More Muscle for Macy’s: Federated Rebranding builds $13.5B Chain

TUESDAY, SEPT. 14
9 a.m.: Ellen Tracy, The Bryant, Bryant Park.
9-11 a.m.: Banana Republic (editor preview), 675 Sixth Avenue.
10 a.m.: Michael Kors (women’s and…

NEW YORK — Over-the-top seems to be over this season, abandoned in favor of a softer, more subtle approach. The spring runways were full of easy, clean looks from various designers who either made a departure from the looks of previous seasons or…

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony took center stage at Coty’s centenary party at the American Museum of Natural History Sunday Night.

Frederick and Laurent Lesort are opening a very posh, very sophisticated, highly exclusive new club, Fredericks, in New York.

Recent cutbacks at Gruner + Jahr USA Publishing have prompted speculation the company may be preparing itself for a sale to Hachette Filipacchi Media.

BABY BOOM: Maternitywear designer Liz Lange inadvertently upset at least one high-profile editor last week when she sent out a personal e-mail inviting people to sit in the front row of her Sept. 9 show. The e-mail read, “I know…

Groupe Batteur Looking to Grow

NEW YORK — The fledgling U.S. subsidiary of Caen, France-based Groupe Batteur is set to expand.

Groupe Batteur USA, a two-year-old, New York-based company, is armed with no less than five…

The candidates’ wives — Teresa Heinz Kerry and First Lady Laura Bush — were on the stump talking about a key campaign issue: the economy.

NEW YORK — A pop of color on a pretty dress feels just right for spring. That’s just one of the trends expected at the New York installation of Designers & Agents. The show will be held Sept. 27-29, at the Starrett-Lehigh Building….

NEW YORK — Buyers striving to put together assortments that are anything but mall-ish should find some good fishing at the Designers & Agents trade show, set for Sept. 27-29 at the Starrett-Lehigh Building in Manhattan.

Smaller stores…

Soft but sexy romanticism underscored the message at the Prêt à Porter and Who’s Next trade shows at the Porte de Versailles in Paris.

NEW YORK — In a sense, Rena Lange is going back to its roots with this fall’s introduction of a made-to-measure collection in the U.S.

Founded in 1916 in Munich as a lingerie maker, the company was primarily focused on couture by…

NEW YORK — Carla Slocum has joined Halston as vice president of women’s wear, confirming reports in WWD earlier this month.

In the new post, Slocum is responsible for setting up the Halston Design Group that will oversee licensing…

NEW YORK — Siena Studio is banking on some foul weather.

Known primarily for its leather and suede jackets, the 20-year-old company is introducing rainwear this spring. Ponchos, quilted coats and casual jackets are featured in the 16-piece…

NEW YORK — Susan Nappe has been named executive vice president, wholesale, at Gianni Versace Distribution, the U.S. wholesale operating arm of Gianni Versace, SpA.

Most recently, Nappe was North American wholesale director for Bottega…

MADRID — The SIMM show, Madrid’s biannual apparel fair, surprisingly wasn’t jinxed by the threat of increased Asian competition or stagnant European economies.

In general, high-end producers reported positive buyer reaction…

While some will still be sending out their spring looks on the runways, designers will be keeping an eye out on fabrics for fall 2005. Next week’s Première Vision in Paris will no doubt spark many ideas. Among the biggest trends there will…

PARIS — Pascaline Wilhelm, fashion director at Première Vision, Europe’s top fabric fair, tells buyers to be on the lookout for fabrics with strong texture and interesting weaving techniques at the upcoming edition of the show here….

Two fabric executives showing at Première Vision say it’s often the little things that make a big difference in a swatch of luxury.

Hervé Protais

PARIS — What do microchips and lace have in common? Lots, if…

PARIS — Première Vision has good news for Europe’s top textile mills: Expect twice as many Americans this season when the show opens at the Villepinte exhibition halls just north of here.

“The number of preregistered…

MILAN — Tod’s SpA’s first-half profits dropped 26.2 percent — partly due to an accounting change from a new Italian fiscal law — while sales grew at a double-digit pace on the strength of its Asian business as well as an…

Strong performances in the U.S. and Japan and growth in its core jewelry business helped Bulgari’s first-half profits soar 35 percent to 33.7 million.

ATLANTA — AmericasMart is campaigning to be queen of the prom and belle of the ball, positioning its FirstLook segment of the August market as a national draw for U.S. social occasion retailers.

The women’s and children’s…

New York Fashion Week continued to roar on, with shows form Oscar de la Renta, Diane von Furstenberg, VPL, Menichetti and Tuleh.

Federated Department Stores plans to change all its regional units to the Macy’s nameplate, leaving it with only Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s…

LOS ANGELES — A judge has awarded almost $56 million to Jerome Dahan and Michael Glasser, who helped launch denim phenom Seven for All Mankind, in their partnership fight with financial backer Peter Koral.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge…

FOR ART’S SAKE: François Pinault has received the official OK for construction of his vaunted foundation of contemporary art. The French tycoon, who controls the Pinault-Printemps-Redoute retail and luxury conglomerate, on Monday…

Oscar de la Renta and Diane von Furstenberg got the travel bug, while Anna Sui lassoed the Old West, and Tuleh’s Bryan Bradley went soul-searching.

Gilles Mendel mixed sporty and dressy…Catherine Malandrino threw a party…Roberto Menichetti loosened up with feminine charm…Luca Orlandi sweetened his ladies…Roland Mouret folded his girls into ladylike looks…and Victoria…

WANNA SEE A TRICK?: Jack Nicholson’s been known to skip his own film premieres, but he was in top form Sunday night at his daughter, Jennifer’s fashion show. Before things got going, he strut, in his signature shades, to the…

New York has been conquered by girly-girls of every stripe — Jill Stuart’s retro babes, Dana Buchman’s unapologetic flirts, Milly’s tropical islanders and Jennifer Nicholson’s saucy pinups with a mix of the provocative…