Page 2
Clintons Claim Top "Tabby" Award,
J.Lo Close Second
Wondering who scored the most ink in the tabs this year? Well, American Media has rounded up the celebs it just couldn't stop covering in its trio of tabloids - National Enquirer, Star and Globe - to create the First Annual Tabloid Choice Awards. The debut "Tabby" winner is none other than former first couple Bill and Hilary Clinton.
"These awards are the ultimate measure of who's been naughty or not so nice," said Steve Coz, editorial director of the tabloids. Of the Clintons' somewhat surprising victory, he said, "Competition from the world of show business was tough, but the Clintons led the pack all the way. The Clintons can't stay out of the spotlight and readers just can't get enough about them."
First runner-up in the first-ever Tabbys is Jennifer Lopez, whose new album, movie, failed marriage and high-profile rebound romance added up to major media coverage this year.
The bronze goes to Britney Spears, who the Enquirer claims "left her innocent past behind" in 2002. Madonna came in fourth (while "the Material Girl has a new baby, a new man in her life and a new home in Britain ... what she doesn't have is a hit movie"), and the newly crowned "Queen of Mean" Rosie O'Donnell just made the cut at number five.
Honorable mentions are bestowed on Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, Ben Affleck, Tom Cruise, Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Eminem, Michael Jackson and Calista
Flockhart.
9/13
Phillips-Van Heusen to Buy Calvin Klein
NEW YORK - Phillips-Van Heusen Corp., maker of staid men's dress shirts, is looking for a redesign of its own by buying flashy design house Calvin Klein Inc.
The $430 million deal offers Phillips-Van Heusen an avenue to expand from conservative men's clothes with the help of Calvin Klein, known for its edgy designs and provocative advertising.
For
more on this story click here
10/24
Men get crash course on how to buy sexy underwear for `her'
The Fearless Lingerie Shopping Guide for Men is two pages long, not counting the cover, which features the title superimposed on a floral print chemise, and a back page devoted to copyright information and the following imperative: ``Walk fearlessly into that lingerie store with a new sense of confidence. Now you can make the right choices and buy her the present she deserves.''
The body of the text is divided into eight sections. Refer to No. 2 to select lingerie appropriate to the status of your relationship (''warm and fuzzy,'' rather than ''hot and sexy,'' if you are in the process of evaluating where you two stand).
For
more on this story click here
11/12
See us at the Following
Show
Jan.19-21 Orlando Lingerie Show
Rykiel Opens and Gets London Boogying
Although in her seventies, Sonia Rykiel, with her trademark fiery red, cartoonish bob, threw a party full of leggy babes and rugged boys that even the grooviest London hipster would be jealous of. The party was in celebration for the designer's new store in London, something she has wanted to do for a long time.
Rykiel, who has been in the business for 34 years, likes British women's style, which she describes as "cerebral and playful, eccentric and fun," and could very well use those adjectives to describe herself.
Left: Nathalie Rykiel at the Sonia Rykiel party in celebration of
her new store in London. The 1800 square foot store, located in the chicest part of London's Brook Street, is bright, modern and warm, and "a bit Bauhaus," explains Rykiel. Accessories are elegantly displayed on dark wooden shelves over the store's two floors, recalling French libraries. Rykiel loves books so much that she says, "I do not want to make clothing without books. In my first shop, I put books in the vitrines." Rykiel's new store will house all of the designer's fashion publications.
Rykiel's style, like her eccentric beauty, transcends time. Her trademark sweaters are rainbow striped, emblazoned with rhinestone words, sometimes punchy, sometimes simple and usually mostly black. Rykiel was the first designer to tell women to take off their bras and wear a tight sweater, and through the Modern Vintage label, Rykiel resuscitates classics and adds a twist to them. These pieces are limited editions -- catch them while you can.
Sonia Rykiel did experience a dry period, however, in the early 90's, but re-emerged in the last few years as her signature style found relevance with a new generation of coquettish girls. Rykiel attributes the slump to bad advice from her commercial advisors. They were telling her to design for an aging woman and daughter Nathalie promptly told her not to listen. Nowadays, Sonia Rykiel can be seen on women of all ages. Sandra Ellis, a London fashionista, confessed: "I now wear my mother's Rykiel sweaters and have added a few newer ones. They are sexy, fun, and versatile."
Judging from the turnout at her soiree, held at the private members club in Berkeley Square, the Rykiel legacy is here to stay. A host of Brit partiers turned up: Denise Van Outen, Dan Macmillan, Croupier star Clive Owen, Meg Matthews, and James Gooding all attended and danced to an eclectic mix of 80's dance music and French progressive rock until the wee hours of the night.
In the end, Rykiel explains, "Creating a collection is like writing a book. Every new collection is a new chapter."
In a small Southern town there was a nativity scene that indicated great skill and talent in its creation. One small feature bothered me though. The three wise men were wearing firemen's helmets.
Totally unable to come up with a reason or explanation, I left. At a "Quik Stop" on the edge of town, I asked the lady behind the counter about the helmets. She exploded into a rage, yelling at me, "You darn Yankees never do read the Bible!"
I assured her that I did, but simply couldn't recall anything about firemen in the Bible. She jerked her Bible from behind the counter and ruffled through some pages, and finally jabbed her finger at a particular passage.
Sticking it in my face she said, "See, it says right here,
'The three wise men came from afar.'"
As expected, holiday sales disappoint most retailers
Retailers might consider this New Year's resolution: Give shoppers what they want.
J.C. Penney apparently did as the department store reported better-than-expected holiday sales on Monday, thanks mostly to the rock-bottom bargain prices it has widely advertised since before Thanksgiving.
Meanwhile, Federated Department Stores, parent of Macy's and Bloomingdale's, reported sales well below those forecast. And Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, said that while its namesake stores saw a modest sales increase in December, its Sam's Clubs stores were off for the same period.
While it's still early to fully assess the retail season, most analysts view 2002 as a loser, at best.
''It was a difficult Christmas, and the weekend following Christmas doesn't appear to be any big help in correcting what had already gone on the prior four to five weeks,'' says strategist Madison Riley at retail consulting firm Kurt Salmon.
Overall holiday shopping and mall traffic was slow to pick up and didn't result in a ''big last-minute surge'' as anticipated, says Richard Jaffe, retail analyst at UBS Warburg.
While major retailers Monday noted their disappointment, they remain hopeful that those using gift cards and cash received as gifts will still turn out before the season wraps up Jan. 4
***********************************************
Advertise
in the McPete Sez
Newsletter,
reach over 7,600 Lingerie
Retailers twice
monthly.
************************************************
The McPete
Sez Mail Bag
From our Readers
To our Readers
For our Readers
Inquiry's:
Hello, I am opening a new retail store in OKC OK in the spring of 2003,
selling male gender specific products only. I am looking for an assortment
of sources for purchasing brand named fragrances for men wholesale. I am
hoping other retailers who read your newsletter might know a few reliable
and dependable vendors. Thanks in advance of your reply.
Michael Shore, 4211 N. Youngs Blvd. #121 OKC OK 73112
I enjoyed browsing your web page and site!
michaelmenscents@yahoo.com
I
HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR BARBIZON NIGHTGOWNS ...THE SATIN, LONG SLEEVE
KIND...THEY ARE FOR MY MOTHER-IN-LAW.....I CAN NOT SEEM TO FIND THEM
ANYWHERE...HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS???
PooandJim@aol.com
I am looking for a set of "days of the week" panties for my
sister for her
birthday. She said that she only wants "brief" cut, and
while she's pretty
short (4'10"), she probably couldn't fit into any of the girl's
sizes. It
seems that all of the adult sized "days of the week" panties
that I've been
able to find are bikinis or thongs -- do you know of any manufacturers
that make them in briefs? Thank you, Tamar Smolowitz tamar@aya.yale.edu
If
you have the answer.....Give
it"
If
you have something to say..
"Say it".
If you have a question......"Ask
it"
Some of our readers will have the answer.
Remember, our readers are in the same
Industry.
Retailers, Manufacturers and Sales Representatives
Do you have any show dates for
2002
Do you have any show dates that you would like posted for
2003? if so please e-mail them to me for posting in our show
section. Thank You
End of Page 2
