Posts Tagged ‘Tim’

Polo up in QI

Wednesday, August 6th, 2008

Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. on Wednesday posted a first-quarter profit increase and raised its full-year earnings guidance.

For the three months ended June 28, income rose 7.8 percent to $95.2 million, or 93 cents a diluted share, from $88.3 million, or 82 cents, in the year-ago quarter. The company said the growth was from a higher gross margin rate and a lower tax rate.

Total revenues were up 4 percent to $1.11 billion from $1.07 billion. That included essentially flat wholesale sales of $574.5 million and a 0.1 percent gain in retail sales to $492.4 million.

Ralph Lauren, chairman and chief executive officer, said, ?Our lifestyle positioning is resonating with consumers worldwide, supported by our continued investment in advertising, marketing and public relations, including high profile events such as Wimbledon and the Olympics. Our status as one of the world?s few truly global luxury lifestyle brands is an incredible asset for our company.?

The company upped fiscal year 2009 earnings per share guidance to between $4 and $4.10 from a prior estimate of $3.95 to $4.05.

Meanwhile, Polo revealed plans to open its first freestanding Polo Ralph Lauren boutique this October in Istanbul. The 6,500-square-foot unit will be located in luxury shopping complex
Istinye Park and showcase what Polo bills as Turkey?s best assortment of Lauren?s apparel and accessories. Brands represented include Purple Label, Black Label and Polo for men, plus the women?s Collection, Black Label and Blue Label range

Playing Exclusives Game: Results Can Be Win-Win But Brands Face Pitfalls

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008

Image: Tommy Hilfiger is becoming exclusive to Macy’s.

Putting all your eggs in one basket ? or, in apparel, your entire collection in one retailer ? is a high-stakes game that is being played more and more.

As stores rush to differentiate themselves, particularly in this difficult economy, they’re increasingly looking for product no one else has. But as often as both parties describe exclusives as a win-win, it just as often results in one side losing.

Vendors must take heed of the dangers to committing exclusively to a single store ? take the fate of O Oscar, which lasted only three seasons at Macy’s before being closed, or Liz Claiborne, which saw its space at Macy’s shrink after it created Liz & Co. for J.C. Penney.

But the rewards can be great. Macy’s Inc. chairman, chief executive officer and president Terry Lundgren pointed to Tommy Hilfiger, which will become exclusive to the retailer come August, as “a home run idea” and “the best example now” of the growing exclusive business at the largest department store in the U.S. This is a far cry from the role Hilfiger had played at Macy’s in the last few years, when the line’s space had been consistently shrinking.

“When the product is exclusive to us ? which makes it one of the most important products we carry in the store because it’s only in our stores ? we want to make sure we can do everything we can do to find success,” Lundgren said. “If we are the only customer, we have a responsibility to make sure this brand is highly successful, so we will want to give it primary space and location, and make sure the advertising is prominent.”

More than 35 percent of the $26.3 billion in sales Macy’s did last year is in brands that are exclusive to Macy’s or in limited distribution, including its private label INC line, Martha Stewart Collection, Donald Trump’s line and diffusion lines such as T Tahari.

Macy’s is not alone. Half of J.C. Penney Co. Inc.’s sales come from its private label offerings, including the new American Living launch by Polo Ralph Lauren Corp.’s Global Brand Concepts, plus exclusive diffusion lines such as Nicole by Nicole Miller, Liz & Co. and the upcoming Fabulosity by Kimora Lee Simmons. Its competitor, Kohl’s Corp., has been bulking up its exclusive offerings as well with Simply Vera Vera Wang, Dana Buchman, Abbey Dawn (a new collaboration with Avril Lavigne) and Fila Sport, in addition to its Ralph Lauren diffusion line, Chaps.

Glamwire DATELINE March 27th 2008

Thursday, March 27th, 2008

Queen Carla

LONDON ­?

Clearly she felt it was time to cover up for the Royals. As racy photos of her were splashed all over the British tabloids and magazines, French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy toned things way down Wednesday as she and her husband, President Nicholas Sarkozy, landed here for a 36-hour charm exercise. And Bruni-Sarkozy played it by the rules ? wearing flats so she didn’t tower over her diminutive husband; going even a bit dowdy in a gray midcalf-length belted dress by Dior to meet Camilla and the Queen, and borrowing a page from Jackie O with a matching pillbox hat. As she walked with Prince Philip and rode in a gilded carriage through the cobblestoned streets, Cinderella Carla, even a demure one, brought a much-needed shot of glamour to the frumpy Windsors.

Talk about a contrast.

As Carla Bruni-Sarkozy went through her official duties as French first lady here Wednesday, even the most ardent Brit must have been wondering what happened in the chic stakes. Bruni-Sarkozy may have landed at Heathrow wearing a gray Christian Dior calf-length dress and Dior’s new Babe handbag, which made the former model look more Ma’am than Madame, but the second she stood beside Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall ? and later, Queen Elizabeth II ? it became clear that, even when they’re trying to be sedate, French chic is au naturel.

And that was what she was all over the British tabloids and in British GQ, as the Brits greeted her in their inimitable way. But all that seemed to fade away the second Bruni-Sarkozy and her husband, French President Nicholas Sarkozy, stepped off the plane, where they were greeted by Prince Charles and Camilla (in some strange feathered hat) and then whisked off to Windsor.

The day was a blur of official appointments ? including lunch with the Queen, a visit to Westminster Abbey, and an address by Sarkozy to both houses of Parliament.

For lunch, Bruni-Sarkozy wore a ribbed wool Ottoman gray suit, and for her visit to the houses of Parliament, she wore a light gray wool jersey dress with a navy wool coat.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Queen gave Sarkozy the title of Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, an honor previously given to other world leaders.

Queen Carla’s Subjects: Lyons Brown, Kellyan Maclean, Giovanni Carestia, Matti Anttila, Shaul Nakush,Delores Concepcion-Daniels, Al Gore, Noa Yemini, Andre Balasz, Joel Warren, Sarah Jessica Parker, Shia Lebeouf, Dave McNulty, , Agent 99, Leonardo Dicaprio, Robert F. Kennedy, Federick Law Olmsted, Pyotry Tschaikovskym John Jacobson, David Lauren, Jennifer Creel, Jim McGee, Patrick Shimm, Anne Slater, Gaylord Nelson

Four Fashion Headlines: March 19, 2008

Wednesday, March 19th, 2008

Calling Amy

Could Amy Winehouse, who couldn’t make it to the Grammy Awards last month due to visa issues, be crossing the pond for the Costume Institute gala on May 5? The Mirror of London reported on Monday that Winehouse has been offered 500,000 pounds ? or about $1 million ? to perform at the benefit and, according to the tabloid, gala host Giorgio Armani asked co-chairs George Clooney and Julia Roberts to sign her on. Winehouse’s London rep declined comment, but a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Museum of Art said, “Amy Winehouse is one of a number of artists who have been considered for the entertainment portion for the Costume Institute gala. It’s incorrect that she was offered payment. It’s a benefit, so no one is being paid.”

Despite Stock Market’s Jump, Few Mega M&A Deals Seen in ‘08

Retail rode Wall Street’s roller coaster on Tuesday as the Federal Reserve Board’s interest rate cut sent the market zooming. But daily thrill rides aside, the lack of credit could dry up any major deals in the industry for the foreseeable future.

Print Dresses, Colored Trenches Top Spring Sales

Retailers may be worried about the economy and Wall Street’s woes, but the arrival of spring fashions should offer some hope.

In the Trenches: The GLAMWIRE Trench Coat Report

Reed Krakoff and Phillip Lim are out to reinvent the trenchcoat. The two met through the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. In 2007 Lim won the CFDA Swarovski women’s wear award for his two-year-old contemporary label, 3.1 Phillip Lim. Krakoff is vice president of the CFDA. “He’s not only amazingly talented, but has a great personality,” said Krakoff. “He really understands great American design and the trench is an iconic piece of American outerwear.” The two concocted a long belted suede trench that will retail for $1,798 and a short leather one that will sell for $1,298. Outerwear is a growing category for Coach, which has also partnered with designers such as Lutz & Patmos for knits and Eugenia Kim for hats. “It’s part of our moving forward and staying fresh,” added Krakoff of the burgeoning categories. “We’re starting to add more clothing.” The coats will be available in Coach stores starting in August.

Other headliners today: Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Channel, Louis Vuitton, Clavin Klein, Calvin Klein, prada, Hermes, Dior, Tod’s, In Full bloom, Lisa Perry,David Yurman, General Petreus, Dolce And Gabbana. Hilfiger,Cole Haan, Genevieve Collection. Burberry,Donna KAran, Kate Moss, Botetga Veneta, Miu Miu, Lord & Taylor AND Richie From Totally Cool Magazine

One From The Vault: Billie Jean King in Gustavo Cadille, Fall ‘07

Monday, February 18th, 2008

Fashion: It Started with a Tie Is Heather Arnerson The Next Ralph Lauren?

Monday, February 19th, 2007

The Heavyweights weigh in with the Verdict. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”

Michael Gross, the author of “Genuine Authentic, The Real Story of Ralph Lauren,” writes, “Nooses for Deuces, Heather Arnesan’s new tie line, represents the can-do spirit of America that RL has always been all about! If you can dream it, be it! Nooses suggess that you can hang yourself with your own necktie after your business is destroyed and totally goes down the tubes! Holy American Dream! Be it! ”

In all seriousness, while H.A.s terminology may need some work, this St. Louis Park, Minnesota based designer has a tie with the word “Spank” on it, and hey, we at Glamwire are pretty conservative and wear solid Seigo ties–woven on Japanese kimono looms–only (at least most of the time) but on Thursdays, our Grey Suit, Colored Shirt, Patterned Tie Day, we’d wear that tie. Heather’s looking for investors. Write her at arnegan@hotmail.com

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The Red Dress Collection

Monday, February 5th, 2007


These are from a 9 piece collection that we are working on, and are kind of in a draft mode. All collections from Fall ‘07 will be available in show box above closer to the actually Fall’ 07 season.

To learn more and to eventually shop, click here.

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Laura Bush Makes An Entrance at Red Dress

Friday, February 2nd, 2007

This year, for the first time, rather than slipping through the back stage area or having a special balcony, the First Lady made a smashing entrance at Bryant Park for the Red Dress show to promote Women’s Heart Health. Glamwire and the Fashion world all heartily applauded her courage, this extremely effective campaign, and her work for it, and this really first rate show, with appearances by Kim Catrall, Lauren Hutton, Billie Jean King (who brought down the house), Kelly Ripa (who brought down the house less, but was really cute) Jane Krokowski (A Glamwire favorite) Mary Hart, Betsey Johnson and a stunningly-clad-in-Bill Blass Paula Zahn. Full show coverage from the most collectable fashion photography runway team in history…will be up soon.

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Cashmere on Madison (Holiday Tip #2)

Monday, December 18th, 2006

Cashmere Avenue at 1100 Madison (82 and 83rd streets) is amazing for top of the line full on cashmere outfits, but since the closing of Pringles from Scotland, the solutions for the classic cashmere sweater on Madison have gotten to be challenging. An obvious choice, Ralph Lauren, but you’ll do better at Peter Elliot on Madison and 81st. While their suits, shirts and ties are fun but don’t drive us crazy, uh, at least not yet, we believe PE at this very moment makes truly wonderful outdoor casual wear, and we’re very excited about their cashmere sweaters for men and women. For the best safari gear in New York try Holland and Holland on 57th street, and also F. M Allen at 962 Madison between 75th and 76th.

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