J. Crew Spring/Summer 2010 Preview | Source: J. Crew

J. Crew Is Going Global on Net-A-Porter (Stylelist)
“Now, the classic American outfitter, currently available only in North America and Japan, has entered into an agreement with Net-A-Porter to be sold globally starting in May.”

Nordstrom’s Profit More Than Doubles (WSJ)
“Upscale department-store chain Nordstrom Inc. reported a 152 percent increase in profits during the quarter ended Jan. 30, underscoring how its strategy of expanding price points and carrying more exclusive merchandise is leading to more full-priced selling.”

Britain a cut above the rest (Telegraph)
“The creativity of these highly inspirational designers [generates] consistent demand via regular showcasing of new trends and design styles. Without this talent there would simply be no thriving high street, no £46bn sector and far fewer jobs.”

Liberty’s designer open call event (FT)
“The Liberty Best of British Open Call, an initiative launched last April by the store’s buying director… involves designers showing their wares to Liberty’s textile, furniture and fashion buyers.”

Christopher Kane updates the little black dress at LFW (Independent)
“When Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel created the little black dress in the Twenties, she could hardly have foreseen the sexy leather and lace versions which graced London Fashion Week.”

Rachel Roy A/W 09, courtesy of Style.com

Jones to sell exclusive Rachel Roy line at Macy’s (WSJ)
“Jones Apparel Group Inc., which has a 50 percent stake in designer Rachel Roy, said it’s launching a contemporary line called Rachel Rachel Roy to be sold exclusively at Macy’s Inc.”

Bulgari CEO Sees First Loss Since 1999, Then Rebound (Bloomberg)
“Bulgari SpA Chief Executive Officer Francesco Trapani said he expects the Italian luxury company to post a first-quarter loss, followed by a gradual recovery in demand for the label’s Assioma watches and Allegra jewelry.”

Fashion sales rise 10.5% for week to April 12 (Drapers)
“Fashion sales rose 10.5 percent for the week to April 12 compared to the same week last year, according to BDO Stoy Hayward’s High Street Sales Tracker.”

Prepping for a Vionnet Exhibit (WWD)
“A 72-year-old Madeleine Vionnet halterneck gown, a crumpled heap of brittle tulle and silk flowers, has been laid out for inspection in the restoration rooms of Les Arts.” (Subscription required)

Rachel Roy, the New-York based designer and wife of hip-hop mogul Damon Dash, has announced that TSM Capital has taken a significant minority stake in her eponymous business. According to WWD, Roy’s business is generating $10m in wholesale revenues.

The Rachel Roy brand is carried in an impressive set of department store chains including Bergdorf Goodman, Saks 5th Avenue, and Neiman Marcus, and also in reputable international stores like Kuwait’s Villa Moda and Moscow’s Tsum.

With a respectable wholesale business in place, TSM says the capital injection will be used to open retail stores, spur expansion outside the USA, and expand into new categories, likely through external licensing deals. In an interesting twist that runs opposite to the flow of designers moving into the Contemporary segment, Roy’s business had originally been positioned as a Contemporary brand, but it was subsequently repositioned as a Designer brand, which meant raising prices by 40%. This was a move that was generally lauded by buyer and editors.

Rachel Roy is frequently out on the town, photographed in her own designs, as part of New York’s young and active social set. She figured well on the now-defunct SocialiteRank site, which ranked New York’s young socialites based on the number parties attended and the number of photographs that were taken of them.

Having an attractive, visible woman as the face of a brand is a formula that has worked well for other successful fashion businesses, including Tory Burch and Jimmy Choo, whose co-founder Tamara Mellon has become synonymous with the brand itself.

Earlier this year, TSM Capital announced its first investment in Matthew Williamson’s business, alongside the king of the UK high street, Baugur Group, which is currently involved in an effort to take a stake in Saks 5th Avenue, the American department store chain.

Photo cips courtesy of Nirali Magazine and Style.com