london’s victoria and albert museum fetes italian …single neiman marcus brand, and to make sure...

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Cat Girl WWD PHOTO BY GEORGE CHINSEE; STYLED BY KIM FRIDAY By LISA LOCKWOOD ARE CONSUMERS opening their wallets at last? That’s what retailers are hoping as spring weather begins to arrive nationwide and shoppers emerge from their long winter’s hibernation to refresh their wardrobes. Executives believe this spring could see strong sales given the long winter as well as that fe- male shoppers have not updated their wardrobes in some time. “Looking ahead, we anticipate pent-up consumer demand for spring apparel to drive sales as warm- er weather returns,” said Michael Niemira, vice president of research and chief economist at the International Council of Shopping Centers. “The apparel business has really not participated in the last few years in any significant way in terms of the overall growth of our company, and we’ve had fairly significant growth, and so that means to us that it’s not in her closet,” Terry J. Lundgren, chair- man and chief executive officer of Macy’s Inc., said last month at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Consumer & Retail Conference. “So, the customer needs new apparel....I definitely believe there’s pent- up demand for apparel.” The ICSC said Tuesday that retail sales last week scored their biggest sequential advance of the year, although lingering wintry weather kept a lid on ap- parel sales. The ICSC and Goldman Sachs weekly chain store sales index rose 3.6 percent in the week ended Saturday compared with the prior week, SEE PAGE 8 BLENDING ONLINE AND STORES Neiman Marcus Unveils Top Management Roles What’s Selling For Spring At Contemporary Retailers SEE PAGE 6 Spotted! Leopard prints were all over the fall runways and designers in the surf/skate and young contemporary markets got the memo, too. Here, K-Way Maje’s nylon parka over Cleobella’s sequined silk dress. K/ller Collection necklace. For more, see pages 4 and 5. WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY MODEL: BARBARA/MARILYN; HAIR BY KATSUMI MATSUO AND MAKEUP BY CHEYENNE TIMPERIO, BOTH AT ARTMIX BEAUTY; FASHION ASSISTANT: ASHLEY DAVIS OLYMPIA’S METTLE CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA DELLAL PLOTS A SLOW-BUT-STEADY EXPANSION FOR HER ACCESSORIES BRAND. PAGE 7 KIM AND KANYE ARE SET TO WED THIS SUMMER, SO WWD ASKED NOTABLES WHAT THEY’D GET THE NEWLYWEDS. PAGE 10. THE GLORY OF ITALY GIFTS FOR KIMYE LONDON’S VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM FETES ITALIAN GLAMOUR FROM THE FORTIES TO TODAY, AND FROM ELIZABETH TAYLOR TO SOPHIA LOREN. PAGE 9 By DAVID MOIN THE NEIMAN MARCUS GROUP is tearing down the silos and getting channel agnostic. In a major management change at headquarters, the Dallas-based luxury retailer will today reveal it’s merg- ing its store and online merchandising and planning teams into a single organization. Beginning April 14, the blended organization will be run by Jim Gold, who has been named president and chief merchandising of- ficer of the Neiman Marcus brand. Gold has been with Neiman’s since 1991, serving most recently as president of specialty retail for Neiman Marcus Group Ltd. LLC. Under the new structure, general merchandise man- agers, divisional merchandise managers and planners will have “omni” responsibilities covering the stores, mail order and e-commerce businesses. However, buy- ers will continue to be channel specific, with the buy- ing team for stores and another team of buyers for the direct-to-consumer businesses remaining in place. “We are one brand to our customers. Our custom- ers do not differentiate between channels, and now neither will we,” Karen Katz, president and chief ex- ecutive officer of the Neiman Marcus Group, said in an interview explaining the rationale for the reorga- nization. “These changes allow us to operate as one single Neiman Marcus brand, and to make sure we anticipate all of our customers’ needs. Her shopping journey has changed dramatically.” With Gold’s shift, John Koryl has been named presi- dent of Neiman Marcus stores and online. Koryl will be responsible for the store operations and sales, Neiman’s e-commerce operations and sales in the U.S. and abroad, site merchandising, site optimization and customer care. Neiman’s executives said that Koryl will be leading efforts to ensure the customer experi- ence is consistent from channel to channel, or “seam- less.” Koryl joined the company in 2011 and has been serving as president of Neiman Marcus Online, which

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Page 1: LONDON’S VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM FETES ITALIAN …single Neiman Marcus brand, and to make sure we anticipate all of our customers’ needs. Her shopping journey has changed dramatically.”

Cat Girl

WWD

PHOTO BY GEORGE CHINSEE; STYLED BY KIM FRIDAY

By LISA LOCKWOOD

ARE CONSUMERS opening their wallets at last?That’s what retailers are hoping as spring weather

begins to arrive nationwide and shoppers emerge from their long winter’s hibernation to refresh their wardrobes. Executives believe this spring could see strong sales given the long winter as well as that fe-male shoppers have not updated their wardrobes in some time.

“Looking ahead, we anticipate pent-up consumer demand for spring apparel to drive sales as warm-er weather returns,” said Michael Niemira, vice president of research and chief economist at the International Council of Shopping Centers.

“The apparel business has really not participated in the last few years in any signifi cant way in terms of the overall growth of our company, and we’ve had fairly signifi cant growth, and so that means to us that it’s not in her closet,” Terry J. Lundgren, chair-man and chief executive offi cer of Macy’s Inc., said last month at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Consumer & Retail Conference. “So, the customer needs new apparel....I defi nitely believe there’s pent-up demand for apparel.”

The ICSC said Tuesday that retail sales last week scored their biggest sequential advance of the year, although lingering wintry weather kept a lid on ap-parel sales. The ICSC and Goldman Sachs weekly chain store sales index rose 3.6 percent in the week ended Saturday compared with the prior week,

SEE PAGE 8

BLENDING ONLINE AND STORES

Neiman Marcus UnveilsTop Management Roles

What’s Selling For SpringAt Contemporary Retailers

SEE PAGE 6

Spotted! Leopard prints were all over the fall runways and designers in the surf/skate and young contemporary markets

got the memo, too. Here, K-Way Maje’s nylon parka over Cleobella’s sequined silk dress. K/ller Collection necklace.

For more, see pages 4 and 5.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014 ■ $3.00 ■ WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY

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HER ACCESSORIES BRAND. PAGE 7

KIM AND KANYE ARE SET TO WED

THIS SUMMER, SO WWD ASKED

NOTABLES WHAT THEY’D GET THE

NEWLYWEDS. PAGE 10.

THE GLORY OF ITALY

GIFTS FOR KIMYE

LONDON’S VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM FETES ITALIAN GLAMOUR FROM

THE FORTIES TO TODAY, AND FROM ELIZABETH TAYLOR TO

SOPHIA LOREN. PAGE 9

By DAVID MOIN

THE NEIMAN MARCUS GROUP is tearing down the silos and getting channel agnostic.

In a major management change at headquarters, the Dallas-based luxury retailer will today reveal it’s merg-ing its store and online merchandising and planning teams into a single organization. Beginning April 14, the blended organization will be run by Jim Gold, who has been named president and chief merchandising of-fi cer of the Neiman Marcus brand. Gold has been with Neiman’s since 1991, serving most recently as president of specialty retail for Neiman Marcus Group Ltd. LLC.

Under the new structure, general merchandise man-agers, divisional merchandise managers and planners will have “omni” responsibilities covering the stores, mail order and e-commerce businesses. However, buy-ers will continue to be channel specifi c, with the buy-ing team for stores and another team of buyers for the direct-to-consumer businesses remaining in place.

“We are one brand to our customers. Our custom-ers do not differentiate between channels, and now neither will we,” Karen Katz, president and chief ex-ecutive offi cer of the Neiman Marcus Group, said in an interview explaining the rationale for the reorga-nization. “These changes allow us to operate as one single Neiman Marcus brand, and to make sure we anticipate all of our customers’ needs. Her shopping journey has changed dramatically.”

With Gold’s shift, John Koryl has been named presi-dent of Neiman Marcus stores and online. Koryl will be responsible for the store operations and sales, Neiman’s e-commerce operations and sales in the U.S. and abroad, site merchandising, site optimization and customer care. Neiman’s executives said that Koryl will be leading efforts to ensure the customer experi-ence is consistent from channel to channel, or “seam-less.” Koryl joined the company in 2011 and has been serving as president of Neiman Marcus Online, which

Page 2: LONDON’S VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM FETES ITALIAN …single Neiman Marcus brand, and to make sure we anticipate all of our customers’ needs. Her shopping journey has changed dramatically.”

WWD.COMWWD WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 20142

TO E-MAIL REPORTERS AND EDITORS AT WWD, THE ADDRESS IS [email protected], USING THE INDIVIDUAL’S NAME. WWD IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ADVANCE MAGAZINE PUBLISHERS INC. COPYRIGHT ©2014 FAIRCHILD FASHION MEDIA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.VOLUME 207, NO. 66. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014. WWD (ISSN 0149–5380) is published daily (except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, with one additional issue in March, April, May, June, August, October, November and December, and two additional issues in February and September) by Fairchild Fashion Media, which is a division of Advance Magazine Publishers Inc. PRINCIPAL OFFICE: 750 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017. Shared Services provided by Condé Nast: S.I. Newhouse, Jr., Chairman; Charles H. Townsend, Chief Executive Officer; Robert A. Sauerberg Jr., President; John W. Bellando, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer; Jill Bright, Chief Administrative Officer. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40644503. Canadian Goods and Services Tax Registration No. 886549096-RT0001. Canada Post: return undeliverable Canadian addresses to P.O. Box 503, RPO West Beaver Cre, Rich-Hill, ON L4B 4R6. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY, P.O. Box 6356, Harlan, IA 51593. FOR SUBSCRIPTION, ADDRESS CHANGES, ADJUSTMENTS, OR BACK ISSUE INQUIRIES: Please write to WWD, P.O. Box 6356, Harlan, IA 51593, call 866-401-7801, or email customer service at [email protected]. Please include both new and old addresses as printed on most recent label. For New York Hand Delivery Service address changes or inquiries, please contact Mitchell’s NY at 1-800-662-2275, option 7. Subscribers: If the Post Office alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year. If during your subscription term or up to one year after the magazine becomes undeliverable, you are ever dissatisfied with your subscription, let us know. You will receive a full refund on all unmailed issues. First copy of new subscription will be mailed within four weeks after receipt of order. Address all editorial, business, and production correspondence to WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY, 750 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017. For permissions requests, please call 212-630-5656 or fax the request to 212-630-5883. For all request for reprints of articles please contact The YGS Group at [email protected], or call 800-501-9571. Visit us online at www.wwd.com. To subscribe to other Fairchild Fashion Media magazines on the World Wide Web, visit www.wwd.com/subscriptions. Occasionally we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and services that we believe would interest our readers. If you do not want to receive these offers and/or information, please advise us at P.O. Box 6356, Harlan, IA 51593 or call 866-401-7801. WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RETURN OR LOSS OF, OR FOR DAMAGE OR ANY OTHER INJURY TO, UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS, UNSOLICITED ART WORK (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DRAWINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND TRANSPARENCIES), OR ANY OTHER UNSOLICITED MATERIALS. THOSE SUBMITTING MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, ART WORK, OR OTHER MATERIALS FOR CONSIDERATION SHOULD NOT SEND ORIGINALS, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED TO DO SO BY WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY IN WRITING. MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND OTHER MATERIALS SUBMITTED MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE.

True Religion Adds Anderson, Hansen to Board

Nina Ricci Taps Sophie TemplierBy MILES SOCHA

PARIS — Gearing up for an expansion phase, Nina Ricci is staffing up its fashion and accessories departments.

Sophie Templier, product and mer-chandising director at Sonia Rykiel, is to join Ricci in May as accessories direc-tor, a new post in charge of product development, WWD has learned.

And Iliana Giannakoura is to arrive later this month as chief ready-to-wear designer under creative director Peter Copping. She joins the Paris-based house from Céline, where she was a senior rtw designer. Her résumé also includes stints at Givenchy and Balenciaga.

Ralph Toledano, president of Puig’s fashion division, confirmed the ap-pointments, and noted: “It signals that we are strengthening the whole compa-ny, starting with the design team.”

Ricci has a nascent handbag busi-ness, but has lately found traction with its Marché, a streamlined tote style in-

troduced with the spring 2014 season.Templier and Toledano previously worked to-

gether at Chloé, when Toledano was chairman and chief executive officer. At the time, Templier was

Chloé’s deputy managing director.Asked for an update on the fashion divi-

sion he oversees, Toledano said Carolina Herrera is gaining market share in the U.S. and continuing to expand internationally.

Paco Rabanne received an “ex-cellent reception” to the sophomore collection of its buzzy artistic direc-tor, Julien Dossena, yielding orders “from the best retailers.”

And Jean Paul Gaultier’s glob-al notoriety continues to grow

thanks to his traveling exhibi-tion, “which is a fantastic success wherever it goes,” Toledano said.

“The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk,” which wrapped up in February at the Brooklyn Museum, is scheduled to open April 9 at the Barbican in London.

CARMINE PETRUZELLO has left his post as president of the Perry Ellis division of Perry Ellis International Inc.

The company confirmed his departure, saying he left “to pursue other opportunities,” and there are no plans to replace him at this time.

Petruzello joined PEI in November 2011. Before that, he was president of the U.S. division of Buffalo,

responsible for all domestic wholesale. He has also worked at Liz Claiborne and Tommy Hilfiger.

PEI will report its fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday. In late February, it said preliminary re-sults were sharply below guidance and analysts’ expectations due to inclement weather, poor traffic and heavy promotions among its wholesale clients. — JEAN E. PALMIERI

ON WWD.COM

THE BRIEFING BOXIN TODAY’S WWD

Neiman Marcus Group Ltd. LLC will today reveal it’s merging its store and online merchandising and planning teams into a single organization. PAGE 1 Jumpsuits and crop tops have emerged as bestsellers in contemporary departments at major department and specialty stores for this spring. PAGE 1 Charlotte Olympia, the small, self-funded British footwear and accessories brand, is using a cocktail of nostalgia, glamour and laughs to build an international business. PAGE 7 Actress Joy Bryant and her husband, stuntman David Pope, have launched women’s wear line Basic Terrain. PAGE 7 Diesel will unveil its first full-fledged collection under the artistic direction of Nicola Formichetti in Venice on Thursday and has linked with Twitter for the event. PAGE 8 Bulgari has tapped Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, France’s former first lady, to front its ad campaign for fall, following her first modeling stint for the jewelry firm’s spring images. PAGE 9 Notables from the fashion industry provide their thoughts on what they would give Kim Kardashian and Kanye West as a wedding gift. PAGE 10 Italian clothing company Light Force, which controls the Twin-Set Simona Barbieri diffusion label, could go for an initial public offering in 2015 or 2016. PAGE 11 American surfer Kelly Slater is separating from sponsor Quiksilver after 23 years and launching his own brand as part of a new partnership with Kering. PAGE 11 Claire’s Stores Inc. said Jim D. Fielding has resigned as chief executive officer. PAGE 11

“Evening Gown of Embroidered Silk, Simonetta, 1952”

from “The Glamour of Italian Fashion.” For more, see page

9 and WWD.com.

EYE: A new exhibition, “The Glamour of Italian Fashion,” is opening at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. For more, see WWD.com.

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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

@ WWD.com/social

Petruzello Exits Perry Ellis Post

By ARNOLD J. KARR

TWO APPAREL INDUSTRY VETERANS have been drawn into the orbit of True Religion Apparel Inc. as it plots several new directions, including a fresh approach to its retail operations.

John Anderson, who retired as president and chief executive officer of Levi Strauss & Co. in 2011, and Marka Hansen, the former president of Gap Inc.’s Gap North America and Banana Republic units, have been added to the premium denim company’s board, expanding the number of directors to seven.

The board already includes Andrew Rolfe, chairman of True Religion and managing direc-tor of parent TowerBrook Capital Partners LP, and David Conn, who TowerBrook enlisted as ceo upon completion of its $835 million acquisition of the company last July.

The additions will reunite a number of former coworkers. Rolfe is the former president of Gap Inc.’s international division, while Mary Alderete, True Religion’s chief marketing officer, is a veteran of both Gap and Levi’s; Rosella Giuliani, senior vice president of merchandising, was instrumen-tal in Gap’s rollout of the 1969 collection, and Gary Harvey, creative director, worked both in-house and as a consultant for Levi’s.

Anderson, who is also a director of Harley-Davidson and ZoomSystems, said, “The combi-nation of the brand, David and his team and the TowerBrook group was a pretty compelling propo-sition. The TowerBrook people are good owners — patient owners — and they know where the brand needs to be taken.”

He noted that True Religion has a solid niche as a brand in the premium market. “The premium seg-ment is very important for the entire industry,” he said. “That’s where you can innovate and introduce newness, and True Religion is perfectly positioned to continue to do that. As long as David and the team continue to bring newness to the marketplace — edgy design and breakthrough advertising — the pieces are in place and there’s a lot of room to move.”

Hansen told WWD, “True Religion is a great brand that I’ve followed for a long time, and I think that they’ve assembled a great team to make it all work. I’m absolutely confident in the company’s

ability in the current market. They’re focused on product innovation, fit, retail presence and inter-national penetration to really ignite excitement around the brand again.

“And it’s really fun for me because I get to draw on my merchandising and product development ex-pertise,” she added.

Hansen is also a director of The Orvis Co. “We’ve got the former ceo of the largest denim

company in the world and the former president of one of the biggest denim retailers in the world,” Conn said. “We’re extremely lucky to have them working with us.”

The new retail strategy under TowerBrook is about to be put to the test as True Religion pre-pares to launch a new store concept later this year. Ten stores are scheduled to open in 2014, expand-ing the North American count to 160, and half of them — in markets expected to include New York, Chicago, Miami and its home market of Los Angeles — will employ the new format. “It builds on what already works for us — relatively small stores of 1,400 to 1,600 square feet that are productive in terms of sales per square foot and four-wall profit contribution,” he said. “There’ll of course be a major focus on denim, but we’re looking to provide a flagship experience with emphasis on omnichan-nel selling and digital storytelling.”

In 2012, True Religion’s last full year as a public company, U.S. consumer direct sales rose 12 per-cent to $281.6 million, while overall revenues were up 11.3 percent to $467.3 million. Gross margin for the direct segment was 70.1 percent of sales versus 64.1 percent for the company overall.

While the company’s North American fleet cur-rently includes 44 outlet stores, the new units, even the ones not incorporating the new design, will be full-price, Conn told WWD. The company operates an e-commerce site, but the ceo has said that the firm plans to expand its efforts in the area, as well as in digital communications and so-cial media, in the future.

With market share and brand loyalty high in the men’s market, he cited women’s as the “biggest opportunity for the company. We’re doing more in slimmer fits, softer fabrications and in midrise and high-rise. We’ve pretty much been focused on low-rise to this point.”

Marché bags from Nina

Ricci.

Page 3: LONDON’S VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM FETES ITALIAN …single Neiman Marcus brand, and to make sure we anticipate all of our customers’ needs. Her shopping journey has changed dramatically.”

wwd.com/summitsondemand

WHERE TITANS OF INDUSTRY TALKFeaturing videos from each event, Fairchild Summits On-Demand offers you the opportunity to watch as the

titans of industry inform, inspire, and offer valuable insight for navigating the ever-changing business landscape.

Page 4: LONDON’S VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM FETES ITALIAN …single Neiman Marcus brand, and to make sure we anticipate all of our customers’ needs. Her shopping journey has changed dramatically.”

4 WWD WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

MODEL: BARBARA/MARILYN; HAIR BY KATSUMI MATSUO AND MAKEUP BY CHEYENNE TIMPERIO, BOTH AT ARTMIX BEAUTY; FASHION ASSISTANT: ASHLEY DAVIS

Vans’ cotton sweatshirt, Hurley’s cotton blouse and WeSC’s cotton and polyester skirt. New Balance sneakers.

cat girlTHE FELINE QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE’S SPOTS ARE THE REIGNING PRINT OF THE SEASON.

Tripp NYC’s cotton and

spandex blazer; K-Way Maje’s nylon

parka, and Love Leather’s

leather and ponyskin

skirt. Ash sneakers.

Page 5: LONDON’S VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM FETES ITALIAN …single Neiman Marcus brand, and to make sure we anticipate all of our customers’ needs. Her shopping journey has changed dramatically.”

WWD.COM5WWD WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

A Fine Line’s cotton tank

top and Stüssy’s

polyester skirt. WeSC

headphones; K/ller

Collection bangles;

Converse sneakers.

PHOTOS BY GEORGE CHINSEE

STYLED BY KIM FRIDAY

Betsey Johnson’s polyester puffer and Lush’s polyester dress. Ash sneakers.

Volcom’s cotton and acrylic cardigan and viscose dress. K/ller Collection jewelry; Carolina Amato glove; Nike sneakers.

Page 6: LONDON’S VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM FETES ITALIAN …single Neiman Marcus brand, and to make sure we anticipate all of our customers’ needs. Her shopping journey has changed dramatically.”

6 WWD WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

the strongest gain since 2014 began. However, the year-on-year advance was 0.6 percent, the lowest gain since a flat finish in the week ended Feb. 1.

Year-on-year comparisons were de-pressed by the timing of Easter, which last year fell on March 31 and this year occurs on April 20.

Department and specialty store retail-ers say that contemporary sportswear is selling briskly this spring, and the jump-suit is an item that women don’t already have in their closets.

Cropped tops are another spring win-ner, as well as colors and prints in coor-dinated skirt and top sets, according to a spot check of retailers, who were asked to name their number-one bestseller this spring.

“The best thing to happen is jumpsuits and rompers,” said Brooke Jaffe, operating vice president, fashion director of ready-to-wear at Bloomingdale’s. She said she’s doing well with jumpsuits by Aqua, its private label brand, as well as Catherine Malandrino, Helmut Lang, Diane von Furstenberg and Parker. “Any brand that’s made a jumpsuit for spring is doing well. We’ve reordered and [are] trying to get as many units as possible,” said Jaffe.

The black jumpsuit is a replacement for the little black dress, said Jaffe. “People will wear the rompers with san-dals, or slip-on sneakers,” she said, add-ing it can be worn as “festive” dress or as rompers to music festivals.

The trend began in February in warm weather markets, and it’s been going strong ever since, she said. She also noted that denim overalls are seeing a lot of action. “One-piece dressing is tran-scending fabrications,” Jaffe said.

Bloomingdale’s is also doing well with printed sets, consisting of matching skirts and tops. “They’re printed, color-ful and sometimes midriff baring,” said Jaffe, citing Clover Canyon as a standout.

Colleen Sherin, senior fashion direc-tor at Saks Fifth Avenue, was also enthu-siastic about the jumpsuit. She said it’s selling from the casual overall style from Rag & Bone to a halter jumpsuit from Diane von Furstenberg, and a casual jumpsuit from Vince. The idea of “all in one” is a bestseller, from casual to dressy evening, incorporating both overalls and jumpsuits, added Sherin. “I called it out as a trend. It is an item that many women don’t have in their closets.” She also said it’s easy to wear and for the same reason that dresses have success, “you put it on and it’s ready to go. It’s easy to move in.”

The number-two bestseller in Saks’ con-temporary departments is “the crop top.”

“It’s a trend that’s all over the mar-ket,” said Sherin. She said Milly had a good one, which was a scuba-style crop top, worn with a slim skirt with a higher waistline. Another cute one came from Clover Canyon with a matched skirt.

Lord & Taylor’s top seller is crop tops, especially a style from Trina Turk, according to Lauren Pisane, vice presi-dent, divisional merchandise manager of contemporary and modern sportswear at Hudson’s Bay and Lord & Taylor.

“Crop tops are being paired with high-waisted bottoms,” she said. The best-selling style has been AG’s high-waisted Farrah skinny jean. “Because it has been so successful, we are continuing to buy into this trend within the premium denim category,” she said.

The new summer jacket is “the bomb-er” and Pisane predicted the silhouette will gain momentum going into fall. The best-selling bomber is from Blank NYC.

Lastly, she said dresses are selling well, especially ladylike silhouettes. An exclusive style from Cynthia Steffe in a floral jacquard with collar and cuff detail is a bestseller.

“The contemporary girl is definitely ready to shed the winter coat and up-date her wardrobe with some bold new

spring essentials,” said April Hennig, vice president, divisional merchan-dise manager of 5F contemporary at Bergdorf Goodman. Best-selling trends have been graphic prints, vivid color, cropped tops and light wash and dis-tress denim. Top selling brands have been A.L.C., Rag & Bone, Jonathan Simkhai and Veronica Beard, along with European labels such as Kenzo, Isabel Marant Étoile and MSGM.

According to Barneys New York, its

best-selling items this spring in the con-temporary department have been Isabel Marant’s plaid jacket, jumpsuits from Raquel Allegra and the Barneys brand and R13 Boy Skinny in black marble.

Intermix said its number-one best-seller for spring has been a Rag & Bone Talia deep V varsity sweater and a Mason by Michelle Mason zipper detailing mini leather skirt.

Heidi Hoelzer, the head women’s mer-chant at Scoop, said: “We are having a

great reaction to our swim department,” including a Missoni fringe cover-up.

“Novelty knits have also been very strong,” she said, noting in particular an IRO white tank.“Knit dresses is a classification that does not seem to be slowing down.”

She said a Zac Posen exclusive white maxi and an RVN dress have sold well. Lace has also been a hot seller and Hoelzer cited a Nightcap exclusive fit-and-flare dress.

In Demand in Contemporary{Continued from page one}

Rag & Bone overalls are bestsellers at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Diane von Furstenberg’s halter jumpsuit has been a hit at Saks Fifth Avenue.

A Zac Posen white maxidress has been a top seller at Scoop.

Trina Turk cropped tops are selling briskly at Lord & Taylor.

An A.L.C. look from Bergdorf Goodman

has been a top seller.

Isabel Marant’s plaid jacket is doing well at Barneys New York.

An Aqua jumpsuit is a bestseller at Bloomingdale’s.

Cynthia Steffe’s floral jacquard dress is a strong seller at Lord & Taylor.

Mason by Michelle Mason zipper detailing leather miniskirt is selling well at Intermix.

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WWD.COM7WWD WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

By MARCY MEDINA

LOS ANGELES — Lest you think Basic Terrain, a new women’s wear line from actress Joy Bryant and her husband, stuntman David Pope, is a vanity project, consider this: The couple are funding the line themselves, and until recently, their dining room doubled as their office and design studio. The pre-fall capsule collec-tion consists of low-slung, wrap-front cot-ton pants in two lengths and six washes.

Bryant, a former model, is no stranger to fashion, but her utilitarian husband is the one with the sewing skills. “My mom taught me how to sew when I was around 10, and I took home economics in eighth grade,” said Pope, 42. “By the time I fin-ished middle school, I had made several pairs of shorts.”

He said fashion was never his inter-est; before meeting his wife, he bought most of his clothes at REI. “Me being comfortable in this space is something new. For me, getting dressed is like, ‘What goes with a compass and an ax?’”

“He’s the function and I’m the fash-ion. Together it’s checks and balances,” said Bryant, 39.

Pope took up a needle and thread again two years ago when Bryant found a

pricy canvas hammock online. “I said, ‘I can make that.’ So I went down to Target and bought a $60 Hello Kitty Singer sew-ing machine,” he said.

For his next project, a pair of snow pants, Bryant bought him a better sew-ing machine. “When she put on the first sample, she was like, ‘Oh, you really do know how to sew.’ Then she walked to her closet and came back with 20 pieces and said, ‘Can you make any of these?’”

One of the items was a pair of Thai fisherman pants Bryant had bought dur-ing a trip to Cambodia. Pope reworked them in denim from Jo-Ann Fabrics. “From the first day she wore them out in public,” he said, “strangers were like, ‘Oh my God, where did you get those?’”

“He made himself some shirts, and the same thing would happen to him,” said Bryant. “The combination of re-sponses was our ‘aha’ moment.”

Bryant said the line is based on their love of outdoor adventure and comfort-able, functional clothing.

“Our idol brands are Patagonia, Capital and Best Made Co. If you took those three and put them in a blender, that’s Basic Terrain,” said Bryant, who looks to military and technical garb for design inspiration.

“I never thought I’d have a clothing

line. If anything, I wanted to do luggage or snowboards. We dwell in cities, but we love to travel, snowboard, surf, skateboard. So we thought: Let’s start a company where we can actually do that. We either suc-ceed or we fail, but either way we can create the things we want.”

Through her friend Kelly Cole, Bryant met Sean Hornbeak, the owner of Denim Revival, who also launched J Brand and Current/Elliott into the men’s business. Hornbeak now acts as design director and production manager. “It’s only three of us. We’re still working in David’s man cave and trying to find an assistant,” said Bryant.

While they have already de-signed several core silhouettes that they plan to add in gradual-ly, the fisherman-inspired wrap pants, which don’t have hard-ware or zippers, will be the staple. “I think that it’s more comfortable and chic than a skinny jean, and to see that someone who is a size 4 and someone who is a size 12 can wear the same pant and both look awesome is great,” Bryant said. “They can go

from yoga to office to out depending on the shoe, the jacket and the top.”

The pant comes in cropped and long versions in six washes, all made from the same lightweight cotton denim. There

are just two sizes, 1 and 2, which fit a range of traditional sizes because of the adjustability of the wrap waist. Wholesale prices range from $67.50 to $84, and the company has already met with retailers such as

Neiman Marcus, Intermix, Ron Herman and Curve.

The fall collection will in-corporate wool, fleece, leather and perhaps even techno fab-rics, but not the expected lin-ens and silks. For spring, they will introduce a skirt and a top, with the goal of eventually expanding into a full unisex sportswear and performance gear line.

“We know where we are going, we’ll just take our time

getting there,” said Bryant.As for using her fame to

help launch the line, she said, “It’s great if because of my exposure and my work, that brings attention to it, because we are making things and we want people to buy them. But I never looked at this like a ce-lebrity line. I think the prod-uct speaks for itself.”

By SAMANTHA CONTI

LONDON — Charlotte Olympia, the small and self-funded British footwear and accesso-ries brand, is using a cocktail of nostalgia, glamour and laughs to build an international business.

By the end of this year, the company, launched by Charlotte Olympia Dellal in 2008 and run by Jimmy Choo and Halston vet-eran Bonnie Takhar, will have nine freestanding stores world-wide. The first was opened on London’s Maddox Street in 2010. Wholesale clients include Harrods, Neiman Marcus, On Pedder in Hong Kong, Bergdorf Goodman and Tsum in Moscow.

The business is notching tri-ple-digit sales growth and dou-ble-digit profit gains on the back of collections such as Archie’s Girls, which had a Pop Art-y, retro feel and was based on the comic books; Hollywoodland, which fea-tured platforms and stiletto heels with celluloidlike straps or Art Deco flourishes, and Overboard, with platform peep-toes shaped like fish, or towering message-in-a-bottle heels.

The brand is also well-known for its collection of slip-per-inspired flats, especially the Kitty, with a cat’s face and perky ears, and the Charlotte’s Web with a spider’s work picked out on the vamp.

“Charlotte Olympia is in a league of its own in terms of making shoes that are cute and funny,” said Helen David, fash-ion director of women’s wear, accessories, fine jewelry and children’s wear at Harrods. “The customer is almost anyone — unless they are completely lacking in a sense of humor.”

David added that custom-ers have even begun to collect the designs.

“The shoes have developed a cult status, and there are Charlotte Olympia-ites out there who collect them, but don’t wear them,” said David, adding that sell-throughs are “very, very

high and strong” and the brand is planning to do an exclusive shoe for Shoe Heaven, the new footwear department at Harrods that is set to open in August.

Natalie Kingham, head of fashion at Matches.com, said the Charlotte Olympia customer “loves old-school glamour,” and

the Kitty slippers are among the site’s bestsellers. “We also sell the Dolly platform shoe very well, but the revival of the flat shoe has meant that [Dellal’s] glamorous slippers are very much in demand,” she said.

Dellal, who is chief execu-tive officer and creative direc-tor, set up her businesses in 2008 after studying shoe design at Cordwainers in London. A mother of three, she is married to Maxim Crewe, who works in finance. Her parents are the Brazilian model Andrea Dellal and the London businessman Guy Dellal. Her grandfather is the late Jack Dellal, the billion-aire London property tycoon fa-mous for his love of megadeals.

Dellal’s passions are the soul of the business, which generates $40 million to $50 million in an-nual wholesale revenue, and includes a variety of categories, such as children’s, bridal and Tailor Made, a made-to-order ser-

vice with shoes done in crocodile.Last month in Paris, the brand

introduced a collection of leather bags made in France. There are four silhouettes in leather, black alligator or leopard pony skin, and details taken from two of the brand’s signatures: the Dolly platform court shoe and Pandora

clutch bags in Perspex.The bags will retail from

$1,195 to $2,995, and the key style is the Bogart, a structured bag with a flap closure that comes with a pair of gloves that snap on to the top. Other styles include a tote and a clutch. Accessories currently account for 20 percent of the business, and Dellal said that number is set to grow to 30 percent over the next 18 months.

“We wanted to develop a strong brand aesthetic, a rec-ognizable silhouette from the outset and build on that DNA,” said Dellal, who admits she is afflicted with “nostalgia for a bygone era, a time when women wouldn’t leave the house with-out wearing a hat and gloves.”

She puts her passion into practice every day: Her per-sonal style is inspired by Rita Hayworth and the golden age of Hollywood, and she often wears red lipstick with her blonde hair

parted on the side and with a Forties-style wave. She said she has always loved collect-ing beautiful objects, and loves the idea of making them wearable. Hence the Lucite clutch bags resem-bling perfume bottles; the French poodles adorn-ing boudoir slippers; glow-in-the-dark bones embroidered onto black silk satin sandals, and ice cream cone heels on pink and mint pastel platforms.

Dellal said the goal of her company has always been to build a stand-alone brand organically. The business so far has been self-financed, and she and Takhar have been build-ing it with steady hands. Sales are divided evenly between North America, the Far East and the rest of the world, and licensed and joint partners include the Pedder and Bluebell groups and Al Tayer.

“We’ve been embarking upon a strategy of wholesale, direct retail, joint venture and distri-bution partnership deals that is coming to fruition,” said Takhar, the company’s president, during an interview in the West London office she shares with Dellal. The sprawling space is covered in pink wallpaper with a spider web print, and a frequent guest is Dellal’s dog Marlon.

“Everything we have done has been very deliberate. We’ve picked solid retail partners, and we’re building the business with them quite deeply,” Takhar added.

One of the most success-ful selling strategies so far has been the creation of pop-up shops — done in the season’s theme — inside stores such as Isetan in Japan, The Landmark in Hong Kong and Selfridges in London. “It’s a unique point of view for retailers to extend to their customer base, and cre-ates excitement,” said Takhar.

The brand has two stand-alone store openings planned for April, in Miami’s Bal Harbour and at The Landmark in Hong Kong. In September,

it’s due to open a store at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. The stores generally range in size from 1,000 to 1,500 square feet.

In a bid to broaden its offer further, the brand last month launched 9 till 5, an evergreen collection of classic silhouettes that are meant to propel women through their working day straight into evening. There are stiletto, block and kitten heels in three heights ranging from 55 mm. to 90 mm., or just over two inches to three-and-a-half inches. The shoes, which have clear PVC de-tails, come in briefcase-inspired shoeboxes and are sold with matching colored stockings. Retail prices range from $635 to $896.

Although prices for the over-all collection can run as high as $3,000 for Tailor Made shoes, the bulk of Charlotte Olympia’s sales take place in the $950 to $1,150 range.

Dellal and Takhar said that for the moment they are not looking at bringing in outside investors, nor are they working on moving into new product cat-egories, such as ready-to-wear or major collaborations. “This has always been about building a global brand with longevity,” said Dellal. “And the focus re-mains on the brand.”

Joy Bryant Launches Basic Terrain Collection

Charlotte Olympia Plots Expansion

A visual for Charlotte Olympia’s 9 till 5 collection.

A look from Basic

Terrain. PHOT

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A pair of Charlotte Olympia shoes.

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Page 8: LONDON’S VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM FETES ITALIAN …single Neiman Marcus brand, and to make sure we anticipate all of our customers’ needs. Her shopping journey has changed dramatically.”

8 WWD wednesday, april 2, 2014

By LUISA ZARGANI

BREGANZE, Italy — Diesel will unveil its first full-fledged collection under the artistic direction of Nicola Formichetti in Venice on Thursday — exactly a year after he joined the Italian brand — and has linked with Twitter for the event.

“We want to offer an experience peo-ple can remember and we are looking at creating an event outside the estab-lished fashion weeks in Paris, Milan or New York — which are already chock-full of shows,” said Formichetti dur-ing an interview at the headquarters of Diesel’s parent company, OTB, here, about an hour’s drive from Venice.

“We like to create our own rules,” he said, underscoring how Venice is close to the brand’s heritage.

“Yes, this show is who we are, we are bringing the brand back home,” echoed Renzo Rosso, founder of OTB and Diesel cofounder. Over the past few years, he has increasingly focused on growing OTB, a fashion conglomerate that also comprises Maison Martin Margiela, Viktor & Rolf, Marni and production arm Staff International, which manu-factures and distributes brands includ-ing DSquared2, Just Cavalli, Vivienne Westwood and Marc Jacobs.

As a result, Rosso believes that “Diesel’s DNA was recently lost, but Nicola went back to our archives and unearthed it — its alternative spirit to luxury and rebellious attitude. I need him to inject modernity to the brand. Diesel was more Renzo Rosso, now it’s going to be more Nicola Formichetti for the future of the brand. This in Venice

will be an amazing experience, less of a fashion show and more of an event.”

About 300 guests are expected to attend and Diesel will present designs for fall.

Guest tweeters for the event will in-clude Vogue Italia’s Franca Sozzani, American rapper Brooke Candy and bloggers Suzie Bubble and Chiara Ferragni, and they also will make them-selves available for live question-and-answer sessions the day of the event. This will allow Twitter users to have an interactive experience through “friends and family ambassadors. It’s a voice from Venice, and it will be like looking at the event through someone else’s point of view,” said Formichetti. “It’s personal and almost like sending a text message.”

Formichetti, who was previously cre-ative director at Thierry Mugler and Lady Gaga’s stylist and her de facto fash-ion director, relied on Tumblr and word of mouth to cast the subjects of his first Diesel ad campaign last summer — sever-al selected from the social-network pool.

“This event in Venice is intimate, but it’s not about being exclusive. On the con-trary, while we are not live-streaming it, we want to do something different and more contemporary and are supporting Twitter,” explained Formichetti, underscoring that he wants to bring a “human aspect” to so-cial networking. “I love the digital world, but the human touch is as important; I see it as a tool to spread love,” he continued.

Wi-Fi Twitter Mirrors will be set up and available to all guests to create self-ies. Also, it is understood Twitter plans to experiment with new tools to apply to the fashion world.

Diesel will also post a video of the show on diesel.com the following day.

last year exceeded $1 billion in sales.Neiman’s officials were effusive about

the reorganization. Katz called it “a very complex change,” for several reasons. “It starts with the physical locations — Neiman Marcus online and Neiman Marcus stores merchandising organi-zations are in two separate locations. We have to bring them together” to one downtown Dallas facility, she said.

“In many cases buyers will be report-ing to someone different than before, and because the systems are not yet speaking to each other, the divisional merchandise managers and general merchandise man-agers have to learn two systems, even though in relatively short time, there will be one system,” Katz said.

“Then there’s just understanding how you buy online versus how you buy for stores. You buy somewhat differently. One [product] has to look great in a photograph; the other has to look great in a store.”

Katz said the company is shooting to make the inventory the same online and in stores, at a much higher percentage than it is today, though it won’t ever be 100 per-cent the same, she predicted. With home furnishings, for example, “We have a big business online. Those kinds of categories we don’t have space for in the stores.”

On the technology front, NMG has started installing NMG One, a new mer-chandising system enabling the locating and sharing of inventory across channels to improve turn and better meet cus-tomer demand. It’s a three- to four-year process to implement the system, with size optimization one of the first pieces to get installed. Creating a shared inven-tory system is critical to becoming an om-nichannel retailer.

“In terms of our time frame, it works out perfectly. We are getting the mer-chandise organization to come together as one brand. The whole team will be working on NMG One as it gets rolled out over the next few years,” Katz said.

Among other omni initiatives, Neiman’s has been testing ship-to-store in a few lo-cations, which the ceo said has yielded “great results” and has led to incremental spending by customers picking up their on-line orders in the stores and then shopping more. “After the new year, we’ll roll it out to all 41 [full-line] stores,” Katz said.

In addition, all 4,500 sales associates have iPhones to locate products and help customers shop; iPads are being distributed to some departments and are currently most prevalent in shoes and handbags, and a Neiman Marcus app was launched a few weeks ago. Also, the company allows customers to return items by mail or by dropping them off at a store, and Neiman’s last year began offering free shipping.

Neiman’s was an early adopter of e-commerce, becoming the first major luxury retailer to launch it in 1999. Originally, the store merchants did the buying for the Internet. However, “for the last decade, the merchants that buy for the stores have not been responsible for either the catalogues or, more impor-tantly, the e-commerce site,” Gold said. “So now here we are in 2014 and the world has completely changed in terms of how our customers shop, the scale of our e-commerce business and the way

our customers are moving between the stores and the Web site. They [browse] at home online and come into the stores to look at merchandise. Maybe they buy in the store, maybe they go home and consummate the transaction on the Web site. Sometimes they start in the stores looking at merchandise, look at it again online and use the Web site for research, for ideas, for convenience.”

Customers, Gold said, want access to “our entire network of inventory wher-

ever it resides, in stores or a warehouse, and want to be able to return it how-ever it suits them. The way our customer shops today, largely because of the ad-vent of mobile devices, smartphones, iPhones and, even more importantly, tab-lets, they want to be able to experience our brand in a very seamless manner.”

Before, “whenever you wanted to do something, from an operational or buying or marketing stand-point, when you have totally

different teams it became very compli-cated,” Gold added. “We have been very busy redesigning teams of people so we are reorganizing functions so we can bet-ter service our clients, so instead of hav-ing two separate merchandising teams, we are going to have an integrated mer-chandising team.” Three years ago, the separate marketing teams for stores and direct were integrated into one.

Gold also discussed the significance of Koryl’s new job. “In the way we want to think about seamless 360-degree mer-chandising, we want to do the same from

a sales and service standpoint. We want our selling organization to think about how they service the customer between the store inventory and online inventory. We want to break down those barriers as well. John is going to lead the effort. John will have more of the technical aspects of e-commerce and will have the sales and

operational aspects of the stores.” “Nothing was broken,” Koryl said. “We

are trying to get rid of the internal chan-nel differences and get focused on the customer. The true goal is to have a mem-orable, consistent and seamless experi-ence,” extending from the marketing and the merchandising to the promotional ca-dence and the information provided con-sumers as they research what they want to buy, Koryl said.

According to the Neiman’s executives, their best customers are those who shop multiple channels. They said that the reorganization will not result in any job losses, and that Bergdorf Goodman is un-affected, except that Joshua Schulman, president of Bergdorf ’s, will now report to Katz, instead of to Gold.

Among those reporting to Gold are Gerald Barnes, executive vice presi-dent, gmm for designer sportswear, cou-ture and furs. Barnes will also serve as Neiman Marcus online strategy direc-tor. The four senior vice presidents and gmm’s also report to Gold.

Reporting to Koryl will be Neva Hall, executive vice president, Neiman Marcus Stores, and Lindy Rawlinson, senior vice president, e-commerce. Gold and Koryl continue to report to Katz.

The reorganization comes amid re-ports that NMG is in talks with Hudson Yards, a huge project being developed on Manhattan’s West Side, to open a Neiman’s store on the site. Neiman’s executives would not comment on the possibility, first reported by the New York Post. Retail sources said it would be risky for Neiman’s to locate on the West Side considering the area is barren of retailing and would take years to gel into an area drawing afflu-ent shoppers, if ever. There are also com-plications that relate to NMG’s Bergdorf Goodman division on Fifth Avenue, which pays rent to the Goodman family, the land-lord. Decades ago, when the Goodman family sold BG to Neiman’s, a confiden-tial agreement to not open a Neiman’s in Manhattan was established, sources said. It could not be learned whether the agreement is still valid or if the Goodmans would have to be further compensated if Neiman’s opened in Manhattan, potential-ly cannibalizing BG.

Neiman’s Merges Store, Online Groups{Continued from page one}

Diesel to Boost Show With Twitter

John Koryl

w02a008a.indd 8 4/1/14 7:09 PM04012014191010

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURTDISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

In re: Dots, LLC, et al., 1 Debtors.

Chapter 11 • Case No. 14-11016 (DHS)(Jointly Administered)

NOTICE OF DEADLINES FOR FILING PROOFS OF CLAIMTO: ALL CREDITORS AND OTHER PARTIES IN INTEREST WITH CLAIMS AGAINST DOTS, LLC, IPC/DOTS LLC, AND/OR DOTS GIfT LLC (THE “DEBTORS”)The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey (the

“Bankruptcy Court”) entered an Order on March 26, 2014 establishing (i) May 27, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. (prevailing Eastern time) (the “General Bar Date”) as the last date for each person or entity (including individuals, part-nerships, corporations, joint ventures, and trusts, but excluding governmen-tal units) to fle a proof of claim against the Debtors listed above, including for claims arising under section 503(b)(9) of the Bankruptcy Code and claims by, among others, holders of Dots gift cards and store credits, and (ii) July 21, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. (prevailing Eastern time) (the “Governmental Bar Date”) as the last date for governmental units, to fle a proof of claim against the Debtors listed above (each a “Bar Date” and collectively the “Bar Dates”).The Bar Dates and the procedures set forth below for fling proofs of claim apply to all claims against the Debtors that arose prior to January 20, 2014, the date on which the Debtors commenced their cases under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the “Petition Date”), except for those holders of the claims listed in Section 4 below that are specifcally excluded from the Bar Date fling requirement.

1. WHO MUST FILE A PROOF OF CLAIM. You MUST fle a proof of claim to vote on a Chapter 11 plan fled by the Debtors or to share in distributions from the Debtors’ bankruptcy estates if you have a claim that arose prior to the Petition Date that is not one of the types of claim described in Section 4 below. Claims based on acts or omissions of the Debtors that occurred before the Petition Date must be fled on or prior to the General Bar Date or Governmental Bar Date (as applicable), even if such claims are not now fxed, liquidated or certain or did not mature or become fxed, liquidated or certain before the Petition Date.Under section 101(5) of the Bankruptcy Code and as used in this Notice, the word “claim” means: (a) a right to payment, whether or not such right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fxed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured, or unsecured; or (b) a right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a right to payment, whether or not such right to an equitable rem-edy is reduced to judgment, fxed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured.

2. WHAT TO FILE. Your fled proof of claim must conform substantially to the Proof of Claim form enclosed with this Notice. The Proof of Claim form enclosed herewith may be copied and additional copies may be obtained free of charge by contacting the undersigned.All Proof of Claim forms must be signed by the claimant or, if the claimant is not an individual, by an authorized agent of the claimant. It must be written in English, be denominated in United States currency, and indicate the Debtor against which you are asserting a claim (if you are asserting a claim against more than one Debtor, a separate proof of claim must be fled with respect to each Debtor). You should attach to your completed proof of claim any docu-ments on which the claim is based (if voluminous, attach a summary), includ-ing proof of delivery within 20 days before the Petition Date in the case of a claim under 503(b)(9) of the Bankruptcy Code, or an explanation as to why the documents are not available.

3. WHEN AND WHERE TO FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM. Except as provided for herein, all proofs of claim (including claims arising pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 503(b)(9); but not including claims asserted by governmental units) must be fled so as to be received on or before the General Bar Date.Except as provided herein, all proofs of claim to be fled by governmental units must be fled so as to be received on or before the Governmental Bar Date.Proofs of Claim must be fled by mailing or delivering the original proof of claim by frst class U.S. mail or by hand or overnight courier to the Debtors’ Claims and Noticing Agent at the address provided below:

By U.S. Mail: Donlin, Recano & Company, Inc., Re: Dots, LLC, et al., P.O. Box 2008, Murray Hill Station, New York, New York 10156

By Express Delivery, Hand Delivery or Other Courier: Donlin, Recano & Company, Inc., Re: Dots, LLC, et al.,

419 Park Avenue South, Suite 1206, New York, New York 10016

Proofs of claim will be deemed fled only when actually received by the Claims and Noticing Agent on or before the Bar Date. Proofs of claim may not be delivered by facsimile, telecopy or electronic mail transmis-sion.

4. WHO NEED NOT FILE A PROOF OF CLAIM. The following persons and entities need not fle a proof of claim on or prior to the Bar Date:a. Any person or entity that has already fled a proof of claim in this case with the Clerk of the Court or the Debtors’ Claims and Noticing Agent substan-tially similar to Offcial form No. 10;

b. any person or entity whose claim is listed in the Debtors’ Schedules of Assets and Liabilities and/or Schedules of Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases (collectively, the “Schedules”), provided that (i) the claim is not scheduled as “disputed,” “contingent” or “unliquidated,” (ii) such claimant does not disagree with the amount or classifcation of the claim as set forth on the Schedules, and (iii) such claimant does not dispute that the claim is an obligation of the specifc Debtor against which the claim is listed on the Schedules;c. any holder of a claim that heretofore has been allowed by order of the Court;d. any person or entity whose claim has been paid in full by the Debtors; e. any holder of a claim for which specifc deadlines to fle a proof of claim have previously been fxed by the Court;f. professionals retained by the Debtors or the Committee pursuant to orders of this Court, including the Debtors’ claims agent, who assert adminis-trative claims for payment of fees and expenses subject to the Court’s approval pursuant to sections 330, 331(a) and 503(b) of the Bankruptcy Code; org. any entity that asserts an administrative expense claim against the Debtors pursuant to sections 503(b)(1) through (8) of the Bankruptcy Code.If you are a holder of an equity interest in the Debtors, you need not fle a proof of interest with respect to the ownership of such equity interest at this time. However, if you assert a claim against the Debtors, including a claim relating to such equity interest or the purchase or sale of such interest, a proof of such claim must be fled on or prior to the applicable Bar Date pursuant to procedures set forth in this Notice.This Notice is being sent to many persons and entities that have had some relationship with or have done business with the Debtors but may not have an unpaid claim against the Debtors. The fact that you have received this Notice does not mean that you have a claim or that the Debtors or the Court believe that you have a claim against the Debtors.

5. EXECUTORY CONTRACTS AND UNEXPIRED LEASES. If you have a claim arising out of the rejection of an executory contract or unexpired lease, you must fle a proof of claim by the later of (i) the General Bar Date, or (ii) 4:00 p.m. (prevailing Eastern time) on the date that is thirty (30) days after entry of an order approving the rejection of an executory contract or unexpired lease, or (iii) such other date a the Court may fx.

6. CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO FILE A PROOF OF CLAIM BY THE BAR DATE. ANY HOLDER OF A CLAIM THAT IS NOT EXCEPTED FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ORDER, AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 4 ABOVE, AND THAT FAILS TO TIMELY FILE A PROOF OF CLAIM IN THE APPROPRIATE FORM WILL BE BARRED FROM ASSERTING SUCH CLAIM AGAINST THE DEBTORS AND THEIR CHAPTER 11 ESTATES, FROM VOTING ON ANY PLAN OF REORGANIZATION FILED IN THESE CASES, AND FROM PARTICIPATING IN ANY DISTRIBUTION IN THE DEBTORS’ CASES ON ACCOUNT OF SUCH CLAIM.

7. THE DEBTORS’ SCHEDULES AND ACCESS THERETO. You may be listed as the holder of a claim against the Debtors in the Debtors’ Schedules. If you rely on the Debtors’ Schedules, it is your responsibility to determine that the claim is accurately listed in the Schedules.As set forth above, if you agree with the nature, amount and status of your claim as listed in the Debtors’ Schedules, and if you do not dispute that your claim is only against the Debtor specifed in the Schedules, and if your claim is not described as “disputed,” “contingent,” or “unliquidated,” you need not fle a proof of claim. Otherwise, or if you decide to fle a proof of claim, you must do so before the Bar Date in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Notice.Copies of the Debtors’ Schedules are available at www.donlinrecano.com/dots, a publically available website maintained by the Claims and Noticing Agent. Copies of the Schedules may also be examined between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through friday at the Offce of the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court, 50 Walnut Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102. Copies of the Debtors’ Schedules may also be obtained by written request to Debtors’ counsel at the address and telephone number set forth below.

8. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS. The Debtors reserve their rights to object to any proof of claim, whether fled or scheduled, on any grounds. The Debtors reserve their rights to dispute or to assert offsets or defenses to any claim refected on the Schedules or any amendments thereto, as to amount, liabil-ity, classifcation or otherwise, and to subsequently designate any claim dis-puted, contingent, unliquidated or undetermined.

A holder of a possible claim against the Debtors should consult an attorney regarding any matters not covered by this notice, such as whether the holder should fle a proof of claim.Dated: March 26, 2014 s/ Kenneth A. Rosen LOWENSTEIN SANDLER LLP, Kenneth A. Rosen, Esq., Bruce Buechler, Esq., Gerald C. Bender, Esq., Wojciech f. Jung, Esq., Shirley Dai, Esq., 65 Livingston Avenue, Roseland, New Jersey 07068, (973) 597-2500 (Telephone), (973) 597-2400 (facsimile), Counsel to the Debtors and Debtors-in-Possession1 The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases are Dots, LLC, IPC/Dots LLC, and Dots Gift LLC. The last four digits of Dots, LLC’s and IPC/Dots LLC’s tax identi-fcation numbers are (3957) and (8282), respectively.

Page 9: LONDON’S VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM FETES ITALIAN …single Neiman Marcus brand, and to make sure we anticipate all of our customers’ needs. Her shopping journey has changed dramatically.”

WWD.COM9WWD WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

By SAMANTHA CONTI

LONDON — The Italians have long been lovers of “lo stile Inglese,” or English sar-torial style, with its tweeds, herringbone fabrics and pops of silk and print. The English are returning the compliment this week with “The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945-2014,” a show dedicated to postwar Italian style at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The tightly edited show — there are only 100 pieces of men’s and women’s fashion on display — is an earnest and enthusiastic tale of the rapid journey Italy made from postwar ruin to modern-day prosperità. The show begins with a large, black-and-white image of Florence in 1946, all rubble and crumbling build-ings, and ends with a peacock’s display of opulence including the liquid white gown and showy gold dragon brooch from Tom Ford’s fall 2004 Gucci collection, and Roberto Capucci’s rippling fuchsia and green silk evening dress.

In between there’s jewelry, fur, cash-mere, glitter and Pucci prints galore. On display are some of the Bulgari gems that Richard Burton used to woo Elizabeth Taylor while the two were film-ing “Cleopatra” in Rome the early Sixties. There’s also a display dedicated to the seminal Sala Bianca fashion shows at Palazzo Pitti in Florence; a nod to men’s tailoring, and myriad examples of Italy’s technical prowess — from industrially pro-duced knitwear to handcrafted Fendi furs.

“Italy was at the forefront of convinc-ing the elite consumer to buy ready-to-wear fashion, mostly because the Italian

factories were so skilled at making it,” said Sonnet Stanfill, curator of 20th cen-tury and contemporary fashion at the V&A. Indeed, the show, which runs from Saturday to July 27 and is sponsored by Bulgari, highlights the starring role that textiles and manufacturing played in the industry’s swift expansion.

“Knitwear grew out of undergarment manufacturing, so it was never bulky, and there are so many examples of Italian designers pushing for the right effect in the cut and construction of the textiles,” said Stanfill.

In one room, a digital wall map of Italy shows the regions that have become world famous for their materials: Como for silk; Biella for wool, and Tuscany for leather, to name a few.

Franca Sozzani, the editor in chief of Italian Vogue who cohosted the dinner at the V&A on Tuesday night to mark the opening, said Italy was reborn after the war thanks to entrepreneurial clans such as the Maramotti family, the founders of Max Mara, and the Della Valles, who started Tod’s. “It was a way to survive in a certain kind of area where there was nothing,” said Sozzani. “Soon, those dis-tricts became specialized…while Roma was all about the small boutiques, tailor-ing and dressmaking.”

Guests at the cocktail party and dinner to kick off the opening on Tuesday night included Tom Ford, Richard Buckley, Christopher Kane, Manolo Blahnik, Valentino, Giancarlo Giammetti, Osman Yousefzada, Alessandro Dell’Acqua, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Anna Zegna, Laudomia Pucci, Nicola Bulgari, Elizabeth McGovern and

Miroslava Duma. The evening brought back Italian memories for everyone.

“Boy, she had an appetite for jew-elry — I can tell you that,” said Bulgari of Elizabeth Taylor, whom he said would drive her car straight into the private courtyard of the Bulgari store in Rome to avoid the paparazzi. “The magic would begin when she was alone in a [private] wood-paneled room with Richard Burton, and she started choosing the jewelry.”

McGovern also recalled her salad days in Rome. “My first adult trip to Rome was when I went there to film ‘Once Upon a Time in America.’ I loved it — it burst open my world,” said McGovern, whose latest CD, “Still Waiting,” with her band Sadie and the Hotheads has just been released.

Eva Cavalli said she’s proud to be Italian, even though she is Austrian. “The Italians are happy, they’re positive, they have the sun and they don’t take themselves too seriously. Things are not good in Italy right now, but the Italians are still happy,” she said.

Stanfill said she ap-proached the show from a very V&A angle. “We like to talk about process, and give a sense of the hand and the maker,” she said, adding that people who are looking for an encyclopedic review of Italy’s fashion houses will have gone to the wrong place. “What we focused on are points of influence.”

The glamour of the show’s title shines through chiefly at

the end, with a lineup of some of the greatest hits from the past four decades, a time when Italian designers became more famous than the people they dressed, said Stanfill.

The displays range from Miuccia Prada’s shooting flame heels from spring 2012 and Tod’s driving shoes, to a dress from the Valentino Couture Wunderkammer collection and a floor-length number from Fausto Puglisi to Giorgio Armani’s slouchy suits.

About 40 percent of the items have been loaned from more than 30 archives, institutions and collectors, including the Pucci Foundation, Palazzo Pitti, the University of Parma and the archive of Giovanni Battista Giorgini.

A buying agent, Giorgini was the granddaddy of Italy’s runway shows: In the early Fifties, he was instrumental in getting Italian designs in front of buyers from stores including Bergdorf Goodman, I. Magnin and B. Altman and in interna-tional publications.

Giorgini started showcasing the Italian collections from his home in Florence, and later moved them to the Sala Bianca at Palazzo Pitti in Florence. The gowns were one-third of the price of those in Paris and the buyers were impressed by the Italians’ sense of color and richness of textiles, said Stanfill, who has re-created the early days of the Sala Bianca at the start of the show.

It’s clearly had an impact. British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman, an-other cohost of the launch event, said she was struck by the early “wonderful eve-ning dresses that you’d still want to wear today…those kind of gala gowns really haven’t changed that much.”

CARLA RE-UPS: Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is doing an encore for Bulgari. The Rome-based jewelry firm has tapped France’s former first lady to front its ad campaign for fall, after her first modeling stint for Bulgari’s spring images. Bruni-Sarkozy

was photographed in Rome in February, one again by Terry Richardson, wearing the brand’s jewelry, watches and accessories.

“Never before did an ad campaign glorify so well Bulgari’s magnificent

and contemporary jewelry DNA,” Jean-Christophe Babin, chief executive officer of the company, told WWD. “The new campaign is a major evolution of [the] current [one] conveying more modernity, luxury and [the] extraordinary masterpieces’ celebration. Carla and Terry did a great job to elevate high jewelry to a new level of desirability and modernity.”

The campaign is due to roll out starting in June. — LUISA ZARGANI

CAMERA READY: Allure is ready for its close-up. The beauty magazine will today become the latest Condé Nast title to get its own YouTube channel, a project helmed by Condé Nast Entertainment.

If video sounds familiar for Allure, it’s because it is — the publication already runs a variety of them on its Web site, including backstage videos during fashion week, beauty blogger ones and instructional makeup clips. Although the YouTube channel is a video-centric launch, Allure said

shoppable video might not be too far behind, although it stressed it is too early to talk timelines.

The YouTube channel is an updated take on Allure’s content, which

will now include four series, titled “Beauty Basics,” “Cassandra,” “Beauty Evolution” and “Hair Tyrant.” “Beauty Basics” is a 10-episode instructional channel, while “Cassandra” is a 12-episode show in which online star Cassandra Bankson makes home visits to viewers and gives them a makeover.

“Beauty Evolution” takes a similar theme of makeovers and, over the course of 16 episodes, takes a look at the style evolution of celebrities in a humorous way. “Hair Tyrant,” a 32-episode series, shows the opinionated VIP stylist Ashley Javier “transforming” real women.

Although the channel boasts some big personalities — Javier especially — Allure editor in chief Linda Wells said she’s aware of the “dizzying” volume of beauty videos and vlogs already on YouTube.

“There are so many people who are making videos from their bedrooms, but we can give a more authoritative look,” said Wells. “People like to relate to the girl in her bedroom, but we can say we’re Allure, we have a more definitive look and a lot of access.” — ALEXANDRA STEIGRAD

ITALY GETS HOW TO SPEND IT: The Financial Times has inked a new partnership with newspaper publisher Il Sole 24 Ore to produce an Italian edition of the British

newspaper’s luxury magazine How to Spend It. The Italian edition, which will launch in September, marks How to Spend It’s 20th anniversary. According to the FT, the edition, which will launch with five issues in 2014 and expand to 13 in 2015, will feature content translated from English, as well as content originated in Italy.

The expansion is part of the FT’s continued focus on luxury, a lucrative category for advertising, according to Ben Hughes, the newspaper’s global commercial director and deputy chief executive officer. “The luxury sector has outperformed corporate finance in terms of [ad revenue] growth,” he said. “Corporate finance used to be one the biggest drivers of our revenue, but now luxury is growing more rapidly.”

While Hughes said he’s seen more players, such as T: The New York Times Style Magazine and The Wall Street Journal’s WSJ. magazine, jump into the space, he hasn’t seen a decline in either readers or ad dollars for How to Spend It.

One thing the FT has experienced recently is the departure of its fashion editor, Vanessa Friedman, who played a large role in its luxury coverage. Friedman, who decamped last month for The New York Times, has yet to be replaced. — A.S.

V&A Puts Italy in Spotlight

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy for Bulgari.

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A Gianfranco Ferré ad from 1991.

A women’s knitted ensemble from Missoni, 1972.

FOR MORE PHOTOS, SEE

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Rita Ora Elisa Sednaoui Angela and Rosita Missoni

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10 WWD WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

“Everyone thought they would get married in Versailles. Now Versailles has them forever. This is not a Jeff Koons, it’s a Stéphane Rolland. Kim and Kanye are such an emblematic couple, I thought the only way to immortalized their union would be to sculpt them in gold. But it has to be 18k, my dear, otherwise there is no point.”

— STÉPHANE ROLLAND

“I would make a whole collection of beautiful summer dresses for North, because I know how much they love her, how much she means to them and how precious she is. So if I wanted to make them happy, I would do that.” — ALBER ELBAZ

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“I would gift them a copy of Emily Post’s ‘Etiquette’ book. Kim will need to know how to work a receiving line should they ever find themselves in Buckingham Palace.” — ERIN FETHERSTON

“We would offer Kim and Kanye, the couple who has everything, anonymity. One of the Maison’s most treasured codes.” — MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA

“I would give them all my respect, friendship and love, something which happens quite rarely. I consider Kim an independent woman — just the way I like women. He is awesome. I followed him from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to see one of his shows.”

— ROBERTO CAVALLI

“Kim and Kanye need a massive Goyard trunk emblazoned with a massive ‘K + K’. They can stash it at the end of the bed and fill it with sassy boudoir accoutrements.”

— SIMON DOONAN

“I would get them a matching pair of Kappa tracksuits.

I don’t believe they [have] worn

matching outfits yet and I believe they need to take a leaf

out of Posh and Becks’ books.”

— CHELSEA LEYLAND

“A vintage Leica camera and tripod.” — REECE SOLOMON

“Aren’t they moving to Paris? I’d get them Rosetta Stone for French.” — EMILY WEISS

Bound 2 WedThe cover of Vogue’s April issue featuring Kim Kardashian and Kanye West — the reality star va-va-voom in a custom Lanvin wedding gown, her fiancé’s arms wrapped around her Botticelli-esqe hips — confirmed the inevitable: This wedding will be the pop culture zenith of the summer. The nuptial-themed cover, staged much like a cake topper, is just the beginning of the media hoopla surrounding the big day. While one can only imagine what the actual event will look like — Fire breathers? A marching band? Fighter jets? — it was recently revealed that it will be a relatively intimate affair of less than 200 of their closest and dearest. Invitations have yet to be mailed out, but it’s not too early to start thinking of the perfect wedding gift. WWD asked notables: What would they get the couple that, quite literally, has everything?

“Kim is a fan of our Kiki’s

Derriere Vase, so I think I’d give her my Georgia

Vase, which is covered in

breasts. Nothing says newlyweds

like a little T&A.”— JONATHAN

ADLER

“‘Balloon Venus’ by Jeff Koons would be a perfect gift in terms of shape. I own two given by Bernard Arnault, but I will certainly never ever give mine.” — KARL LAGERFELD

“For the couple that has everything, I’d get them a brand new couch. I heard in Kanye’s remix to ‘Drunk in Love’ that he recently ruined his.”

— REBECCA MINKOFF

▼▼

FOR MORE PHOTOS, SEE

WWD.com/eye.

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WWD.COM11WWD WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

By JOELLE DIDERICH

PARIS — American professional surfer Kelly Slater is separating from sponsor Quiksilver after 23 years and launching his own brand as part of a new partner-ship with Kering.

Kering confirmed the partnership with Slater, adding that it would be “a multilayered relationship” with Kering “supporting Slater in the launch and the development of his own apparel brand, acting as an operational partner provid-ing assistance where possible in areas like sourcing, logistics, e-commerce, etc.”

Slater would become an ambassador for Kering and take part in initiatives across some of the group’s brands, namely in rela-tion to sustainability, it added. A spokeswom-an for the group declined to say whether Kering would take a stake in Slater’s brand.

Slater, 42, earlier took to his Facebook page to reveal the news. He paid tribute

to Quiksilver, which signed him to a 100 percent sponsorship deal in 1990.

“There aren’t enough pages or words to express my heartfelt thanks and ap-preciation for the experiences that have come from this relationship we’ve shared together. So it is with a heavy heart and a lifetime of positive memories that I move in a new chapter of my life,” he wrote.

“For years I’ve dreamt of developing a brand that combines my love of clean liv-ing, responsibility and style. The inspira-tion for this brand comes from the people and cultures I encounter in my constant global travels, and this is my opportunity to build something the way I have always wanted to,” he added.

Slater did not provide any additional details about the partnership with Kering. “They share my values and have the abil-ity to support me in all of my endeavors. I look forward to exploring all of the new opportunities this partnership will pro-vide,” he said.

Kering Partners With Kelly Slater

Fielding Resigns From Claire’s

FASHION SCOOPS

By VICKI M. YOUNG

CLAIRE’S STORES INC. said Jim D. Fielding has resigned as chief executive officer.

He will be replaced by Beatrice Lafon, the current president of Claire’s Europe, effective today.

Lafon said, “As president of Claire’s Europe over the last three years, I have op-erated a multinational business across 15 countries in a challenging macroeconomic environment. As ceo, I look forward to cre-ating value by leveraging best practices, by maximizing the unique talents of both our North American and European teams, as well as by harnessing the strength of our sourcing teams based in Asia.”

The disclosure came as the teen ac-

cessories chain posted fourth-quarter results, in which the company said net income for the three months ended Feb. 1 fell 82.4 percent to $7.4 million from $42.2 million. Net sales fell 11.7 percent to $435.5 million from $493.4 million. The company said consolidated same-store sales fell 10.7 percent for the quarter, with North American same-store sales falling 12 percent and European same-store sales down 8.5 percent.

For the year, the tween and teen ac-cessories chain posted a net loss of $65.3 million against net income of $1.2 million in 2012. Net sales fell 2.8 percent to $1.51 billion from $1.56 billion.

The company in May said it planned to raise $100 million in an initial pub-lic offering, and so far is still waiting in the wings.

INTO THE LIGHT: Another Italian fashion company is eyeing the stock exchange. Marco De Benedetti, managing director and head of The Carlyle Group’s Italian buyout team, said Monday that Italian clothing company Light Force, which controls the Twin-Set Simona Barbieri diffusion label, could go for an initial public offering between the end of 2015 and the first half of 2016.

The Carlyle Group acquired a 70 percent majority stake in Light Force in July 2012.

Established in Capri by Tiziano Sgarbi and Simona Barbieri, who continue to manage the firm, the company closed 2013 with sales up 20 percent compared with the previous year, when Light Force posted revenues of 140 million euros, or about $185 million at average exchange.

— ALESSANDRA TURRA

HEADING TO MARKET: Bagir Group, the Israel-based firm that designs and creates men’s and women’s formalwear for labels and retailers including Arcadia Group, Marks & Spencer and Brooks Brothers — alongside its own brands — is gearing up to float on London’s AIM market. The firm, which is incorporated in Israel and has offices in London and New York, released a Schedule 1 form to the London Stock Exchange detailing its intention to float its shares on the AIM market, the LSE division for smaller and growing companies. Bagir plans for its shares to be admitted to the market April 14.

According to a spokesman, Bagir plans to raise about $35 million with the IPO, and is targeting institutional investors in the U.K. The proceeds of the float will be used to repay debt and to provide working capital to support Bagir’s growth, the spokesman added.

The firm, which counts more than 1,000 employees, designs and sources men’s and women’s tailored clothing. Bagir has a 12.5 percent share of the U.K. men’s tailored clothing market and a 14 percent share of the men’s and women’s formalwear market in the U.K., the spokesman said. Its customers include Brooks Brothers, Jos. A. Bank and Cintas in the U.S., while it produces 40 percent of both M&S and Arcadia Group’s formalwear clothing in the U.K. Bagir’s own brands include the men’s labels Simon Carter and Peckham Rye. — NINA JONES

SHE’S EVERYWHERE: Alexa Chung has been a frequent front-rower at fashion shows for years, so it’s fitting that she will host the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Future of Fashion show.

The British Vogue contributing editor will be on the FIT campus at the May 1 event, which Calvin Klein will sponsor. Chung, who is Glamour Italia’s current cover girl, spoke of her respect for emerging designers. “It takes a lot of guts to have your hard work put on display for others to critique and judge. The fashion industry can be a rude awakening for new designers, and FIT offers these students an amazing opportunity to get a glimpse of what they can expect in the ‘real world,’” she said.

— ROSEMARY FEITELBERG

IN THE FRAME: Brian Phillips, president and owner of Black Frame public relations, has launched Framework, a new division dedicated to art direction,

branding and video production. Operated out of Black Frame’s New York office, Framework offers a roster of services separate from the public relations business. Phillips described

the new venture as a natural evolution of his company’s p.r. services. In the past, he has art-directed campaigns for Black Frame clients including Kenzo, Delfina Delettrez and Rodarte, for which he also coproduced a trilogy of short films by director Todd Cole; Framework is a formalization of such services with a focus on what Phillips calls “narrative content.” He will head the firm along with senior creative manager Joao Moraes, who has previously worked at creative agencies Redscout and Giovanni Bianco.

“I think there’s a huge space for brands digitally and in special events to present content that has a story behind it that goes beyond a backstage video or something that’s very perfunctory or what they’re already doing,” Phillips said. “I’m talking about engaging with screenwriters and directors to really tell the story in a different way.” Framework is currently working on videos for Nicholas Kirkwood and Hermès, as well as a campaign for Monique Péan, which won the competition run by the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and Kate Spade New York in which the finalist receives a full page in the September issue of Vogue.

Phillips opened Black Frame in New York in 2004, with subsequent branches in London and Los Angeles. The company represents fashion labels including Opening Ceremony, Nike, Peter Pilotto and Meadham Kirchhoff, as well as the Frieze Art Fair, The Standard hotels and Visionaire, among other design, art, fashion and lifestyle clients.

— JESSICA IREDALE

PLAID OPTIONAL: For the opening of its New York campus, Glasgow Caledonian University will welcome Scotland’s First Minister, the Rt. Hon. Alex Salmond MSP, for the inaugural Caledonian Lecture. Scheduled to coincide with Scotland Week, the April 7 event will center on “Scotland’s Place in the World.” GCU revealed its plans to open a satellite campus in New York last year, making it the first British university to launch a campus in the city.

On April 8, GCU’s first town hall meeting will be held at its Wooster Street space with Harris Tweed Hebrides creative director Mark Hogarth and chairman Brian Wilson speaking with Brooks Brothers senior fabric specialist Doug Shriver to explore “Fashion Sharing Progress.” Hogarth is a GCU alumnus, and Wilson — a former U.K. trade minister — is a visiting professor in GCU’s Glasgow School for Business and Society. Esquire’s fashion director Nick Sullivan will serve as moderator. — R.F.

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Alexa Chung front row at

Calvin Klein’s fall show.

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