Kering Acquires 30% of Valentino with Option for 100% of Shares by 2028
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New GAP CEO, Mattel's Prez & COO Richard Dickson Is a Superlative Hire
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Mattel golden boy Richard Dickson is the new CEO of Gap, ending a year-long search for a visionary leader to take the helm of the struggling mothership brand. Dickson is widely credited with reviving Barbie for the 21st century.
President and COO at Mattel
Mattel announced Dickson’s departure as President and Chief Operating Officer to staff early Wednesday, as many were still celebrating Barbie’s humongous box office success. In his role, Mr. Dickson leads Mattel's portfolio of global brands, overseeing innovation strategy, design and development, and brand marketing.
Dickson joined the retailer’s board in November 2022 and is responsible for a new partnership in which Gap sells merchandise themed around Mattel’s properties. First up is Barbie, where Gap began selling T-shirts, hoodies, jeans and other gear inspired by Barbie and Ken in May.
Read MoreSKIMS Now Valued at $4 Billion as Kardashian - Grede Lockdown $270M Series C Funding
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Skims co-founders Kim Kardashian and CEO Jens Grede have confirmed a new $4 billion valuation for the company, after raising $270 million in a new Series C funding round.
Skims was previously valued at $3.2 million.
The new capital investment was led by Wellington Management and also includes funds from Greenoaks Capital Partners and existing partners D1 Capital Partners and Imaginary Ventures.
Mr. Grede has confirmed that Skims anticipates sales of about $750 million in 2023, up from $500 million in 2022. About 15 percent of its online customers come from outside the United States.
Read MoreKendall Jenner Named L'Oreal Global Ambassador Launching September 2023
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Kendall Jenner and L’Oreal have shared the announcement that the top model and B-Corp entrepreneur has been named L’Oréal Paris’ newest global ambassador.
When Kendall shared her WSJ Magazine terrific images and interview early in June, AOC did extra homework to unearth the important to us — and I daresay L’Oreal — fact that Jenner’s 818 Tequila brand is a B-Corp.
Kendall’s first L’Oreal campaign will be in makeup, with a September 2023 launch. Both parties issued the expected press releases.
Read MoreSkims Talks New [and Last] Round of Funding Before IPO with $4 Billion[ish] Valuation
/![Skims Talks New [and Last] Round of Funding Before IPO with $4 Billion[ish] Valuation](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55f45174e4b0fb5d95b07f39/1689553158323-BLC2L2FMMEZ07N9P88FL/Kim-Kardashian-Dials-for-New-Investors.png)
Boston-based investment firm Wellington Management is in talks to lead a new round of funding for SKIMS, led by Kim Kardashian and Jens Grede, Skims CEO and co-founder.
Reports are that the financial math currently on the table would establish a financial valuation for SKIMS of $4 billion. Assumptions are that this would be the final round of fundraising before an initial public offering that could come in about a year.
Read MoreL'Officiel Settles Unpaid NYC Freelancers Lawsuit
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The City of New York has reached a settlement on behalf of unpaid freelancers working for French media brand L’Officiel. As of July 14, 2023 L’Officiel has agreed to pay more than $275,000 to 41 freelancers.
Plaintiffs included writers, editors, photographers, videographers, graphic designers and illustrators.
Notice to Unpaid L’Officiel NYC Freelancers Who Have Not Filed a Claim Must Do So By Feb. 7, 2024
Freelancers who were not fully paid by L'Officiel for work performed between Jan. 1, 2017, and July 11, 2023, and were not specifically named in the suit, must file a claim by Feb. 7, 2024, in order to participate in the settlement. Freelancers named in the agreement do not need to file a claim and will receive an email with information explaining how to receive payment.
Read MoreBasquiat Graffiti Will Remain at Atelier Jolie's NYC Home at 57 Great Jones Street
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Angelina Jolie’s new purpose-driven collective has its first location at 57 Great Jones Street in New York City. In the IG video showing off the new headquarters, Jolie’s children, Shiloh, 17, and Pax, 19, are also visible spray painting the collective’s logo onto the building.
This has got to be an exciting time for Angelina Jolie and her children as they enter a space where Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat lived and worked for several years.
The interior features 6,600 square feet of space across three floors. The exterior of the building is adorned in street art, and Jolie will keep it that way as a public tribute to Basquiat. who started his career as one half of the graffiti art duo SAMO.
More Basquiat News
In Los Angeles, the show “JEAN-MICHEL-BASQUIAT: KING PLEASURE©” has been extended through October 15, 2023. Location is 100 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, Ca 90012. Self Parking is located between W. 2nd Street and W. 1st Street on S. Olive Street.
At the same time, in Paris the Jean-Michel Basquiat x Andy Warhol exhibit, organized by the Louis Vuitton Foundation, runs through August 28, 2023.
Read MorePrada's Caffe Principe: Where Excellence Meets Timelessness in Forte dei Marmi
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Nestled in the enchanting Italian coastal town of Forte dei Marmi, Caffè Principe stands as a true testament to the la dolce vita marriage of excellence and timelessness.
Since its establishment in 1959, this iconic establishment has been a haven for discerning coffee lovers, gastronomes, and art enthusiasts alike. The cafe reopened today, July 9, 2023, with its legacy intact.
In fact, Caffe Principe has been restored to honor the legacy of the hotspot, keeping its original name. Caffè Principe is managed operationally by Marchesi 1824, which makes perfect sense.
Read MoreLVMH Launches Bold Focus on Preserving and Teaching Craftsmanship Across France
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The Rencontres Economiques des Metiers d'Art Forum, organized by leading partner LVMH, is an exciting new platform celebrating the convergence of art, artisanship and commerce in the luxury sector.
The platform launched in the picturesque town of Tonnerre, Burgundy on June 30, 2023, designed to bring together renowned artisans, industry experts, art enthusiasts business leaders to explore the rich but intricate relationship between craftsmanship and economics.
With a focus on preserving traditional techniques while embracing innovation, the goal of the forum was and will be a catalyst for dialogue and collaboration among talented individuals from various artistic disciplines. It’s indisputable that the artisans themselves are at the center of this metaphorical wheel of French excellence.
Read MorePhoebe Philo's September Return Taps Top Model Alter Ego Daria Werbowy
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As creative director of Celine before Hedi Slimane, Phoebe Philo and top model Canadian-Ukrainian, born in Poland Daria Werbowy became visual alter egos.
That visual and psychological synergy is set for a September 2023 reunion with the return of Phoebe Philo’s eponymous brand.
As creative director of Celine before Hedi Slimane, Phoebe Philo and top model Canadian-Ukrainian, born in Poland Daria Werbowy became visual alter egos.
That visual and psychological synergy is set for a September 2023 reunion with the return of Phoebe Philo’s eponymous brand.
Read MoreSKIMS Pops Into Selfridges London, Outlines Significant Retail Stores Expansion
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Apparel brand SKIMS has popped into London, installed at Selfridges until July 8, 2023. Selfridges will open a redesigned and expanded permanent SKIMS shop-in-shop this summer.
“I’m thrilled to open our first international pop-up experience at the iconic Selfridges Corner Shop. We expect demand and buzz to be high as this is the first time SKIMS Swim will be available in retail outside of the U.S,” Jens Grede, Skims co-founder and CEO, said in a statement. “The pop-up experience will set the tone for the future of SKIMS in London, as the cultural and fashion destination is a key market for our global expansion.”
Skims first launched Skims at Selfridges in London in October, 2020. In 2023, Skims is such a hot brand in vestment opportunity that TIME put Kim Kardashian on the cover of its TIME 100 Most Influential Companies of 2023.
In London, SKIMS is also available at Harrods and Net-a-Porter and will open its own freestanding shop in London in the next 18 months. The shop will be in an area with “high traffic”, such as Bond Street or Regent Street Grede told The Sunday Times UK.
Read MoreRihanna Fronts New Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag Campaign in Canal Street Colors
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The Louis Vuitton Speedy bag is an iconic fashion statement that has withstood the test of time. Introduced in the 1930s, this elegant and practical handbag has become a symbol of luxury, sophistication, and timeless style.
Rihanna Fronts New LV Speedy Bag Campaign
In June 2023, fashion world adds Rihanna to the list of famous women who love a Louis Vuitton Speedy bag. Rihanna is an insider at LVMH, besides being a good friend of Pharrell Williams, the new creative director of Louis Vuitton Men who had a blowout opening night in Paris last week.
Shot by Japanese photographer Keizō Kitajima and American artist Martine Syms shot the campaign images in which, Rihanna hustles around the city with her Speedys, a modern woman with a to-go coffee in hand and her pregnant belly bared.
To mimic the candy-colored designer dupes he used to find on Canal Street sidewalks, Pharrell employed a novel silkscreen monogramming process to induce “a blurry, artisanal and almost hand-painted effect” on the new Louis Vuitton Speedy bag colors — which also coincide with the Olympic rings colors.
After a raid on the Paris 2024 Olympics offices before Pharrell’s debut, the hoped for LVMH sponsorship remains unannounced.
Read MoreKhloé Kardashian's First Good American Store in LA Westfield Century City Mall
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Los Angeles-based Good American denim and brand has opened its first store in Westfield Century City Mall.
The “radical size inclusivity” brand has come to brick and mortar with guarantees that their denim bar will always be in stock sizes 00 to plus 32. All-size mannequins, and fitting rooms are 80 percent larger than the retail average -- and the store allows for size requests and checkout via touch screen.
Founded in 2016 by Khloé Kardashian and partner Emma Grede, Good American is a B-Corp certified company — meaning that their values, workers, sustainability practices matter as much as profits.
Read MoreArtycapucines with Ubuntu Spirit in Sotheby's Paris Louis Vuitton Online Auction June 28 - July 5
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Sotheby's and Louis Vuitton will auction 22 "exceptionally remade" Artycapucines handbags, with net proceeds benefiting organizations like UNICEF, Médecins sans Frontières, The United Negro College Fund, Teach for China, World Central Kitchen, Opendorf Afrika and RED, which fights AIDS.
A group of 22 artists will now remake their original Artycapucines using the same materials wherever possible with the artist scrawling his or her name under the flap and on the carrying case, a monogram Louis Vuitton hat box based on a 1924 design.
The participating artists are Alex Israel, Amélie Bertrand, Beatriz Milhazes, Daniel Buren, Donna Huanca, Gregor Hildebrandt, Huang Yuxing, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Jonas Wood, Josh Smith, Kennedy Yanko, Liu Wei, Paola Pivi, Park Seo-Bo, Peter Marino, Sam Falls, Tschabalala Self, Ugo Rondinone, Urs Fischer, Vik Muniz, Zeng Fanzhi and Zhao Zhao.
Opening bids for these one-of-a-kind, recreated Artycapucines start at 16,000 euros.
In the spirit of these public commissions, all 22 bags will be on show from 1-5 July 2023 at a public exhibition at Sotheby’s Paris headquarters on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
Read MorePharrell Taps Rihanna for LV Mens | LVMH Close to Securing Major 2024 Olympics Deal
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The show marking Pharrell Williams' first collection for Louis Vuitton Mens, will take place in the City of Lights on June 20, 2023, at 8:30 p.m. Louis Vuitton execs used their considerable influence to change Pharrell’s debut date
On the subject of those delicious bag colors, read on about LVMH sponsoring the 2024 Olympics in Paris, promoting Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and LVMH spirits.
In fact, it wouldn’t surprise AOC to see LVMH promoting their jointly-owned [50-50] with Jay-Z, Armand de Brignac champagne brand at the Olympics.
That would be one hell of a party! Alas, it won’t be a public event, but Mory Sacko will be in the kitchen. LVMH really wants to step out in the Olympics and they could pull this off in a big way.
Read MoreTiny Bird Bone Flutes from Prehistoric Natufian People Found in Israel
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Levant-region archaeologists have discovered prehistoric flutes believed to be 12,000 years old. The flutes were scattered among a stockpile of 1,100 bird bones and had gone unnoticed since the site’s discovery in 1950.
The flute instruments were discovered at a site called Eynan-Mallaha [also known as Ain Mallaha], located on the shores of Lake Hula in the Huleh Valley of today’s northern Israel. The site is believed to be home to the last hunter-gatherers in the region, says Dr. Laurent Davin, an archaeologist and a post-doctoral fellow at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The Natufian people were a prehistoric group that lived in what is now modern-day Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and northern Syria around 12,500 to 9,500 BCE. They were known for their advanced hunting and gathering techniques, as well as their unique cultural practices.
Read MoreNile Rogers: Muscian, Composer, Producer in Chanel Eyewear 2023 Campaign
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Nile Rogers may be a new name in Chanel Eyewear’s Spring 2023 campaign— unless you are old-schooled in “Good Times, “I’m Coming Out,” and “Le Freak.”
Nile Rodgers is a critically acclaimed musician, composer, and producer who has made an indelible mark on the music industry. Born in New York City in 1952,
Rodgers' breakthrough came in the mid-1970s, when he formed the disco group Chic with bassist Bernard Edwards. The band's debut album, "Chic," was a huge success, featuring hits like "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" and "Everybody Dance." Chic went on to release a string of hit albums and singles, becoming one of the most popular groups of the disco era.
Understanding the importance of diversification in the music industry, Nile Rogers spread his net into producing, composing and yes— modeling for luxury brands like Chanel.
Yes, Rogers always wears sunglasses as a sign of cool.
Read MoreKristen Welker Helms NBC's 'Meet the Press', Replacing Chuck Todd
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NBC News has announced Kristen Welker's appointment as the new anchor of “Meet the Press” the network’s flagship newsmagazine program. Welker currently serves as NBC’s White House correspondent and “Weekend Today” co-anchor.
One of Welker’s standout moments happened in 2020 when she moderated the second and final presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The no-nonsense but fair interviewer drew extensive positive reviews from both sides for keeping the proceedings moving and under control.
In truth, no one in media has done a better job than Kristen Welker, insisting that Donald Trump address specific questions — rather than letting him wrestle the narrative away from the moderator.
Last season alone, Meet the Press only averaged 2.57 million total viewers and 492,000 in its advertiser-prized 25-54 demographic; Todd’s ratings were significantly below competitors like CBS' Face the Nation and ABC' This Week in total viewers and in second place in the 25-54 demographic.
Read MoreAir Jordan 2 "Wings" Honor SVP Howard "H" White with Moving Video Tribute
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Ahead of the Air Jordan 2 "Wings" release on June 10 as a part of the Jordan Wings Program for the Summer 2023 season, Jordan Brand has debuted an inspiring, heartfelt tribute to SVP Howard "H" White.
White is one of the founders of the Jordan Brand’s "Wings" program. His own personal history and life philosophy, as revealed in the video, are intimately relevant to the brand’s expansion of its classic high-top offerings.
Old-school, Jordan Brand values are really important to America’s future.
Howard “H'“ White’s impact on Nike and the Jordan Brand is hard to overstate. And mentoring youth is an anchor of White’s entire career.
We must follow his lead and do our part as adults. We need to see our kids thrive, and the human touch is critical.
Read MoreMiu Miu Fleur de Lait Eau de Parfum, a Joys of Sisterhood Palate Cleanser
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