3rd Time’s No Charm: Drop in 1st Qtr. Sales Dims Levi’s Recovery

PARIS — Shabby gentility was the theme of Junya Watanabe’s winning fall collection, and few materials take to that notion quite as well as tweed. He did heavy wool dresses in houndstooth, herringbone or plaid, all delicately frayed at the…

Levi’s trip on the road to recovery hit a nasty pothole in the first quarter, but the Wal-Mart steamroller is coming soon to smooth the way.

Unlike its much larger predecessor in February, the drop in consumer confidence in March – the fourth straight fall – was hardly a surprise.

PARSONS CHOOSES CHARRON: Parsons School of Design will honor Paul Charron, chairman and chief executive officer of Liz Claiborne Inc., at its 55th annual benefit and fashion show May 1 at the Marriott Marquis-Times Square in New York. The fashion show…

Julianne Moore wore a Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche dress to the Academy Awards. The credit information was not fully stated in Tuesday’s WWD, page 5.

NEW YORK — Angela Cummings is ready to turn the page — and her new chapter will take place away from jewelry and retail.

“We are permanently closing Angela Cummings Inc., which was founded in 1984,” Michele Ateyeh, president and…

CARDONA IN, FRANCER OUT?: Cerruti and David Cardona are close to a deal that would bring on board the Los Angeles-based designer to oversee the collection and the 1881 diffusion line, a move that could in essence bump out Istvan Francer after only two…

The GOP-controlled Senate dealt President Bush and business a setback by cutting more than half the White House’s proposed $726 billion tax cut.

Designer Way Zen likes to infuse her study of Zen into her J. Song collection of suits and separates.

NEW YORK — In an effort to reach out to their consumers, Jones New York is kicking off its “Work/Life Speaker Series” today at Merrill Lynch’s offices here.

The informational event will feature keynote speaker Allison Pearson,…

NEW YORK — The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday designated the site of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire an official city landmark in a ceremony attended by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The fire took place 92…

TOMMY HILFIGER’S NEW EYEWEAR: Tommy Hilfiger’s licensing division has announced a new multiyear global licensing agreement with Viva International Group for the exclusive manufacture and distribution of sunglass and eyeglass products. The…

Men’s wear designer Victoria Grantham looks for inspiration for her first women’s collection in good old American sportswear.

With showtime for Los Angeles’ expanded Fashion Week just days away, the industry is wondering about possible effects of the war.

LOS ANGELES — Stanley Hirsh, a garment manufacturer, real estate mogul and longtime philanthropist here, died Saturday at his Studio City home after suffering from a brain tumor for a year-and-a-half. He was 76.

Hirsh amassed a portfolio…

NEW YORK — The likelihood of turning GQ into a beer and babes (or muscle and fitness) title seemed to diminish Tuesday with the announcement that the magazine’s co-executive editor Jim Nelson has been named its new editor in chief….

Sweden’s crown princess travels…Celebrating with the French…Russell Crowe diets…Zara Phillips makes up…Gisele Bündchen sings.