Diego Della Valle | Source: Marie Claire

Lunch with the FT: Diego Della Valle (FT)
“Tod’s is a success story that continues to show impressive growth: half-year results of the €800m company released this week show sales up by 16.4 per cent from the corresponding period last year and net income up by 26.7 per cent… Tod’s is nothing if not a global concern and, as with most luxury goods companies, eyes are looking hungrily eastwards.”

Luxury retailers worry that shoppers may pull back on spending (LA Times)
“The luxury sector has been a consistent bright spot in the retail industry this year, posting robust sales month after month as wealthy shoppers spent freely on designer handbags, shoes and jewelry…But luxury shopping is tied closely to stock market performance. Analysts said rich shoppers could pull back again if their portfolios take a big enough hit and if they sense long-term volatility.”

Ben Sherman poaches Burberry director as part of makeover (Independent)
“Ben Sherman, one of Britain’s oldest menswear brands, has poached Burberry merchandising chief Adrian Ward-Rees as part of a makeover for the 48-year-old business… The brand, famous for its 1960s Mod associations, wants to do a “Burberry” or a “Mini” and reinvent itself as a top global menswear brand.”

Artistic licence: The most influential make-up artist in the world (Independent)
“As the global creative director for Chanel beauty– creating looks for that company’s runway shows, beauty advertising campaigns and the product itself, from nail polish to lipstick, worn by millions, if not billions, of women – he is the most influential of his profession by far… Among many other beauty moments, it was Philips who created the extraordinary underwater alien look for Alexander McQueen’s final show, Plato’s Atlantis.”

Fight On (Vogue UK)
“Christian Louboutin’s lawyer says the shoe designer plans to “fight like hell” against YSL’s attempt to overturn his re-sole trademark – and plans to file an appeal against the judge’s denial of his requested injunction… Last week the judge ruled that Yves Saint Laurent could continue to produce the shoes in the meantime and hinted that Louboutin’s monopoly on the colour could be set to end.”

Barneys' "Have a Witty Holiday" Catalogue: Source: Barneys New York

Luxury retailer look to stage Christmas comeback (Market Watch)
“A year after the luxury sector reported the worst holiday season in the already-battered retail industry, high-end retailers are hoping a variety of gambits, from increased exclusives to emphasis on telling why an item is special, can cast that holiday magic.”

Record ecommerce sales number reached (Biz Report)
“They predicted it and it has now happened: more than $900 million has now been spent in a single day of online shopping. According to the latest comScore information Green Tuesday (December 15) ecommerce sales reach $913 million.”

Coach’s 7 Secrets to Selling Luxury (The Motley Fool)
“Saving face in tough times is a particularly dicey exercise for luxury retailers. When brand prestige is your currency, an ill-conceived, short-term, budget-minded makeover can lead to long-term brand destruction.”

Ben Sherman to Drop Women’s Wear in 2010 (NBC)
“It’s not secret that the British-based clothing company has had a very difficult year, but a move as massive as dropping womenwear altogether hints at big changes afoot for the retailer to make ends meet for 2010.”

Herrera lures Russians with boutique show (Reuters)
“American fashion designer Carolina Herrera followed in the footsteps of her sartorial colleague Giorgio Armani this week by vying for a piece of Russia’s recovering luxury good market — the world’s fourth largest.”