LVMH TAPS UNIT HEADS/2 IRA NEIMARK’S RETAIL LESSONS/10 WWDWomen’s Wear Daily • The Retailers’MONDAY Daily Newspaper • November 24, 2003 • $2.00 Accessories/Innerwear/Legwear Shell Sensation NEW YORK — There’s nothing quite like a day at the seaside collecting shells, and accessories designers seem to have spent the summer doing exactly that. This season, they’re using them as trim or allover patterns on handbags, jewelry and shoes. Here, Oscar de la Renta’s shell and turquoise-detailed suede pouch and Emanuel Ungaro’s metallic leather, suede and plastic high-heeled sandal. For more, see pages 6 and 7. Contract Battle: Limited Beats May in Court and Gets Exec By David Moin May Co. regarding the recruitment Limited’s Victoria’s Secret Stores NEW YORK — In a ruling that could of a senior executive. division, on the grounds that he was have significant implications for As reported, May Co. attempted violating a non-compete clause in his industry non-compete provisions in to prevent Mark Weikel, former contract. But Limited sued May Co. contracts, Limited Brands scored a chairman of its Foley’s division in retaliation. court victory late last week over based in Houston, from joining See Court, Page 11 PHOTO BY DAVID TURNER; STYLED BY ROXANNE ROBINSON-ESCRIOUT TURNER; STYLED BY DAVID PHOTO BY 2 WWD, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2003 WWDMONDAY LVMH Taps CEOs for Lacroix, Kenzo Accessories/Innerwear/Legwear By Miles Socha marketing and sales for food and fragrance firms. GENERAL Steiner has been with LVMH since 1997, join- FASHION: They sell seashells: Designers often look to nature for inspiration PARIS — LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton ing as European president of Louis Vuitton after 6 and for spring accessories they’ve turned to the natural beauty of seashells. did the corporate shuffle again Friday, naming stints at airport retailer Saresco and consulting A strong euro and weak dollar are hammering European balance sheets new chief executives for its Christian Lacroix firms Arthur Andersen and Boston Consulting and threatening Americans’ ability to purchase goods from the continent. and Kenzo fashion houses. Group. After a brief stint as head of LVMH’s 2 Francois Steiner, chief executive officer at fashion group in Europe, he was named ceo of BEAUTY BEAT: Diego Dalla Palma has reentered the cosmetics market in a LVMH-owned Thomas Pink, was named presi- Thomas Pink in July 2001. 3 flurry of color that has seen a 30 percent increase in sales in six months. dent and chief executive officer of Kenzo, con- At Kenzo, Steiner is charged with expanding LVMH did the corporate shuffle again Friday, naming new chief executives firming a report in these columns Wednesday. He its fashion business, working with its new for its Christian Lacroix and Kenzo fashion houses. starts Monday, succeeding Vincent Huguenin, women’s wear designer, Italian Antonio Marras, 2 who exits the group after 14 months in the post. who shows his first Kenzo collection in March, Jeff Walker, a Koch executive, will become chairman and ceo of Invista, At Lacroix, Geoffroy de La Bourdonnaye during Paris fashion week. 3 with Steve McCracken tapped as president and chief operating officer. will succeed Jean Pierre Debu, who is retiring Steiner’s successor at Thomas Pink has yet to May Co. lost its court attempt to prevent a former executive from working early next year. Debu, who’s been at the helm be named. at Victoria’s Secret. The ruling has implications for non-compete clauses. of Lacroix since May 2000, had been a member The appointments came only days after LVMH 1 of Kenzo’s management team for eight years said Jeffry M. Aronsson, ceo of Marc Jacobs EYE: A chat with Rosie Stancer, great niece of the late Queen Mother, who has prior to that. International, would become head of Donna 4 embarked on a solo trek to the South Pole…tea time with Candace Bushnell. De La Bourdonnaye will join LVMH after 11 Karan International, succeeding Fred Wilson, years at Euro Disney, most recently as vice presi- who is becoming president and chief executive Classified Advertisements ..................................................................14-15 dent and managing director of its merchandise of Saks Fifth Avenue. Aronsson’s successor at and retail division. Before that, he worked in Jacobs has yet to be named. To e-mail reporters and editors at WWD, the address is [email protected], using the individual's name. WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF FAIRCHILD PUBLICATIONS, INC. COPYRIGHT ©2003 FAIRCHILD PUBLICATIONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. VOLUME 186, NO. 108. 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Reluctance to raise prices has tended to limit the abilities of Europeans with U.S. distribution over the past year, closing at $1.19 Bergdorf Goodman, agreed it’s MONDAY: Eleanor Lambert Memorial, New York. to pass along increases. on Friday, and there is concern best to think long term. The After approaching an unprece- over how long the situation will store hasn’t cut back on orders, TUESDAY: The Conference Board reports on dented exchange rate of $1.20 at last. Still, most observers say it’s due to the strong euro. November Consumer Confidence. one point last week, 12 cents not yet time to panic. “I don’t anticipate…that [the Kellwood Co. and Bon-Ton Stores report on third- more than in early September, “The most important thing is euro] could stay at this level. If it quarter results. the euro backed off. Still, it re- price stability, not tricks, and does, we’ll have to regroup,” he mains at or near historical highs, our prices are stable,” said said. “You hope to weather the WEDNESDAY: The Federal Reserve issues its Beige the dollar-euro parity of late 1999 Hugo Boss spokesman Philipp storm, but if you cut everything, Book economic report. a distant memory. That means Wolff, who added it’s better to basically you’re limiting your American dollars translate into sacrifice some revenue in the ability to do business.” THURSDAY: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York less revenue, and ultimately less short term than risk losing cus- Niels Thygesen, an econom- profit, when collected on the tomers. “You get it back. You ics professor at the University of SUNDAY: Modaprima, Milan (through Dec. 2) European side of the Atlantic. can’t play with the consumer.” Copenhagen, said price hikes COMING THIS WEEK The currency has appreciated Robert Burke, vice president aren’t likely in the near term for 13.2 percent against the dollar and senior fashion director at Continued on page 13 In Brief New Trade Blueprint Vexing ● KIMMEL TO BE HONORED: The Anti-Defamation League will honor Sidney Kimmel, chairman and founder of Jones Apparel By Kristi Ellis Western Hemisphere, encompassing every country Group, with its Eastern Pennsylvania/Delaware region’s 26th an- but Cuba and stretching from Alaska to Tierra del nual Americanism Award.