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Last January Tommy Hilfiger, dressed up like Karl Lagerfeld mimicking his trademark high collar shirt and tie, stood next to the German uberdesigner and proudly proclaimed that his company had acquired the Lagerfeld name and businesses in a 30 million dollar deal.
Then Tommy Hilfiger Inc was sold to Apax Partners for $1.6 billion dollars. Now the new owners have announced that they will be closing the New York offices of Karl Lagerfeld namesake collection effective immediately after only one season.
A limited-edition capsule group was released exclusively through Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman this spring and a larger collection was expected to be released in the fall.
The reason given for the closure was that the new owners felt that the Lagerfeld brand could better be managed from Paris.
However the future of the Lagerfeld collection, formerly known as the Lagerfeld Gallery is pretty much in doubt. A double-speak statement released by Tommy Hilfiger Inc read...
"We believe strongly in the enormous potential of the Karl Lagerfeld brand. Karl is one of the great design icons of our time. However, the management of dual headquarters in both Paris and New York is complex and specifically at odds with the company's core mission following the acquisition by Apax Partners to focus resources on our core activity of further developing the Tommy Hilfiger brand." |
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According to the London Telegraph's Fashion Director Hilary Alexander, Central Saint Martins, the London fashion college that produced Britain 's brightest design talents including Alexander McQueen and John Galliano has lost its cutting edge.
The once provocative and daring institution has turned into a shadow of its former self and its current graduate fashion show resembled a vicarage fete.
The action now has shifted to by Westminster University whose small but daring graduating class demonstrated much of the of the rebelliousness and rudeness that British fashion has always been known for.
<<John Galliano Spring/Summer 2006 Collection during Paris Fashion Week.
Photo: Stardustfashion.com
See the Photo Slideshow
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According to newspaper reports Marc Jacobs still desperately wants Lindsay Lohan to represent Louis Vuitton.
She was passed up this season after negotiations fell through. He was quoted as saying “I very much wanted her to appear in the LV campaign, but it didn't work out. Hopefully it will next time."
However Chanel, Stella McCartney and Donatella Versace also are said to working the Mean Girls star to front their campaigns. |
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Wal-Mart is being sued by Louis Vuitton, the owner of the Fendi Brand, for selling imitation Fendi accessories that in include handbags, shoulder bags, purses, wallets and key chains at it's Sam Club outlets.
The alleged counterfeit products are selling for as much as 68% less than the authentic items. Court documents gave the example of a $925 handbag selling for $295.03 at a Sam's Club in Las Vegas complete with logo and markings.
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Pop icon Madonna has decided to give some of her couture buddies, which include, Jean Paul Gauthier, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and Donatella Versace a run for their money.
The Material Girl designed a tracksuit exclusively for discount street retailer H&M. It is expected to be in stores later this summer.
The Swedish based company recently agreed to pay the Confessions on the Dance Floor singer an undisclosed amount believed to be in the millions to be the face of its next ad campaign. |
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When it comes to team sports the best team uniform is no team uniform for supermodel Claudia Schiffer.
In an ad campaign to promote Germany and designed to coincide with the World Cup, Schiffer appears nude draped only in a German flag.
A caption reads 'Invest in Germany Boys'. The poster will first appear at London's Bank underground station during the games. Shiffer who now lives in England with her husband and children was part of the German VIP delegation when the games opened in Germany.
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