Manolo Blahnik: 'There is nothing charming about a woman who cannot walk in her shoes' (Guardian)
"The tremendously satisfying thing about Manolo Blahnik, the man, is that he is exactly the way you picture him. The singleminded fashion obsessiveness of Anna Wintour is spiked with the belle-epoque-bonkersness of Ab Fab's Patsy and housed in the body of Hercule Poirot."

Philip Green's Arcadia year profit up 25 pct (Reuters)
"Arcadia, the Topshop-to-Bhs British retail group owned by the family of billionaire Philip Green, posted a 25 percent rise in underlying year profit as a drive to increase efficiency boosted margins."

Luxury Brands Must Develop Their Customer Experience To Survive (Huffington Post)
"Luxury retailers must focus on providing a rounded customer experience, rather than simply flogging goods, if they are to survive the ongoing recession. According to a new report by The Future Laboratory, commissioned by the property company Grosvenor, has found there are five key areas luxury brands must improve to keep their customers happy."

Fifth Avenue's Eye-Popping Rents (WSJ)
"The costs of retail real estate and store rents are reaching record levels along New York's swanky strip in a sign of how the high-end market is managing to float above the malaise of the broader economy."

An Intellectual Fashion | Suzy Menkes (AnOther)
"Suzy Menkes is a legendary voice in fashion criticism. Widely acknowledged for her unique skills in unveiling new talents and commenting on every fashion show, she embodies a demanding stance to relevant fashion."