What's In Store

A year after being denied access to the Champs-Elysées over French fears of "banalazing" the street, H&M gains entrée (Irony alert: the Champs already boasts Le Gap, Zara and Mango) to the famed thoroughfare. Prominent French architect Jean Nouvel will design the store.

Dylan's Candy is hitting the East End on Friday. "It's actually a minibar," said Lauren, "and East Hampton is the perfect place to open a cousin to our New York City flagship." Following the Main Street extension, other minis are expected in Aspen and Newport.

Free People, a subsidiary of Urban Outfitters, will open its first NYC outpost at 79 5th Avenue. The bi-level 6,000-sq-ft. store will hit the flatiron district come December.

Prada will host an aprés-runway New York Fashion Week soiree at its SoHo shop on September 7th with a performance by The Hours.

The Republic of Banana is expanding. Gap Inc. opened its first Banana Republic in Singapore on July 14th, following openings this past spring in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. WWD reports that, "This month, parent Gap Inc. will open its first franchise shops in South Korea for both Banana Republic and the Gap. The company is also set to expand into Turkey and Saudi Arabia before the end of the year, and launch Banana Republic in the U.K. next February."

Louis Vuitton is set to open its fourth London outpost in November '08 reports WWD. The 3,000-sq-ft. boutique will be housed at Westfield London, a new shopping mall in the west London neighborhood of Shepherd's Bush.

Shoes News

Get ready for it...DVF Shoes is set to launch this Spring. WWD reports that Diane von Furstenberg has inked a licensing deal with footwear manufacturer and distributor Schwartz & Benjamin to create the collection. "I wanted to create shoes for the woman on-the-go and always on her feet," von Furstenberg said.

Get Well Soon Yves Saint Laurent!

Saint Laurent Hospitalized [WWD]

The Sui Life

Oh Anna! The quirky designer commissioned 16 designers to make limited edition t-shirts for her that personify her fun, off-beat spirit. Designers include Chooch (Dean Landry), who actually created the popular well-known "Anna caricature," Tsuwaki, Frank Kozik, Glenn Barr, Hiroshi Tanabe, Jeffrey Fulvimari (who illustrated Madonna's "English Roses"), James Ima, Karen Kilimnik, Melora Creager, Michael Economy, Michelle Kim, Masayuki Ogisu, Naho Ogawa, Sara Schwartz, Le Roy "King of Art" and Kalani Lee.

[Nylon]

Haute Off The Presses

Miu Miu's baaaaack. The Soho store reopens [WWD]
A Window into Anna Sui [New York]
Smells like a Monique Lhuillier fragrance deal [The Daily]
Estee Lauder expands its empire - this time buying high end haircare line Ojon [WWD]
A LOT of checks: Burberry sales soar for first quarter [FWD]
New Branches: Tory Burch has new stores opening in Chicago and Bal Harbour, Florida [WWD]

CFDA Inducts 30 Newbies

Diane von Furstenberg is a proud fashion mama. At yesterday's board meeting, the Council accepted 30 new designers (out of a record number of applicants) across the categories of women' s wear, men's wear, women's and men's, and accessories. The new members are:

Women's wear: Laura Poretzky for Abaeté, Tory Burch, Richard Chai, Rachel Roy, Phillip Lim for 3.1 Phillip Lim, Marchesa's Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, Victoria Bartlett of VPL, Lela Rose, Andreas Melbostad for Phi, Kate and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte, Michelle Smith for Milly, Paul Sinclaire for Tevrow+Chase, Wenlan Chia for Twinkle by Wenlan, Mary Ping, and Jean Yu of Jean Yu design Studio

Men's wear: Keanan Duffy for Slinky Vagabond and Henry Jacobson

Women's and men's wear: Pina Ferlisi for Generra, Michael Ball of Rock & Republic, David Neville and Marcus Wainwright for Rag & Bone, Adam Lippes for adam­pluseve and James Perse

Accessories: Monika Botkier of Botkier handbags, Jessie Randall for Loeffler Randall, Mimi So, Michael Spirito for Exhibitionist and Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry.

New inductees will be honered at an invitation-only party at the DVF Studio on July 30.

[WWD]

Breaking: Proenza Schouler for Valentino

Perhaps still buzzed from feting its 45th anniversary in Rome, Valentino Group SpA seems set on remaining in the spotlight. The group has just announced that it has bought a 45% stake in Proenza Schouler, a move that "can bring something significant in terms of image," said the Group's current CEO, Stefano Sassi. According to WWD, Sassi will become chairman of Proenza Schouler, and Shirley Cook will continue to serve as the label's CEO.

"We're happy we now have a security net for our company, which we never had before," said Jack Hernandez. "The business has been growing exponentially, and to do that you need the proper funding.

"Throughout our career, we have had a lot of people knocking at the door," Hernandez said. "We never found a partner that felt right. We are very much instinctual people and we go with our gut. A lot of people who approached us haven't necessarily been experts on the luxury market per se. We were waiting for someone who had a similar vision to what we had, and experience in developing a brand."

In The Fold

Move over Jane, another mag is folding of almost equal importance, reports Radar. Bauer Publishing is shuttering Cocktail before it even launched!

More than a dozen staffers, some reporting to work for the first time today, were told they wouldn't be needed in an impromptu meeting held about an hour ago. Bauer cited "uncertain conditions in the single copy marketplace." An insider tells Radar Bauer couldn't find distributors for the femmed up hybrid of Us Weekly and Glamour. [Radar]

Trying very hard to stifle evil laugh. Oh screw it. Ha Ha Ha!

And now, back to fashion.

First Jane, Now Jane

According to Fishbowl NY & Radar, Condé Nast is shuttering Jane magazine. Staffers were supposedly told of the folding this morning. From the world wide media hags:

• Newsstand sales were reportedly down, but according to the Publishers Information Bureau, ad revenue ($6.2 million, up from $4.5 million, a 40 percent) and pages were up (35.4 percent) through March. [MB]


• Jane staffers actually are clearing their desks already. And Conde won't even be shipping the 90%-complete latest issue. This is after Conde spent a bundle on not one but two redesigns. [Gawker]


• VP-Publisher Carlos Lamadrid, who was brought in to handle the turnaround effort, and Editor in Chief Brandon Holley, who succeeded Ms. Pratt on Aug. 15, 2005, are leaving the company. The other 60 or so staffers will be considered for any available positions within Conde Nast. The August issue, due out on newsstands July 24, will be Jane's last...Conde is making no plans for the brand to "live on online." [AdAge]

Quenching Bonne Bell's Thirst

Hydration, hydration, hydration. Cosmetic companies have exalted their drench-tastic lip products since the dawn of time, but lately, they're quenching that thirst quite literally by partnering with beverage giants. Tarte cosmetics jumped into the neutraceutical ring this past spring with Borba, creating a co-branded line of vitamin-infused glosses...Pepsi Co is moving to make a splash this August with the launch of Aquafina Advanced Hydration RX by skincare company Added Extras...And the latest entry, announced at last week's National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace convention, is the Coca Cola company who has entered into a licensing deal with Bonne Bell on a line of lip balms and glosses that will be marketed to 18-35, an older market than its current largely tween demographic, as well as men. The products, which will be sold at drugstores and mass retailers like Wal-Mart are set to launch in April.

Champagne Wishes

While the fashion world waits patiently for Alice Temperley's one-off line to hit Target, the Brit favorite has been busy designing a very limited edition bag for Moët & Chandon that is anything but mass market. The bespoke canvas carryall features a detachable champagne holder for the 'practical' picnic-er. Constructed of woven linen and trimmed in black leather with metallic studs, "It’s the same color as my ’60s Thunderbird," Temperley said.

A Moët-muse, the bag follows the pair's wildly successful collaboration last year which featured a Temperley London Tiara crowning the bubbly White Star.

Only 50 of the bags will be sold for $1,600 at Temperley London stores in New York and L.A. beginning in September.

[British Vogue]

Rachel Pally Hits it Big

While every designer under the stars is busy creating one-off lines, flirty-frock designer Rachel Pally has signed on to create a plus-sized line for Nordstrom, hitting stores in July for fall. "[Plus size is] a segment of the industry that is totally ignored and there is plenty of money to make," said Pally. The 18-piece line, called Rachel Pally White Label, will feature her signature looks as well as Empire-waisted dresses and wide leg trousers in sizes 14-20. The pieces won't represent a departure from her regular line, says Pally, who says the only difference in her core line and the newly created White Label will be where they are stocked. "Women who shop plus size and need to shop plus size don't want to think that they have special things made for them," says Pally. "They can look across the store and see the same things in [Nordstrom's] Savvy and Encore." Nordstrom has a six-month exclusive on the line and wider distribution is expected beginning January '08.
[WWD]

Walk-off Over Barneys?

Fast Retailing Co., a Tokyo-based specialty retailer (and parent company of Uniqlo), made a $900 billion bid to the Jones Group for Barneys today, a move that represents a 9% premium over the Dubai-based private equity firm Istithmar. As we reported 2 weeks ago, Jones "sold" Barneys to Istithmar for $825 million but according to a statement made by Fast Retailing, "[it] had previously communicated its interest in acquiring Barneys to Jones last fall and is submitting its proposal under the provisions of the Jones agreement with Istithmar, which allows Jones to consider superior proposals for Barneys if received prior to July 22, 2007.” Not sure what will follow but if Tokyo pulls it out, NY Jews can breathe a big sigh of relief.

[WWD]

Previously: Breaking: Barneys Sold!

Is Fergie's 2nd Solo Album One Big Jingle?

Oh snap.

"Fergie’s records may not be flying off the shelves, but that certainly hasn’t stopped her from selling out."

While product placement may not be completely foreign to the music industry (Cristal...Escalades...Dolce & Gabbana), Fergie is the first singer to agree to write and perform tracks endorsing a product for profit. The 32-year-old singer is set to make $4 million by promoting Candie's clothing in her songs on her 2nd solo album. “With record sales in decline, you must find novel ways to make money out of the music," said an executive at Fergie’s record label Interscope. "The trick is to make the brand part of the song so that it slips down easily rather than chokes the fan.”

[Jossip]

Just the Specs

Eye on: Lense wear.

Seems like everyone these days is jumping into the shades market to boost sales and brand awareness. This year we saw the intro of Juicy and Betsey Johnson frames and in just the past two weeks alone, several major fashion players have announced that they will introduce lines including Jimmy Choo, who will launch a line of sunglasses and prescription frames in January, Cole Haan and Lily Pulitzer, who will both enter the category in spring '08, and Alessandro Dell'Acqua, who will be the first of this group to hit market in fall '07.

"Eyewear is really a natural for the brand," said Joshua Schulman, ceo of Jimmy Choo. "It can be an iconic sexy product that our customer can relate to really well. Our customer loves luxury and sexy products."Plus, execs really love sales boosts. Be on the lookout.

Are You Down?

Want to feel old? "Fraggle Rock" is coming up on its 25th anniversary (ouch!). In honor of the occasion, HIT entertainment has partnered with The Emperor's New Clothes to create an exclusive line of vintage (um, except that they'll be new) "Fraggle Rock" t-shirts. The shirts launch this summer at select retailers including The Lounge SoHo and Max Antique and are onsale now online at 80stees.com and TruffleShuffle.com for those who, you know, are down with fraggle rock.

Shirts will retail for $36-40.

Just make sure you tell people you RED it here first, ok?

BREAKING: Liz Claiborne Dies

Liz Claiborne, a founder of the American apparel company that bears her name, died yesterday morning at the age of 78. Her family has not yet released the cause of death.

[WWD]

Renee Zellweger is EIF's Latest Pink Ambassador

Glenn Close. Nicole Kidman. Charlize Theron. Hilary Swank...and now, Renée Zellweger. What's the missing link? Yes, they're all talented. Yes, they're all beautiful. And yes, they all have fab careers. But, all these leading ladies ALSO have been (very) goodwill ambassadors for the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Key To The Cure. Sponsored by Saks Fifth Avenue in partnership with EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund, the initiative is in its 8th year, and has so far raised over $23 million. This year's shirt, which will be sold exclusively at Saks for $35 (proceeds benefit the fund) was designed by Juicy Couture and reads Viva La Pink (Trés Juicy! Trés Cute!)

"We've all been touched by cancer is some way," said Zellweger. "Unfortunately, one out of four women will be diagnosed with cancer in her lifetime. That's why I'm lending my support to EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund and Saks Fifth Avenue's Key to the Cure campaign. The funds raised are helping advance critical science to help find better ways to detect breast and other women's cancer early and treat it better."

Saks will hold a 3 day shopping event nationwide from October 18 - 21 with a portion of sales benefitting the fund. Additionally, Mercedes Benz has signed on as a partner, and will offer 1000 limited edition C350 Sport Sedans for the initiative, which it expects will raise $1 million for the cause. No word yet if the sedans will be pink but we're guessing the answer is um, no!

Glossed Over

After 6 years, Gloss.com is shutting its doors (well, windows). Co-owned through a unique partnership between Estee Lauder, Clarins, and Chanel, the site never garnered the customer base it had hoped for. "We found out that people want to go to brands directly. Also, retailer sites are very successful," commented Philip Shearer, the group president at Lauder in charge of Gloss.

For now, the site is still up and running, but operations will cease in the near future.

[WWD]

Breaking: Barney's SOLD!

Too bad you didn't have $825 mil in cash lying around - you could've been the proud new mama of Barneys New York. The retailer was sold for that amount to an affiliate of Istithmar, a Dubai investment private equity firm today, according to Barneys' current parent company Jones Apparel Group.

Peter Boneparth, Jones president and CEO, said in a statement, “We are very pleased to enter into this transaction, which realizes significant value for our investment in Barneys and provides us with the opportunity to use the net proceeds to enhance shareholder value. Furthermore, going forward, because the sale will reduce the level of required capital expenditures we will have greater financial flexibility in the execution of our business strategy.”

[WWD]