2011 Resort Collections Galore:
(wwd)Vena Cava Resort 2011- see more images
As always Vena Cava Resort, is fun, flirty and every look is wearable.
(wwd)Burberry Prorsum Resort 2011- see more images
Burberry's color palette for Resort 2011 is incredible. The olive greens, nudes, and creamy gray colors are mixed with bold animal prints and snake skins which look amazing in figure hugging knits and dresses.
(wwd)Chris Benz Resort 2011- see more images
Unless you are a size zero, tall AND skinny then maybe you should skip over Chris Benz's Resort 2011. We usually die for anything Chris Benz, but this season oversized pants and calf-length dresses can't be all that flattering...
(SF Chronicle)Liz Claiborne order to pay in 'Lucky' brand suit
"A federal judge said Liz Claiborne Inc.'s popular denim line Lucky Brand Dungarees infringes on a Miami company's trademark and ordered the clothier to pay $300,000 in damages. The ruling, signed Friday and filed Tuesday, could create a hurdle for the clothing line that's in the midst of a turnaround. In the decision, Judge Laura Taylor Swain ruled Lucky Brand's name along, with its use of the phrase "get lucky" and other references to "lucky" violate a trademark for Marcel Fashion Group's "Get Lucky" clothing line. Swain's ruling does not prevent Liz Claiborne from continuing to use the Lucky moniker. But Ann Schofield Baker, an attorney who represented Marcel in the case, said if Liz Claiborne continues to use of the name and slogan it would be a continued violation of Marcel's trademark. Nicholas Rubino, Liz Claiborne's chief legal officer, said the company would continue using its Lucky Brand name, but would discontinue use of the "Get Lucky" slogan. Schofield Baker said Marcel has not yet decided whether to pursue new litigation if Liz Claiborne continues to promote the brand." read more
(wwd)Uniqlo Reports Rise in Same-Store Sales
"Fast Retailing Co. Ltd. said Wednesday that Uniqlo’s same-store sales climbed 3.1 percent in May. Uniqlo has bounced back from two consecutive months of declining comps, which the company had blamed on cool temperatures. Same-store sales dropped 12.4 percent in April and 16.4 percent in March. “May same-store sales increased year-on-year, thanks to aggressive sales promotions including the campaign to celebrate the 26th anniversary of Uniqlo,” the company said. Uniqlo’s monthly sales figures refer to the brand’s business in Japan and exclude the Japanese fast-fashion player’s stores overseas." read more
(AP)Major retailers agree to limit lead in handbags
"More than 40 major retailers and apparel makers have agreed to limit the use of lead in handbags and other fashion accessories, an environmental group said Wednesday. The companies will set new industry standards for lead use in their products as part of a $1.7 million legal settlement filed Tuesday in Alameda County Superior Court. The agreement settles a lawsuit filed against the companies last year by the Oakland-based Center for Environmental Health. The environmental advocacy group found high levels of lead when it tested dozens of vinyl and faux leather women's handbags, purses and wallets it bought at major retail outlets in the San Francisco Bay area. Michael Green, the center's executive director, said he hopes other companies that make, import or sell fashion accessories will follow the health standards spelled out in the legal agreement. The settlement means "millions of women no longer need to fear that their purse may pose a threat to their health or the health of their children," Green said. The retailers that signed the settlement include Macy's, Target, Kohl's, JC Penney, Guess, Sears, Kmart, Saks and Victoria's Secret." read more
(nbc)CFDA Gap Winners Unveiled Today
"Today CFDA award winners Sophie Theallet, Patrik Ervell, and Monique Péan will unveil their respective women's, men's, and jewelry collections for Gap. Each of the standout designers have created pieces that reflect their unique aesthetic, offering Gap's mass consumer base a taste of what a high fashion luminary-in-the-making is all about. Sophie Theallet - a Thread darling and First Lady favorite - will present sweet and feminine dresses, skirts, and tops with her signature disarming French sartorial charm. Her Gap collection grants access through its slightly lower prices ($148-$248). We'll see you in line for those items, for sure. Then, there's Patrik Ervell, who grew up in Gap's hometown of San Francisco. Drawing on the store's strength in basic classics, Ervell did men's pieces ($188-$248), like jeans and shirts, with his intelligent cut and throwback accents. Jewelry designer Péan replicated her coveted one-of-a-kind, eco-conscious baubles in bulk for the project. There are 12 styles ($198-$248) made from natural materials, including horn, buri twine, and organic cotton. The highly anticipated lines go live today at Gap's Fifth Avenue at 53rd Street flagship, so stay tuned for a first look." read more
(wwd)TJX to Launch New Off-Price Concept
"After racking up the biggest year-over-year profit increase in the firm’s 33-year history, The TJX Cos. Inc. hopes to extend the winning streak with a new off-price retail concept set to debut in spring 2011. At its annual meeting at its headquarters here Wednesday, TJX, the largest off-price retailer in the U.S. with $20.29 billion in 2009 sales, declined to divulge details about the project until the third quarter but indicated the new business will stay within its core categories — principally apparel, accessories and home merchandise — and has the potential for 100 stores. Even with recent expansion, TJX has a number of voids in the merchandise matrix it could seek to fill. With TJ Maxx and Marshalls of Marmaxx falling at or below bridge-contemporary price points and AJ Wright focused on moderate, TJX could explore designer and better apparel or launch a stand-alone venture dedicated to a single category, as the firm did in 1992 with HomeGoods and more recently with Shoe Megashop by Marshalls. Jewelry and accessories, which account for 13 percent of sales, provide potential, as does children’s wear, which performed well in 2009. Apparel and footwear accounted for 61 percent of revenues last year. Despite a stellar year, TJX’s ambitions are to push further, faster. The retailer sees itself as a global player with the potential to grow net sales to twice the current levels. " read more
(wwd)Wal-Mart’s Uphill Battle With Apparel
"Apparel is Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s perennial Achilles’ heel — and the question remains whether it will ever be able to repair it. Even as the world’s largest retailer powered through the Great Recession while its competitors stumbled, apparel lagged while food and areas such as consumer electronics soared. And the problem has only become more intense now that the economy has begun to recover and Wal-Mart’s competitors are closing the gap. Wal-Mart is well aware of the weakness. Vice chairman Eduardo Castro-Wright last month said the retailer’s apparel business was “below expectations and continues to be a work in progress” as the company reported a 10 percent increase in profits to $3.32 billion in the first quarter ended April 30 on a 5.9 percent rise in sales to $99.85 billion, although same-store sales in the U.S. dropped 1.5 percent. Contrast Target Corp.’s first-quarter results, which reflected a 2.8 percent jump in same-store sales. Target reported a 29 percent increase in first-quarter net income, driven by higher sales of more profitable categories such as clothing. “Wal-Mart has been a laggard for some time in the apparel arena,” said Todd Slater, an analyst at Lazard Capital Markets. “They’ve tried numerous strategies. In an effort to capture more share in this high-margin category, Wal-Mart is partnering with suppliers and labels like L.E.I., Starter, Op, and Danskin that provide exclusive, nationally recognized brands with the favorable economics of private label. Wal-Mart is most focused on women’s, teens, kids and baby." read more