Did I Miss Something

Did I miss something here? Men for years have been grooming themselves and taking care of their skim. It happened when we discovered girls. duh

Amanda Brooks Exits Barneys

I knew she wasn't going to stay!!
It was a little more than a year ago that the New York City socialite Amanda Brooks was appointed fashion director of Barneys New York, to some cluck-clucking in the industry. After all, Ms. Brooks, 38, had little experience in retail, other than acting as a muse and later creative director to the fashion label Tuleh, and was more often photographed in preppy classics than the avant-garde brands for which Barneys had been known under the stewardship of her well-regarded predecessor, Julie Gilhart. As the blog Fashionista put it, “We’ve always thought of Brooks as more of a Bergdorf girl.”

Ms. Brooks’s duties included overseeing private labels and creating trend reports, informed in part by the street style of “it” girls, many of whom were part of her impressive network. “We didn’t need more retail help,” Mark Lee, the store’s chief executive, said of the hire at the time. Indeed, a lot of her job seemed to involve attending fashion shows, where she was a front-row regular, and going to openings and galas.

But in March, Ms. Brooks pulled off yet another surprise. She announced that she was not just quitting the Barneys position, but leaving Manhattan itself and planning a yearlong move with her family to a farm in Oxfordshire, England, that is owned by the family of her husband, the artist Christopher Brooks.

Was the Barneys brass disappointed in the high-profile hire? (Through a spokeswoman, executives there turned down requests to be interviewed on the matter.) Had Ms. Brooks — such a clotheshorse that she wrote a 2009 book on personal style — somehow soured on fashion shows? Or, as some in the news media speculated, was the move in support of her brother- and sister-in-law, Charlie and Rebekah Brooks, charged with perverting the course of justice (the term in British law) in the News of the World phone-hacking case? 

None of the above, Ms. Brooks said recently, dining on a sunny Friday at Freemans, downstairs from the apartment she’ll soon be renting out. (A North Fork residence will also be leased, to the artist Rachel Feinstein, a friend.)

“It was because of Ree Drummond’s blog, The Pioneer Woman,” said Ms. Brooks, who has recently returned to a blog, ILoveYourStyle.com, that she started after publishing the 2009 book, which had the same name. Reading a New Yorker profile last year of Ms. Drummond, a mother of four who lives on a cattle ranch outside Pawhuska, Okla., and posts prolifically on subjects like how to make cornmeal pancakes (using catchphrases like “yahoo, yippety”) “got me really fired up,” Ms. Brooks went on. “It’s the idea of having a career on your own terms, anywhere.”

At first glance, Ms. Brooks, a consummate urbanite with coolly styled looks, could not be more diametrically opposed to Ms. Drummond. At lunch, several days after the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Costume Institute benefit (to which she wore a minimalist graphite Calvin Klein ensemble), Ms. Brooks was dressed casually in an open-knit beige sweater, black trousers and black flat sandals. Her blondish brown hair fell in an enviable natural wave, and her figure was willowy.

“I lost a lot of weight working at Barneys,” said Ms. Brooks, nibbling delicately at the turkey sandwich with bacon she’d ordered along with an iced tea, then hastening to add, “It was the 14-hour days and then all the traveling.” 

Courtesy: NYT

"Sean John" Causes Some Stir in LA

The 18-year-old son of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has been awarded a full athletic scholarship to play football at UCLA beginning this fall, university spokesman Ricardo Vazquez confirmed. As news of the scholarship spread, some questioned if the cash-strapped school's money should be used to fund the education of the son of a man worth $475 million.

"Should P. Diddy's son return $54,000 college scholarship?" a CNN segment asked.
Vazquez said UCLA has a "robust financial aid program," and said the money used for merit-based athletic scholarships was "entirely funded by Athletic Department ticket sales, corporate partnerships, media contracts and private donations" and "do not rely on state funds."
The money used for Combs' scholarship wouldn't affect need-based scholarships awarded to other students, he said.
"There is a big separation between financial aid based on need and how that’s funded and how athletic scholarships are funded and awarded to students," Vazquez said.
Combs' scholarship is one of about 285 the university awards to student athletes each year, Vazquez said, and will be used to pay tuition and fees along with room and board.
"Unlike need-based scholarships, athletic scholarships are awarded to students strictly on the basis of their athletic and academic ability, and not on a student's financial need," Vazquez said in a statement.
A recent alumnus of New Rochelle Iona Prep in New York — who reportedly graduated with a 3.75 GPA — the 5-foot-9, 170-pound defensive back was also offered scholarships by Illinois, Virginia and Wyoming. Combs announced in November he would attend UCLA.
“Playing Division I football was a lifelong dream of mine, and through hard work I was able to achieve it,” Combs said in a statement announcing his decision.

"As a parent, this is one of the proudest moments of my life," Sean Combs said in a statement. "This is everything a father could want in his son, for him to excel at what he loves to do."
Many Bruin fans rallied around the incoming freshman on football message boards this week.
"Clearly Justin earned his scholarship.... He doesn’t need to give it to anyone," read a message on Bruins Nation. "The best way he can 'give back' is by being and exemplary Bruin ... and his track record indicates he will be."

Neiman Marcus Personal Shopper Doing More Than "Shopping"

 Sex, money, shopping and betrayal spurred a woman scorned to file suit against Neiman Marcus after the luxury retailer, known for its generous return policy, refused to take back $1.4 million worth of merchandise.
During the three years Patricia Walker spent bedridden recovering from a traffic accident, her then-husband Robert Tennison's spending spiked at the retailer's Dallas location. He showered her with an outsized pile of gifts. But all the while, according to the suit, he was allegedly carrying on a secret affair with Favi Lo, his wife's trusted Neiman Marcus personal shopper.
Lo earned a steep commission from the sales, which were made using Walker's account, her attorney, Mark Ticer, said.
He noted a correlation between the spike in sales from 2007 to 2010 and the affair.
"Ms. Walker had no idea it was going on at all. She was in the perfect spot to be vulnerable after the horrible accident," he said.
In 2010, Walker wanted to return the haul of luxury goods to the store, which is known for its generous return policy.

 Neiman Marcus sent employees to look at the merchandise Walker had requested to return, but the store never followed through or offered an explanation for not taking the items back, Ticer said.
Neiman Marcus declined ABCNews.com's request and that of ABC affiliate WFAA for comment and cited the ongoing litigation.
The bonanza of luxury goods, from $285 pajamas to crystal sculptures and enough jewelry to fill a store's display case, now sits unused in storage. Much of it isn't even Walker's taste, Ticer said.
Walker spent $100,000 per year before her accident at the retailer. Her husband's spending on her account outpaced her spending by hundreds of thousands of dollars, Ticer said.
Still unaware of her husband's affair with Favi Lo, Walker closed her account in 2010. She learned of her husband's relationship with Lo a few months later while engaged in divorce proceedings, Ticer said.
For Walker, the lawsuit is about more than just getting her money back.
"The real villain in this case is Neiman Marcus," Ticer said. "After learning of this affair decided they weren't going to do anything about it."
Ticer said Lo was not disciplined and continues to work at the retailer's NorthPark Mall location. An attempt to reach her for comment was unsuccessful.

JCP Hires Former May Co. Guy

JCP continues to recruit the top talent in the industry. Years ago no one wanted to work for the Texas based retailer, but my how times have changed.

The Plano, Tex.-based retailer has named John Tighe senior vice president and general merchandise manager of men’s wear. He formerly headed the home division for the retailer and reports to Elizabeth Sweney, chief merchant. Tighe succeeds Steve Lawrence, who left the company in March.

John Tighe

Tighe will be charged with upping the fashion quotient in men’s for the store, which is in the midst of a transformation under new chief executive officer and former Apple Inc. executive Ron Johnson.

“I recruited John from May Co. 10 years ago,” Sweney told WWD Wednesday. He had previously worked for Filene’s and Meier & Frank and had varied experience ranging from young men’s and men’s furnishings to juniors.

Sweney said she interviewed dozens of people for the job but decided on Tighe for three reasons. “He’s a proven merchant at J.C. Penney and has experience in several areas in women’s apparel and home,” she said. “He’s also a change agent. He completely reimagined the home store. He knows what needs to be fixed and then he changes it.”

She also singled out his “great market relationships” with high-profile executives such as Martha Stewart and Jonathan Adler, and said he was instrumental in attracting them to Penney’s. “And he has men’s background from May Co.”

At the same time, she said Penney’s has hired Preston Moxcey, an 11-year veteran of Nordstrom, to join the men’s team as merchandise manager of furnishings and accessories. “He’s a very aggressive merchant and has a great taste level,” she said. “He understands both national and private brands.”

Both Tighe and Moxcey will be working closely with Nick Wooster, the former fashion director of Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, who joined Penney’s in March in the newly created role of vice president of design and trend for men’s.

“We have a big men’s business,” Sweney said. “It’s the number-two business in the store, but we need to inject some style into it. With John as the change agent and Preston and Nick imparting private brand and trend information, we have a great team in men’s to move the business forward.”

She said the goal is to add more contemporary style to the mix in categories ranging from young men’s to mature men’s while continuing to improve the quality in the men’s offering.

Succeeding Tighe as senior vice president and gmm of home is Paul Rutenis, who had served as divisional merchandise manager of furniture and decorative accessories for Penney’s.

London Getting Ready to Kick Off 2013 Season

London has long been a world capital of men’s wear: It’s the city that spawned the dandy, the home of Savile Row and Jermyn Street, and the birthplace of “lo stile Inglese,” or what the Italians lovingly refer to as “English style” — lots of color, texture and check fabrics.

In typically understated style, however, London has never shouted about itself or held a high-profile men’s wear showcase similar to those in Milan or Paris. But times are changing: The single day of men’s shows tacked on at the end of each London Fashion Week in September and February has from this season evolved into a three-day, international men’s wear showcase.

Prince Charles — a well-known fan of double-breasted suits with peaked lapels — will kick off the festivities with a cocktail party at St. James’s Palace on June 14. Paul Smith, Burberry, Tom Ford, Calvin Klein Collection, Louis Vuitton and Spencer Hart are among the labels that will host events. Richard Nicoll will use the showcase to launch his men’s wear line, Hardy Amies will unveil a collection of wardrobe staples called Hardy Amies London and Savile Row’s tailors plan to host a cocktail reception at the Burlington Arcade and will invite guests into their showrooms and workshops.


While there is a definite frisson of excitement in the air, designers are approaching the shows, which have been organized by the British Fashion Council and the Fashion 2012 Men’s Wear Committee chaired by British GQ editor Dylan Jones, with a degree of caution.

“It’s a big unknown for us,” said Sean Dixon, the cofounder and managing director of Savile Row tailor Richard James, which will stage its first runway show on June 17. “The show will help consolidate our existing business and hopefully bring in new business. It’s something we have to do and, at the very least, we’ll be getting nice visuals, a great video and a nice buzz.”

James said among his inspirations for spring 2013 are “urban fete, with lots of color.”



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Qatar Mall Fire Kills 19

Qatar's biggest shopping mall remained closed on Tuesday as authorities investigated a fire that ripped through its daycare center and other areas, killing 19 people, including 13 children, according to local media reports.

The Villaggio Mall, which opened in 2006, features attractions such as the Venetian-inspired Gondolania theme park in addition to brands ranging from luxury labels like Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton to high street chains like Zara, Gap and Marks & Spencer.

A spokesman for The Body Shop said the L’Oréal-owned brand’s store in the mall had been affected by the fire. “I do not know to what extent at present,” he said. “But our staff are all safe. Our thoughts are of course with those less fortunate.”

A spokeswoman for Swedish fast-fashion retailer H&M said all its employees were unharmed.

“This is a tragic accident and our thoughts go out to the families affected,” she said. “According to the latest information we have received from our franchise partner, the store has not sustained any material damage. The mall will stay closed until further notice.”