IS LAMPERT EYEING GAP?/3 INDITEX TO GROW IN U.S./3 WWDWomen’s Wear Daily • The Retailers’THURSDAY Daily Newspaper • December 14, 2006 • $2.00 Sportswear Copper Tone It’s the year of the dress, and it continues to be for pre-fall. Designers are offering the season’s frocks in strong colors with lots of shine. Here, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana’s curve-hugging bronze silk number for Dolce & Gabbana, shot at Room Service, New York. Lee Angel bracelets; Cesare Paciotti shoes. For more pre-fall looks, see pages 6 and 7. A Casual Karl Lagerfeld: Hilfiger-Owned Brand To Launch K Denim Line By Miles Socha PARIS — Karl Lagerfeld will soon be YLED BY DAVID YASSKY DAVID YLED BY dishing out his own denim line, simply called K. Parent Tommy Hilfiger Corp. aims to build the denim-driven collection into a significant global business, capitalizing on Lagerfeld’s renown and his proven . CLAIR, BOTH AT AARTIST LOFT; ST LOFT; AARTIST . CLAIR, BOTH AT knack with jeans. But given the closing last June of the fledgling New York-based Karl Lagerfeld contemporary label, Hilfiger is mapping out a measured growth VA AND MAKEUP BY JUSTIN ST AND MAKEUP BY VA plan for the K line; initial distribution is focused on wholesale accounts in Europe and Canada, said Hilfiger chief See Karl, Page 11 EL: EMANUELA/MARILYN; HAIR BY MICHAEL SIL HAIR BY EL: EMANUELA/MARILYN; PHOTO BY KYLE ERICKSEN; MOD KYLE PHOTO BY WWD.COM WWDTHURSDAY Sportswear FASHION For the pre-fall season, designers are presenting a bold arsenal of looks ™ 6 in gold and basic black, with sequins and shine adding striking touches. A weekly update on consumer attitudes and behavior based on ongoing research from Cotton Incorporated GENERAL Karl Lagerfeld is set to dish out special K, his new denim-driven line that STYLE AND TREND: YEAR IN REVIEW 1 parent Tommy Hilfi ger Corp. aims to build into a major global business. Investors are speculating that Gap Inc. is an acquisition target and the SMART = FASHION + FUNCTION 3 interested party is said to be Sears Holdings chairman Edward Lampert. What defines a season are the trends and Yves Saint Laurent said it would “right size” its New York fl agship, in Fifties-style cropped jackets over light flowing 3 shaving 7,000 square feet of selling space and focusing on women’s. innovations in fashion that linger. The year 2006 tunics with skinny grey jeans. I love the retro, feminine silhouette this creates, but I like to add EYE: A reception celebrating the new “Nan Kempner: American Chic” boasted a range of candidates from longer tunics and exhibit at the Met was held on one of the busiest nights of the season. skinny jeans to shirt dresses. Layering, fitted jackets ankle boots for a modern twist.” 4 and deliberately exaggerated silhouettes also emerged Kate Ceipluch, a buyer for Shopbop, a Web site DISH: Italy’s Meltin’ Pot entered the U.S. market two years ago and is on the fashion landscape. Each offering today’s most stylish 8 now putting down roots and preparing to launch a high-end collection. garment, accessory or trend made brands, was also a huge fan of the BEAT: Some of the hottest contemporary boutiques are spreading an impact on the fashion pages of grey skinny jean. “It was such a 9 holiday cheer this season as they dish out some of the newest trends. 2006. But now with the calendar fresh look,” she enthuses. Philosophy by Alberta Ferretti will show in New York come February, down to just one page, the pundits Denim is one item that any 10 adding another name to the list of brands departing Milan Fashion Week. ponder whether one quintessential woman can count on to constantly Classifi ed Advertisements.............................................................14-15 fashion defined the year. reinvent itself. Women are well- “I think if there were one practiced at identifying new styles To e-mail reporters and editors at WWD, the address is fi rstname. collective theme to 2006, it would and silhouettes. When asked by [email protected], using the individual’s name. WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF FAIRCHILD PUBLICATIONS, INC. COPY- be a return of classic garments the Monitor if their last denim RIGHT ©2006 FAIRCHILD PUBLICATIONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. VOLUME 192, NO. 125. WWD (ISSN # 0149-5380) is published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, with one updated in a fresh way in terms of purchase was a replacement or an additional issue in January, two additional issues in March, May, June, August, October, November and December, and three fabrics and colors,” says Jessica addition to their wardrobes, additional issues in February, April, and September by Fairchild Publications, Inc., a subsidiary of Advance Publications, Inc. PRINCIPAL OFFICE: 750 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017. Shared Services provided by Advance Magazine Publishers Inc.: Paruch, a product trend analyst nearly two out of three female S.I. Newhouse Jr., Chairman; Charles H. Townsend, President & C.E.O.; John W. Bellando, Executive Vice President and C.O.O.; Jill Bright, Executive Vice President_Human Resources; John Buese, Executive Vice President_Chief Information Officer; David with Cotton Incorporated. “They respondents indicated it was an Orlin, Senior Vice President_Strategic Sourcing; Robert Bennis, Senior Vice President_Real Estate; Maurie Perl, Senior Vice Presi- dent_Chief Communications Officer. Shared Services provided by Advance Magazine Group: Steven T. Florio, Advance Magazine feel new, but offer a nod to addition. Group Vice Chairman; David B. Chemidlin, Senior Vice President_General Manager, Shared Services Center. tradition.” “Women certainly love denim Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and at additional mailing offices. Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. and with all of the new treatments 40644503. Canadian Goods and Services Tax Registration No. 88654-9096-RT0001. Canada post return undeliverable “2006 saw a return of dramatic, “I think if there were one collective Canadian addresses to: DPGM, 7496 Bath Road, Unit 2, Mississauga, ON L4T 1L2. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS chunky proportions,” details Robyn and finishes, they can find great CHANGES TO WWD, P.O. Box 15008, North Hollywood, CA 91615-5008. FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS, theme to 2006, it would be a return ADDRESS CHANGES, ADJUSTMENTS, OR BACK ISSUE INQUIRIES: Please write to WOMEN’S WEAR Rhodes, a jewelry designer. “Think functionality along with that DAILY, P.O. Box 15008, North Hollywood, CA 91615-5008; Call 800-289-0273; or visit www.subnow.com/wd . Four of classic garments updated in weeks is required for change of address. Please give both new and old address as printed on most recent label. bold, random and asymmetrical. It fashionability that women want Subscriptions Rates: U.S. possessions, Retailer, daily one year: $109; Manufacturer, daily one year $145. All other a fresh way in terms of fabrics was about breaking the rules, but in their jeans,” Paruch, the trend U.S., daily one year $205. Canada/Mexico, daily one year, $295. All other foreign (Air Speed), daily one year $595. and colors.” First copy of new subscription will be mailed within four weeks after receipt of order. Address all editorial, business, not to please anyone but yourself.” analyst, cites. “And new finishes and production correspondence to WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY, 750 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017. For permissions — Jessica Paruch, and reprint requests, please call 212-221-9595 or fax requests to 212-221-9195. Visit us online: www.wwd.com. To The past year certainly did seem are being introduced every day.” subscribe to other Fairchild magazines on the World Wide Web, visit www.fairchildpub.com. Occasionally, we make Cotton Incorporated our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and services that we believe would to be about dressing to please one’s In addition to being fashion- interest our readers. If you do not want to receive these offers and/or information by mail and/or e-mail, please advise self and women had plenty to savvy, women are well-versed on us at P.O. Box 15008, North Hollywood, CA 91615-5008 or call 800-289-0273. WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOSS, DAMAGE, OR ANY OTHER INJURY TO UNSOLICITED MANU- choose from to make them happy. “I love pants and the prevalence of performance finishes on today’s 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, build my outfits around them,” says Erin Condren, a clothing. When asked if they were aware of cotton OR OTHER MATERIALS FOR CONSIDERATION SHOULD NOT SEND ORIGINALS, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED stationery designer whose creations were recently clothing that had specific performance attributes, the featured on Ellen, the popular television talk show. majority of female respondents stated in the “This year, there were so many fun pant styles from affirmative for easy care properties (77%), addition gaucho to skinny leg to trouser; I adored all of the of stretch (74%), wrinkle resistance (68%), an different silhouettes!” expandable waist (67%), and stain resistance (55%). In Brief A significant portion of women also stated that they There were also an abundance of shapes and ● WORLD BANK REPORT: The world economy is forecast to grow by colors to choose from in recent purchased cotton clothing with the 3.2 percent in 2007, less than this year’s 3.9 percent, led by a marked months, and it appears that that the Number of Times following attributes: stretch (79%), slowdown in the U.S., according to a World Bank report published more choices women have, the Women Shop Per Month easy care properties (78%), wrinkle Wednesday.