Those Wayward Teens: Economy, Sameness Slash Youth Spending

MILAN — The glory that was Greece, the grandeur that was Rome came back to life for a few brief shining fashion moments this season. At Fendi, Karl Lagerfeld’s dashing renditions of the classical theme took the form of toga-inspired looks,…

NEW YORK — What a tough time to be a teen. The teen consumer, already famed for fickleness, appears to be entering a period of frugality.

With her closets already well stocked and no compelling fashion trend to drive her into the stores,…

WASHINGTON — A host of factors dampened consumer spending and translated into sluggish sales in September and early October, including a tumultuous stock market, the threat of war with Iraq and the West Coast port lockout, the Federal Reserve…

NEW YORK — Stronger third-quarter results in DuPont’s textiles and interiors division, along with a lower estimated tax rate for the year and strength in other units, helped the firm top Wall Street’s expectations.

Investors,…

NEW YORK — May Department Stores has been prohibited from using the “Be” label for its new private label women’s program.

Bebe Stores Inc. was granted a preliminary injunction by a federal district court in its trademark…

GOING ONCE…: The denouement at Yves Saint Laurent couture is finally playing out its final moments. Most remaining employees are slated to exit 5 Avenue Marceau for the last time next Thursday, some nine months after the legendary couturier…

NEW YORK — Surging apparel sales contributed to substantial bottom-line gains for Reebok International Ltd. in the third quarter.

For the three months ended Sept. 30, the Canton, Mass.-based footwear and apparel titan reported a 26.5…

TIFFANY’S IN STORE: Tiffany & Co. plans to open an in-store shop at Le Printemps department store in Paris next month. While Tiffany does not wholesale jewelry or watches, it has a handful of in-store shops that it operates independently of the…

LOS ANGELES — The Pacific Maritime Association said Wednesday it has presented data about continuing, significant union work slowdowns to the U.S. Justice Department, and is seeking court relief.

The association alleges that productivity…

NEW YORK — When the 23 newest members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America faced some of the more senior members of the American design community Tuesday night, it was clear that a few of them were a little nervous about their…

Despite the dismal economy, some fashion firms have managed to achieve growth by reining in expenses, reducing debt and of course, delivering a good product. Return on Equity is a measure of a company’s profitability, calculated as net income…

Miss Sixty’s Seventies Inspiration

It was a month behind, but Miss Sixty pulled it off.

Originally scheduled to open in September, the company celebrated the opening of its flagship Tuesday evening. Located at 386 West Broadway in…

NEW YORK — Fashion and women’s sports have long had an uneasy relationship, but now the two forces are gaining a newfound respect for each other.

The growing tie between fashion and sports was evident in a variety of ways at Monday…

NEW YORK — Short but not sweet. That’s what retailers have to look forward to this Christmas.

With the sluggish economy and six fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, apparel and general merchandise retailers are in…

PARIS — The specter of war with Iraq might hang heavy in the air and global tourism might be on the wane. Still, most buyers shopping the spate of trade shows here following the runway collections this month said they would not cut their spending…

MILAN — While many fashion houses are struggling to keep up with the uncertain economic and political times, Giorgio Armani is continuing an aggressive retail strategy, rolling out new sales points around the world each month.

At the same…

BOSTON — The Massachusetts attorney general has accused Kohl’s Department Stores of violating the state’s sale advertising and pricing regulations.

The move followed a Boston Globe article Oct. 1 finding that certain sale…

“I am really half-Italian,” said Joan Collins at a soiree Tuesday night at Ferragamo’s Fifth Avenue showroom to herald the upcoming American-Italian Cancer Foundation’s Annual Benefit Gala. “It’s the only language I speak.”…

PARIS — Could he be the Greek Ricky Martin?

That’s the buzz around Greek pop star Sakis Rouvas, who’s being billed in the French press as “the Greek phenomenon” during the buildup to his concert tonight at the Olympia Theater…

NEW YORK — Knock, knock.

“Housekeeping!” fibs Vikram Chatwal as he pauses, key in hand, outside the Astaire Suite, just one of 235 rooms in The Majestic, his new hotel (located at 210 West 55th Street), which officially opens next…

Thandie Newton proved she has a lot in common with Audrey Hepburn at the screening of “The Truth About Charlie,” on Tuesday night at Lincoln Center. Not only is her role in the film a reprise of Hepburn’s turn in the 1963 classic thriller…