FASHION
Rachel Strugatz
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May 21, 2025
The Blake-Taylor Beauty Catastrophe
Blake Lively’s haircare line was leveled by Baldonigate—and now, a bizarre legal contretemps involving Taylor Swift. Blake Brown has become “a non-conversation” at Target, according to a person familiar with its plunging sales. “It went from a $100 million brand to a $15 million brand.”
Lauren Sherman
& Sarah Shapiro
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May 20, 2025
The Chanel Dip & Nordstrom’s $6.3B Take-Private
A close look at how Quince mastered the dark art of marketing the just-good-enough dupe, Nordstrom’s fate now that its $6.3B take-private is complete, and what to make of Chanel’s relatively disappointing 2024 results.
Sarah Shapiro
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May 20, 2025
The Away Game
Steph and Jen’s direct-to-consumer luggage brand Away had competitors reaching for beta blockers when it first entered the space with built-in phone chargers and a unicorn valuation. Now, after surviving a travel-crushing pandemic, a new C.E.O. (yes, another one) is answering the call to re-differentiate the brand in a much more saturated market.
Lauren Sherman
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May 19, 2025
Pierpaolo Pressure
With the appointment of Pierpaolo Piccioli to succeed Demna at Balenciaga, Kering appears to be choosing stability—taking a second chance on a proven operator, rather than betting it all on an untested genius. It’s indicative of the risk-averse state of luxury these days, but also the growing pressures on the Pinault family, itself.
Lauren Sherman
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May 19, 2025
Chanel Shrinkage & Gobbetti’s Next Act
News and notes on Chanel and Richemont’s ’24 performance, how major brands are commandeering the hard-luxury supply chain, and a scoop on the next destination for fashion executive Marco Gobbetti.
Sarah Shapiro
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May 16, 2025
An International Shopping Drought & The Plimsoll Sneaker Renaissance
Notes on how ping-ponging tariff rates have led several international retailers to halt U.S. shipments, the return of Plimsoll (a.k.a. Keds-style) sneakers to the footwear conversation, and the latest store openings and collaborations of note.
Sarah Shapiro
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May 16, 2025
The Week in Shopping: Malls Are Back (Again)
News and notes on the psychology behind a successful shopping mall, a sporty new kids line from Shenzhen, and why two sports retailers are consolidating.
Bergdorf’s Diamond Wars & More Vanity Fair Whispers
Fresh intel from the fashion frontlines: How Bergdorf become an epicenter for the lab-grown vs. natural diamonds debate, why analysts are suddenly bullish on the activewear brand Under Armour, and the latest chatter surrounding Vanity Fair’s E.I.C. search.
The Arnaults Go to Washington
The LVMH royal family’s courtship of Trump at the inauguration, once mocked, now looks wisely proactive, with Bernard and Alexandre returning to meet with the president in the Oval Office. Were they lobbying for a luxury carve-out on looming 20 percent tariffs?
Lauren Sherman
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May 14, 2025
A Burberry Intervention & Satisfy’s Series B Paradox
News and notes on how Burberry C.E.O. Josh Schulman’s turnaround is coming along, plus fresh intel on the Wertheimer-backed, Paris-based activewear brand Satisfy.
Rachel Strugatz
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May 14, 2025
The Condom Guys’ M&A Strategy
Church & Dwight has made a fortune on the glitter-free side of the CVS aisle—baking soda, acne cream, condoms—but with its stake in Zoomer hand sanitizer brand Touchland, it’s revealing a glimpse of its novel acquisition strategy while showing there are signs of life in beauty M&A.
Lauren Sherman & Sarah Shapiro
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May 13, 2025
Balenciaga’s Designer Pump Fake & ShopMy’s New Edge
News and notes on a C-suite shake-up at Balenciaga, an M&A move giving ShopMy a new edge in the commerce wars, and fresh H.R. drama at Adidas HQ.
Sarah Shapiro
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May 13, 2025
Teflon Donni
In an industry that values speed and scale, Donni, the trendy, L.A.-based stretchy mom-pants brand, is taking it slow. Is founder Alyssa Wasko naive about what it takes to compete, or forging a new model for subscale, independent brands?
Lauren Sherman & Sarah Shapiro
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May 12, 2025
WME Fashion Chatter & Barneys’ TV Resurrection
News and notes on the strange decision to set a television show in a modern-day Barneys New York, the essential value of Art + Commerce to the WME portfolio, and a shake-up at the trendy D.T.C. luggage brand Away.
Lauren Sherman
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May 12, 2025
Twin Peaks
The Row defined the pandemic-adjacent era of TikTok- and ‘Succession’-fueled “quiet luxury.” Now, with the trend moving on and a wholesale strategy that’s reliant on beleaguered department stores, the Olsens are facing their next challenge.
Lauren Sherman & Sarah Shapiro
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May 9, 2025
A P.R. Consolidation Play & Fashion’s Substackification
News and notes on the elevation of P.R. maestro Jesse Darris, the fashion and beauty brands flocking to Substack, and the latest openings and collabs.
Sarah Shapiro
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May 9, 2025
The Week in Shopping: Caruso’s Grove Nostalgia & Synergy on Melrose
News and notes on the festival of denim at Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour, the ’90s nostalgia at The Grove via Gap and Coach, and why the latest beauty pop-ups are having so much success.