Who, What, Where?

Los Angeles - Girly girls of L.A. rejoice! Nanette Lepore has landed on trendy Melrose and it is beyond divine! The 2,200-square-foot boutique is double, yes double the size of the Robertson Blvd boutique, which means there will be much more merchandise to love, natch! Located near Diane von Furstenberg, Theory, and BCBG, the store features rose-tinted marble floors, high ceilings, custom Lucite chairs, and white lacquered chandeliers - tres chic! Expect to find her signature fabulous frocks, as well as more jewelry (at higher price points) and an expanded footwear area, not to mention the requisite Hollywood back door for celeb shoppers and a huge, private dressing room.

New York - And on the opposite coast, another girly label is setting up shop. Lilly Pulitzer is bringing pink and green, Palm Beach prep to Manhattan this May. The 3,700-square-foot flagship store will be located at 1020 Madison Ave, between 78th and 79th. The space will be neighbored by an Intermix and a J. Crew collection store, which will also open this spring.

Who, What, Where?

London - Nicolas Ghesquière is bringing his Balenciaga to London today, with a flagship store on Mount Street that looks like a scene right out of a sci-fi flick. The new, 1,900-square-foot, space age store is "quite an experience," according to Ghesquière, and is decorated with lacquer, wood covered in silver leaf, and even volcanic rock. Expect to find only women's ready-to-wear and accessories in this store though - it's not quite as big as the Milan flagship.

Washington, DC - All-American label Tommy Hilfiger has set up shop in our nation's capital, and there is no shortage of red, white, and blue touches. Besides the framed vintage flags, the store features eagle statuettes and patriotic posters from the fifties and sixties. The store, located at 3229 M Street NW, offers a new, colorful sportswear collection that was designed in Europe, and mirrors the styles sold in stores there. The collection currently retails from $49.50 to $495, with new pieces from the runway scheduled to come to the store next month.

Moscow - Coach is heading overseas to open its first store in Russia this April. The 1,500-square-foot space will feature the full Coach brand assortment - handbags, small leather goods, outerwear, and eyewear. "Russians are becoming important consumers of luxury accessories," Coach International President Ian Bickley told WWD. "Opening Russia is part of our strategy to capitalize on the increasing popularity of the brand with emerging luxury consumers globally."

Europe - Jimmy Choo is scheduled to open three new, freestanding boutiques in Europe over the next six months, starting in May with a two-story, 1,718-square-foot space in Cannes. The store opening comes just in time for the international film festival. a 2,160-square-foot shop will open in Barcelona in the city's luxury shopping district the following month; and a shop in Rome is scheduled to launch over the summer.

Old Navy Walks Out on Family Image

Old Navy is abandoning its family image for something younger and better-looking. The retail chain wants to ditch the amorphous, "men, women, and children alike" style and center instead on the twentysomething crowd, with more fashionable merchandise and even a hip, new logo.

The plan is to introduce new, fashion-focused collections and faster delivery, with wardrobe-building pieces changing each month- similar to the fast-paced collection introduction of such speciality chains as Zara and H&M. You'll see the first of these change next month with the introduction of an "urban safari" look. Expect to see Palm Beach-inspired brights and whites in March, surf influenced gear in April, tropical styles in May, and glitzier designs in June - apropos since Old Navy is sponsoring the MTV Music Awards that month.

In addition to the accelerated delivery plan, the clothing company, which has had suffering sales in the last few years under the struggling Gap Inc umbrella, hired designer and TV personality Todd Oldham as Creative Director in the hopes he will breathe new life into the brand.

Who, What, Where?

Las Vegas - As if it were possible, Las Vegas got even more glamorous this week with the addition of Barneys New York to the famous Las Vegas Strip - and just in time for WWDMAGIC!The 81,000-square-foot space is the first Barneys in Vegas, with a notable difference from other Barneys locations in New York and Los Angeles.


"There's more glitter here," Creative Director Simon Doonan told WWD magazine. "There was a conscious desire to inject a little flamboyance here."


The store is located in the new $2 million Palazzo, with an entrance from the street and valet parking, plus a facade that can be seen from Las Vegas Blvd. - the only fashion retailer in the city with its own facade on the Strip.

The new location features two concierges and three personal shopping suites, tricked out with black leather club chairs and flat screens, plus the usual, glorious suspects - Diane von Furstenberg, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Helmut Lang in the Co-op; designs from Lanvin, Prada, Marni, Fendi, and Stella McCartney; an enormous space devoted to jewelry and accessories that includes pieces from Givenchy, Miu Miu and Rene Lewis; and a shoe department that "might be our biggest yet," according to Doonan. Road trip to Vegas, anyone?

Who, What, Where?

Los Angeles - Usher mentioned the Beverly Center in his hit single "Confessions" and it's no wonder - this mall has everything, and now it has a Calvin Klein store! The 12,000-square-foot unit is located on the sixth level of the mall (where Pottery Barn used to be) and is among five new Calvin Klein stores launched in the U.S. The store features a modern look with white, concrete, and mahogany walls (so Calvin Klein, no?), plus mahogany fixtures and hand-rubbed steel racks. Expect to find 60% of the apparel to be casual, with dressier pieces making up the other 40%.

New York - Fifth Avenue may be getting a very stylish new tenant! WWD reported today that Diesel has just signed a letter of intent to lease 685 Fifth Avenue, at 54th Street, a space owned by the Gucci Group. According to the report, no lease has been signed yet and it is not clear whether Diesel will rent the entire 33,000-square-foot store from the Gucci Group or just a portion of the space.

Who, What, Where?

Los Angeles - This news just thrills me! Women's contemporary label Foley + Corrina has arrived! The 1,000-square-foot space opened on Tuesday on the same stretch of Melrose that houses Marc Jacobs, Marni, and Diane von Furstenberg. The eight-year-old brand has wholesaled in L.A. since its inception, and sold in stores such as Fred Segal, but this is the first Foley + Corrina boutique on the West Coast. The space is absolutely stunning, including custom-made blue wallpaper with huge silver angels emblazoned on it. Expect to find the same vintage-inspired leather handbags and ultra-feminine apparel as the Manhattan locations.

New York - Designer Adam Lippes has opened up his first store in Manhattan's Meatpacking District. Located at 678 Hudson Street, the 2,500-square-foot store is simply called Adam, and houses a full range of women's and men's apparel, as well as select accessories. You'll find Nancy Gonzalez clutches, home goods, books, fine art, and a few home furnishings. The store also features a nod to the Queen of Television with a "What Would Oprah Say?" sculpture displayed behind the register.

Everywhere - Blue Cult is making a domestic comeback after two years of silence. The denim bellwether will be sold at a more moderate price this time around - a mere $89 compared to the $150+ price tag it carried several years ago. The collection will include 15 styles, and possibly an updated version of the Gwyneth jean (named for Gwyneth Paltrow), the brands most popular fit. Designer Frank Melachy told WWD, "It's hard selling $150 jeans anymore. The consumer is looking for a premium product at a lower price." You got that right, Frankie boy!

Who, What, Where?

New York - Mango (or MNG as it's called in the U.S. for trademark reasons) opened its first Manhattan unit on Wednesday. The 7,500-square-foot Soho flagship store is located at 561 Broadway and features a fetching mix of antique and modern furniture upon which the clothes are displayed, and a 97-foot-long catwalk bedecked with mannequins. The Spanish chain is known for its affordable and fashion-forward apparel, which is often designed by known European and American designers (unlike H&M, Mango doesn't divulge any names - isn't the anonymity just delicious?), with Limited Edition collections being designed by celebrities such as Penelope Cruz and Milla Jovovich.



London - You'll find the world's largest A|X Armani Exchange store right across the pond in jolly old London, England, the city's first store. The giant 11,700-square-foot unit at 240 Regent Street has two levels, with women's apparel on the spacious ground floor and guy's stuff upstairs. "We are very excited about opening in London," Tom Jarrold (Sr. VP of Global Marketing and Creative) told WWD magazine. "It's a city that is about everything that is new, that's next, that's now." The London store features the new A|X Armani Exchange retail design, with a mix of large spaces and "private" rooms, plus a capsule collection exclusive to the London market, including a silk bubble dress and a leather motorcycle jacket.



Mexico City - Saks Fifth Avenue is south of the border! After tiptoeing onto the international market, Saks stepped across U.S. territory to open up its first store in Mexico on Wednesday. The three-level, 150,00-square-foot store is located in the upscale Santa Fe Shopping Center in Mexico City, where the success of the unit will determine if Mexico has a market for additional stores (I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Puerto Vallarta!). Of course the store has the same luxury labels that the chain is known for, as well as shop-in-shops for Kiehl's, Salvatore Ferragamo, Hermes, and Giorgio Armani. The chain's first licensed store in China is scheduled to open in 2009, and Saks is currently eyeing Japan, Macau (YUM), Qatar, and India for possible openings.

Who, What, Where?

Pasadena - Beauty brand Lather unveiled a new 1,900-square-foot flagship store in Pasadena, CA this month. With boutiques in New York, San Jose, CA, and Scottsdale, AZ, this is a homecoming of sorts for Lather, which got its start in Pasadena's bustling shopping district back in 1999. Natural ingredients and quality unisex products are the appeal of the Lather beauty brand, owned by husband-and-wife team Emilie Davidson Hoyt and Rob Hoyt. Prices range from $6.50 for a Lip Protector to $58 for the Vitamin C Peptide Renewal. Head to 17 East Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena to stock up on beauty goodies from Lather.

Chicago - Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz brought his line of unisex hoodies and tees back to his hometown in the form of his first Clandestine Industries store. The 450-square-foot store will carry Wentz's line, along with limited edition Nike sneakers bearing the Clandestine Industries bat logo. Wentz, who recently designed a collection for DKNY jeans, also elected to sell novelty items reminiscent of his youth, such as cans of Orange and Grape Crush, and Count Chocula and Franken Berry cereal figurines. A Clandestine bat logo necklace will cost $20 and prices go all the way up to $300, which will get you a limited edition pair of black and purple Nike sneakers. The Clandestine Industries Landmark Store is located at 952 W. Newport Ave. in Chicago's Lake View neighborhood, near Wrigley Field and the Metro.

Everywhere and anywhere - Henri Bendel has a brand new website! Look for party pics, fashion tips, and event listings, as well as editorial features. Plus you can get your fill of accessories, beauty products, and gift items, which will be sold on the site.

Who, What, Where?

New York - Denim retail chain National Jean Co. has made its way to the city and is celebrating its opening tonight (the soft opening was last week). Located in NYC's Upper East Side, this is the first store to open up in the heart of a major city since the chain got its start 15 years ago. Shoppers can peruse the "denim library" where they'll find up to 3,000 pairs of jeans from favorites like Seven For All Mankind, Hudson, and Paper, Denim & Cloth, plus contemporary apparel tops and T-shirts. Sorry, fellas, this store is only stocked with women's apparel.

Don't live in the city? Don't worry! The chain has 12 stores throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest, with a 13th store sprouting up in Hartford, Connecticut in the next month or so. Us West Coast honeys can shop from NationalJeanCompany.com until our next trip to the Big Apple.

Nationwide - British beauty brand Lush is taking their fabulous bakery-style boutiques and planting them in Macy's stores nationwide. Expect to see 100 shop-in-shop concepts in Macy's stores throughout the country within the next 3 years. The 12-year-old company also plans to open up 30 additional freestanding stores in the States, so procuring your favorite bath bombs and beauty fixes will be easier than ever.

Who, What, Where?

Los Angeles - Stylistas who love Madison, the chain of specialty contemporary boutiques sprinkled throughout posh L.A. neighborhoods, will adore Madison Gallery, an upscale version of its younger sister. The 2,770-square-feet luxury retail spot opened this month in Malibu Country Mart and houses such high-end labels as Nina Ricci, Matthew Williamson, Marni (YUM), Derek Lam, Zac Posen and tons more, plus emerging designers like Erin Fetherston, Thomas Wylde, and Sari Gueron (love, LOVE her ladylike designs - click here to see them). Make room on your credit cards before showing up at this Malibu location because prices range from a (meager - HA!) $668 for Balenciaga jeans to around three thousand big ones for Marni dresses.

Houston - If diamonds are a girl's best friend, then our favorite pal just showed up in Houston's Galleria shopping center. Jewelry brand De Beers opened its fourth U.S. store, marking the first of several openings to take place in the next few months. The 1,353-square-feet space has the same modern look as the other De Beers boutiques, with all those fabulous diamonds on display in freestanding cases (to give us girls a 360-degree view of the sweet, glorious sparklers). Prices for these magnificent jewels range from the low hundreds all the way up into the millions! True friends don't come cheap, do they?

Who, What, Where?

San Francisco - The Barneys flagship store opened its first store in San Fran today. The 60,000-square-feet store is located in downtown's fashionable Union Square, right next to Macy's West Coast flagship store.

Women's merchandise includes collections from Bottega Veneta, Rick Owens, and Vionnet - all exclusive to the San Francisco market - plus Stella McCartney, Thakoon, Proenza Schouler, and tons more. Whether you can afford to shop at Barneys or not, this sizable location is worth checking out, if not only to see the mannequins with lamp shade faces.

Barneys plans to open additional flagship stores in Las Vegas and Scottsdale, Arizona in 2009.

Who, What, Where?

Los Angeles - Another BCBG store just opened up in the City of Angels, L.A.'s 12th BCBG boutique. The 3200-square-foot space can be found at 8400 Melrose Ave. (corner of West Melrose and Croft Avenues). The store is located next to Theory, A.P.C., and Diab'less boutiques. Hello, location! This is a shopaholic's wildest dream come true! (And in my shopaholic dreams the credit cards are limitless - fun, yeah?)

New York - And speaking of Diab'less, the contemporary French brand that opened its first U.S. store last spring in L.A., is headed to New York. The two-level, 1500-square-foot store is due to open in late September at 1138 Third Avenue (between 66th and 67th). Diab'less, meaning "female devil," is known for its flirty (rather flirty) styles, such as chain mesh dresses and deep V-neck minidresses for fall.

Who, What, Where?

Las Vegas - What happens in Vegas should definitely be shown off and talked about at every possible occasion! That is, if you shop at the new Las Vegas Ron Herman boutique, the fashion chain's first retail location outside of Southern California. The 3,000-square-foot store is located in the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace. Like the many Los Angeles locations, Ron Herman in the Forum Shops will offer personal shopping services that even includes delivery, but unlike its L.A. cousins the Vegas locale is only offering women's merchandise (sorry fellows). Splurge on favorites from Stella McCartney, Acne Jeans, Jovavich-Hawk, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, and Jet, to name a few.

New York - Surf's up in The Big Apple! Hollister is getting its first-ever flagship store and it's coming straight to SoHo. Ambercrombie & Fitch Co. made the announcement on Monday that 600 Broadway will be the new address for a multilevel Hollister Co. come Spring 2009. The brand, which targets 14-18-year-olds, is known for its beachy, California-cool style.

Who, What, Where?

Los Angeles - Manhattan Beach swimwear designer Shay Todd has opened up her eponymous boutique in the beachside community. You may remember a certain Carl's Jr. commercial with a certain heiress donning a plunging one-piece a couple of years ago - yup, that was a Shay Todd original. But besides swimwear, merchandise in the 1,800 square feet space (which is shared with contemporary apparel retailer, Bombshell) will also include resortwear (think super-cute coverups). Look for prices to start around $150 and go up from there.

New York - According to WWD, Ambercrombie & Fitch may be coming to SoHo - and coming BIG I might add! A 40,000 square feet space is now occupied by Pottery Barn, but reports suggest the store will be closing to make room for the cargo-slinging, jean shorts-pushing A&F.

Who, What, Where?

Want to know when a major retailer is coming to your town? Curious to find out when a designer flagship store is opening? Well, Who, What, Where? is a new addition to Style Goodies that will give you all the details of where you'll soon be shopping!

Atlanta: Girls and boys, get your credit cards ready because H&M is setting up shop in your town! The Swedish retailer is bringing a two-level, 24,000 square foot store to the Dirty South in March. Expect to find the full line of women's, men's, and children's clothing, accessories, lingerie, and everything else that makes H&M so fan-freaking-tastic, all in Atlantic Station.

Paris: And speaking of H&M, the City of Lights has granted the mass retailer to open a store on famed Champs-Elysees. Tres magnifique!