Christian Dior Couture 2010 | Source: style.com

Wintour Calls for French Fashion Stimulus (WSJ)
“In between fashion shows Monday, Anna Wintour, the influential editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine, told French officials that the country doesn’t do enough to support its fashion sector… Ms. Wintour encouraged the French government to provide more backing for young designers.”

Luxottica Q4 sales down, optimistic on 2010 (Reuters)
“Luxottica, the world’s biggest premium eyewear company, said 2010 would mark a ‘return to ‘normal’ for the maker of Prada and Ray-Ban sunglasses, resulting in growing sales, a more than proportional increase in margins and ‘an appreciable reduction’ in the ratio of net debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.”

As recession stops splurges, luxury retailers retool (Boston Globe)
“Wyman is emblematic of the “aspirational shoppers’’ – middle-class consumers with luxury tastes – who have disappeared during the Great Recession. Their newfound frugality has contributed to an estimated 16 percent plunge in luxury spending over the past year.”

Dior: Hand of History (IHT)
“That feeling of a film fading or a fairy tale ending has never seemed so powerful and elegiac at this fashion house as it did after the poetic parade that John Galliano sent out on Monday.”

Sarah Brown and Naomi Campbell join forces to help Haiti (In Style)
“The Prime Minister’s wife together with supermodels, Naomi Campbell, Yasmin Le Bon and Erin O’Connor have got together to raise money for earthquake victims.”

Lamarthe at www.vente-privee.com | Source: Vente-Privée

Cyber Monday: busiest online shopping day ever (Telegraph)
“In recent years the first Monday of December has become the busiest day for online shopping, with consumers scouting for the best deals over the weekend before making their decision on the Monday. Between the hours of 1pm and 2pm alone, Brits spent a combined total of £33 million, a year-on-year increase of 21 percent.”

Clothing sales hit in November (Drapers)
“Clothing sales in November were adversely impacted by the mild weather during the month and comparisons with 2008 when the high street was in the throes of a discounting war. Total retail sales values rose 1.8% on a like-for-like basis in November according to the British Retail Consortium-KPMG.”

Lacroix shows fashion sector’s quick change (National)
“Once the darlings of the well-heeled shopper and the style maven, haute couture houses are struggling to keep needle and thread together as they shed jobs.”

David Lynch to direct for Dior (Independent)
“French fashion house Dior has confirmed… that filmmaker David Lynch will follow in Oliver Dahan’s footsteps, directing the label’s next ‘Lady Dior’ ad… Lynch, the maker of US TV series Twin Peaks and movies such as Mulholland Drive, is no rookie to the fashion world: he previously collaborated with shoe designer Christian Louboutin on a photo exhibition and directed the ad for Gucci’s signature fragrance.”

If Amazon Buys Vente-Privée, What Happens To Gilt Groupe? (Fashion Beat)
“Regardless of whether or not Amazon buys VP, there’s little doubt the sample site that started it all will eventually going to open up shop in the U.S. How can Gilt Groupe continue to flourish when this happens?”

Christian Dior

The House Dior Built (Wall Street Journal)
“After the stock market crash in 1929, a Frenchman lamented that his dream of being an architect would never be fulfilled; his family fortune was devastated. But by 1947 he had built an institution that would affect design for decades to come: The House of Dior.”

Fashion faces its coldest Wintour (Telegraph)
“Can The September Issue, a hotly-tipped fly-on-the-wall documentary about the British editor of US Vogue, Anna Wintour, reboot an ailing fashion industry?”

Global brands turn to China’s young amid slump (AP)
“Young Chinese shoppers like Zhong are still spending freely, and major brands ranging from Nike Inc. to Barbie doll maker Mattel Inc. are courting them eagerly to shore up revenue as demand elsewhere slumps.”

They Know What She Wore Last Night (Wall Street Journal)
“Ms. Kerr and Ms. Power, both 29, are entrepreneurs building a brand off the power of celebrities as trendsetters and the growing influence of the Web in the world of high fashion.”

For Rachel Zoe, fashion is much more than a business (USA Today)
“Stylist to the stars Rachel Zoe, 37, is building herself into one hefty brand.”

Matthew Williamson for H&M, courtesy of H&M

H&M’s 8% April Comparable Sales Gain Breaks Trend (WSJ)
“Fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz AB Friday said April sales in comparable stores rose for the first time since July, indicating that it may be recovering from the global trend of consumers reining in spending amid the economic slowdown.”

Dior Jumps on the Viral-Video Bandwagon (NYMag.com)
“The House of Dior will release a short film on May 20, directed by Oliver Dahan and starring the ever-lovely Marion Cotillard,” featuring artistic shots of stockings, Lady Dior handbags, clothes by John Galliano, the Eiffel Tower, and gangsters. To whet our appetites, Dior has released a 30 second trailer. (see video here)

Esprit says to open more stores, meet target (The Guardian)
“Esprit Holdings, the world’s No.6 fashion brand, said on Thursday it will continue to open new stores and is confident of meeting its target of adding 110 outlets in the fiscal year ending in June.”

Richard Prince Wraps Hong Kong Museum For Vuitton (WWD)
“The installation, which takes its theme from Prince’s ‘After Dark’ series, heralds a significant exhibition of paintings, photographs and video installations collectively called ‘Louis Vuitton: A Passion for Creation’ that will be displayed inside the Museum of Art from May 22 to August 9 as part of Hong Kong’s annual French May Arts Festival.”

De La Renta to Open Stores in the Gulf Region (WWD)
“Not about to be mired down by the U.S. economy, Oscar de la Renta Ltd. is heading to the Arabian Gulf region to increase international sales.” (Subscription required)