"Irreverent" by Carine Roitfeld | Source: NY Times

A Super-Stylish Vampire (IHT)
“If the definition of a vampire is a pallid, blood-sucking monster with frightening fangs, Carine Roitfeld, former editor of French Vogue and a pivotal figure in the fashion world, does not seem to fit the bill… ‘Why a book — especially for someone like me who hates looking back?’ Ms. Roitfeld asked herself… ‘It marks 30 years. The end of a chapter is a good moment — and they have been ‘belles années,’ beautiful years, when I have succeeded in work and with my family.’”

Ted Baker’s figures look smart as high street rivals falter (Independent)
“The fashion retailer’s US retail sales grew by 74 per cent to $16.7m (£10.8m) in the 28 weeks to 13 August, boosted by new concessions and strong demand for its clothes. But UK and European sales rose by a more modest 7.8 per cent over the period, to £69.2m, while gross margins were dented by a higher level of promotional activity.”

Fashion’s brave new world (Telegraph)
“Beginning with the invention of nylon pantyhose by Allan Gant Sr in 1 959, fashion and technology have gradually been brought together as new materials and techniques opened up countless possibilities for designers… One step further along the technological scale comes catalytic clothing, which… Claims could help combat the harmful emissions released by vehicle exhausts in cities.”

US Vogue is magazine of the year (Telegraph)
“There’s no denying Anna Wintour still reigns supreme as queen of the glossies. US Vogue , which she has edited – with an iron fist some might say – since 1988, was just named Magazine of the Year at the prestigious Ad Age Awards… There is hope for print, it seems, as advertising revenues have plummeted along with every other measure of economic growth across the globe; if anyone can squeeze revenues from cautious (or broke) advertisers it is ‘Brand Anna’.”

Diane Pernet On A Shaded View Of Fashion Film Festival (Huffington Post)
“Drenched in black with her ever-present lace mantilla and catseye sunglasses, Diane Pernet is one of the most recognisable figures on the fashion landscape. But it’s not just her iconic and unvarying look that has gained her recognition; she is one of fashion’s true digital pioneers.”

Dov Charney of American Apparel | Source: Dov Charney

Why American Apparel is going out of fashion (Independent)
“After years of headlines about sexually charged advertising and accusations of sexual harassment on the part of the company’s eccentric founder, Dov Charney, American Apparel looks like it is going down the way it came up: in a blaze of controversy.”

A Winter Break Is Now the Longest Season in Fashion (NY Times)
“A resort collection used to be the equivalent of staring at pictures of Bali when you lived in Kansas…. But now, like so many other things… resort has become a huge commercial entity.”

Handbag maker Mulberry sees more growth on Asian demand (Reuters)
“Luxury fashion firm Mulberry Group shrugged off economic gloom, saying it expected further sales growth ahead after a strong set of full-year results… retail sales in the first ten weeks of the current year were up 36 percent.”

Ted Baker upbeat as revenues climb (Guardian)
“[Ted Baker] is upbeat about its prospects despite the current consumer uncertainty and the prospect of tax rises and spending cuts. The company has announced an 18% increase in revenues… with the UK doing well and its overseas markets continuing to improve.”

Crafts, Clothes and Clout (WSJ)
“Towering brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton may dominate ad pages and storefronts, but small designers are gaining a bigger foothold in fashion. What Sundance did for indie film… web sites like Etsy are doing for the little guys of design.”

Tory Burch Sells Minority Stake to Tresalia (WWD)
“Tory Burch has found a new partner. After a yearlong search for additional financing, the designer has sold a minority stake in her more than $200 million firm.” To view the video of Tory Burch’s Spring 2009 presentation click here.

Shiny Media: my thoughts on its demise (Telegraph)
Katie Lee, co-founder of Shiny Media, discusses the rise and fall of the UK’s first blog network.

Born by Ted Baker eyes younger market (Drapers)
“Ted Baker is aiming to take a slice of the younger market with a new directional, lower-priced casualwear sub-brand called Born by Ted Baker.”

Hermès to open 1st Brazil store this year (Reuters)
“Paris-based Hermès will open its store in the upscale Cidade Jardim shopping mall in Sao Paulo by mid-September, Valor said, citing Guillaume de Seynes, deputy managing director at Hermès and a member of the company’s founding family.”

Fashion sales suffer as swine flu rocks consumer confidence (Retail Week)
“Retail like-for-like sales were down 4.1 per cent in the week ending July 19 as swine flu shook consumer confidence.”

CFDA Swarovski Award winners, Tim Hamilton, Justin Giunta, Alexander Wang

Do CFDA Winners’ Businesses Grow? (Forbes)
“The backing of the Council of Fashion Designers of America confers recognition–but not always sales–to fledging designers.”

Ted Baker Sales Rise; Profit to Shift to Second Half (Bloomberg)
“Ted Baker Plc, the clothing company that dressed actor Daniel Craig as James Bond for ‘Casino Royale,’ said group sales gained 7.6 percent in the 19 weeks from Feb. 1 to June 12 as it sold more women’s clothing at its retail stores and concession counters.”

The next generation of catwalk kings and queens (Independent)
“The British Fashion Council announced yesterday which young designers would receive Newgen sponsorship to help them show and exhibit at London Fashion Week in September.”

Aquascutum thrown a lifeline (FT)
“Aquascutum, the luxury British label whose future is in doubt, has been thrown a lifeline by the millionaire owner of Crombie, that could see the overcoat maker acquire the UK arm of the 158-year-old brand.”

In the Garment District: Saving Hands Behind the Brands (WWD)
“As Manhattan struggles to keep its glitz in the downtrodden economy, Garment Center tenants are distressed about the commercial development that stands to oust them from the neighborhood and dismantle businesses that took decades to build.”

Rathore Jodhpurat A/W 09 at Wills Fashion Week

Sustainability is back in fashion (IHT)
As the industry redefines the meaning of luxury, “Sustainability” and “Responsibility” have become the new buzz words.

Ted Baker profits fall (Drapers)
Ted Baker saw pre-tax profit fall 19.5% to £17.8 million for the 53 weeks ended January 31.

In Fashion, Some Like It Haute (WSJ)
“Economic crisis doesn’t mean the end of luxury. But while many brands have been battered, those that show grace under fire should be coveted investments.”

Inditex sales rise 12% (Drapers)
Sales are up at Inditex for the fiscal year 2009 and sales are trending ahead by 9% in February.

Stella McCartney on ecology, luxury and life (IHT)
Stella McCartney sits down with Suzy Menkes and lets us in on her label’s eco conscious stance.