Footwear News articles from June 2009

Footwear News archives from June 2009

FN.
June 29, 2009... FN 2 Analysts Upbeat on Ken Hicks Pick at Foot Locker FOOTWEAR NEWS JUNE 29, 2009 VOL. 65 NO. 25 WWW.FOOTWEARNEWS.COM THE design ISSUE Ten new stores that are pushing the envelope and building retail buzz in a challenging time.

Insiders Applaud Hicks At FL.
June 29, 2009... Byline: KATIE ABEL With contributions from Jennifer Ernst Beaudry and Meghan Cass Insiders Applaud Hicks at FL Market watchers cite Matt Serra's contributions to Foot Locker and say the retailer is in good hands with new CEO. NEW YORK...

CCS Skate Stores Begin Rollout In NJ, California.
June 29, 2009... Byline: JESSICA PALLAY CCS Skate Stores Begin Rollout in NJ, California PARAMUS, N.J. Foot Locker Inc. is looking to pick up market share in the $8.4 billion skate market with the debut of CCS-branded brick-and-mortar stores. The...

Nike Futures A Worry For Analysts.
June 29, 2009... Byline: JESSICA PALLAY With contributions from Matthew Lynch Nike Futures a Worry for Analysts NEW YORK Last week's lackluster forecast from Nike Inc. proved that even the industry's 800-pound gorilla is susceptible to the woes of the...

Finish Line Looks Ahead After Exiting Man Alive.
June 29, 2009... Byline: JESSICA PALLAY Finish Line Looks Ahead After Exiting Man Alive NEW YORK After dropping the flailing Man Alive chain, Finish Line Inc. turned in a slight first-quarter loss. The results were largely expected by analysts and...

Insider.
June 29, 2009... Byline: Jennifer Ernst Beaudry and Wayne Niemi With contributions from Lindsay E. Sammon INSIDER Got tips? E-mail jennifer_beaudry@condenast.com or wayne_niemi@ condenast.com Gossip Guy Hosting is hungry work just ask Ed Westwick....

Color Comes Back To Pitti Uomo Lines.
June 29, 2009... Byline: KERRY OLSEN Color Comes Back To Pitti Uomo Lines FLORENCE, Italy Nostalgia was in the air at Pitti Uomo, held here June 2124, as footwear brands showcased retro-inspired styles in soft and aged leathers. In the sports category,...

Brands Hope for Wedded Bliss
June 29, 2009... Byline: MARCIE YOUNG Brands Hope for Wedded Bliss NEW YORK Amid the flailing economy, footwear brands are finding opportunity in the bridal category. Several women's brands, from Payless ShoeSource to Mary Norton, have launched new...

Designed To Sell.
June 29, 2009... Byline: LINDSAY E. SAMMON Designed to Sell The recession may have curbed store expansion, but it hasn't hindered creativity in retail design. Here, Footwear News looks at 10 shops opened within the past year that break new ground in...

Black Out.
June 29, 2009... Byline: Photographed by GEORGE CHINSEE and ROBERT MITRA. Black Out The mood at this week's Bread & Butter show is dark at least as far as sneakers are concerned. Athletic companies showing at the event in Berlin put black front and...

Berlin Bound.(Interview)
June 29, 2009... Byline: Elisa Anniss. Berlin Bound Got scoops? E-mail elisa.anniss@virgin.net Bread & Butter will return to its birthplace this week. Here, FN previews the show and other notable happenings in Berlin. Homecoming After four...

Talent Search.
June 29, 2009... Byline: Meghan Cass Talent Search With retailers working harder than ever to excite the customer, many are seeking new brands to create a point of difference. But where can they go to find fresh resources? In this economy, footwear...

Downtown Girls.(Shoegasm)
June 29, 2009... Byline: Angela Ranelli Downtown Girls New York's Shoegasm sets itself apart by bringing affordable looks to the city's hippest shopping spots. When Farshad Noorani and Eddie Cuevas opened their women's shoe store on New York's 23rd...

Playing The Field.
June 29, 2009... Byline: Marcie Young Playing The Field Soccer moms (and aunts, sisters and grandmas) in Princeton, N.J., hit a series of weekend games last month dressed with a fashionable flair. The women skipped the usual sneakers in favor of strappy...

Taking Stock.
June 29, 2009... TAKING STOCK The Bottom Line on the Shoe Biz CYBER SETTLEMENT: The bill for a 3-year-old computer break-in at The TJX Cos. got $9.8 million steeper last week, when the company revealed a settlement with the attorneys general of 41 states....

Trading Report.
June 29, 2009... Trading Report For 6/18/09 6/24/09 High*****Low*****Retailers*****PE*****Volume*****Last*****Change (52-Week)***************(in thousands)********** 91.75*****34.68*****Amazon.com*****49.5*****341,369*****79.27*****-3.38 ...

Erratic Weather Patterns Impact Retail.
June 29, 2009... Byline: JUSTIN FENNER Erratic Weather Patterns Impact Retail NEW YORK Retailers across the country said that unusual weather patterns during June made a tough month even tougher. According to information from the weather-tracking...

4: Picks.
June 29, 2009... 4 PICKS STUDY HALL A new exhibition at the University of California, Davis, is bringing what the world puts on its feet up to eye level. The UC Davis Design Museum's current show, "Stepping Out," features shoes from across the globe and...

FN.
June 22, 2009... FN JUNE 22, 2009 2 Nine West, Kurt Geiger Ink Partnership FOOTWEAR NEWS JUNE 22,2009 VOL. 65 NO. 24 WWW.FOOTWEARNEWS.COM WHO MADE WHAT Already a hot-button issue, executive compensation is being scrutinized more than ever. In a...

Nine West, Kurt Geiger Team Up.
June 22, 2009... Byline: KATIE ABEL Nine West, Kurt Geiger Team Up NEW YORK Nine West Footwear Corp. is forging an international partnership with Kurt Geiger Ltd. in two key markets, and the new deal could set the stage for further collaborations...

Jimmy Choo Heads To H&M, Spotlights Classics.
June 22, 2009... Byline: KATIE ABEL With contributions from Elena Berton and Justin Fenner Jimmy Choo Heads to H&M, Spotlights Classics NEW YORK Jimmy Choo's strategy for tackling tough times: Build as much buzz as possible. The luxury brand is...

Sperry Sails Ahead With Growth.(Sperry Top-Sider Inc.)
June 22, 2009... Byline: JESSICA PALLAY Sperry Sails Ahead with Growth NEW YORK A heightened focus on fashion and performance is helping Sperry Top-Sider expand its consumer reach. Sperry Top-Sider's famous boat shoe is celebrating its 75th...

Faces.
June 22, 2009... Byline: Marcie Young FACES Fashion's elite joined a bevy of socialites and A-list celebrities at the newly opened Alice Tully Hall in Manhattan last week for the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards. Hosted by funny gal Tracey...

Insider.(Zappos.com Inc.)(Raphael Young was given the first shoe honor )
June 22, 2009... Byline: Jennifer Ernst Beaudry and Wayne Niemi INSIDER Got tips? E-mail jennifer_beaudry@condenast.com or wayne_niemi@ condenast.com Twitter Talk Drinks were on Zappos.com last week, when the Las Vegas-based etailer took Manhattan...

A Package Deal.(chief executive officers)
June 22, 2009... Byline: MEREDITH DERBY A Package Deal BOSTON While some CEOs took pay cuts in line with last year's wave of restructuring, the majority still took home more, thanks to guaranteed salaries and incentives on stocks and options. But that...

Spring Forecast: Retailers To Buy Light, Chase Later.
June 22, 2009... Byline: KATHERINE BOWERS Spring Forecast: Retailers to Buy Light, Chase Later BOSTON As retailers look to 2010, most are keeping their inventories flat and plan to pursue trends with open-to-buy and fill-in orders. Still, some are...

Show Tunes.
June 22, 2009... Byline: WAYNE NIEMI Show Tunes Trade show operators are well aware that business is tough out there, but they're confident the industry will emerge leaner and stronger. LOS ANGELES Trade show operators are already preparing for a...

Show Previews.(trade shows in footwear industry)
June 22, 2009... Show Previews There's no shortage of places to go or things to see when it comes to trade events for the upcoming spring '10 buying season. All the shows are adjusting to new challenges in the marketplace, and show directors say they're...

Small Shows Aim Big.
June 22, 2009... Byline: JUSTIN FENNER Small Shows Aim Big From exclusive collections to improved booths, smaller shows are positioning to be an essential resource for both buyers and brands. NEW YORK Smaller trade shows are making up in agility...

Retailers Aim To Connect.
June 22, 2009... Byline: LINDSAY E. SAMMON Retailers Aim to Connect In-store events, local partnerships and strategic marketing and advertising plays are pumping up sales at four independents. NEW YORK Sure, times are tough, but some retailers are...

The Hit List.
June 22, 2009... The Hit List There's no denying that retailers are playing it safe with sping, hoping a winning trend will emerge. So Footwear News went straight to the brands for their predictions on the season's best sellers. Women's Men's ...

Gore Customer.(W.L. Gore & Associates Inc.)
June 22, 2009... Byline: Jennifer Ernst Beaudry Gore Customer Waterproofing specialist Gore is pushing deeper into footwear with a focus on running and casual. Making things waterproof has been big business for Newark, Del.-based W.L. Gore &...

Chain Reaction.
June 22, 2009... Byline: Liza Casabona Chain Reaction A recent Greenpeace report attests that keeping watch on the supply chain is tricky business. A growing number of footwear brands are committed to "greening" their products, but with an increasingly...

Sneaking Out.
June 22, 2009... Sneaking Out Men's outdoor shoes are taking inspiration from their athletic counterparts for fall. But make no mistake: These styles may look like sneakers, but their features water-resistance and aggressively lugged outsoles make them...

Taking Stock:.(Pacific Sunwear of California Inc.)
June 22, 2009... TAKING STOCK: The Bottom Line on the Shoe Biz SHOES IN STORE FOR PACSUN? Tapping shoe industry veteran Gary Schoenfeld for the top post at Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. could be the impetus for the teen retailer to get back into...

Trading Report:.
June 22, 2009... Trading Report: For 6/11/09 6/17/09 High*****Low*****Retailers*****PE*****Volume*****Last*****Change (52-Week)***************(in thousands)********** 91.75*****34.68*****Amazon.com*****54.1*****377,809*****85.68*****8.58 ...

Retailers Stay Cautious At Italy Show.
June 22, 2009... Byline: GORDON SORLINI Retailers Stay Cautious at Italy Show RIVA DEL GARDA, Italy The mood among Italian vendors and retailers was mixed at the most recent edition of Expo Riva Schuh, held here earlier this month. While some...

Life Of Brian.(Council of Fashion Designers of America)(Interview)
June 22, 2009... Byline: Regina Smith Popp Life of Brian On the day of the CFDAs, footwear designer and Bally creative director Brian Atwood talks about awards, family and fashion. On Monday, June 15, the afternoon of the CFDA Awards , I meet a beaming...

FN.
June 15, 2009... FN JUNE 15, 2009 FOOTWEAR NEWS VOL. 65 NO. 23 WWW.FOOTWEARNEWS.COM 10 Ken Pucker Reveals Plans for MBT Health Kicks A number of footwear brands have joined the wellness movement, giving consumers the opportunity to walk their way...

FFANY Wrap: Store Owners Skittish On Fall.(Fashion Footwear Association of New York)
June 15, 2009... Byline: JOCELYN ANDERSON With contributions from Katie Abel, Meghan Cass and Marcie Young FFANY Wrap: Store Owners Skittish on Fall NEW YORK Most retailers shopping last week's FFANY show remained cautious about their prospects for...

FDRA Prez Unveils Strategy.(Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America)
June 15, 2009... Byline: LIZA CASABONA FDRA Prez Unveils Strategy WASHINGTON Matt Priest, the new president of the Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America is using a fresh set of eyes to evaluate and revamp the organization. FDRA is gearing...

Kroll Opens Up About WSA Exec Changes.
June 15, 2009... Byline: WAYNE NIEMI Kroll Opens Up About WSA Exec Changes LOS ANGELES ENK International is bringing back a familiar face. ENK Chairwoman and founder Elyse Kroll told Footwear News that Maria Carvalho, who previously oversaw the Sole...

FN Names Berger As New Publisher.(Footwear News )(Brief article)
June 15, 2009... Byline: MARCIE YOUNG FN Names Berger as New Publisher NEW YORK CondA[c] Nast and the Fairchild Fashion Group last week tapped former Men's Vogue publisher Marc Berger to take the business helm at Footwear News . Berger, who left...

Keds Launches Fall Green Line At Barneys.(Loomstate)(Brief article)
June 15, 2009... Byline: JENNIFER ERNST BEAUDRY Keds Launches Fall Green Line at Barneys NEW YORK Keds is taking its green program to a new partner. On June 15, five laceless styles of the classic Keds Champion silhouette featuring prints by green...

Magic Taps Gallin As VP.(MAGIC International)(Brief article)
June 15, 2009... Byline: KATIE ABEL Magic Taps Gallin as VP NEW YORK Two weeks after her departure from ENK, Leslie Gallin has landed at the Magic show. The trade show group said last week it had named Gallin, formerly head of the Collections at...

Comfort: What's Selling.(footwear industry)(Brief article)(List)
June 15, 2009... Comfort WHAT'S SELLING Last week's hot product at retail. The Clog Shop , Great Neck, N.Y. Birkenstock Arizona and Giza sandals Naot Santa Barbara sandal Dansko Sissy (at left) On sale: Store at full price. The Shoe Store...

Insider.(Skechers USA Inc. celebrating 10th anniversary)(Brown Shoe Co. made addition to its collection at Fashion Footwear Association of New York)(Eileen Shields footwear designer host shopping events)
June 15, 2009... Byline: Jennifer Ernst Beaudry and Wayne Niemi With contributions from Elisa Anniss, Jessica Pallay and Marcie Young INSIDER Got tips? E-mail jennifer_beaudry@condenast.com or wayne_niemi@ condenast.com At the Bell There's little...

Tender Offer.(Company overview)
June 15, 2009... Byline: LINDSAY E. SAMMON Tender Offer Independent Spotlight : Though the high-end market has cooled, Tender is thriving with hot product. NEW YORK Luxury retailer Tender, based in Birmingham, Mich., has been up against the odds...

Well Minded.(MBT)(Company overview)
June 15, 2009... Byline: BARBARA SCHNEIDER-LEVY Well Minded Even with increased competition and a rocky economy, MBT continues to cash in on the burgeoning wellness category and CEO Ken Pucker is determined to take the brand to the next level. NEW YORK...

Healthy Choice.
June 15, 2009... Byline: Photographed by JOHN AQUINO. Creative Director: Regina Smith Popp Market Editor: Barbara Schneider-Levy Healthy Choice It's easy for health-conscious consumers to stay fit these days, as the wellness category continues to take...

Well Connected.(footwear industry)(Industry overview)
June 15, 2009... Byline: Barbara Schneider-Levy Well Connected Retailers are getting creative about encouraging consumers to jump on the wellness trend. From rocker-bottom shoes by MBT and Ryn to negative-heel technology by Earth, wellness-minded...

Female Intuition.(few words with Susan Ryder of Aetrex Worldwide, Inc.)(Interview)
June 15, 2009... Byline: Barbara Schneider-Levy Female Intuition Aetrex is giving its women's footwear a designer point of view. When Aetrex Worldwide decided to pump up the fashion in its women's footwear, it turned to industry veteran Susan Ryder....

Quick Fix.(Kim Myles)
June 15, 2009... Byline: Barbara Schneider-Levy Quick Fix Interior design guru Kim Myles has found the secret to looking good and feeling good. Kim Myles, host of HGTV's "Myles of Style," believes good design can transform people's lives. Whether the...

Hawaiian Punch.
June 15, 2009... Byline: Jocelyn Anderson Hawaiian Punch New Yorkers can add a little style to their wardrobes with hard-to-find brands at Aloha Rag. Tatsugo Yoda, a former sushi chef from Japan, was always a fan of vintage clothing. So it was only...

European Union.
June 15, 2009... Byline: Kelly Westphalen European Union In Brussels, the look for summer is all about dressing up a casual outfit. Footwear News spotted men pairing jeans with sleek oxfords and slip-ons, and matching shorts with driving mocs and...

Faces.
June 15, 2009... Byline: Meghan Cass FACES FFANY market week brought the shoe crew together in New York once again last week. On the eve of the show, the Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America honored outgoing president Peter Mangione with a...

4 Picks.
June 15, 2009... 4 PICKS PEP IN YOUR STEP It's not often that accessories save lives, but Jimmy Choo is trying to change that. The luxury company is working on a capsule line called Project PEP that will support the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Twenty-five...

FN.
June 8, 2009... FN JUNE 8, 2009 FOOTWEAR NEWS VOL. 65 NO. 22 WWW.FOOTWEARNEWS.COM 4 Contemporary: Buyers Seek Next Big Names On Holiday This year designers are inspired by the dazzling embellishments of the holiday season. Clockwise from top,...

Helping Hands: Charities React To Tough Times.(Shoe4-Africa nonprofit)(Toby Tanser)
June 8, 2009... Byline: NEIL WEILHEIMER Helping Hands: Charities React To Tough Times NEW YORK Toby Tanser, once an elite marathon runner, spent most of last year giving away shoes in Kibera, Kenya, the largest slum in Africa. Not far from downtown...

True Value?
June 8, 2009... True Value? In the new economy, a price-driven consumer is forcing retailers and brands to redefine value. It could have been 2007, save for one small detail. Last weekend I saw a group of well-dressed, obviously well-to-do women in...

Hunting For Contemporary.
June 8, 2009... Byline: MEGHAN CASS Hunting for Contemporary Retailers seek hot new lines with the right styling and prices to lure mid-range shoppers. NEW YORK Wanted: well-priced brands with style to spare. As aspirational shoppers pull back...

Up Close.
June 8, 2009... UP CLOSE THIS WEEK BREAKING NEWS: Brown Shoe inks deal with Marvel Entertainment. 8 INSIDER: Regis Philbin talks Stuart Weitzman. 10 FINANCIAL NEWS: May comps down across the board. 36

In Brief.(cases between Coach Inc. and Brown Shoe Company Inc.)(designer Roberto Cavalli signed a letter of intent with Clessidra SGR SpA )(Brief article)
June 8, 2009... IN BRIEF Coach Sues Brown Shoe Coach Inc. brought a patent infringement suit against Brown Shoe Co. last week, accusing the footwear firm of violating one of Coach's handbag designs. In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan...

Collective Preps For Challenging Q2.
June 8, 2009... Byline: JESSICA PALLAY Collective Preps for Challenging Q2 NEW YORK Increased gross margins and cost reductions helped Collective Brands Inc. swing to a profit in the first quarter, but analysts warn that the next few months could be...

Charles Jourdan To Relaunch At FFANY.(Fashion Footwear Association of New York)
June 8, 2009... Byline: WAYNE NIEMI Charles Jourdan to Relaunch at FFANY LOS ANGELES At this week's FFANY show, Charles Jourdan is ready for a comeback with a new twist on an old theme. While the line had been known in the 1970s and 1980s for...

Minnetonka Bucks The Trend.(Minnetonka Moccasin CO)
June 8, 2009... Byline: LINDSAY E. SAMMON Minnetonka Bucks the Trend Despite a weak retail climate, the company continues to rack up sales gains with its hit mocs. NEW YORK If you're hot, you're hot even in a cool economy. Minnetonka, known for...

Brown Shoe To Partner With Marvel.(licensing agreement )
June 8, 2009... Byline: ERIN E. CLACK Brown Shoe To Partner With Marvel NEW YORK Brown Shoe Co. is teaming up with a new cast of characters. The St. Louis-based firm has signed a licensing agreement with Marvel Entertainment to develop footwear for...

Insider.(Chelsea Piers L.P.)(boots collections)
June 8, 2009... Byline: Jennifer Ernst Beaudry and Wayne Niemi With contributions from Katie Abel, Jennie Bell and Marcie Young INSIDER Got tips? Email jennifer_beaudry@condenast.com or wayne_niemi@ condenast.com Close Encounter Stuart Weitzman has...

Holding Court.
June 8, 2009... Holding Court Elaborate designs reign supreme for holiday '09 contemporary collections. Women's shoes are adorned with rich colors, luxurious fabrics and jewel embellishments fit for a queen. CAPTION(S): Clockwise from top: KELSI...

Being Behnaz.(footwear designer)(Interview)
June 8, 2009... Byline: Elisa Anniss Being Behnaz Women's designer Behnaz Kanani is bringing a global point of view to the luxury market. Behnaz Kanani is one of the shoe world's fastest-rising stars. But a career as a footwear designer wasn't...

Measure For Measure.(Henrietta Rose Samuels, Caroline Groves and Vanessa Noel managed training)
June 8, 2009... Byline: Randi Gollin Measure for Measure No longer strictly a guy thing, made-to-order shoemaking for women is gaining momentum. Hetty Rose Ltd., Kimono Collection Launch: 2007 Headquarters: Chelmsford, England Designer...

Laugh Tracks.(Kathy Griffin, comedian)(Interview)
June 8, 2009... Byline: Marcie Young Laugh Tracks She's made a name poking fun at celebrities. Now Kathy Griffin takes a stab at her own shoe collection. Kathy Griffin just wants to be at the top of the Hollywood heap. And for the comedian, who...

Funky Town.(Kate Blake, footwear designer)
June 8, 2009... Byline: Barbara Schneider-Levy Funky Town Milwaukee's artsy Third Ward is a fitting complement to Shoo's unique comfort mix. When Kate Blake was laid off from her sales job at Diesel footwear in 2005, she had an epiphany. She realized...

Wild Things.
June 8, 2009... Wild Things Comfort designers are taking a walk on the wild side this fall. Animal prints ranging from leopard to zebra add a bit of the jungle to classic clogs, Mary Jane styles, novelty rain boots and more. CAPTION(S): HUNTER LAMO...

Step By Step.(Stride Rite Children's Group Inc.)
June 8, 2009... Byline: Erin E. Clack Step by Step New motion analysis research is helping Stride Rite tune up its first-walker technology. Baby's first steps are a significant developmental milestone. But according to new research commissioned by...

Lab Results.(Sports Research Lab )
June 8, 2009... Byline: Jennifer Ernst Beaudry Lab Results For New Balance, a new in-house research facility is raising the bar on product development. New Balance is heading back to the lab. Shortly after taking over as CEO of the company two years...

Flash Back.
June 8, 2009... Flash Back Athletic brands are finding inspiration in the 1990s for fall whether it's the prints, the color palettes or the silhouettes. For both men and women, these retro styles rule. CAPTION(S): KANGAROOS FILA KEEP CREATIVE...

In Vogue.(Alejandro Ingelmo, footwear designer)
June 8, 2009... Byline: Jocelyn Anderson In Vogue With the accolades rolling in, Alejandro Ingelmo tells Footwear News what inspires his success. Alejandro Ingelmo is a man on the rise. The footwear designer was recently nominated for the CFDA's...

Good Humor Man.
June 8, 2009... Byline: Jocelyn Anderson Good Humor Man As its footwear business grows, British brand Ted Baker is eyeing expansion in the U.S. market. Ted Baker isn't taking itself too seriously. The U.K.-based apparel and footwear brand has built...

Taking Stock:.(study done by SportsOneSource L.L.C. on athletic shoe industry)(investor relation of Saks Inc.)(sales of department stores)
June 8, 2009... TAKING STOCK: The Bottom Line on the Shoe Biz TEEN CHOICES: When it comes to brand recognition in the sporting goods segment, Nike is the clear leader among teen consumers, according to a recent study by SportsOneSource. In the first teen...

Trading Report:.
June 8, 2009... Trading Report: For 5/28/09 6/3/09 High*****Low*****Retailers*****PE*****Volume*****Last*****Change (52-Week)***************(in thousands)********** 91.75*****34.68*****Amazon.com*****54.1*****377,809*****85.68*****8.58 ...

Shop Talk.
June 8, 2009... Byline: Lindsay E. Sammon. SHOP TALK Eneslow Celebrates a Century Eneslow, the New York-based comfort shoe shop, is celebrating 100 years in business with new digs. On June 10, Bob Schwartz, CEO and president of Eneslow Pedorthic...

Booting Up.(Rafe Totengco)(Interview)
June 8, 2009... Byline: Regina Smith Popp Booting Up New York designer Rafe Totengco opens up about his recent licensing deal and growing digital presence. Any day that starts at Balthazar is a good day in my book, so I'm happy to take designer Rafe...

FN.
June 1, 2009... FN FOOTWEAR NEWS VOL. 65 NO. 21 WWW.FOOTWEARNEWS.COM 4 And 1 Banking on Brand Overhaul FFANY PRESHOW ISSUE Pretty Sweet Luxury designers are hoping to lure consumers this holiday season with striking, feminine styles. Here,...