M&S | Anne Sinclair @ Huff Po France | Macy's Sues Martha Stewart | Rosalind Brewer @ Sam's Club

Evelyn Lauder Memorial

1. More than 2,000 family, friends and civic leaders honored Evelyn H. Lauder at a Monday morning memorial at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. Members of the Lauder family, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Barbara Walters, Elizabeth Hurley and Dr. Larry Norton shared memories of Evelyn Lauder’s life during the service.

Husband Leonard Lauder noted that he has received more than 2,700 letters of condolences since his wife’s death on Nov. 12. “I cherish and embrace each of them,” he said. “Evelyn wasn’t a head of state, but reading those letters, it made me feel that she was.” writes WWD

Evelyn Lauder was born Evelyn Hausner in Vienna during World War II and emigrated with her parents to New York City to escape the Nazis, noted Bloomberg. “No one showed this city more passion than Evelyn,” he said. “It is fitting that we are at Lincoln Center, one of the city’s most cultural landmarks, to celebrate Evelyn Lauder, one of the city’s great cultural icons. Because if anyone’s life is worthy of celebration on a great stage like this, it is Evelyn’s. She taught for years in an elementary school in Harlem. She gave back to her family and helped build a business with just five products into the powerhouse it is today. She was a fiercely devoted mother and adoring grandmother and a Jewish grandmother to countless honorary Lauders. She had a warmness, a kindness, a generousness that put everyone at ease, whether you were a supermodel or an average Joe. She also knew life had the bitter and the sweet, and the challenge was to find the right balance.

Anne Sinclair @ Huff Po France

Anne Sinclair, right, and Arianna Huffington at a news conference on Monday in Paris. Thibault Camus/Associated Press2. Anne Sinclair returned to public life yesterday, speaking to more than 250 journalists in her new role as editorial director for the French edition of The Huffington Post website, which debuted yesterday.

The former TV anchor and heiress to an art fortune said there would be no conflict of interest in carrying out her editorial duties as scandal continues to surround her husband Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

Arianna Huffington, sitting by Ms. Sinclair’s side, defended her as a gifted journalist and a role model for other women.

Asked why she had picked Ms. Sinclair, Ms. Huffington reeled off a list of her qualifications, and then added: “Every woman in her private life — if not in her public life — has been through setbacks, ordeals and problems. When we see a woman enter the arena again, and get engaged with what is happening in the world, it gives hope and courage to every other woman.” via NYTimes

Macy’s Inc and JC Penney Duel Over Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart by Steve Eichner3. In an opening salvo from former Apple executive Ron Johnson, now committed to reinventing JC Penney, the company bought a stake in Omnimedia last month, with plans to sell a wide range of Martha Stewart-branded products, starting in 2013. Yesterday Macy’s sued Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. for breach of contract.

“We can confirm that today, Macy’s notified us of its intention to renew and extend its commercial agreement with MSLO to feature and promote the Martha Stewart Collection — its number-one home brand — in Macy’s stores,” said a Martha Stewart spokeswoman. “J.C. Penney’s investment in Martha Stewart has closed and our commercial agreement with them remains in effect.”

Gabrielle Gifford Gives Up Seat

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords leads the Pledge of Allegiance in Tucson. AP photo4. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will resign from her Congress to focus on recovery from her gunshot wounds.

Giffords was shot in the head in January 2011 as she was meeting with constituents outside a supermarket in Tucson, Ariz. Six people died in the shooting, with Giffords and 12 others being injured. Giffords has made amazing progress, to the point that she was able to walk into the House chamber last August to cast a vote.

She will attend President Obama’s State of the Union message tonight in Washington.

Rosalind Brewer @ Sam’s Club

Rosalind Brewer by Bryan Bedder/Getty5. Walmart has named Rosalind Brewer president and CEO of its Sam’s Club unit. Brewer is the first woman and first African-American to run one of Walmart’s three operating divisions. Brewer’s previous assignment was president of the Walmart east business unity, where she was responsible for $100 billion in revenue and 500,000 associates.

Also announced, Gisel Ruiz becomes executive vice president and chief operating officer of Walmart US. Ruiz was previously executive vice president of people for Walmart US and will oversee operations in more than 3,800 U.S. stores across all formats.

Bonnie Brooks @ L&T

Bonnie Brooks By Steve EichnerCanadian retailer Hudson’s Bay Co. has named Bonnie Brooks to president of the $4 billion company. She will oversee the merchandise, marketing and store operations of Lord & Taylor and The Bay

Brooks was previously president of the Lane Crawford Joyce Group based in Hong Kong, where she supervised four divisions in nine Asian countries — the Lane Crawford department stores, Joyce Boutiques, Pedder Specialty Group and the LCJG Distribution Co. Before Lane Crawford, Brooks was Holt Renfrew’s executive vice president and general merchandise manager and, earlier, served as editor in chief of Flare, Canada’s largest fashion and lifestyle magazine. via WWD