Herrera And De La Renta Settle Lawsuit

Oscar De La Renta and Carolina Herrera have settled their lawsuit over the employment of designer Laura Kim.

Kim, who formerly worked at Carolina Herrera, was appointed as the new creative director of Oscar de la Renta - alongside Fernando Garcia (with whom she founded the label Monse) - in September. Last month, Carolina Herrera claimed that Kim had breached a six-month non-compete clause in her contract by joining the rival New York fashion house.

“Carolina Herrera Ltd, Oscar de la Renta LLC and Laura Kim have reached a settlement of the lawsuit filed by Carolina Herrera Ltd," read a statement on behalf of the two brands, reports WWD. "The terms of the settlement are confidential, except that Laura Kim has returned to Oscar de La Renta LLC, subject to the conditions agreed upon by the parties."

There has been no further comment on claims made by Kim that Carolina Herrera was attempting to transition its eponymous founder out of her position as creative director without her knowledge. Kim's legal team claimed that it was upon discovering this information that she decided not to pursue a career with the brand.

The news means that Kim will be able to make her debut alongside Garcia at Oscar de la Renta's autumn/winter 2017 show next month at New York Fashion Week. The duo replace Peter Copping, who departed the role in July last year. It marks a return to the label for Kim, who previously worked at the brand for 12 years, before leaving in January 2016 for Herrera.

Macy's Closes 68 Stores And Cuts 10,000 Jobs

Macy´s  – the American department store chain – has begun 2017 with the announcement that it plans to close 68 stores and cut more than 10,000 jobs. The restructure, announced via a press release, is set to save the company an estimated $550 million a year – some of which will be invested in growing the digital business, the company confirmed.

“As we’ve noted, it is essential that we maintain a healthy portfolio of the right stores in the right places,” Terry J Lundgren, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s, said. “Our plan to close approximately 100 stores over the next few years is an important part of our strategy to help us right-size our physical footprint as we expand our digital reach. We are closing locations that are unproductive or are no longer robust shopping destinations due to changes in the local retail shopping landscape, as well as monetising locations with highly valued real estate. These are never easy decisions, and we are committed to treating associates affected by these closings with respect and transparency.

Of the 68 stores, three have already shuttered during 2016, 63 will be closed in early spring 2017, and two will be closed in mid-2017. Three other locations were sold, or are to be sold, and are being leased back, the press release detailed.

Macy’s is not alone in taking action to combat challenging retail circumstances. Several other American household names are in strife: JC Penney has closed 80 locations since 2014, Racked reports, while Sears has closed nearly 300.

Naomi Remembers George's Freedom

Naomi Campbell has been remembering her friend George Michael, who died on Christmas Day, recalling her experience on the set of his famous 1990 music video for Freedom 90. Campbell appeared lip syncing the song words along with fellow supermodels Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, and Tatjana Patitz – and has revealed that the day was not without its challenges.

“We were all different days. Linda and Christy were together, and I was the first day,” she told the panel on American chat show The View yesterday. “I was coming straight from a Thierry Mugler show where we did five shows from 6.30 in the morning till 3am the next morning, and then had to fly out on the first flight from Paris to London and go straight to set! I was exhausted, but I was so happy to be there, to work with David Fincher - and so happy that George chose the five of us from the British Vogue cover that we did. We were all singing the song anyway because we loved the song.”

Campbell remained friends with Michael throughout the years that have passed, and revealed that one of her fondest memories of him was in fact quite a recent one.

“I’m very sad that he’s not here. I got to spend a very special moment with him backstage at the Olympics in London. He was in his dressing room and we heard all this music, we could hear gospel music, and he was in there rehearsing with these gospel singers. Kate and I just sat and watched him; it was amazing. Really gone too soon.”

Despite her sadness at the loss of her friend at the end of last year, Campbell is beginning 2017 with much to look forward to as her new television show, Star, prepares to air. She’s also not immune to a New Year’s resolution, and alongside wanting to “better herself” and “mature”, she is also tackling a problem that’s familiar to many. “I still have a problem with smoking; it’s the hardest one,” she confessed. “It’s less now, but I’m going back to the hypnotist.”

First Look: Rosie's M&S Activewear

She is already responsible for one of Marks & Spencer's best-selling brands with her Rosie For Autograph lingerie line, and - in addition to a growing cosmetic offering - Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has now added another string to her design bow: activewear. The collection, launching in selected stores and online today, features the kind of pieces we're used to seeing the model in as she hops from car to gym: leggings, bra tops and fitted jersey cover-ups. "

Just like with great lingerie, it’s important to feel fully supported when exercising," she told us. "The extra-high-intensity sports bra is perfect for this; I'd team it with the relaxed racer-back vest and cropped leggings for a complete and stylish active look." Prices start from £22.50 to £65, and sizes range from 6–22 and 32-40 in A–G cup.

No Comment From Chloé On Clare Rumours

Chloe has declined to comment on rumours that creative director Clare Waight Keller is set to depart the brand when her current contract comes to an end in March. Speculation has been mounting about the announcement since late last year.

Current Louis Vuitton womenswear designer Natacha Ramsay-Levi (who is Nicolas Ghesquière's second-in-command) is the name currently in the frame to take over from Waight Keller should she decide to leave the brand, which she has helmed since May 2011. The brand's CEO, Geoffroy de la Bourdonnaye, described Waight Keller as "the ultimate Chloé girl" at the inaugural Condé Nast International Luxury Conference.

Waight Keller took the Chloé reins from Hannah MacGibbon, who had been artistic director since 2008. During her tenure, Waight Keller has perpetuated the ethereal, nostalgic romance that has become synonymous with the house (started by Gaby Aghion in 1952) through her designs.

Schiaparelli Officially Crowned Haute Couture

Schiaparelli has officially been awarded Haute Couture status by the French Ministry of Industry and the French Couture Federation, the brand confirmed this morning. Despite showing its collections during Couture Fashion Week each season since its high-profile relaunch in 2014, the fashion house has only enjoyed guest status until now.

"Celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, the house of Schiaparelli - created in 1927 by Elsa Schiaparelli - recovers the official Haute Couture label that had disappeared when its namesake founder decided to close her couture house in 1954 in order to write her autobiography, Shocking Life," read a statement from the brand. "Today Schiaparelli’s unique spirit of Haute Couture merging art, innovation, craftsmanship, quality and audacity enters a new chapter of its story."

Creative director Bertrand Guyon - who was brought on board in 2015 from Valentino, after Marco Zannini's short-lived tenure - won praise from fashion editors for his last couture collection shown in July.

Looking back to the Surrealist roots of the house with a fantastical-inspired collection based on the circus, Guyon was heralded as being the right "man to resuscitate brand Schiap", according to Vogue international editor Suzy Menkes.

Alongside Schiaparelli, Julien Fournié was also given Haute Couture status today, ahead of the spring/summer 2016 couture shows which are slated to start on Sunday, January 22nd.

Boden Announces 2017 Future British Designers

Following Boden's launch of Future British in 2016, an initiative established in collaboration with the British Fashion Council to help support emerging designers, the brand has revealed the three new fashion talents that will be receiving its counsel for 2017.

Ready-to-wear label Loxley England, footwear brand Dorateymur and jewellery fashion favourite Alighieri form the line-up for the next 12 months, and can expect to benefit from financial support, business mentorship, digital-strategy guidance, and access to Boden's studio space to develop their brand message and create PR and marketing material. They join Arthur Yates of Bruta and Alice Ashby of Blake LDN who were recruited to the programme in June and will remain a part of it for another six months.

While the labels have already forged strong visual identities on the fashion scene, it is well documented that young brands starting out need the most support when it comes to the business side of the fashion industry. To that end, this year's participating brands will also have access to Boden's leadership team - including chairman Johnnie Boden - and access to the BFC's Fashion Business Network, which offers legal, accounting, production, banking and communication support.

Founded by siblings James and Tess Andrews in 2014, Loxley England has a focus on clean lines, simplicity and timelessness."Future British is an exciting collaboration between Boden and the BFC, highlighting young, product-driven designers to a new audience," said BFC CEO Caroline Rush last year. "Utilising the resources and infrastructure of Boden, Future British aims to help young talent create great product at a good price point to establish viable business models, and ultimately, successful brands."