The Inside: Specialty Store Margins Pg. 28 INDITEX NET UP 15%/3 CHANEL’S NEW POD/3 WWD WWDWomen’s Wear Daily • The Retailers’THURSDAY Daily Newspaper • September 21, 2006 • $2.00 List Sportswear First Position Dance-inspired looks were all over the runways. Michael Kors offered languid, sporty styles featuring fl uid jerseys and slinky Ts. Here, his cashmere cardigan, silk dress and cotton pullover, all layered over leggings. For more, see pages 6 and 7. LVMH’s Inside Track: Lalonde Named Head Of Louis Vuitton U.S. By Miles Socha PARIS — Once again drawing on its deep management reserves, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton has tapped an internal key player to head its vital and fast-growing Vuitton business in America. Daniel Lalonde, president and chief executive officer in North America of LVMH Watch & Jewelry, is to become Vuitton’s new North American president, effective in January. He will report to Philippe Schaus, Vuitton’s international senior vice president. “He has an excellent track record,” Schaus told WWD Wednesday. “We See LVMH’s, Page 29 PHOTO BY THOMAS IANNACCONE PHOTO BY WWD.COM WWDTHURSDAY Sportswear FASHION ™ Whether inspired by the Bolshoi or Broadway, New York designers 6 featured dance-inspired fare perfect for warming up or cooling down. A weekly update on consumer attitudes and behavior based on ongoing research from Cotton Incorporated GENERAL Daniel Lalonde, president and ceo in North America of LVMH Watch & 1 Jewelry, will become Louis Vuitton’s North American president. SPRING FLING EYE: Michael Kors hosted a lunch on Tuesday in La Duree at Harrods in Women Are Sure to Take a Shine to Next Season’s Fashions 4 London, where the luscious goodies on the dessert tray got his attention. Retailers, gearing up for Milan’s spring shows, expect voluminous tops, Clarity, cut and color are three of the four good choices because they are made from natural 18 skinny bottoms, leggings and a bevy of dresses. fibers and wear a lot cooler.” “C”s that smart shoppers allude to when buying DISH: Replay got things rolling at its spring runway show Tuesday with a diamond. But the alliteration is also quite “We have tulip volumes in skirts, high waisted some help from the members of the Gotham Girls Roller Derby league. appropriate for describing Spring 2007 fashion dresses, and blouses with tunic lengths to wear 24 trends, particularly when you consider that clarity over straight pants,” offers Baraschi. While many BEAT: Spring was in full bloom at the Fashion Coterie, split between the translates to wearability with a designers are stressing the 26 Show Piers and Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York. consistent fashion direction. continuation of longer tops and A military coup in Thailand that disposed its prime minister caused little The styles that debuted at the slightly shorter bottoms, styles 29 disruption for retail or manufacturing, but is being watched closely. recent Olympus Fashion Week have been modestly updated Classifi ed Advertisements.............................................................31 in New York for Spring 2007 with nips and tucks, ranging included a bevy of pretty dresses, from the asymmetrical hemline To e-mail reporters and editors at WWD, the address is fi rstname. belted jackets, voluminous skirts, to the more defined cinched [email protected], using the individual’s name. airy and delicate blouses and waist. WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF FAIRCHILD PUBLICATIONS, INC. COPY- RIGHT ©2006 FAIRCHILD PUBLICATIONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. fitted pants in a variety of colors As with the seasonal conti- VOLUME 192, NO. 61. WWD (ISSN # 0149-5380) is published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, with one ad- and patterns. The approving nuity of cuts, Linda DeFranco, ditional issue in January and November, two additional issues in March, May, June, August and December, and three ad- ditional issues in February, April, September and October by Fairchild Publications, Inc., a subsidiary of Advance Publications, nods at shows spanned from Product Trend Forecaster, Inc. PRINCIPAL OFFICE: 750 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017. Shared Services provided by Advance Magazine Publishers Cotton Incorporated, notes that Inc.: S.I. Newhouse Jr., Chairman; Charles H. Townsend, President & C.E.O.; John W. Bellando, Executive Vice President and those seated in the celebrated C.O.O.; Jill Bright, Executive Vice President_Human Resources; John Buese, Executive Vice President_Chief Information Officer; front rows to those standing in the current season’s colors are David Orlin, Senior Vice President_Strategic Sourcing; Robert Bennis, Senior Vice President_Real Estate; Maurie Perl, Senior Vice President_Chief Communications Officer. Shared Services provided by Advance Magazine Group: Steven T. Florio, Advance the back, confirming that a lot also spilling into spring. “A big Magazine Group Vice Chairman; David B. Chemidlin, Senior Vice President_General Manager, Shared Services Center. of the trends will be hitting a lot trend was fall shades, like black, Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and at additional mailing offices. Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40644503. Canadian Goods and Services Tax Registration No. 88654-9096-RT0001. Canada post return undeliverable of stores. white and gray, which made Canadian addresses to: DPGM, 7496 Bath Road, Unit 2, Mississauga, ON L4T 1L2. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS you wonder what season you CHANGES TO WWD, P.O. Box 15008, North Hollywood, CA 91615-5008. FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS, With the latest styles trickling “I love our dresses, either in white down faster than ever, expect were watching. Also important ADDRESS CHANGES, ADJUSTMENTS, OR BACK ISSUE INQUIRIES: Please write to WOMEN’S WEAR cotton pique or seersucker. These DAILY, P.O. Box 15008, North Hollywood, CA 91615-5008; Call 800-289-0273; or visit www.subnow.com/wd . Four to see runway looks in many were neutrals and pale washes of weeks is required for change of address. Please give both new and old address as printed on most recent label. make good choices because they Subscriptions Rates: U.S. possessions, Retailer, daily one year: $109; Manufacturer, daily one year $145. All other fashion destinations outside of color,” she says. are made from natural fibers and U.S., daily one year $205. Canada/Mexico, daily one year, $295. All other foreign (Air Speed), daily one year $595. the exclusive specialty boutique. “Many designers com- First copy of new subscription will be mailed within four weeks after receipt of order. Address all editorial, business, wear a lot cooler.” and production correspondence to WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY, 750 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017. For permissions The wide availability expected for plemented their primarily and reprint requests, please call 212-221-9595 or fax requests to 212-221-9195. Visit us online: www.wwd.com. To — Mara Hoffman, Spring 2007 fashions encompasses ethereal shaded collections with subscribe to other Fairchild magazines on the World Wide Web, visit www.fairchildpub.com. Occasionally, we make Designer our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and services that we believe would the season’s direction of styles statement colors,” DeFranco adds. interest our readers. If you do not want to receive these offers and/or information by mail and/or e-mail, please advise us at P.O. Box 15008, North Hollywood, CA 91615-5008 or call 800-289-0273. designed to resonate with women “Michael Kors showed camel, WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOSS, DAMAGE, OR ANY OTHER INJURY TO UNSOLICITED MANU- of every means and every size. black and gray with ballerina pink as a statement, SCRIPTS, UNSOLICITED ART WORK (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DRAWINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND TRANSPAR- ENCIES), OR ANY OTHER UNSOLICITED MATERIALS. THOSE SUBMITTING MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, ART WORK, With the spring collections melding the past while electric blue popped at Cynthia Steffe and OR OTHER MATERIALS FOR CONSIDERATION SHOULD NOT SEND ORIGINALS, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED with the modern, and the new with the familiar, Oscar de la Renta. In both everyday and evening consumers of every fashion proclivity will want wear alike, Spring 2007 colors definitely showed to start shopping. When asked by the Cotton beautifully in cotton.” Incorporated Lifestyle Monitor™ about their When asked by the Cotton Incorporated typical new clothing purchase, 57% of female Lifestyle Monitor™ what their favorite color to In Brief respondents stated they were buying new and wear was, nearly one in four female respondents different, while 40% stated they were replacing cited blue. Pink or rose was the second most ● WANG MEMORIAL: A memorial service for C.C. Wang, backer current. popular choice among of Vera Wang Co. and its former chairman, will be held Thursday, Although the looks 16% of respondents. Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. at Christ Church, 520 Park Avenue in New York. are clear, designers’ Typical New Clothing Purchase It also appears that Wang, 87, died Sept. 14 of complications related to prostate can- inspirations ranged women will appreciate cer. A reception will be held following the ceremony at 740 Park Avenue. Donations may be made in his memory to Memorial tremendously. “For Total Females the abundance of Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Spring 2007, I was colored cotton for Buying New and Different 57% inspired by the pulsing spring. When asked ● IN THE FAMILY: Dolce & Gabbana couldn’t quite let go of Carla tempo of Buenos Aires Replacing Current 40% by the Monitor about Buzzi, its longtime director of international public relations and and a natural rhythm their favorite fiber or advertising. Buzzi announced her departure earlier this year, and movement,” says fabric to wear, cotton but never left. On Tuesday, the company said she had taken on designer Tracy Reese. was the clear choice. Nearly three in four female the role of consultant and would supervise media planning and Others drew their creations from different respondents stated cotton or a cotton derivative; advertising campaigns as well as manage communications in 58% preferred pure cotton, 9% preferred denim emerging markets like China and India.