Posts by Kevin Harson
EXCLUSIVE: Ulta Beauty Appoints Lauren Brindley as Chief Merchandising and Digital Officer
Ulta Beauty has appointed Lauren Brindley as its new chief merchandising and digital officer, effective June 3. Brindley, who most recently served as CEO of Revolution Beauty, previously held senior leadership roles at Walgreens and Boots UK. She succeeds Monica Arnaudo, who announced her plans to retire in November. “I am truly honored to join…
Read MoreWWD’s Nine Best Timepieces From Watches and Wonders 2025
Anniversaries galore, feats of engineering, a surfeit of blue and the heart-racing appeal of Formula 1: congratulations and complications were in order at this year’s Watches and Wonders in Geneva. Here, WWD’s editors name their favorites from a fair that offered watches in all shapes and sizes. Best Instant Classic: Patek Philippe Cubitus The first…
Read MoreAt Watches and Wonders 2025, Executives Work Through Macro Complications
GENEVA — The latest edition of the Watches and Wonders fair was ready to symbolize the watchmaking industry’s rebound. Rallying after a choppy 2024, the sector looked poised aimed to tap into the power of positive thinking against despite the volatile social and economic backdrop. A free-trade agreement signed with Thailand in January also read…
Read MoreEXCLUSIVE: Autry Opens First Flagship in London’s Soho
MILAN — Autry, the sneakers brand rooted in the vintage Americana aesthetic, is making its retail debut. The footwear label, best known for its hero Medalist sneakers, is opening its first stand-alone flagship on London’s Beak Street on Thursday. In the first half of 2025 it will also unveil a boutique in Paris. The sneaker…
Read MoreEXCLUSIVE: Trellis Health Raises $1.8 Million in Pre-seed Round Ahead of Launch
Health care platform Trellis Health has secured a $1.8 million pre-seed round from Palette Ventures, Swizzle Ventures, NextBlue, Suncoast Ventures and Sundial Foundation. Individuals in the health care space also participated including Care.com founder Sheila Marcelo; Flo Health cofounders Yuri Gurski and Andrei Kouzel; founder and chief executive officer of Simple Mike Prytkov; How Women…
Read MoreTrump’s Press Secretary’s Dress Stirs Up Social Media in China
As the trade war between China and the U.S. continues to simmer, a fashion choice by the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has heated up the issue on social media. A photograph of the 27-year-old wearing a red dress with black trim caught the attention of Chinese envoy Zhang Zhishen, who posted a photo…
Read MoreEXCLUSIVE: Piaget Taps Jun Ji-hyun as Global Ambassador
HER TIME: South Korean actress Jun Ji-hyun, who was spotted checking out Piaget’s booth at Watches and Wonders Geneva earlier this month, has been appointed one of the brand’s global ambassadors. “Discovering the depths of the archive at Piaget, all the different ways to craft the watches and jewelry with passion and care has been…
Read MoreTiffany Haddish Talks About the Best Fashion Advice
As host of Tuesday’s Fashion Group International’s Rising Star awards, Tiffany Haddish didn’t just dress the part — she cheered on the nominees throughout. Before the winners were announced, the actress and comedian chatted about her own style sense, and more specifically how she got it. Haddish credited her grandmother Alice Ray, a former model,…
Read MoreLids Debuts Customization-focused Concept Across 20 U.S. Stores
The Lids brick-and-mortar experience is about to look a lot different. The leading headwear retailer — with more than 2,000 locations throughout North America, Europe and Australia — has revealed a modernized store concept, one that it describes as “elevated” with a strong focus on personalization. “Customization has always been at the heart of our brand and this new…
Read MoreThe Vitamin Shoppe Is Being Sold to Private Equity Companies
Two private equity firms, Kingswood Capital Management and Performance Investment Partners, have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire The Vitamin Shoppe, which sells vitamins, nutritional supplements and wellness products, from Franchise Group Inc. Details of the transaction, which is expected to close later in the second quarter of this year, were not disclosed. The…
Read MoreFashion Group International Presents Rising Star Awards to Bonnie Young, Natalia Fedner, Rex Shoes and More
True to these turbulent times, there were more than a few didn’t-see-that-coming moments at the Fashion Group International’s “Rising Star” awards Wednesday. Winners like Bonnie Young, who picked up the Ready-to-Wear award for her By.BonnieYoung label, and the Eveningwear winner Natalia Fedner were each floored by their respective wins. Fedner, a namesake designer, said she…
Read MoreCaaStle Gets $2.75M Bridge Loan to Plan Chapter 11 Filing and Weigh Strategic Transactions
CaaStle — the embattled fashion rental service that descended into chaos late last month — got a little bit of breathing room from a $2.75 million bridge loan, even as its troubles increased with a lawsuit alleging breach of contract and trademark infringement. The board told shareholders last week that the financing came from an…
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