Arnault’s Bet Pays Off: Christian Dior Hits Stride With $36M Profit in ’02

There probably isn’t a fashion photographer alive who isn’t enamored with the 1966 thriller “Blowup,” which centers around a lensman played by David Hemmings and a murder plot involving Veruschka and Vanessa Redgrave. Tonight, for the…

BIRTHDAY SUITS: The extra men came from all over for American transplant Lee Radziwill’s 70th birthday party in Paris on Monday night. Decorator Nicky Haslam, producer Doug Cramer, “Steel Magnolias” author Robert Harling and bon vivant Taki…

NEW YORK — With the threat of war looming, the Made in USA label stands to pack more of a punch with consumers, and a few activewear companies aren’t afraid to talk it up.

For sneaker giants it’s pretty much a moot point,…

VF Faces Hurdles in Jeans

Executives from VF Corp.’s Jeanswear Coalition said they’re bracing for a rough year in the mass market, but are looking to build their presence in the department and specialty store sectors to keep sales…

LONDON — Hardy Amies, who dressed British royals and socialites for almost half a century and built a major licensed men’s wear business worldwide, died Thursday at his home in Langford, England. He was 93.

Amies died in his sleep,…

The promise of youth lured 150 to New York’s Plaza Athénée on Monday night, where Lancôme celebrated the release of its latest antiwrinkle wonder cream, Résolution, which promises to be Botox in a bottle. Among the guests…

NEW YORK — Platinum isn’t just for the guys anymore.

First introduced for men in 2000, the Platinum Fubu collection has served as the brand’s limited edition line since its launch. Featuring a new character for about four…

NEW YORK — The members of Mötley Crüe have always been known for their ravenous sexual appetites and one member, Nikki Sixx, plans to translate that attitude into fashion.

The notorious rocker will launch a line of men’s…

NEW YORK — Holt Renfrew, the upscale Canadian department store chain, issued a challenge to its contemporary vendors a few months ago: Custom design a jacket that epitomizes the spirit of contemporary fashion.

More than 20 designers from…

The biggest world economies by purchasing power

The fashion industry seems to be obsessed with China. Miuccia Prada has mined the country and culture for creative inspiration, while Versace has opened stores in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong…

NEW YORK — Taubman Centers Inc.’s board has made official its rejection of the $1.74 billion takeover attempt by rival Simon Properties Group and Westfield America.

For now, Simon says…nothing.

In a letter dated March…

NEW YORK — Early same-store sales reports indicate that a lot of February sales volume may have been lost in the drifts of the Presidents’ Day weekend blizzard.

Nordstrom Inc. had to close multiple locations for a number of days…

WASHINGTON — Fears of a war with Iraq and terrorism boosted sales of duct tape, plastic and other hardware goods, but apparel sales sank along with weak consumer spending and flagging confidence in January and February.

Economic activity…

OUT WITH THE NOT-SO-OLD: Karl Lagerfeld is cleaning house again — this time in Biarritz and Monaco — and serious furniture collectors are already buzzing. The designer has turned to Sotheby’s to sell 240 pieces of 20th-century items…

MILAN — Tom Ford’s designs are nothing if not racy and provocative, and that was the case with the striking Gucci collection he showed for fall. This season, he gave his glam Gucci goddess a touch of “Blade Runner” and very bold clothes,…

PARIS — Bernard Arnault is expecting another billion-dollar baby — and it’s due in 2006 or 2007.

That’s when the Christian…

NEW PRESIDENT AT JUDITH JACK: Beth Vogel has taken over as president of Judith Jack, following the departure last month of Michael Horowitz. Vogel, who began on Monday, was formerly the vice president of design, merchandise and marketing at sterling…

Kmart Corp. has been without a chief merchant since May 2002, when Cecil Kearse left his post as executive vice president of merchandising. The date was incorrect in a story on page 3, Wednesday.

PARIS — The global economy and potential for war might weigh heavily on most minds, but those precarious situations didn’t pepper the most pointed queries at a meeting Wednesday here to present Pinault-Printemps-Redoute’s annual…

NEW YORK — While hardly bullish about the new year, Saks Inc. ended 2002 with a bottom-line rush that surprised Wall Street into driving up its stock.

Fourth-quarter net income rose 26.2 percent to $68.1 million, or 47 cents a diluted…

NEW YORK — Neiman Marcus Group unveiled increases in both quarterly and six-month profits and sales late Wednesday, but warned comparable-store sales for the current quarter would be negatively impacted by the recent combination of wintry…

LOS ANGELES — It’s not every day you come upon an actor who made it to Hollywood by way of Cleveland, Cambridge and Christian Dior. But that’s just how 24-year-old Trent Ford landed here during the annual feeding frenzy known as…