Tom Ford’s New Friend? Hear Arnault Calls As Gucci Staff Reels

MILAN — Itsy bitsy, teeny weeny isn’t just about flirting by the waves. It can be stylish, too. Sexy, racy looks were plentiful on the runway for spring, and it’s no wonder they came in the form of swimwear. Always with a touch of…

Sources say Bernard Arnault has already called Tom Ford to request a meeting in the wake of Ford’s resignation from Gucci Group on Tuesday.

BROOKE AND JONES: Jones Apparel Group has gone in for the big names. Brooke Shields, best known for her racy Calvin Klein ads, is the new face of the Jones New York Collection line. The firm already signed Claudia Schiffer for the…

• BUILDING BLASS: The Fashion Institute of Technology hosted a black-tie gala Monday at the Waldorf-Astoria’s Starlight Roof to raise money to build the Bill Blass Center for Innovative Design. The school’s Educational…
  

Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. posted a 4.4 percent gain in second-quarter net income, boosted by double-digit gains in domestic retail operations.

European sales helped lift Tommy Hilfiger’s second-quarter net 6.1 percent to $64.7 million, or 71 cents a share, beating its guidance of 55 to 59 cents.

BERLIN — Boss Woman finally has broken into the black.

Hugo Boss reported Wednesday that, as expected, its struggling women’s wear unit made money, generating $1.2 million in operating profits in the third quarter ended Sept. 30…

Karl causes a traffic jam.

Basil Twist and the power of puppetry as a dramatic medium.

DKNY’s soap opera treat.

Guess posts a comp-store gain.

A Manhattan bankruptcy court judge on Friday approved the extension of denim mill Galey & Lord Inc.’s debtor-in-possession financing package into the new year, according to court papers.

The move to extend through Feb. 15 the credit…

Blaming “extraordinarily difficult times for domestic manufacturers” and competition with foreign mills, denim producer Avondale Inc. reported a $7.7 million net loss for its fiscal year ended Aug. 29. That compares with a $100,000 loss a…

BOSTON — Lisa Schultz, Kmart’s chief creative director and senior vice president, describes her new gig as “very entrepreneurial.”

“I’m not layering on too many rules before I understand how things…

Wrangler is expanding with a licensed line of Wrangler Home products.

Intricate Concepts, a group of five young designers who work behind the scenes.

Eyeshadow launches skirts and intimates.

Unusual look-books.

Eddie Bauer is trying another incarnation of its image, stressing an updated, rugged outdoor style.

Sidelines

Nikki S. Lee goes to pieces.

NEW YORK — Esprit is prowling metropolitan New York for sites to relaunch a retail chain in the U.S. beginning next year.

According to Heinz Krogner, Esprit Holdings’ chief executive officer and chairman for Europe and ceo of Esprit…

Donna Lennox will join the Los Angeles-based Tyte as vice president of sales effective Dec. 1.

She will work with the company’s existing sales team, Billy Kolber, president of sales, and Steven Millman, vice president of West Coast sales….

NEW YORK — With hipsters scavenging for vintage and retro looks, it’s fitting that the Original Penguin by Munsingwear label is back — and with its first store to boot.

“The Fifties, Sixties and Seventies were Original…

LOS ANGELES — A California judge ruled Tuesday that the Mervyn’s department store chain doesn’t have to expand its aisles to ease shopping for disabled customers.

Hayward, Calif.-based Mervyn’s, a unit of Target Corp.,…

BERLIN — Better margins allowed Adidas-Salomon to report healthy third-quarter profit gains as net income increased 14.5 percent to $171.5 million, or $3.78 a share, from $149.8 million, or $3.30, a year ago.

Dollars have been converted…

The European Commission will cap at 17 percent the extra duties it will levy should the U.S. not repeal an export tax subsidy the WTO deems unfair.

NEW YORK — “Rosie O’Donnell shall hold the role of editorial director of the magazine with control over the editorial process and the editorial staff, subject only to the veto of the chief executive.”

This clause…

Catching up with Miguel Adrover, who is back in business on his own, at his Manhattan loft.

The most expensive retail streets in the world, ranked by rent per square foot

TOKYO — Higher costs combined with flat sales to lower first-half profits at The Shiseido Group.

The firm said that net income for the six months ended Sept. 30 dropped 33.6 percent to $60.2 million. Dollar figures have been converted…