Romancing the Shopper: Major Retailers Pump Up Personal Marketing Style

Sales at department stores fell a seasonally adjusted 1.3 percent in June compared with May, and specialty store receipts were flat.

Bebe Stores Inc. will replace all 62 Bebe Sport retail units this fall with a new concept targeting active and street wear called PH8.

The thief, wearing a fedora and an elegant suit, drew a gun and ordered staff at the Cartier store in Cannes to give him jewels.

VF Corp. has jumped into the bidding for bankrupt Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc. as the auction of the retailer’s assets nears.

Designers are taking the little black dress in a darker direction.

UK online retailer ASOS.com may target the U.S. and Japan.

Simon Doonan is a one-man fashion conglomerate: author, columnist, industry bon vivant and creative director of Barneys New York.

Luxury brand Miu Miu opened its first boutiques in China and Turkey as the company looks to boost directly operated store revenues.

The share price of Italy’s Safilo Group SpA spiked more than 20 percent on the Milan Bourse Tuesday.

The designer Armani is helping transform historic buildings into residences.

Versace has launched its largest boutique in the Middle East in the Dubai Mall.

Columbia Sportswear, The North Face and Patagonia are recreational performance outerwear companies that stand to benefit from a tariff-dropping bill.

U.S.-manufactured apparel prices were up in year-to-year comparisons.

Terry Lundgren and Tommy Hilfiger are getting behind the effort to raise Chicago’s fashion profile.

Mandee is pursuing a sensible growth strategy with a new retail prototype set to roll out and expansion that includes Manhattan stores.

Pringle of Scotland is going back to its roots.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. stands to gain considerable ground in its public image by supporting health care reform.

Stores host intimate parties, while designers from Alexander Wang to Maria Cornejo hit stores to woo their customers in person.

Having carved out his name as a niche retailer with a down-home chic sensibility, Billy Reid is venturing into the women’s shoe market — albeit gingerly.

Lindsay Lohan started a movie production company called Unforgettable… Also, flight attendants want their Richard Tyler dresses…

Ray-Ban this month will open its first online store, making it easier for consumers to find and purchase new styles.

Investors appeared confident about prospects of CIT and pushed the stock up.

Kellwood talks become urgent as $140M in notes are due to mature at midnight tonight.

Lagging sales and unfavorable currency exchange rates pushed Levi Strauss & Co. into the red for the second quarter.

Congressional aide Kim Glas is the leading candidate to oversee the Commerce Department’s efforts to promote the domestic textiles and apparel industry.

The day’s top gainers and losers.