HAMPTONS OVER THERE THE EUROPEAN HAPPENINGS ECONOMY MAY THE SOCIAL SWIRL IN THE BE WOBBLY, BUT HAMPTONS WAS IN FULL SWING OVERSEAS ORDERS THIS PAST WEEKEND, DRAWING THE ARE GIVING ITALIAN MILLS OPTIMISM. LIKES OF CINDY SHERMAN AND PAGE 8 LOU REED. PAGE 9 WWDTUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012 Q WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY Q $3.00 STEADY GROWTH Max Mara to Boost China Retail Presence he said. Exports account for 58 per- By LUISA ZARGANI cent of group sales. Founded in 1951 by Luigi’s father, Achille Maramotti, MILAN — Max Mara Group, which a pioneer in developing ready-to- has been present in Greater China wear, the Italian clothing fi rm had for more than 30 years, is stepping sales in 2011 of 1.26 billion euros, or up its retail expansion in the region $1.63 billion at average exchange; to ensure it remains one of the lead- more than 2,330 stores in 150 coun- ers of the pack. tries, and 5,248 employees. COSMETICS The first step is the opening today of The group’s stores — carrying a new fl agship in Hong Kong, marked brands Max Mara, Weekend by Max by a major fashion show event. Mara, Sportmax, Max & Co., Marella, In its typically understated way, Pennyblack, Marina Rinaldi and COMPULSIVE Max Mara has grown to more than iBlues — include 238 units in China, 300 stores in China, a country it en- 36 in Hong Kong, 42 in Taiwan and tered in 1988. This is even more sur- fi ve in Macau. At the end of 2012, OBSESSIVE prising for a women’s wear group in Max Mara expects to reach 320 units USING an area where sales were for so long in Greater China. driven by men. The new Hong Kong flagship “We have seen an average of 30 is located in the exclusive Central AGENCY percent growth per year in a market shopping and financial district, that is greatly relevant for us,” said positioned near brands includ- chairman Luigi Maramotti in an ex- ing Bulgari, Prada and Cartier, clusive interview. and the luxury Mandarin Oriental MELLINGER/KESS Along with Russia, China is the Hotel. It covers two floors and company’s fastest-growing market, KATIE SEE PAGE 12 BY Wet Seal Pressures Grow MAKEUP Following the announcement of By VICKI M. YOUNG McGalla’s departure, senior port- folio manager Joseph A. De Perio PROFESSIONNEL; AN ACTIVIST investment group of The Clinton Group sent a letter is seeking a sale of The Wet Seal to the Wet Seal board pushing for L’OREAL Inc. after the retailer’s board on a sale of the company. The Clinton Girly Power FOR Monday parted ways with chief ex- Group owns slightly more than 4 ecutive officer Susan McGalla. percent of the shares of Wet Seal. When it comes to holiday party frocks, the fl irtation is in the details. McGalla departed Monday. While “The action you took over the Here, Pink Tartan’s Modal top with feathered sleeves, tucked into a the company did not provide a rea- weekend in terminating the em- MANAGEMENT son for her exit, Wet Seal posted 11 ployment contract of Ms. McGalla, polyester and cotton brocade skirt, and Shoshanna’s classic sheath consecutive months of comparable- the company’s (now former) chief worked in an optic polyester and cotton jacquard. Sequence belts; BEAUTY store sales declines under her ten- executive offi cer, is a good fi rst step ure. She succeeded Ed Thomas in in creating value for shareholders,” Ben-Amun jewelry; Brian Atwood shoes. For more, see pages 6 and 7. January 2011. McGalla was president De Perio wrote in the letter, which and chief merchandising offi cer at was made public. “In our June letter, MCNAIR/AIM American Eagle Outfi tters Inc. until and in our discussions since then, we January 2009, when her employment have noted that Ms. McGalla’s record CHARLES contract expired. SEE PAGE 4 BY HAIR E/WILHELMINA; LISA AND MARYANA/SUPREME PHOTO BY THOMAS IANNACCONE; STYLED BY MAYTE ALLENDE MODELS: 4 WWD TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012 Jimmy Choo Names Denis CEO THE BRIEFING BOX knowledge of Asia, the emerg- gone from zero to a global brand By SAMANTHA CONTI ing markets and Europe, and has with multiple product categories. IN TODAY’S WWD the strength and understanding I’ll be part of the adventure now, LONDON — Making inroads in to take Jimmy Choo to the next and that is exciting,” he said. Asia — and especially China level,” he added. “It’s a very ex- According to market sourc- — will be a major priority for citing time for us.” es, Dominique de Longevialle Model call: Jimmy Choo, which on Monday Denis, who was most recent- will succeed Denis as manag- Lena Hardt. named Pierre Denis to the post ly managing director of John ing director of John Galliano of chief executive officer. Galliano SA, takes over a post SA. He is to report to Sidney “We are underrepresented in left vacant by Joshua Schulman, Toledano, president of the com- China, and it is a key priority of who joined Bergdorf Goodman pany and chief executive officer ours to look at entering that mar- earlier this year. of Christian Dior, the majority ket in the best possible way,” said An industry veteran, Denis has owner of the Galliano business. Reinhard Mieck, ceo of Jimmy also served as managing director At present, De Longevialle Choo’s parent Labelux. for Christian Dior Couture in Asia is the accessory director for “Pierre has a very in-depth and subsequently for Europe, the Christian Dior Couture. He Middle East and India. Prior to joined Dior in 1995 from Kenzo, that, he was part of LVMH Moët where he had managed its li- Jimmy Choo Hennessy Louis Vuitton’s perfumes censing business. Reached on will look to and cosmetics division, working Monday, the Dior fashion house expand in with brands such as Christian Dior, declined to comment. China. Guerlain, and Givenchy. Denis In other Labelux news, Mieck joined John Galliano in 2008. He said there was “no major ur- Max Mara Group, which has been present in Greater will report directly to Mieck. gency” in finding a ceo for Bally. China for more than 30 years, is stepping up its retail Denis said it was too early to Mieck is currently holding down expansion in the region. PAGE 1 talk about his strategy going for- the role of interim ceo at the ward, but reiterated that Asia is brand. The last ceo, Berndt An activist investment group is seeking a sale of The a priority for the brand, and that Hauptkorn, exited the company Wet Seal Inc. after the retailer’s board parted ways with he would be spending time getting at the end of 2011. chief executive officer Susan McGalla. PAGE 1 to know the different Jimmy Choo “I’m having a lot of fun doing offices worldwide, in the U.K., it and I’m pleased with the J.C. Penney unveiled new shops-in-shop for Levi’s, Continental Europe, the U.S. and brand. I want to find the right Arizona Jeans and the new I Jeans by Buffalo, initiating Hong Kong. person for the job, and I’m happy the next leg of its reinvention. PAGE 5 He said he joined Jimmy Choo to take my time doing it,” he said. because it offered such a compel- — WITH CONTRIBUTIONS Despite the unstable economic situation, Italian mill ling story. “In the past 15 years it’s FROM MILES SOCHA, PARIS executives were in an upbeat mood at the Pitti Filati show thanks to heightened interest from foreign buyers. PAGE 8 instrumental As J.Mendel’s 10th anniversary nears and it readies Barneys’ Vitale Adds to Role role across all launches of handbags and e-commerce next month, the areas as the brand will advertise in fall fashion magazines. PAGE 9 existing role. Vitale will now also store under- By MARC KARIMZADEH spearhead store operations as goes a major LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton, N.Y., threw its well as women’s merchandising overhaul, in- annual summer gala Saturday, honoring, among others, NEW YORK — Daniella Vitale is and barneys.com as chief mer- cluding the founder Jack Lenor Larsen. PAGE 9 adding more responsibilities to chant of the retailer. relaunch of her role at Barneys New York. Before joining Barneys, Vitale barneys.com The Row, the five-year-old label from the Olsen twins, Vitale, who has been the chief had been president of Gucci in May, and the is taking its public relations efforts in-house. PAGE 9 merchant and executive vice America for four years. She joined new shoe floor, Daniella Vitale president of women’s merchan- Gucci America as director of which was un- The opening day of Bridgehampton Polo on Long dising and barneys.com since wholesale in 1999 and, before that, veiled earlier this month. In her Island was a washout for the players and their ponies December 2010, has been pro- served as vice president of whole- newly enhanced role, Vitale will due to the heavy rains the previous day. PAGE 10 moted to chief operating officer, sale at Giorgio Armani Corp. continue to report to president and a new position, in addition to her At Barneys, Vitale has played an chief executive officer Mark Lee. Victoria Beckham was in Paris on Monday and happily ensconced in Chanel’s famous couture salons on the Rue Cambon. PAGE 11 Wet Seal CEO Out; Activist Group Seeks Sale Moody’s Investors Service on Monday placed J.