Fashion News Alert: Armani to Produce Medical Overalls, Ralph Lauren Donates to COVID-19 Relief, Neiman Marcus on Track Toward Bankruptcy, and the Designers of “Making the Cut”

March 25, 2020 by Leave a Comment

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Amazon Prime’s “Making the Cut” airs on March 27. And unlike “Project Runway,” “Making the Cut” is more about branding than the creativity behind making garments.

“We decided very early in the development process that we wanted Making the Cut to focus on the branding element of creating a successful fashion business, not just the design element,” said executive producer Sara Rea in a fashionweekdaily.com article. “I worked with Heidi and Tim for so many years on “Project Runway” and there just weren’t many people on that show who were really able to build a successful brand afterwards. We wanted to make sure that wasn’t the case with “Making the Cut,” so we selected people with business and marketing skills as well as design skills; people we were ready to take their businesses to the next level.”

That said, Fashion Reverie thought it would be great to highlight some of the designers featured on “Making the Cut.” And surprise, surprise, Fashion Reverie has reviewed the collection of the two of the designers on the Amazon Prime show when they presented at New York Fashion Week (NYFW).

Rinat Brodach, New York City, launched her namesake brand in 2014. Fashion Reverie featured Brodach on the site several times.

Jon Cota, Los Angeles, launched SKINGRAFT in 2006 and was a regular presence at NYFW when NYFW was located at Lincoln Center. Fashion Reverie also regularly reviewed SKINGRAFT collections.

Esther Perbrandt, Berlin, launched her eponymous brand in 2005. Her design aesthetic is a mix of Parisian chic, Berlin hipster, and Moscow avant-garde, and always in black. Salute the urban street warrior!!

Martha Gottwald’s brand Neubryne is known for unexpected silhouettes in bold color.

Megan Smith launched her Los Angeles-based brand in 2007. Smith distinguishes her brand by centering her collections on bold color, feminine silhouettes with sexy details, and girly whimsy.

Joshua Hopper is a part of the design duo behind Babyghost. The 10-year old brand is based in Shanghai.

“Making the Cut’” is co-hosted and executive produced by Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn. “Making the Cut” premieres of Amazon Prime on March 27 in 10 episodes.

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Ralph Lauren does his part

As the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to cause havoc to public health systems globally and global financial markets, some folks in the fashion industry have committed to try to stem the tide of this pandemic with some financial assistance.

The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation, in a series of commitments, will aid the World Health Organization‘s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Additionally, the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation will provide financial assistance to all Ralph Lauren colleagues who are facing financial, childcare, eldercare, and health-related challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. This combined financial contribution will be a commitment of over $10 million dollars.

“At the heart of our company, there has always been a spirit of togetherness that inspires our creativity, our confidence and most importantly: our support for one another. In the past weeks and months, that spirit has never wavered,” said Ralph Lauren, executive chairman and chief creative officer, in a recent press release.

“In addition, the Ralph Lauren Corporation is starting the production of 250,000 masks and 25,000 isolation gowns with our [US] manufacturing partners,” stated the brand, as reported in fashionnetwork.com. “We recognize that this is an unprecedented, multifaceted crisis which demands different responses for different needs in different places. That is why we are funding multiple activities to support our teams, our partners and our communities around the world,” said Patrice Louvet, president and chief executive officer. 

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Armani to produce medical overalls

Armani jumps to the help and assist with the global coronavirus pandemic by producing single-use medical overalls at the company’s Italian production plants. The lack of enough disposable medical overalls has been one of the challenges in Italy’s fight against COVID-19.

Armani, early on, has been in the forefront of fighting COVID-19 in Italy. The company has already donated 2 million euros to Italian hospitals. A group of Italian textile manufacturers and fashion designers are coming together to produce millions of protective face masks to combat COVID-19 in Italy.

 

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Trouble for Neiman Marcus

American megastore Neiman Marcus is saddled with a $4.3 billion dollar debt load. Neiman Marcus’ debt load stems from its 2013 leveraged buyout by Ares and Canadian public pension fund CPPIB from other private equity firms.

According to Bloomberg News, Neiman Marcus is in talks with lenders about a potential bankruptcy loan. This loan with keep the financially burdened megastore’s doors open while it comes up with a company restructuring plan.

Like many major US retail megastores—JC Penny, Sears, Barneys New York, and Lord & Taylor—Neiman Marcus has been struggling for some time with declining sales. And the temporary shutdown of most US retail stores due to the coronavirus pandemic will not help Neiman Marcus’ challenge.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Kylie Jenner to Assist Surgeon General, Bangladesh Factories Suffer, Heidi and Tim Are Back, and JC Penny, J. Jill, and Skechers Temporarily Close Stores

March 19, 2020 by 1 Comment

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If you have missed Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn on “Project Runway,” there is no need to fret. The duo is returning to reality television, but not on “Project Runway.” On March 27, “Making the Cut” will debut on Amazon Prime, and Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn will be the hosts. There will also be some outstanding judges—Chiara Ferragni, Joseph Altuzarra, Naomi Campbell, Nicole Ritchie, and Carine Roitfeld.

This new venture for Heidi and Tim will showcase 12 fashion entrepreneurs who are competing and positioning their fashion brand as the next great fashion brand. The winning design from each episode will be available for sale on the “Making the Cut” store on Amazon. The winner will receive a $1 million dollars and have the entire collection produced and sold exclusively on Amazon.

“Making the Cut” will premiere on March 27, running until April 24. Klum and Gunn are executive producers of “Making the Cut.”

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Three big US retailers temporarily close

JC Penny, J. Jill, and Skechers have temporarily closed their stores to help curb the growing spread of the coronavirus. They are not the only chain stores that are shuttering stores due to the coronavirus pandemic. Buckle, The Gap, Cato, Zumiez, and Destination XL are also closing stores temporarily.

JC Penny will close its 846 stores, as well as its business offices, until April 2. J. Jill has promised to continue to pay its employees as it shutters its 280 stores nationwide until March 27.

And Skechers will close its retail locations in North America and select European footwear stores until March 28. “We are monitoring our business and the impact of the virus in all countries and will continue to close stores as we feel needed,” commented Skechers COO David Weinberg in a release, as reported in fashionnetwork.com.

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Kylie Jenner uses her social media reach

US Surgeon General Jerome Adams has enlisted the services of beauty mogul Kylie Jenner and other social media influencers to help combat the spread of the coronavirus. Prior to the urgings of Surgeon General Adams, Kylie Jenner had already implored her 166 million followers on Instagram to take note of the pandemic.

“Another daily reminder to take this social distancing serious and self-quarantine.” She added that she was already on day eight of her own quarantine, adding that her pregnancy prepared her for this. “I didn’t leave the house for months,” Kylie wrote.

Taking advantage of Kylie Jenner and other social media influencers significant following Surgeon General Adams explains, “What we really need to do is get our influencers out—[basketball players] Kevin Durant, Donavon Mitchell. We need to get Kylie Jenner. We need to get our social media influencers out there in helping folks understand that, look, this is serious, this is absolutely serious, people are dying.” Adams continues, “Think about your grandmother, think about your grandfather. You’re spreading disease and that could be what ultimately kills them.”

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More woes for Bangladesh factory workers

Manufacturers expressed concern that orders in the amount of $138 million have been cancelled or delayed from Bangladesh factories due to the coronavirus pandemic. More than 100 factories in Bangladesh have lost orders, causing extreme economic hardship on Bangladesh factory workers.

“We are totally dependent on our export proceeds,” said Rubana Huq, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, which has more than 4,000 members. [Our] plea to the brands has been to continue taking our orders until June. And to support us in any form so that the workers don’t go hungry … how will their lives and livelihood be sustained if there are cancellations?”

Bangladeshi labor activists have confirmed that no workers have lost their jobs; but are afraid of layoffs due to the cancellation of orders. “These workers live hand-to-mouth and they are panicked because they have heard that orders are being cancelled,” Kalpona Akter, founder of the Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity, in a fashionnetwork.com article.

Bangladesh garment factories employ more than $4 million workers, mostly women, supplying 80% of the country’s exports. Bangladesh is the second largest garment supplier, behind China. Bangladesh has reported on 17 coronavirus infections, with one death.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: New York International Bridal Week Goes Digital, Sao Paulo Fashion Week Cancelled, and Donatella Versace Donates Money to Combat Coronavirus

March 12, 2020 by Leave a Comment

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New York International Bridal Week is going digital for the spring 2021 season. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, The Bridal Council and the CFDA that New York International Bridal Week, that was to take place April 16 through April 18 will be a digital experience for bridal editors, journalists, buyers and other fashion industry professionals.

In a press release from The Bridal Council, the Bridal Council states, “As everyone’s health and well-being is our main concern, this approach will allow for the designers’ collections to be seen by the retailers, media and other industry professionals, without needing to travel to NYC.

We ask the designers to present their collection via Zoom or Join Me technology, (allowing an audience of up to 500 to log on to their computers & see the collection at one time). The camera will become the audience and the designer or sales director can show the collection on a few models or from the rack.  This is a suggestion and realize that some brands may opt for an alternate way to present their collection.”

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Donatella gives back

Donatella Versace has donated 200,000 euros to the intensive card ward of Milan’s San Raffaele hospital. Donatella’s daughter Allegra Versace Beck is assisting her mother in this endeavor.

“In times like this, it is important to be united and support however we can help all those who are in the front lines, fighting every day to save hundreds of lives,” said Versace in a statement. “This is why, Allegra and I have decided to make a personal donation of 200,000 euros to the intensive care department of San Raffaele hospital in Milan. Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected by this disease and to all the doctors and medical staff who have been working heroically non-stop in the past weeks in the effort to take care of our loved ones. This is when we, as a society, need to stand together and care for one another,” said Donatella as reported in a dailyfrontrow.com.

Several Italian designers have contributed to Italian hospitals that are battling the coronavirus. That includes Giorgio Armani, Chiara Ferragamo, Sergio Rossi, Carla Fendi, and others. French fashion conglomerate Kering has made a 2-million-euro donation to healthcare institutions in areas key to the company across Italy. Italy has the most cases of coronavirus infection of any Western country.

photo courtesy of Gabriel Cappelletti/ FOTOSITE

Sao Paulo Fashion Week cancelled

According to WWD, Sao Paulo Fashion Week has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Sao Paulo Fashion Week was set to occur from April 24 through April 28. “Due to the recent announcement of COVID-19 pandemic, Sao Paulo Fashion Week has decided to cancel all shows scheduled for April 24 to 28,” co-founder Graca Cabral told WWD.

This cancellation comes on the heels of several fashion event and fashion week cancellations. Tokyo Fashion Week which was set to take place March 16 to March 21 has been cancelled. The remainder of Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival, which was already taking place, has been cancelled. And several fashion houses—Prada, Hermes, Gucci, Max Mara, Versace, and Giorgio Armani—have cancelled their upcoming Resort and 2021 Cruise fashion shows and presentations.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Revlon Layoffs, Tommy Hilfiger Celebrates 35 Years, Met Gala Not Afraid of Coronavirus, and Olsen Twins Sued

March 6, 2020 by Leave a Comment

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Tommy Hilfiger is celebrating its 35th Anniversary with some very special friends. Inspired by Tommy Hilfiger’s love of sailing, the Tommy Hilfiger Icons collection has a red, white, and blue color palette and a more relaxed design aesthetic to reflect a modern sensibility.

The Tommy Hilfiger Icons campaign stars Winnie Harlow, Candice Swanepoel, and Hannah Ferguson with the campaign photographed by Oliver Hardlee Pearch. This collection will be available in stores and online this month.

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Mary-Kate and Ashley in court

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are being sued by David Schulte, the former president of their brand, The Row. David Schulte was also a former boyfriend of Ashley Olsen. Their relationship ended two years before Schulte was promoted to president of The Row.

Schulte abruptly left The Row in October of 2019. The reasons were not apparent. Early this week Schulte filed a lawsuit against their company, Dualstar Entertainment, and both Mary-Kate and Ashley. The nature of the lawsuit has not been revealed. In fact, has been sealed from the press.

The Row has won several awards, including five CFDA Awards, after launching in 2006. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are sitting atop an empire valued at $400 million dollars.

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Revlon expects to save $230 million by the end of 2022 by laying off over 1,000 employees. This comes as the iconic brand is struggling to attract younger consumers.

Revlon’s sales have declined over the past five quarters with market share for the first quarter of 2020 down below expectation. 87% of Revlon’s stake is owned by billionaire Ronald Perelman, who stated last August that he was exploring options for Revlon.

Revlon’s expected layoff is a part of a restructuring plan. The restructuring plan is meant to lower the company’s selling, general, and administrative costs.

“The Revlon 2020 restructuring program includes rightsizing the organization and operating with more efficient workflows and processes that the company implemented during the 2018 optimization program,” the company said in a marketwatch.com article.

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The Met Gala is still on, for now

Despite all the cancellations happening because of fears around the coronavirus, the 2020 Met Gala is still in place. The star-studded even is schedule for May 4 in New York City.

“We are proceeding as planned and look forward to a wonderful evening,” explained Nancy Chilton, chief external relations office of the Costume Institute. “We will continue of course to keep an eye on the situation.”

The theme for this year’s Met Gala is: “About Time: Fashion and Duration.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute curator, Andrew Bolton, as reported in Allure magazine, explained that fashion and time are inextricably connected. “It not only reflects and represents the spirit of the times, but it also changes and develops with the times,” he told the publication. The 2020 Met Gala co-chairs are Meryl Streep, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Louis Vuitton’s creative director, Nicolas Ghesquière.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Yolanda Hadid’s Runway Return, Corona Virus Prompts Layoffs at Asian Factories, and D’Angelo Russell Collabs with H&M

February 27, 2020 by Leave a Comment

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Former model and “Housewives of Beverly Hills” reality television star Yolanda Hadid returned to runway during Paris Fashion Week. Yolanda Hadid walked in the Off-White fall 2020 runway show with daughters Bella and Gigi respectively closing and opening the show.

Yolanda Hadid wore a white blazer with black graffiti detail, navy trousers and sandals. She also rocked oversized angular earrings, sharp rectangular sunglasses and a black chain necklace, while carrying a large clutch. 

Yolanda Hadid, Yolanda van der Herik before marrying real estate broker Mohammed Hadid, was a fashion model in the 1980s. Discovered by the legendary Eileen Ford and signed to Ford Models. Yolanda modeled in Paris, Milan, Sydney, Cape Town, Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles and Hamburg for 15 years before her marriage to Mohammed Hadid.

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Corona virus causes manufacturing disruptions

The Corona Virus is having a negative effect on the garment industry in Asia. Many factories all over Asia are experiencing a cancellation of orders from major retailers. Low-wage workers all over Asia are beginning to experience layoffs due to disruption of supply chains.

Asia supplies sixty percent of the world’s readymade garments, accounting for $290 billion dollars, according to 2015 statistics from the World Trade Organization. That said, because of the corona virus 10 factories in Cambodia have already applied to suspend operations and would pay partial payment to over 3,000 workers.

Bangladesh depends on the manufacture of readymade garments as a mainstay of their economy. Garment manufacturing represents 16% of national output and about $34 billion worth of exports. “Almost 70% of our woven fabrics come from China and naturally if goods do not arrive on time, the readymade garments industry will be affected. If the crisis in China is prolonged, the impact would be severe,” Nasir said as reported in a fashionnetwork.com article.

To produce readymade garments, China supplies much of the textile and products—such as buttons, zippers, clamps, hooks etc.—for these garments. Because of the Corona Virus, Asian factories are looking to other sources for these products. “It is not easy to shift the sourcing destination overnight. But buyers are currently looking for alternative sources,” said Siddiqur Rahman, a leading garment exporter.

Myanmar gets 90% of its fabric from China and the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association contends that 500 factories could shut down if this health crisis continues. A larger question is if consumers will be willing to pay more for garments as a result of this health pandemic? Time will tell!!

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D’Angelo and H&M

Minnesota Timberwolves Starting Guard D’Angelo Russell has snagged a fashion collaboration with H&M. Russell will curate a collection of fashion-meets-function menswear pieces to launch on February 27.

The curated collection will feature 19 pieces, ranging from athletic-inspired items and neutral-toned, polished casual pieces. “I’m honored to be able to share my personal style with fans and customers,” Russell said. “Can’t wait to see how people individually add their own take on ‘Spring Essentials Selected by D’Angelo Russell.’” 

Russell promotes the collaboration by starring in the ‘Spring Essential by D’Angelo Russell’ video and campaign. Price points range between $12.99 to $69.99.

William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Rachel Roy’s Ex-Spouse Problems, Old Navy to Leave China, and FIT Fashion Controversy, and Hearst Execs Meet with Union

February 19, 2020 by Leave a Comment

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Fashion designer Rachel Roy somehow manages to keep her name in the papers. Whether it is allegedly being “Becky with the good hair” in one of Beyonce’s songs, or the subject of a fight between Solange Knowles and Jay Z, or her courtroom battle to take back her fashion brand from Jones NY, Rachel Roy is always making headlines.

Rachel is making news this week as ex-hubby Damon Dash is pursuing a fraud lawsuit against Rachel Roy and her company, Rachel Roy Brands. Dash claims that Rachel Roy has been hiding “stacks of cash” that are rightfully his. Dash contends in his fraud allegations that Rachel Roy “manipulated, diverted, misappropriated, transferred, concealed and embezzled funds.”

Damon Dash was a co-founder of Rock-A-Fella Records with Jay Z and Kareem Burke, later serving as Jay Z’s manager. When Rachel Roy founded her fashion company in 2008, she was still married to Damon Dash, and according to Damon Dash he owned shares in her company.

Dash further contends that as a shareholder in his ex-wife’s fashion company he was owned royalty payments of $175,000 in 2014 and over $200,000 in 2015, the sums of which he was never paid. Dash claims that Rachel Roy got around paying these royalty claims by underestimating profits and filing misleading statements about her company’s value. Dash is also suing a host of accountants, lawyers, and others who he claims conspired with Rachel Roy.

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The Union has it

Hearst executives have finally met with members of the Union Organization Committee and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE).  Hearst staffers and the WGAE contend that Hearst has been involved in staff intimidation and union busting by suppressing the labor rights of some staff members at Hearst. These allegations came to surface in December 2019 and since that time the National Labor Review Board (NLRB) has been called in to investigate the claims.

On Tuesday, some Hearst execs has a positive meeting with the Union Organization Committee and the WGAE; still, all parties are waiting for the NLRB to schedule a meeting for an election to unionize. The Hearst Media Union filed for an election in December, expecting an election to take place in January. However, Hearst executives claim that The Hearst Media Union is not a legitimate union organization.

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Trouble for FIT

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) has come under scrutiny. The fashion industry and many fashion fans have expressed outrage at FIT’s MFA Fashion show, presented during New York Fashion Week (NYFW), in which one of the MFA design graduates (Junkai Huang) presented a collection with models wearing bulbous lips, wooly eyebrows, and monkey ears.

Some fashion industry professionals felt that Huang’s caricatures were reminiscent of Miuccia Prada’s 2018 controversial and racially insensitive, golliwog keychains. One black model, Amy Lefevre, staunchly refused to wear the racially insensitive gear, walking in only Huang’s garments. “As soon as I saw the pieces, I started shaking. I felt it was very racist,” Amy Lefevre, 25, told TODAY Style. “I made it clear that I was uncomfortable.”

FIT President Joyce F. Brown weighed in on the incident, “Regrettably, we failed in this instance to recognize a creative statement that could have negative consequences. There is no room for error, which can be interpreted as racism, homophobia, religious intolerance or any kind of bigotry.”

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Bye bye China

In less than two weeks, Old Navy will be exiting China. Old Navy will close all of its 10 stores, six which are in Beijing on March 1. The Chinese online retail store Tmall has already stopped selling Old Navy merchandise and products.

The decision was made to close Old Navy stores in China so that its parent company, The Gap Inc., can concentrate on stores in North America. Plans to exit China was announced by The Gap, Inc. in November 2019. Old Navy opened its first stores in China in 2014.

Wiliam S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Marc Jacobs Adds Model to His Portfolio, GAP Closes More Stores, and Julian Woodhouse Competes

January 29, 2020 by Leave a Comment

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Marc Jacobs has a new job!! Jacobs has a long and extensive resume from successful fashion designer of a slew of eponymous fashion brands to being the former creative director of Louis Vuitton to being a fashion celebrity.

Well, Jacobs can now add to job to his long list of accomplishments, fashion model. Jacobs, along with legendary British actress Charlotte Rampling, is the new face of Givenchy spring 2020 campaign.

The campaign was photographed by Craig McDean and also includes a short film. In the film Rampling slaps Jacobs while the two face off. The Givenchy spring 2020 campaign drops on November 29.

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More store closings

This past Sunday, The Gap Inc. closed 40 stores. These stores were located in the US, the UK, and Canada. Closed locations include Gap stores in Tuscon, Arizona; Emeryville, California; Long Beach, California; Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; Toronto, Canada; London, England; and Perth, Scotland, among others. These store closings were a part of The Gap Inc. restructuring plan which includes closing 230 stores over the next two years.

This 2019 restructuring plan includes closing Old Navy stores in China, while focusing more of Old Navy and Athleta stores in the North America with more brick-and-mortar stores in the US and Canada. Of all the Gap Inc. stores brands, Old Navy is the most successful.

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Julian Woodhouse competes on Netflix

Menswear fashion designer Julian Woodhouse is among the list of competitors on Netflix‘s new fashion reality show, “Next in Fashion.” There are eighteen designers on the 10-episode “Next in Fashion,” with Alexa Chung and Tan France. The winner receives USD$250,000 and can debut a collection with Net-a-Porter, a luxury fashion retailer.
Julian Woodhouse launched his menswear line, WOODHOUSE Army, in 2015 while serving in the US military in Seoul Korea as a lieutenant. WOODHOUSE Army has consistently been shown during New York Fashion Week: Men’s.

“Next in Fashion” debuts on Netflix on January 29, 2020.
William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Conde Nast to Shutter Glamour, LL Cool J’s Fashion Tease, Halston’s New Chief Creative Officer, and Margiela Collabs with Reebok

January 23, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Photo by Anthony Behar/FOX/PictureGroup/Shutterstock (10516039bu)

Rap Artist/Actor LL Cool J aka Todd Smith is making a fashion comeback. His eponymous fashion Todd Smith by LL Cool J was carried by Sears and some other mega retail stores in 2008. And though LL Cool J’s first fashion line didn’t break any retail records and was discontinued almost as soon as it launched, the rap icon did not get a sour fashion taste in his mouth, so to speak.

LL is back with a new fashion line, named at his first hit rap song, “Rock the Bells.” This retro fashion line—which stays true to the rap traditions of Slick Rick, Curtis Blow, and Big Daddy Kane—will be a limited run of apparel.

We’re staying true to where the culture came from, but reimagined for now,” explained LL Cool J. “Two years ago, I launched my radio station #RockTheBellsSXM CH43 on #SiriusXM,” the artist wrote on the social media platform, as reported on fashionnetwork.com. “And one week from now, we will release our first limited edition collection of RTB products.”

The Rock The Bells collection will be available January 28 and will include 80s-styled hoodies, tee shirts, and record label-branded varsity jackets. About his new fashion line, LL Cool J contends, “I’m an MC. I’m a product of the culture, I represent the culture, so I’m lifting up the culture!!!”

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Au revoir Glamour

It appears that Condé Nast is about to shutter another print publication. On Wednesday, the French agency AFP confirmed that Condé Nast has intentions of closing down Glamour magazine.

“Following a painstaking assessment, Condé Nast France can confirm it intends to close down Glamour. The process will involve consultations with staff over a period of several months,” a Mind Media newsletter confirmed. According the newsletter Glamour is closing due to financial concerns.

In an attempt to deal with its dwindling readership, in 2018 Glamour switched to bi-monthly publishing. However, sales continued to decline, falling to 120,000 copies which was down from 220,000 copies in 2017, according to ACPM.

In the US and UK, Glamour has already converted to an online publication, while the Italian edition closed in 2019. Glamour is published in France.

Image couresy of fillermagazine.com

Halston’s new boss

The Halston brand continues to shake things up. The brand has experienced several creative directors since its eponymous founder, Roy Halston Frowick, passed away in 1990. And some of the former heads are quite illustrious—Sarah Jessica Parker to Tamara Mellon to Rachel Zoe.

Now the iconic label has a new chief creative officer, Robert Rodriguez. “I always thought Robert Rodriguez was the perfect choice for leading the Halston brand,” said Andrea Scoli, president of Halston. “Having worked with him for so many years, I truly felt that his aesthetic and vision for Halston would be an asset to us in supporting our future growth.”

Robert Rodriguez got his start in fashion working for Christian Dior under Marc Bohan in 1990. In 2003, Rodriguez launched his eponymous fashion line.

 “I am honored and delighted to be part of Halston,” Rodriguez said in a statement, as reported on fashionweekdaily.com. “Roy Halston Frowick was the creator of luxury American fashion. It is with great respect and admiration that I continue to lead the legacy and his iconic signature.”

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Galliano collabs

John Galliano has scored a collaboration. Well, that is his first with Maison Margiela—where has been the creative director since 2014. This also marks the first time Galliano has collaborated with a mainstream brand.  

For Galliano’s collaboration with sneaker giant Reebok, Galliano is bringing back Maison Margiela’s tabi shoe, first shown in 1988. But this time in sneaker form.

The Margiela x Reebok sneaker made its debut at Margiela’s recent couture collection. The sneaker shoe is unisex with the classic tabi split toe and comes in yellow. The sneaker will in Maison Margiela stores later in the year in a variety of colors and in flat and heeled styles.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Jean-Paul Gaultier Retires from Haute Couture, Sofia Carson’s New Gig, Harper’s Bazaar’s Glenda Bailey Steps Down

January 16, 2020 by Leave a Comment

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Jean-Paul Gaultier is ending his haute couture career. On Thursday, Gaultier announced that is end his extraordinary career in haute couture. Gaultier’s fashion career has spanned 50 years, with his next couture show taking place at the Theatre du Chatelet on January 22 being his last couture show.

“It’s going to be quite a party with many of my friends and we’re gonna have fun until very, very late,” says Gaultier. “Now I am going to share something with you. This will be my last Haute Couture show. Be there! You can’t miss this.”

That said; Gaultier’s haute couture collections will continue without Gaultier being at the helm. Stay tuned … Gautier Paris will go on; the Haute Couture continues!” Gaultier promised, “I have a new concept. I’ll tell you all about it later … all the little secrets. Bisou!”

Image courtesy of harpersbazaar.com

Glenda is moving on
Long-time Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Glenda Bailey has stepped down after 19 years. As of March 1, Bailey will take on a new role as a global consultant for Harper’s Bazaar‘s 29 global editions.

Bailey become Harper’s Bazaar’s editor-in-chief in 2001 and is credited for turning the monthly fashion publication around. “I’ve wanted Bazaar to be a party that everyone is invited to, and I thank my incredibly talented team for helping me do just that,” said Bailey, “Fashion and beauty are my career and my hobby—there’s nothing that inspires me more.”

Before Bailey became editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar, Bailey in 1988 saw the launch of the British edition of Marie Claire.

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A new job for Sofia Carson
Actress/Singer Sofia Carson has a new job. Carson has been named a brand ambassador for Revlon.

“The heart of what Revlon speaks to is the woman I was raised to be—from Audrey [Hepburn] to Adwoa [Aboah] to Ashley Graham, they’re not only beautiful faces but philanthropists and activists,” Carson told WWD in an interview as reported in fashionnetwork.com.

WWD also reports that Carson will be the brand ambassador for Revlon’s Super Lustrous’ lipstick and Super Stay foundation along with top models Ashley Graham and Adwoa Aboah.

Sofia Carson has 15.5 followers on Instagram. Carson is known for her role on “Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionist.”
—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Taraji Henson to Launch Haircare Line, Frank Ocean’s Prada Menswear Campaign, Billy Porter Media Blitz, and Jimmy Choo’s New Men’s Fragrance

January 9, 2020 by Leave a Comment

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If winning an Emmy is not enough for Taraji Henson, then launching a haircare line may satiate Henson’s need to continue to explore creative and economic opportunities outside of the entertainment industry. Henson’s haircare brand, TPH by Taraji, is set to officially launch in Target stores on January 29.

TPH by Taraji is an 18-piece series that will include cleansing and care, repair, treatment stylers, and scalp-care products, all designed for different hair types and hair textures. “I know that if I didn’t go into acting, I would have been a cosmetologist,” Henson told People magazine about her new haircare venture.

Image courtesy of fashionista.com

Billy Porter proliferation

In case you haven’t noticed, Billy Porter is everywhere. From the 2019 Met Gala to a plethora of red-carpet and talk show appearances to recently winning an Emmy. Talk about media proliferation!!

“When I get off airplanes now, sometimes “TMZ” is waiting in L.A. I’m going to be dripping in Thom Browne, walking through the airport,” said Porter. “I’m not hiding. Not going to be in a baseball hat. I’m not doing that. I’m going to be proud of what I [f****ng] worked for. I’m here; I’m not hiding in anybody’s corner. Yes, it’s me; I’m not taking no pictures; God bless you.”

Well, Porter can add one more notch to his belt. Porter graces the February 2020 cover of Allure magazine, making him the first man cast on the cover of Allure’s “Art of Beauty” cover. This is a first in the magazine’s 29-year history.

“We’ve had many conversations in our office about the so-called trend of ‘genderless’ beauty,” Editor-in-chief Michelle Lee writes in her editor’s letter, as reported in fashionweekdaily.com. “But a trend implies a flash-in-the-pan birth and death. Plus, beauty (and beauty products) have never had a gender. The LGBTQ+ community has a long, rich history of artistry and experimentation, often using hair and makeup and clothing as their tools.”

Image courtesy of them.com

The new face of Prada menswear

The use of celebrities as the face of fashion campaigns continues into 2020. Pop singer Frank Ocean is the face of Prada’s spring 2020 menswear campaign. Prior to this current campaign acquisition, Ocean starred in Calvin Klein’s fall 2016 campaign, and graced the covers of W, Dazed, and GQ magazines in the US, all in 2019.

For the spring 2020 season, Prada is focusing on “duality, multiplicity as constant reinvention and renewal,” as detailed in a recent fashionnetwork.com article. Prada’s spring 2020 menswear campaign was photographed by David Sims.

Image courtesy of fragranceblvd.com

Jimmy Choo’s new fragrance

When you think of Jimmy Choo, images of “Sex and the City’s” Carrie Bradshaw in slamming stilettos, or Amazonian models strutting their stuff on global runways with authority and panache flood your senses. That said; a man’s fragrance is not a part of the brand’s DNA nor does it conjure up images of the Jimmy Choo that we all love and adore.

Well, that’s about to change!! Inspired by street art and the artistic sensibility that lies dormant in every man, Jimmy Choo has released its new fragrance for men, Urban Hero. The Jimmy Choo man of 2020 is daring, yet sensitive, rebellious, yet sophisticated, and always an artist at heart. And this new fragrance speaks to that very guy!!

Designed by perfumers Antoine Maisondieu and Marion Costero, Urban Hero contains notes of lemon caviar and black pepper, as well as heart of rosewood and vetiver. The eau de parfum finishes off with base notes of grey amber and leather accord. “We wanted to create a modern urban signature to capture the spontaneous nature of street art, using blends of colours and textures, the way that street artists do,” explained Masiondieu and Costero.

Urban Hero is sold exclusively at Jimmy Choo and Sephora stores. Prices start at $98.

—William S. Gooch

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