PPR’S GUCCI SOARS/2 DIOR SALES CLIMB/20 WWDWomen’s Wear DailyWEDNESDAY • The Retailers’ Daily Newspaper • July 21, 2004 • $2.00 Sportswear Bedazzled NEW YORK — Add some sparkle to your life. Embellishments are popping up everywhere, from sequin-trimmed dresses to pearl-beaded sweaters. And these playful looks are perfect for the girl on the go. Here, for example, Iisli’s cotton and rayon dress with pearl mesh beading. For more, see pages 6 and 7. Wexner Buoys Bendel’s: Plans New Branch Outlet And Might Grow Chain By David Moin MI; STYLED BY ANTONIA SARDONE MI; STYLED BY NEW YORK — Leslie Wexner, chairman and chief executive officer of Limited Brands, is ready to give the Henri Bendel division another shot at expansion. ROANNA/WARREN TRICO ROANNA/WARREN Bendel’s operates just one store, a flagship on Fifth Avenue and 55th Street, but a branch store, possibly a prototype for a potential chain of specialized Bendel’s units, will be opening in the fall Y TIMOTHY PRIANO; MAKEUP BY in the Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio, where Limited is based. Last Friday, Wexner disclosed in a letter to associates that work has begun on “an Y LAURA NAKAMOTO/ARTISTS B NAKAMOTO/ARTISTS Y LAURA exciting new launch” of Henri Bendel at See Bendel’s, Page20 PHOTO BY THOMAS IANNACCONE; MODEL: YULIA/ELITE; HAIR B PHOTO BY 2 WWD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2004 WWW.WWD.COM WWDWEDNESDAY Sportswear PPR’s Gucci Increases Sales GENERAL By Robert Murphy Gucci brand sales gained 4.6 two of Ford’s underlings. Henri Bendel is set to expand with a branch store in the Easton Town Center percent to 334.7 million euros, or He said orders for their collec- 1 in Columbus, Ohio, that could serve as a prototype for a specialized format. PARIS — France’s Pinault- $411.6 million, while Yves Saint tions had surged 50 percent in the France’s PPR gave evidence of the health of Europe’s luxury firms, Printemps-Redoute on Tuesday Laurent advanced 14.5 percent to U.S. and 100 percent in Europe. 2 reporting double-digit sales increases at its Gucci Group division. gave more evidence that Europe’s 37.6 million euros, or $46.2 mil- He added that the response had luxury firms are enjoying hearty lion. Bottega Veneta surged 48.1 been “positive” to John Ray’s EYE: A moveable feast at Buckingham Palace with Prince Charles and growth, reporting double-digit percent to 21.8 million euros, or debut men’s collection at Gucci, 4 Camilla Parker Bowles...Princess Di’s crown jewel...Sorvino’s bambino. sales increases at its Gucci Group $26.8 million. shown on the Milan runway in Sean “P. Diddy”Combs has formed a nonpartisan group called Citizen division in the two months since Sales at Sergio Rossi, the shoe June, as well as to accessories 5 Change to target young Americans with a blunt message: “Vote or Die.” the departure of its star manage- house, rose 3.5 percent to 20.4 created by Frida Gianni. ment and design duo, Tom Ford million euros, or $25.1 million. Pilati and Facchinetti both FASHION: Designers are using fun and whimsical trims, such as colorful and Domenico De Sole. Gucci also runs the Boucheron will make highly anticipated 6 beads, stones and studs, on cotton dresses, silk tunics and cashmere knits. Serge Weinberg, PPR’s chief jewelry business, Bedat & Co. formal runway debuts in front of For a brand as prestigious as Badgley Mischka, the so-far-unfruitful executive, said sales at Gucci watches and the fashion houses the critical press this fall. 10 process of finding a new financial backer has retail clients baffled. gained 17.7 percent on a compa- of Alexander McQueen, Stella “Recent sales trends and the rable basis in May and June. “We McCartney and Balenciaga, all of positive response to Gucci WEST: General Growth Properties is in a battle to stop a proposed $300 are moving in the right direction,” which made “excellent head- Group’s latest collections fur- 22 million open-air lifestyle center from being built next to its Glendale Galleria. Weinberg said in a conference way,” PPR said. ther bolster our confidence in The Atlanta DIVA Awards section appears on pages 11-18. call, commenting on PPR’s first- By zone, Gucci Group’s highest the brand portfolio and teams at half sales, which fell 6 percent to comparable-sales gains were Gucci Group, as well as the orga- Classified Advertisements ..................................................................23-27 5.61 billion euros, or $6.89 billion, logged in America (19.1 percent), nizational decision we have deteriorated by adverse currency Asia (11.8 percent) and France made,” Weinberg said. To e-mail reporters and editors at WWD, the address is translations and restructuring (14.2 percent). Sales in the rest of Nonetheless, some analysts [email protected], using the individual’s name. costs. Figures have been convert- Europe excluding France in- expressed disappointment with WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF FAIRCHILD PUBLICATIONS, INC. COPYRIGHT ©2004 ed at average exchange rates for creased 4.9 percent. Gucci’s performance. FAIRCHILD PUBLICATIONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. VOLUME 188, NO. 14. WWD (ISSN # 0149-5380) is published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, with one additional the corresponding periods. Weinberg cited “exceptional” “The numbers were below issue in January, May, June and November; two additional issues in February, April, September, October and December; and three From February though April, responses to the first post-Ford what people were expecting be- additional issues in March and August, by Fairchild Publications, Inc., a subsidiary of Advance Publications, Inc. PRINCIPAL OFFICE: 7 Gucci Group’s sales rose 4.9 per- cruise collections by Gucci’s cause De Sole parted with such West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001. Shared Services provided by Advance Magazine Publishers Inc.: S.I. Newhouse, Jr., Chairman; Steven T. Florio, Vice Chairman; Charles H. Townsend, C.O.O.; John W. Bellando, Executive Vice-President and C.F.O.; Jill Bright, cent to 595 million euros, or $731.7 women’s wear designer Ales- bullish comments,” said Elisa- Executive Vice-President_Human Resources; John Buese, Executive Vice-President_ Chief Information Officer; David Orlin, Senior million. At constant exchange sandra Facchinetti and Yves beth Jamieson, analyst at Lehman Vice-President_Strategic Sourcing; Robert Bennis, Senior Vice-President_Real Estate; David B. Chemidlin, Senior Vice- rates, sales grew by 10.5 percent. Saint Laurent’s Stefano Pilati, Continued on page 20 President_General Manager, Advance Magazine Group Shared Services Center. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and at additional mailing offices. Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40032712. Canadian Goods and Services Tax Registration No. 88654-9096-RM0001. Canada post return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: 4960-2 Walker Road, Windsor, ON N9A 6J3. 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