S/S look from the House of Holland, Interior of Indochine Resto | Source: WSJ

Interior Motives (WSJ)
“Among other things, this spring could be known as the season when the term ‘fashion insider’ takes on a new meaning. That’s insider as in interior, as in interior decoration. As in a print of a Baroque molding blooming out of the bodice of a striped Prada dress, or Rodarte’s collection of grainy faux-bois tops and skirts inspired in part by Stephen Shore’s photographs of 1970s suburban interiors.”

Mango Spreads Its Wings (IHT)
“The Spanish clothing chain Mango made a bold move into the international fashion arena last week when it staged its first fashion show outside its home country… The brand’s approach seems to be working. This year Mango plans to open over 500 new points of sale around the world, and the company is setting its sights on emerging markets.”

Conversation Is The New Search (Fast Company)
“As the web moves from one of publication to one of conversation, I spend most of my hours working and talking to people I trust, who have reputations for honesty, action and projects that prove that they work well in the field with others… ‘In this next round of the search movement, it’s really going to shift to who is the influencer.’”

Rent the Runway gets $15 million from KPCB (Reuters)
“Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers is putting $15 million into the luxury-for-a-night market, investing in designer gown rental service Rent the Runway. The online service, called ‘the Netflix of haute couture’ in the fashion industry, said it will use the money to expand its selection of dresses and invest in its inventory and reservation system.”

Blagging a bag fit for the Queen (Telegraph)
“Forget That Dress, or Beatrice’s hat, the real royal wedding fashion phenomenon has been Brenda’s bag. For Her Majesty’s boxy, top-handled cream calfskin handbag has prompted a 60 per cent boom in sales, a fifth of which has been in the under-50 age group. And the brand benefiting from this fillip? Launer London… forget Hermes’s coveted Birkin, these are the ultimate power bags.”

Christian Lacroix by Annie Leibovitz, Vogue December 2003 | Source: Vogue

End of a fairytale: Christian Lacroix fashion house to strip down (Guardian)
“Christian Lacroix, the celebrated French designer whose fantastical creations and luxurious image captured the decadence of its age, was told today that the fashion house he founded over two decades ago is to cease making haute couture.”

J.C. Penney Is Betting Big By Adding A European Flair (WSJ)
“J.C. Penney Co.may be making its biggest fashion statement yet with the addition of a European fashion store within its own stores. J.C. Penney will begin selling merchandise by Barcelona-based retailer Mango in separate departments, or “mini stores,” within its own stores as a way of highlighting the trendy European merchandise for women.”

Fashion Entrepreneurs Capitalizing on High-End Rentals (Inc.)
“Companies that offer designer duds for rent are the saving grace of fashion-forward women who can’t afford such upmarket tastes in the recession… Membership-only designer rental companies that offer costly, elegant attire for just a fraction of the retail price have been experiencing a boom in the down economy.”

Fashion retailer Yoox prices IPO at 4.3 euros/share (Reuters)
“Italian online fashion retailer Yoox priced an initial public offering at 4.3 euros per share, towards the upper end of the indicated range, it said on Tuesday. Yoox will become the first company to float on Milan’s main MTA market after a 20-month hiatus caused by market turbulence. It will debut on Dec. 3.”

Stella McCartney to team up with Morrissey for vegan shoe range (Independent)
“Fashion designer and animal rights activist Stella McCartney has found the perfect collaborator for a leather-free shoe collection: cult singer and fellow vegetarian Morrissey. ‘I’m working with Morrissey on a line of leather-free shoes which I’m really excited about.’”

Mango ad campaign (Iran), courtesy of Mango

High fashion and Hollywood glamour as Mango open stores around the world (Times)
After a successful launch in Iran, Mango looks to move further into the Middle East, setting up a store in Irbil, Iraq.

Is luxury fashion good for the planet? (Observer)
“Premium brands don’t have the best reputation when it comes to social and environmental issues, but change is in the air.”

Matthew Williamson returns to London Fashion Week (Drapers)
“Matthew Williamson will join Burberry at London Fashion Week in September to help celebrate the event’s 25th birthday.”

Topshop confirms US roll out (Drapers)
“Sir Philip Green, the owner of Topshop, has confirmed he plans to open a second store in New York after the debut Manhattan store achieved strong sales in its first two months of trading.”

Adidas doesn’t want to run before learning to walk (Business Standard)
“Adidas, which launched its premium lifestyle product – Originals – in India two years ago, is still in the process of educating customers about the different story that the collections, represented by the Trefoil logo, has to tell vis-à-vis its regular ‘performance’ brands.”

Scene on Madison Avenue, courtesy of the New York Times

On Madison Avenue, Shops Pack Their Hand-Tooled Bags (New York Times)
“New York’s most elegant shopping corridor, the Gold Coast of Madison Avenue, from 57th Street to 72nd Street, is pockmarked with vacancies as retailers flee sky-high rents.”

Mango’s sales rise 8% (Drapers)
Beating the downward retail trend, Mango’s sales rise 8 percent.

Industry Reacts to Lincoln Center Move (WWD)
Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park is New York Fashion Week’s new location, and not all industry players are happy. (Subscription required)

Berlin Fashion Week | Very ‘Project Runway’ (The Moment)
“Instead of distilling a powerful German aesthetic and developing the public relations and commercial infrastructure necessary for real success, people are more focused on blowing Champagne kisses and indulging their caviar dreams.”

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