FASHION
Sarah Shapiro
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April 25, 2025
The Week in Shopping: Slow Retail & A Dries Destination
A crop of contrarian retailers (Outline, HommeGirls, etcetera) are stepping back from (or doing away with) e-commerce, building their models around stuff you can touch, like physical stores and catalogs. Plus, a trunk show tour!
The Mytheresa-YNAP Shake-Up & Frankel’s Vera Wang Boomerang
A roundup of fashion industry intel: Notes on the frenzied (and surprisingly overlooked) C-suite reorg at LuxExperience, the rise of Danielle Frankel’s bridal dress empire, the departure of J.Crew’s longtime top merchant, and more.
Pinault Man’s Land
The luxury behemoths LVMH and Kering may be able to weather Trump’s tariffs—the ultra-rich aren’t going anywhere—but more pressing challenges, including a glut of stores, Gucci’s uncertain future, and luxury no longer being cool, are complicating the picture.
Lauren Sherman
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April 23, 2025
Kamala Met Gala Chatter & ‘Vanity Fair’ Micro Updates
A fresh batch of fashion industry intel: Notes on Kering’s disappointing Q1, Vanity Fair’s E.I.C. shortlist, Saks Global’s new headache, and an intriguing potential Met Gala appearance.
Rachel Strugatz
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April 23, 2025
Panic in the Beauty Aisle
Nearly every beauty brand is exposed to China, adding to the anxiety that’s keeping industry executives up at night. But smaller and mid-market brands are feeling the tariff squeeze most of all.
Sarah Shapiro
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April 22, 2025
501 & Only
Levi’s is thriving, with a newly surging D.T.C. model, a fitness apparel line, and a timely cross-genre partnership with Cowboy Carter, herself. Then again, there’s never been an easier time to sell American jeans. Is Levi’s really meeting the moment, or just getting lucky?
Lauren Sherman
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April 21, 2025
The Line Sheet Mail Bag: Spring Breakers Edition
Your burning fashion industry questions—on Olivier Rousteing’s future at Balmain, Tory Burch’s runway strategy, whatever happened to Donna Karan, and much more—finally answered.
Sarah Shapiro
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April 18, 2025
This Week in Shopping: The Anti-Logo Rebellion & Tariff Truths
Notes on the evolution of fitness apparel beyond leggings and sports bras, the spike in high-end, non-tariff-related prices, and a Gen Z Sephora phenomenon.
Nikeology
A frank conversation with retail analyst Simeon Siegel about the current anxiety and uncertain future of Nike, as the storied sneaker brand works to win back mindshare within our disintegrating monoculture.
Rachel Strugatz
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April 16, 2025
Sephora’s Fragrance War
While beauty retailers face off over exclusivity for top-selling scents, TikTok Shop is siphoning off their online sales. Could its future owners—Amazon, Larry Ellison, the OnlyFans guy, or whomever—use the tech company to upend the fragrance business?
Sarah Shapiro
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April 15, 2025
LoveShackFancy’s Royalty Play
Rebecca Hessel Cohen’s ultra-pink, Versailles-chic sorority brand is expanding its business through traditional retail, wholesale, and a growing variety of licensing plays—everything from Pottery Barn rugs to press-on nails. How far can LSF reach before it overextends?
Lauren Sherman
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April 14, 2025
Louis Vuitton’s Texas Blues & Lululemon’s Pocket Deal
Notes on the drama swirling around Louis Vuitton’s Alvarado, Texas production facility, an unscientific power ranking of the best Alo competitors, and fresh insight into the Vanity Fair “global editorial director” sweepstakes.
Lauren Sherman
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April 14, 2025
Key Performance Metrick
Since last year’s Saks-Neiman marriage, Saks Global C.E.O. Marc Metrick has become the company’s convenient villain, blamed for withheld payments, layoffs, and store closures. Herewith, Metrick explains himself as he steers Saks Global through a rocky merger.
Sarah Shapiro
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April 11, 2025
Designer Money Jobs & More Liberation Day Aftershocks
A bundle of fashion industry intel: Notes on the high-end designers taking creative director roles at mall brands, how fashion industry insiders are bracing their businesses for Trump’s trade war, and a few new stores and collabs you may have missed.
Sarah Shapiro
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April 11, 2025
This Week in Shopping: Hamptons Mom Trucker Hats & Lululemon vs. Brandy Melville
News and notes on the latest Gen Z retail trends, the NikeSkims partnership, and the rapidly shrinking market for wallets in an Apple Pay world.
‘VF’ Search Diaries & Chiuri’s Dior Swan Song
Notes on the latest developments in Vanity Fair’s post-Radhika leadership search, and the European chatter surrounding Maria Grazia Chiuri’s Dior afterlife. Plus, the most important creative director move nobody is talking about.
Prada Family Values
Prada’s $1.4 billion acquisition of Versace provides a mini-bailout for Capri and a soft landing for Donatella. But the stakes are much higher for the Prada family: This deal represents an expensive opportunity to transform a beloved brand, further elevate Miu Miu, and allow an heir to create the empire that foiled his parents.