Elie Saab, Giambattista Valli and Valentino Couture 2012 | Source: Style.com
Ending on a Grace Note (IHT)
“For all the the flesh still flashed on the red carpets, there is a change of mood on the runways. Perhaps the change can best be seen in the long-sleeved dresses with hemlines at the shoe-level that have taken over for the once-prevalent winter bare-the-body look.”
J Brand hires bank to explore sale, IPO (Reuters)
“Women’s apparel maker J Brand has hired Morgan Stanley to help it explore strategic options, including a sale or an initial public offering”
China Slowdown Cuts Luxury Spending, Hong Kong Retailing (Bloomberg)
“China’s slowdown dragged Hong Kong’s retail-sales growth to the weakest pace since 2009 as shoppers visiting from the mainland cut back on purchases of luxury goods such as jewelry and watches.”
No retirement for Ralph: Lauren signs new five year deal (Telegraph)
“Ralph Lauren will remain at the helm of his eponymous label for at least the next five years. The 72-year-old has signed a new employment contract that will see him maintain his position as chairman and chief executive officer of Ralph Lauren Corp until 2017.”
Overdressed makes buyers aware of what they wear (National Post)
“With fashion it bears remembering… that unlike textiles or widgets, garment production is not automated. It’s manual labour — people seated at sewing machines — which makes a book specifically exploring the past, present and eventual financial and moral implications of cheap chic and fast fashion all the more important.”