Shopkeepers' Nation

Dylan's Halloween Treats on the Today Show

Check out Dylan Lauren on yesterday's edition of the Today Show as she show's Maria Menounos the wide array of Halloween treats available at Dylan's Candy Bar.

Me&Ro to Open in Chicago Hot Spot

It's no surprise that cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas have been successful markets for fine jewelry. Now, Women's Wear Daily reports that luxury jewelry retailers are flocking to the Midwest, specifically to Chicago's upscale Oak Street neighborhood. Since 2004, the area has become a jewelry hot spot with the opening of stores by David Yurman, Harry Winston, Graff, Judith Leiber, Lester Lampert, and Trabert & Hoeffer. Joining that illustrious list will be jewelry favorite Me&Ro, soon to open a 900-square-foot store on Oak Street, next door to Jimmy Choo.

Me&Ro COO Rachel Barnett says, "Oak Street has become a mecca for luxury jewelry." The company has already seen much success in Chicago wholesale locations such as Barney's and Neiman Marcus. "We've done very well in Chicago," notes Barnett. Me&Ro projects $2 million in first-year sales at the Oak Street location.

Shoppers can expect to find classic Me&Ro styles at the new store, as well as many limited-edition styles designed with stones such as sapphire and tourmaline.

Kurt Geiger to Partner with Agent Provocateur for Footwear Collection

The blogosphere is buzzing about the partnering of British luxury-footwear retailer Kurt Geiger with luxury-lingerie favorite Agent Provocateur. The pair have teamed up to create a collection of eight sexy stilettos and boots for the Fall/Winter season with prices starting at £275. The collection's styles are meant to compliment the overall Agent Provocateur aesthetic. This is the first licensing deal for Kurt Geiger, known as a leader in Britain's luxury shoe market.

Look for styles to hit Agent Provocateur boutiques and select Kurt Geiger stores on October 24th. The collection will also be made available via the Agent Provocateur website.

Free Advertising for Dylan's Candy Bar

From the Much-Appreciated-Free-Advertising department, a t-shirt from Dylan's Candy Bar appears on the October 21st cover of one of America's most widely-read magazines.

7 Draws Wall Street's Attention With Expanding Product Range

 

7 For All Mankind is getting attention for more than just it's famous-fitting denim. Having been acquired by VF Corp., the world's biggest owner of apparel brands, Seven hopes to keep momentum rolling with a wider product range that includes handbags, leather jackets, dresses, shoes, a men's line, and more. The Wall Street Journal has taken notice, recently profiling Seven's product and retail expansion efforts and the challenges it faces in today's market.

The overall outlook for the brand is good, especially with the backing provided by VF Corp. "VF leapfrogs us along the learning curve with regard to the extension of sportswear," says Seven CEO Mike Egeck. "We can tap into their expertise, their sourcing expertise, their retail expertise, their expertise in licensing." Seven has been paired with women's activewear brand Lucy to form VF's new Contemporary Brands coalition. The coalition has already generated $33 million in revenues for VF this quarter.

Catherine Bailey to Star in Next Agent Provocateur Campaign

Agent Provocateur has chosen model Catherine Bailey to star in the second installment of the company's collectible four-part ad campaign consisting of "sexy adventure booklets." Episode two, entitled Lady of the Manor, will be released next month. Catch up on the first installment, Lessons in Lingerie starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, now at agentprovocateur.com.

Anya Hindmarch Nominated for Designer of the Year

Congratulations to Anya Hindmarch on her nomination for Designer of the Year from the British Fashion Council. Stella McCartney and Luella Bartley also received nominations in this category. The winning nominee will be announced at the British Fashion Awards on November 27th. 

Reiss Recognized for Global Expansion Plans

The International Council of Shopping Centers, the trade organization that serves the global retail real estate industry, has recognized Reiss for their global expansion efforts. In a recent article noting the success the brand has found in the U.S. market, ICSC reports that Reiss is primed for rapid worldwide expansion. With its increasing popularity among looking for fashion-forward, quality clothing at mid-level prices, Reiss is aiming to open 250 stores across the globe within the next five years, with 50 of those stores opening in the U.S. and another 50 opening in Europe.

Seven's Tim Kaeding Nominated for Denim Designer of the Year

7 For All Mankind is proud to announce that creative director Tim Kaeding has been nominated for the Supima Denim Designer of the Year. This nomination is a true testament to the talents of the entire 7 For All Mankind design team and all they have accomplished these past Seven years.

The five nominees--which also include designers for Goldsign, J Brand, Oligo Tissew, and Paige Premium Denim--were recently announced in press releases that ran in California Apparel News and men's fashion-industry mag DNR. The winner will be announced at the Los Angeles Fashion Awards on October 26th.

Smythson's Nancy Bag Scouted by Domino Mag

Domino magazine--the guide to stylish living--features Smythson's Nancy handbag in the Scouting section of their October issue. The Nancy was picked, along with a handful of other notable fineries, as a current obsession of the tastemaking mag's editors.

Love the look of the Nancy? Get it at the Smythson store nearest you or via the company's website.