Christian Louboutin Paris men's store | Source: The Squeeze

His not hers (FT)
“It’s a man’s world where luxury goods are concerned. At least judging by recent moves from two of fashion’s biggest players: in November, PPR acquired Italian tailor Brioni and LVMH appointed Antoine Arnault to head up the expansion (including a move into ready-to-wear) of its men’s footwear label Berluti.”

Executive Education in a Material world (FT)
“From fine wines and fast cars, to handbags and haute couture, insatiable consumer demand for luxury goods means that business is booming for the €185bn industry. As a result, specialist executive programmes that train managers for the sector are also on the rise, with several high-­profile launches in recent years. The trend is not exclusive to international business schools, with companies and art colleges following suit.”

Bloomberg to Launch Luxury Lifestyle Magazine (WWD)
“Users of the Bloomberg Terminal are among the richest demographic in the world, and advertisers will soon be able to reach them via a new luxury lifestyle magazine… Bloomberg Pursuits is a spin-off of Bloomberg Markets, the monthly business magazine that also goes to Terminal users.”

Ode to Handsome (WSJ)
“The logo for Kirk Miller’s debonair menswear label, Miller’s Oath, is a pickax. Although this might seem suspiciously of-the-moment, given the number of designers currently mining Americana heritage, for the 33-year-old Minnesota native, the frontier-meets-luxe look is a natural fit.”

Manolo Blahnik: Feet First (WSJ)
“Since he began his career in the early ’70s, Manolo Blahnik has dominated the shoe world. And this season, with the demise of the heavy wedge and the return of the stiletto and mule, every woman worth her salt will be wearing his uniquely crafted designs.”

Manolo Blahnik | Source: Briseis

In His Shoes (NY Times)
“This is the tale of the little stiletto that could, a shoe that in the long-ago days of the luxury-goods boom scampered to the top of a rarefied heap. It was just a handful of years ago that the name of Manolo Blahnik, a 68-year-old London cobbler born in the Canary Islands, was familiar only to hard-core fashion hunters and residents of ZIP code 10021.”

Prada forecasts China sales to triple in 2-3 years (Reuters)
“Italian fashion house Prada sees strong growth in China, with sales expected to triple in coming years… The luxury market would not closely track economic weakness, and Prada was optimistic over growth in Asia particularly in China, where sales are expected to double or even triple in the next two to three years, Deputy Chairman Carlo Mazzi told reporters.”

No logo (FT)
“The appeal of living large hasn’t disappeared but it seems the logos associated with lavish lifestyles have. When it comes to statement accessories, brands as diverse as Victoria Beckham and Céline are whispering their exclusivity amid a growing consensus that ‘anonymity’ is the key to being recognised.”

China Leads World in Luxury Spending (Forbes)
“Affluent consumers in the U.S. and much of the world are pulling back on their spending and attitude toward luxury. However, in China, affluent consumers are choosing luxury in every aspect of the lives, according to a seven-country survey of households earning at least $150,000.”

Steve Jobs: fashion inspiration (FT)
“…By ‘fashion’ I mean the industry at large. It owes an entire product category – and possibly more, possibly the whole concept of brand extension – to Jobs. Without him, would it have ever occurred to anyone that technology could be an aspirational accessory that would itself spawn more aspirational accessories that could be changed season to season, niche collection to niche collection, ad infinitum?”

Manolo Blahnik | Source: Dorchester Collection

“Thomas has such potential. The couture of it, the lines – his work is exceptional and wonderful.”

Legendary shoe designer Manolo Blahnik, commenting Tuesday night on the incredible potential of Thomas Tait, winner of the Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize. Thomas was first featured in The Business of Fashion in May, and most recently following his stellar, hush hush London Fashion Week debut

Manolo Blahnik at work | Source: Manolo Blahnik

Well heeled: Manolo Blahnik and his left-hand woman (Independent)
“As his exclusive collection for Liberty arrives, Manolo Blahnik talks footwear, films and fabrics with his niece and ‘left-hand woman’ Kristina…Since he set up shop in the Seventies Manolo Blahnik has become the world’s most famous artisan shoemaker.”

The Evolution of the Fashion Film (WSJ)
“‘This is the new advertising… The consumer and the audience are one…. While the Internet has facilitated the blossoming of fashion films, fashion photographers have long experimented with motion pictures.”

Cavalli back to profit (Reuters)
“Italian fashion house Cavalli, best known for animal print designs, returned to profit in the first half, as a pick-up in sales helped offset lower licence fees. As a result of a strong reorganisation at the group, retail and wholesale revenue grew 4 percent.”

Lakme Fashion Week ties up with e-commerce portal (Relax News)
“Lakme Fashion Week has entered into a strategic collaboration with fashion trade portal Fashion And You as part of its push to further the business of fashion by using e-commerce.”

The Real Harajuku Girls (WWD)
“Young Japanese women are an eclectic bunch… WWD plucked a sample of these consumers from the bustling streets of Harajuku and asked them about their personal style and shopping habits. Here’s what they had to say.”

designerclothing.com

Indies click onto online portal to boost sales (Drapers)
“An increasing number of independent retailers are planning to plug into online portals to help raise their profile and drive online sales.”

Wealthy look for value as downturn bites (The National)
“Luxury retailers in the UAE are stocking more lower-priced items and classic pieces to cater to a new customer mentality after the economic downturn.”

Lunch with the FT: Manolo Blahnik (Financial Times)
Vanessa Friedman interviews Manolo Blahnik.

Sourcing at risk in Bangladesh (Drapers)
“Ongoing protests by clothing factory workers in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka are likely to become a long-term threat to retailers who source from the country, according to leading industry experts.”

Tight Squeeze: Making Room For a New Men’s Fashion (WSJ)
“Skinny jeans, with tapered legs and narrow-peg ankles, seemed like a flash in the pan when they appeared in stores a few years ago. They seemed more suited to women. Today, though, sales of men’s skinny jeans are going strong, and mass brands Gap and Levi’s are getting in on the action.”