OLD NAVY RETURNS TO ITS ROOTS WITH AN ENTERTAINING SPRING CAMPAIGN FEATURING THE ‘SUPERMODELQUINS’

SAN FRANCISCO, FEBRUARY 26,2009 – Old Navy today announced a new marketing and advertising campaign featuring the “SuperModelquins” – a diverse family of 12 custom-made mannequins with gossip column-worthy personalities.

The irreverent campaign emphasizes Old Navy’s trademark sense of fun, fashion and value, and was designed to capture the attention of hundreds of millions of people in a way that’s befitting to the personality of the brand. The multi-faceted campaign, which captures the brand’s unique energy, kicks-off with a TV spot that will air on February 26, followed by creative circulars, online advertising, in-store promotions, direct mail and a microsite. Read more

GUCCI GROUP N.V. AGREES TO SELL BEDAT & CO

Amsterdam, 25 February 2009 -Gucci Group N. V., one of the world’s leading multi brand luxury goods companies, today announces that it has signed a definitive agreement for the sale of Bedat & Co, the Geneva-based Swiss watchmaker, to Luxury Concepts Watches & Jewellery Sdn Bhd, the Malaysia-based brand management company, in partnership with Viviane Fankhauser, current acting-CEO of Bedat & Co.
 
Bedat & Co will continue to design, market and sell luxury Swiss watches under the Bedat & Co brand.
 
Gucci Group acquired Bedat & Co in December 2000 as a niche young monoproduct brand in the luxury timepiece business.
 
Robert Polet, President and CEO of Gucci Group said: “Together with LuxuryConcepts and Viviane Fankhauser we have reached a good deal for all parties concerned. Since its acquisition, Bedat & Co developed particularly in the United States and Asia, however, it didn’t reach the level of performance we were expecting. Joining LuxuryConcept with its expertise in distributing niche high-end watches in East Asia, Bedat & Co is set to become a strong player in their markets.”
 
Frank Low, CEO of LuxuryConcepts said: “I am excited at the opportunities that lie ahead for Bedat & Co. and am delighted that we will be able to build upon the legacy that has been created at the brand and to develop its potential further.”
 
 
 
About Gucci Group
Gucci Group N.V. is one of the world’s leading multi-brand luxury goods companies. Through the brands Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Boucheron, Sergio Rossi, Stella McCartney, the Group designs, produces and distributes high-quality personal luxury goods, including ready-to-wear, handbags, luggage, small leather goods, shoes, timepieces, jewellery, ties and scarves. Also, under license from global industry leaders, eyewear and fragrances, cosmetics and skincare products. The Group directly operates stores in major markets throughout the world and wholesales products through franchise stores, duty-free boutiques and leading department and specialty stores. Gucci Group is owned by PPR, a global player in retail and luxury goods. Shares in PPR are traded on the Euronext Paris (# 121485, PRTP.PA,PPFP).
 
About LuxuryConcepts
LuxuryConcepts (www.luxuryconcepts.com.my) is a specialist brand management company established in 2005 and focused on introducing and managing highly specialized watch and jewellery brands to the East Asian market. The company currently operates four individual brand concept boutiques in Starhill Gallery Kuala Lumpur, including a dedicated Bedat & Co. boutique. The company is governed by the laws of Malaysia.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA FASHION WEEK LAUNCHES THE BIRTH OF A DYNASTY

Alexandria, VA- February 23, 2009- An unrecognized fashion Mecca will be spotlighted this season as the 1st annual Northern Virginia Fashion Week is thrust into the fashion limelight with a fabulous week created to enhance stylish businesses, highlight fashion trends, and support students in their pursuit to become an Icon. Fashion Week gives you an eagle eye view of the most sophisticated styles that Northern Virginia has to offer and opens your mind to a new and creative dynasty building in Alexandria, VA.

In a sense, it is its own state along the eastern seaboard. Northern VA demands greater recognition as being in the forefront of artistic expression in the fashion industry. Fashion Week is a mirror of society which expresses the effect that fashion has in the community and diminishes the prognosis that fashion weeks will be grim. This week long event from Feb. 23 to Mar. 1, 2009, is more than a designer show or a high-end model party. It’s the opportunity to restore the area’s crown jewels that is art. Fashion enthusiast that are keen to fashion, realize fashion is the most important thing in life. Artful blends, culture and style will bring true designer fans out to support imaginative, colorful, and very precise designs. Clothing can be safe and boring but not at Northern VA Fashion Week.
 
The George Washington Masonic Memorial will play host to fashion week and turn itself into the center of couture culture. A press conference will launch fashion week Monday Feb. 23rd at the historic location at 12 noon. The red carpet shows give rise to youthful creations and classic looks via custom silhouettes of MIRZA MPERIAL, Kristen Khim, Isolda Meade, Nyamal Both, Pat McGhee, Emore’J Couture, Today’s Divas Handbags, Collection Bella Dona, and the exquisite Leonche showcasing women’s lines while Ray Brown highlights the American male leaving Stella Bonds, Fashions by Azucar, and Street Star Clothing with both men and women collections. Designer shows will cruise over four days of presentations, allowing fashion royalty to enhance their fashion taste. The Double Tree Hotel in Arlington, VA will also allow businesses to increase revenue by presenting a Luxury Sale on Saturday Feb. 28, 2009. The Luxury Sale not only allows designers to sell their collections during fashion week, but it allows outside agencies to promote their product or service boosting growth in today’s economy. Read more

Topman Design and Lens are in store now…..

London Fashion Week hysteria is nearly upon us and as we fast approach the AW09 MAN event we also celebrate the in store launch of SS09 LENS and Topman Design.

The Topman Design SS09 collection takes inspiration from the influential architect Jean Prouve and Scottish cyclist Graeme Obree, the designs draw heavily on functional engineering with an attention to evolving technical developments. There is a sportswear influence throughout the collection with hooded jumpers,  track pants and cropped cycling jacket all with a colour palette of vivid block colours. There is also a more mature side to TMD SS09 with heavily washed and creased leather garments teamed with tailored separates that add a sense of relaxed luxury. Read more

GQ Names Robert Geller 2009 Best New Menswear Designer in America

NEW YORK, Feb. 12 / — GQ today announced Robert Geller as winner of the Second Annual “Best New Menswear Designers in America” project. This competitive initiative, established in 2008 in collaboration with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), was created to recognize the rising stars of American men’s fashion design.

The magazine selected six finalists for the 2009 competition, and they were each featured in the February issue. A panel of industry experts — Thom Browne, American menswear designer; Steve Evans, the Levi’s(R) brand vice president of merchandising; Kevin Harter, Bloomingdale’s vice president of fashion direction; Steven Kolb, CFDA executive director; Jim Moore, GQ creative director; and Jim Nelson, GQ editor-in-chief — gathered to select the winner at the conclusion of a presentation event for the designer’s fall 2009 collections on Wednesday, February 11, in New York City. Read more

MAC Offers Video Messages Live & Direct From the MAC Backstage Lounge on Style.com

NEW YORK, Feb. 13 / — Beginning, Wednesday, February 11th MAC Cosmetics PRO Artists from around the world will start creating, executing and polishing the makeup looks that will appear on fashion runways in major cities worldwide. At Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York Fall/Winter 2009, MAC will work on over 75 shows including Carolina Herrera, Zac Posen, Proenza Schouler, Malandrino, Diane von Furstenberg and Badgley Mischka as well as newcomers like Coventry, a former designer for Donna Karan, and Ecco Domani winner Cushnie et Ochs. MAC Senior Artists, Gordon Espinet and Celebrity Makeup Artist, Gregory Arlt, will be keying the looks for shows including THREEAsFOUR, DKNY and Tadashi Shoji. MAC PRO artists will work at London, Milan, Paris Fashion Weeks as well as burgeoning Fashion Weeks in Athens, South Africa, Sydney, Sao Paulo and more.

“Each season, MAC’s involvement with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and Fashion Weeks worldwide allows our Artists to exercise their craft with the world’s most renowned, and esteemed makeup artists. Our team is given the chance to hone their skills in fast-paced, chaotic environments, giving them a hand in creating the looks and beauty trends that will define the upcoming season. They then take these vast experiences and bring that knowledge and skill to MAC counters and ultimately consumers throughout the world,” says Gordon Espinet, Vice President of Makeup Artistry, MAC Cosmetics. Read more

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Kicks Off With New Designs for the Runway and the Highway

NEW YORK, Feb. 13 / — Mercedes-Benz returns to Bryant Park as the title sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York providing a backdrop for more than sixty runway shows and backstage events from February 13 – 20, 2009. Leading fashion designers who will be showcasing their Fall 2009 Collections include BCBG, Badgley Mischka, Chado Ralph Rucci, Diane Von Furstenberg, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Zac Posen and this season’s Mercedes-Benz Presents Designer, Yigal Azrouel.

As the world of fashion and automobiles come together, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York will play host to over 100,000 guests who are invited to view cutting-edge designs from both the auto and fashion industries. Read more

Zales Celebrates Valentine’s Day With Two-Carat Diamond Giveaway in the Heart of Times Square

IRVING, Texas, Feb. 13 / — At noon today, Steve and Mary Kruzik from Pennsylvania won a two-carat Celebration Diamond ring from Zales after competing in Profess Your Love, a live national Valentine’s Day contest held in the heart of New York City’s Times Square.

For nearly two weeks, romantics across the nation submitted, in their own words, why they are deeply and madly in love. The nearly 700 submissions sent to Zales included songs, poems, sonnets and essays. Five finalists were selected and flown to New York to compete in the live contest. A panel of judges including famed sex therapist Dr. Ruth, editors from Glamour and The Knot, and relationship expert Matt Titus were on hand to determine the winners. Read more

TRESemme(R) Styles the Runway

MELROSE PARK, Ill., Feb. 14 / — Showing the Perfect Complement to High Fashion is Affordable Haircare. TRESemme(R) is taking a second trip down the catwalk as the official haircare sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2009 in New York City. The fashion forward line of haircare is giving style to the models on the runway and the fashionistas in the audience while leaving room in their bank account for their fall wardrobe.

TRESemme once again has a space under the tents at Bryant Park and will help weary showgoers relax and refresh. With free styling by TRESemme stylists, every style seeker will keep their looks sleek and their blow-outs voluptuous. As well, guests can take a break in the TRESemme lounge and watch live runway shows on the large screen TV surrounding the space. Read more

FROM SILLY SMIRKS TO GIDDY GRINS, GAP UNVEILS THE NEXT BRIGHT FACES OF BABYGAP AND GAPKIDS IN STORE WINDOWS NATIONWIDE

SAN FRANCISCO – February 6, 2009 – Cameras captured their smiles, judges selected the finalists and America cast their votes. Today, Gap revealed the four adorable, personality-filled winners of its third annual Casting Call contest. Congratulations to the next bright faces of babyGap and GapKids: Jaci Rae, 3, from New Jersey; Caleb, 3, from Illinois;Jovana, 10, from Illinois; and Kellen, 8, from Florida – who can be spotted in store windows from coast to coast in February as a part of babyGap and GapKids latest campaign.

“This year’s contest was bigger than ever before – we had more entries, more participation with in-store photo events, more buzz and tougher choices to make when it came time to select the finalists out of so many adorable kids,” said Pam Wallack, president of babyGap, GapKids and GapMaternity. “We love to give our customers unique opportunities to engage with the brand, and this annual contest is always one of our favorite events of the year. We’re proud to call thse four delightful darlings the next faces of babyGap and GapKids.” Read more

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