influenced, striped and floral patterns. Flirty pleated minis were the...

SPECIAL OCCASION LEADS ATLANTA ARRAY.(AmericasMart's August show)
September 3, 2003... ATLANTA -- The energy level at AmericasMart was high, with busy showrooms, crowded halls and elevators, not only in social-occasion areas that are now a key component of the August show, but also in sportswear and accessories, where...

IN THE MIDDLE: SOFTWEAR SALES...VISON REWARDED.(Jeffrey Evans, new vice president)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2003... SOFTWEAR SALES: Jeffrey Evans is taking over the new position of vice president of sales with responsibility for the East Coast at Softwear by Mark Singer and Vikki Vi, a City of Commerce, Calif.-based, better-priced manufacturer. The...

EDUCATING FASHION.(Robert Salem, professor at Fashion Institute of Technology)
September 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- It's back-to-school time, but it's not just the students who are dusting off their calculators. Retail math is a key skill for vendors who have to understand their customers' businesses and be able to figure out more than just...

STAGE NET DOWN 11.9%.(Stage Stores Inc. reports 2q net income drops 11.9% to $9.1 mn)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Stage Stores Inc. posted double-digit earnings declines for the second quarter and first half. For the three months ended Aug. 2, net income fell 11.9 percent to $9.1 million, or 45 cents a diluted share, from $10.4 million,...

SOLOMON TAPS ACCOUNTING EXEC.(Irwin Cohen joins investment banking firm)
September 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Irwin Cohen has joined the investment banking firm of Peter J. Solomon Co. in the new post of senior adviser. Cohen, 62, recently retired from the international accounting and consulting firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. After...

AKRIS GOES SLEEK WITH MADISON FLAGSHIP.(Swiss fashion house's New York flagship)
September 3, 2003... NEW YORK -- Shopping for luxury goods has long been a tactile experience. And for Albert Kriemler, designer and owner of the Swiss fashion house Akris, creating a New York flagship that reflected a sensuous aesthetic was key. As a man...

FUNKY CLUB STYLE DOMINATES EDGE.(new clothing stores)
September 3, 2003... The Edge is maintaining its rep as the place to go for club and fetish wear and everything in between. Though influential lines such as Fine and Emily were missing (having gone upstairs to show in the streetwear section), there were plenty...

NOVELTY LEADS AT WWIN SHOW.(WomensWear in Nevada)
September 3, 2003... Organizers of WomensWear in Nevada said they hit the jackpot during the show, held Aug. 25-28 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, with exhibitors reporting hearty sales as buyers packed booths seeking holiday and spring looks. "We came...

LOVING THE CHEAP AT OFF-PRICE SHOW.(Off-Price Specialist Show)
September 3, 2003... At the Off-Price Specialist Show, held at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, Aug. 22-26, bargain hunters led attendance up 10 percent from February's edition, according to Bill Jage, chief executive of show producer Off-Price Specialist...

MAGIC SENSES BUYING AHEAD.(MAGIC trade shows)
September 3, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Rainstorms might have signaled an ominous atmosphere, but retailers' sunny outlook buoyed the pair of MAGIC trade shows during their four-day run here last week. While retailers readily conceded sales are flat compared with...

POOL: OFFBEAT LINES, FROM BROOKLYN TO JAPAN.(women's accessories and clothing)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2003... In its fourth installment, the 120-exhibitor Pool show, at the Alexis Park Hotel Aug. 24-28, continues to attract specialty buyers by word-of-mouth. The message of this show seemed to be unusual lines, and some buyers said the focus here was...

MEMO PAD: READY FOR HER CLOSE UP?...ON THE MARK...DAILY DOSE.(Gerald Marzorati, new editor of Times Magazine)
September 3, 2003... READY FOR HER CLOSE UP?: After years of dining out together, Graydon Carter and Fran Leibowitz may be about to take their relationship to the next level. According to sources, Carter (who remains mum) is eyeing his old pal as a possible subject...

DEBENHAMS SALES UP 7.9% IN SECOND HALF.(U.K. department store's sales)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2003... LONDON -- Refurbished stores and an improving women's wear business pushed second-half sales at Debenhams up 7.9 percent, with same-store sales rising 3.9 percent. The U.K. department store said Tuesday that for the full year ended Aug. 30,...

L'OREAL ON PACE FOR SOLID SALES GROWTH.(L'Oreal's net operational profit up 14.9% to $982.2 mn)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2003... PARIS -- L'Oreal envisions a beautiful ending for 2003. The firm expects to reach its objective of registering a 7 to 9 percent sales increase on a constant basis for the year, confirmed Lindsay Owen-Jones, L'Oreal's chairman and chief...

STOKED.
September 4, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- As the surf and skate cultures continue to infiltrate mainstream fashion, the ASR Trade Expo, running Friday through Sunday at the San Diego Convention Center, has become an important barometer for youth-culture trends. So it...

KORS' BETTER STRATEGY: LAUNCHES MICHAEL, EYES $1B IN SALES.
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Michael Kors has been rumored for several months to be among the designers rushing headlong into the better market for 2004 -- yet another label among the herd -- but his true ambitions are much greater: He wants to become a $1...

IN BRIEF: FREE-TRADE PACTS SIGNED...MILAN WAITING TO UNDRESS...STYLIST SENTENCED.(includes multiple news briefs)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2003... FREE-TRADE PACTS SIGNED: President Bush signed legislation Wednesday, creating tariff-free trade with Singapore and Chile. The free-trade agreements are seen by the White House as models for a Central American Free Trade Agreement, much to the...

CORRECTION.
September 4, 2003... Jasmine Watkins won the Apple Bottoms Girl spokesmodel contest, announced last week in Las Vegas. The name of the winner was incorrect in a scoop on page 10, Aug. 27.

FASHION SCOOPS: BABY BOOMERS...GET SHORTY...PAUL SMITH TAKES TIME OUT.(includes multiple news briefs)
September 4, 2003... BABY BOOMERS: Among a glut of new kiddie fashion magazines hitting French newsstands this month, Extra Small's cover stands out with a slim, studious-looking blonde girl dressed in dark jeans, black blazer and a white shirt with a skinny black...

TRADE COALITION GAINS SUPPORT.(textile industry members seek to influence US trade policy)
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- The growing coalition of groups lobbying to protect the U.S. textile industry from a flood of imports landed two new prominent members on Wednesday. Wilbur L. Ross, the New York financier who has agreed to buy Burlington...

L CAPITAL BUYS 30% OF BURANI DIVISION.(Antichi Pellettieri S.p.A., a leather goods subsidiary of Mariella Burani Fashion Group S.p.A.)
September 4, 2003... PARIS -- French consumers might not be in a mood to shop, but Bernard Arnault seems to be. On Wednesday, L Capital, the investment fund sponsored by his LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton luxury empire, slapped down $27.1 million to buy a...

DTI CHANGES NAME TO INVISTA.(DuPont Textiles & Interiors will be known as Invista)
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- After 201 years in the textile industry, the DuPont name is making its exit. The Wilmington, Del.-based company's textiles and interiors division on Wednesday changed its name to Invista. The business had been called DuPont...

FROCK 'N' ROLL.(Kembra Pfahler of The Voluptious Horror of Karen Black launches clothing line)
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- As if fashion week weren't scary enough, this season, Kembra Pfahler, who fronts New York cult band The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black, will put on a show of her own, sending a new 12-piece collection, Kembra, down the runway...

CINEMA PARADISO.(Venice Film Festival wrap-up)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2003... Sofia Coppola and Scarlett Johansson turned heads and drew whistles as they strolled through the narrow streets of Venice following the premiere of their movie "Lost in Translation," the director in Chanel and the actress in Prada. The duo drew...

LOST GIRLS.(Nancy Steiner works as costume designer for Sofia Coppola's "Lost in Translation")
September 4, 2003... LOS ANGELES -- The idea of designing costumes for Sofia Coppola's new film, "Lost in Translation," might intimidate some. Coppola's only the most fashion-savvy young director around, after all. But for Nancy Steiner, a costume designer who...

CHICO'S MAN: CEO SPOT GOES TO EDMONDS.(Scott Edmonds, president of Chico's FAS Inc., named CEO)
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Scott Edmonds, president of Chico's FAS Inc., has been promoted to the additional post of chief executive officer. Edmonds retains the presidency of Chico's, but the firm hasn't yet determined whether he will relinquish the...

SETTLEMENT DATE NEARS FOR PINAULT IN CALIFORNIA CASE.(Francois Pinault)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2003... PARIS -- Francois Pinault, the French billionaire who controls the Pinault-Printemps-Redoute luxury and retail conglomerate, faces a Friday deadline to reach a settlement with California prosecutors for alleged fraud in the acquisition of...

ALL ABOARD.(skateboarding clothing trends)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Though skate culture started in the Seventies with a klatch of freewheeling ne'er-do-wells scraping up the insides of abandoned swimming pools in Southern California, it has since gone through that distinctly American process of...

L.F. BRANDS AGREEMENT BRINGS FOUR NEW LINES.(licensing agreement with Silver Lake Inc. )(Brief Article)
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- L.F. Brands Inc. said Wednesday it has entered into a licensing agreement with Silver Lake Inc. to produce and distribute the David Warren and D.W. Studio dress lines and the Reggio and Rimini eveningwear brands. The four...

LUBELL FINDS INDEPENDENCE.(Jeffrey Lubell is president of newly reorganized True Religion Apparel Inc.)
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- In an interview this week, True Religion Jeans founder Jeffrey Lubell confirmed that his recent merger of his company into the shell of a publicly traded enterprise founded to hunt for valuable minerals was the conclusion of a...

DE LA RENTA BRIDGE LINE INKS DEAL FOR OUTERWEAR.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- After expanding Oscar de la Renta to include accessories, bridal gowns and a home furnishings collection, the company is now focusing some energy on expanding its presence in the bridge area through its Oscar by Oscar de la Renta...

CONE, KOZBERG FIRE SHOTS IN PROXY WAR.(at Cone Mills Corp.)
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- The lines have been drawn in the Cone Mills Corp. proxy battle, with the greens on one side and the whites on the other. Last week, the Greensboro, N.C.-based company's board and a group of dissident investors with a 9.5...

COACH RAISES FORECAST.(earnings guidance for the first quarter and full fiscal year)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Better-than-expected sales led Coach Inc. to increase its earnings guidance for the first quarter and full fiscal year. For the three months ending Sept. 27, the New York-based accessories manufacturer said earnings are now...

SADDLE UP: WRANGLER HOPS A HOG.(introduces jeans at the Black Hills Motorcycle Rally)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Wrangler is ready to prove that its jeans are good for more than just riding horses. That's why the Greensboro, N.C.-based denim house introduced them at the Black Hills Motorcycle Rally. The company showed these members of...

HOT WING.(designer wing for Americana Manhasset shopping center)
September 4, 2003... MANHASSET, N.Y. -- "It's like when the U.S. added California as a state. This finishes off our coast." That was Peter Marino, master planner for Americana Manhasset, assessing the new 40,000-square-foot designer wing on the east end of...

ESPRIT GETS REAL.(new marketing campaign)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Esprit is home. The $1.1 billion company, which left the U.S. a few years ago, is coming back in a big way. It will introduce a major print and outdoor ad campaign beginning in October issues of In Style and Elle. The...

NO IDOL TIME FOR CLARKSON.(Kelly Clarkson)
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- One year ago today, millions of people tuned into Fox's "American Idol" wondering if it would be Justin or Kelly. It was Kelly. As anyone can imagine, Kelly Clarkson has been through a whirlwind of firsts the past year...

PROMOTIONS FOR COOK, VAN CLEAVE.(Hot Topic Inc. promotions)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Hot Topic Inc. has promoted two insiders to new posts as division presidents. Jerry Cook, the firm's chief operating officer, is now president of the 464-unit Hot Topic division, where he will oversee the division's buying,...

AVON STANDS BY GUIDANCE.(Avon Products Inc. earnings expectations)
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- Avon Products Inc. reaffirmed its third-quarter and full-year earnings projections Tuesday and also provided quarterly sales guidance. For the third quarter ending Sept. 30, the New York-based direct marketing giant said...

SUMMER UPTICK FOR ECONOMY.
September 4, 2003... WASHINGTON -- The economy during July and early August showed signs of improvement as retailers reported mixed results in back-to-school apparel sales, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday in its Beige Book. The report, an anecdotal...

EPA OKS BUZZ OFF APPAREL.(Environmental Protection Agency has approved insect-repellent apparel )
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- The great outdoors is a little less great when you're surrounded by mosquitoes, tics and other pests. Given that, the Environmental Protection Agency has approved insect-repellent apparel produced by Buzz Off Insect Shield, a...

AFTER SCHOOL ARTS & CRAFTS.(activewear)
September 4, 2003... NEW YORK -- The do-it-yourself and noncommercial nature of alternative sports is catching on in the activewear market. Instead of buying and wearing T-shirts, sweatshirts and other basics as is, teenagers are customizing their clothes by...

SIDELINES: DOCKERS GET SPORTY...CLEARY JOINS SPEEDO...CAPEZIO'S NEW LINE.(fashion industry news briefs)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2003... DOCKERS GET SPORTY: Levi Strauss & Co. will launch Dockers Sport at department stores and specialty stores for fall 2004 through a licensing deal with Kellwood Co. Aimed at the value-oriented, active-lifestyle shopper, Dockers Sport will...

TALENT CONTEST; THE 15 FEMALE PERSONALITIES WITH THE HIGHEST Q RATINGS, THIS YEAR.(likability and recognizability quotient)
September 4, 2003... A motley crew of A-list movie stars, country singers and television survivors can be found on this list, which ranks celebrities by their Q rating. A sample of consumers nationwide is polled on the likability and recognizability of 1,700...

MANDALAY PLACE SIGNS 3 MORE STORES.(casino shopping center, Las Vegas)
September 4, 2003... LOS ANGELES -- Las Vegas is getting some retail firsts. Nike Golf and Just Cavalli confirmed their first-ever units will bow at Mandalay Place, the soon-to-be unveiled shopping center set on a sky bridge connecting the Mandalay Bay and...

POP ROCKS.(pop and rock star clothing)(Brief Article)
September 4, 2003... When it comes to rock stars, their look is as important as the tunes they sing -- from Beyonce's shimmer and Duran Duran's sharkskin suits to a sexed-up Jewel.

LIVE WIRES; WEARING FEATHERS, SPANGLES AND HOTTER-THAN-HOT PINK, AT MTV'S VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS OUR WOMEN OF ROCK HIT THE RED CARPETS STEAMING.
September 4, 2003... It was a night of sister acts at the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall with more jewels and feathers than a Las Vegas showgirl extravaganza. Venus and Serena Williams, clad in black and hot pink -- the unofficial colors of...

BEAUTY'S NEW BILLBOARD.
September 4, 2003... While beauty companies have been using the runway shows as a promotional tool for a few seasons, awards shows are emerging as hot new contenders for beauty billboarding, as last week's MTV Video Music Awards proved. Backstage at Radio City...

KISS AND MAKEUP.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2003... Beauty trends? Not at the MTV Video Music Awards. Stars embraced the evening's come-any-way-you-want-to vibe, sporting everything from Eighties hair to shimmering makeup.

FASHION FOLLY; SOMETIMES WE JUST HAVE TO WONDER AT HOW CELEBRITIES DECIDE TO WEAR OUTFITS LIKE THESE.(Brief Article)
September 4, 2003... Rock Stars -- Take away the guitars, the screaming fans, pushy publicists and millions of dollars and they're just like the rest of us. And as the common man knows, to err is human. But when rock stars make mistakes, they make big ones --...