Aquascutum Latest

Updated Monday May 2, 2.03pm: Aquascutum's administrators announced today that they have entered in to an exclusivity agreement with Hong Kong-based YGM Trading Limited to save the company. YGM - which controls Aquascutum's licences in Asia already - will "acquire the on-going business and assets with completion to take place by May 9, 2012," the administration company said today. "The joint administrators have been very encouraged by the significant interest shown in the business over the last two weeks and have chosen to proceed with the offer that delivers the best outcome for the creditors of Aquascutum," Geoff Rowley, joint administrator at FRP, said today. The administrators are also continuing negotiations to secure a buyer for the company's manufacturing plant in Corby, Northamptonshire, which was closed on April 19. No deadline has currently been set for this process. Updated Monday April 23, 11.52am: A host of bidders have entered the race to acquire Aquascutum, including Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Hong Kong-based company Li & Fung, menswear business Cooper and Stollbrand, and YGM Trading - the company that owns the brand in Asia - Retail Week reports today. "We understand Aquascutum's product, its customers and most importantly, what it takes to maintain, to manage and develop a profitable successful UK factory," Cooper & Stollbrand boss James Eden told The Times.

Updated Thursday April 19, 11.46am: Following its decision earlier this week to enter administration, Aquascutum has decided to close its UK manufacturing plant in Corby - due to "loss-making operations and a lack of funding" - with a loss of 115 jobs. "Whilst a difficult decision, it has been necessary in order to stem on-going losses for the business, and to protect the positions of the 135 remaining employees," a spokesperson for the adminstrators said this morning. "We plan to provide appropriate assistance to all affected employees, including liaising with Jobcentre plus and helping with claims to the Redundancy Payments Service. All head office and retail operations across the UK and international high street, concession and outlet stores are operating as usual at present." The company is in the process of looking for a buyer, and is hopeful that a suitable investor will be found soon. "We have received a high level of interest from potential purchasers from around the world, with our focus now upon progressing discussions for a sale of the Aquascutum brand and assets," the spokesperson added.










 LAUREN MILLIGAN 02 May 2012
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2011/08/01/aquascutum-takes-out-8-million-loan

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Next Top Naomi

NAOMI CAMPBELL may have settled her long-running feud with Tyra Banks years ago, but the two are set to go head to head again when Campbell becomes a mentor on her very own modelling show. The US programme - called The Face - will follow a similar format to Banks' wildly successful Next Top Model franchise, and will be operated by NBC Universal, which also produces The Voice. Campbell will be responsible for "moulding, nurturing and transforming contestants" alongside two other supermodel mentors who are yet to be revealed.

Campbell was linked with a mentoring role on Britain's Next Top Model in 2009, but the show was eventually helmed by Elle Macpherson. The news comes just days after Banks revealed she had parted ways with her three fellow panellists on America's Next Top Model - Nigel Barker, Jay Manuel and J Alexander - reportedly in a bid to spice up the show's format.








 LAUREN MILLIGAN 02 May 2012
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/05/02/naomi-campbell-the-face---next-top-model-show-tyra-banks

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Rich List

 MULBERRY has helped its owner Christina Ong to an incredible year, which saw her rise 53 places to number 61 on The Sunday Times Rich List. The Singaporean retailer - who also owns franchises of Emporio Armani, Prada and Donna Karan - made £1.2 billion last year thanks to a 70 per cent growth at Mulberry. It's not been such a great year in retail for Sir Philip and Lady Green, who own Arcadia; and George and Galen Weston, who own Selfridges. Green's wealth dropped £900 million this year leaving him at number 17, whilst the Westons lost around £100 million, although still scraped into the top 10 with earnings of £5.9 billion.

The Richest Couples List features several from the style set - including Sir Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell (£665 million), Sir Paul and Lady Smith (£280 million), David and Victoria Beckham (£190 million), and Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas (£185 million). Some more unexpected additions come from the 60 Richest People Under 30 List, which includes Thomas Persson - the London-based 24-year-old who runs his father's company, H&M, with his older brother and holds a 36 per cent stake, giving him earnings of £700 million - as well as a host of actors and actresses. Film franchises are unsurprisingly the route to great wealth - with Robert Pattinson, Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley all featuring - as well as Vogue cover girls Natalia Vodianova, Keira Knightley, Adele, and Florence Welch all featuring.










LAUREN MILLIGAN 30 April 2012
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/04/30/sunday-times-rich-list---mulberry-sir-philip-green-arcadia

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DVF's Calvin Rescue

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG witnessed a near-disaster concerning long-term friend Calvin Klein during an adventure holiday to Peru a few years ago, which included a hike of the Inca trail. "We didn't have the boat that year, so Barry [Diller, von Furstenberg's husband], arranged the whole trip," she recalled. "We did the trail in a day, and then we did some rafting, and you know, the first thing they tell you on the raft is, 'if you fall off, just lie on your back and go with the current until they can fish you out.' So we get on the raft and - whoosh! The first thing I see is Calvin [Klein, who was on the trip] going off the raft. I thought, 'Oh no, he will die, it will be our fault!' But he was so brave, he was fine. A lot of the other people on the trip had been intimidated by him, but after that he was a hero."


The iconic designer, who spoke at The Vogue Festival last week, said that walking is one of her favourite pastimes. "Walking is my time to think," she told the Financial Times. "I like to climb - I'm a goat, a Capricorn. I also think it's a good way to talk to people. When my son was little, he used to say, 'Mom goes on walks for two reasons: to hire someone or to fire them.' It's true, I often ask people to walk with me when I want to talk to them about serious things. I think it's much better to have those conversations when you are moving."







ELLA ALEXANDER 30 April 2012
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/04/30/calvin-klein-diane-von-furstenberg-rafting-accident

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Betsey Bankruptcy

BETSEY JOHNSON has filed for bankruptcy protection under the Chapter 11 US Bankruptcy Code. Although the designer will remain creative director of her brand, the majority of its 63 stores and 350 employees will lose their jobs. "The decision to seek protection under Chapter 11 comes after months of rigorously pursuing alternative restructuring arrangements to address Betsey Johnson LLC's cash-flow problems," said the company's LLC chief financial officer, Jonathan Friedman. "After exhausting our resources and possibilities, it became apparent that neither a restructuring arrangement with a new equity investor nor a sale of the business enterprise as a going concern outside of bankruptcy was to be forthcoming. Accordingly, our board made the determination that a Chapter 11 store-closing process will likely be the best way to maximise the value of the company's assets, for the benefit of its creditors."

The label will now focus on Johnson's lower-priced line, but will still stage a catwalk show in September as planned. Johnson, who will be 70 in August, is also involved with a reality television show - which will start shooting in the near future. The company is currently owned by Boston-based equity firm Castanea Partner, who own 90 per cent, and Steven Madden - who holds the remaining 10 per cent stake. "I feel so sad for my store people and all my pink girls," Johnson told WWD. "They live and die for me. But I need to be better. I really need to work well and be more efficient."







ELLA ALEXANDER 27 April 2012
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/04/27/betsey-johnson-files-for-bankruptcy-protection

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Vintage Americana

DESIGNERS have shrugged off recession gloom with dreams of a more affluent era: Fifties USA. Think glossy leathers buffed to a Cadillac sheen - skirts got the wet-look treatment at Marc Jacobs and Proenza Schouler, while Valentino's lipstick red coat conjured classic car glamour. Prim plaids, from pastel checks to classic tablecloth ginghams, brought a prim and preppy air to Jil Sander and Rochas, while Prada's muscle-car print is the motif to covet. For those who can - a bare midriff will show off those cheerleaders abs. But bare in mind, a mere glimpse is enough. Finally, the only accessory you need to complete your look is a pair of cat's eye sunglasses for a perfect hit of retro Americana.









LUCY HUTCHINGS 25 March 2012
http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/trends/2012-spring-summer/vintage-americana

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Alien Gaga

LADY GAGA will make her film debut in Men in Black 3. Although it is unclear whether the style icon will appear as herself or as a character, as Michael Jackson did in Men in Black 2, director Barry Sonnenfeld confirmed that she will appear on an alien surveillance board - alongside Tim Burton and Justin Bieber. "I am surprised that Lady Gaga said yes," Sonnenfeld told film website COLLIDER.COM. "The challenge is getting celebrities that are famous, will give you permission and faces who audiences won't be like, 'Who's that guy?' in 10 years time." Previous high-profile names to make cameos in the film series are Steven Spielberg, Sylvester Stallone, Isaac Mizrahi and Martha Stewart. The film will be released in UK cinemas on May 25.








ELLA ALEXANDER 26 April 2012
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/04/26/lady-gaga-to-appear-in-men-in-black-three

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Beyoncé’s Baby Look

seems having a baby isn't just a lifestyle choice, but a trend - with Beyoncé following in the footsteps of Natalie Portman and explaining how her newborn baby has changed the way she dresses. Other stars to made recent headlines for their baby news include Victoria's Secret Angel Alessandra Ambrosio, who posed naked with her bump for a Vivara's jewellery campaign; Adriana Lima, who announced in March that she is expecting; Uma Thurman, who confirmed that she is pregnant with her third child last month; Sienna Miller, who is having her first child with boyfriend Tom Sturridge; and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, who showcased her baby bump at the Time 100 Gala on Tuesday night. "I never thought there would be a day when I wouldn't wear heels," Beyoncé told People. "Now that I have a child, and I walk around holding her all day, I'm buying loafers and oxfords. [Jay-Z] loves it when I wear flat shoes, which is surprising - he never saw me in flats before! He likes me more natural - just the relaxed, natural me." "I feel more beautiful than I've ever felt because I've given birth," she added, "I have never felt so connected, never felt like I had such a purpose on this earth. The best thing about having a daughter is having a true legacy. The word love means something completely different now." Updated Friday April 13, 9.18am: Vogue cover girl Natalie Portman says that becoming a mother has changed the way she likes to dress. The muse and actress gave birth to her son, Aleph, with partner Benjamin Millepied in June last year. "I've been trying to look more like a lady recently," she said. "I used to be happy in a T-shirt and sweatpants, and now I feel like I want to make myself a little more grown-up - now that I'm a mom." The Black Swan star also spoke about her love of vintage clothes - namely Dior, for which she is the campaign star. She is currently the face of the fashion house's Miss Dior fragrance. "I feel like you are sort of stepping into history," she told WWD. "It's really amazing to get the story of where a dress has been; you know that it has lived through many people's stories."









ELLA ALEXANDER 26 April 2012
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/04/13/natalie-portman-talks-motherhood-and-style

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