THE CHURN

Susan Sokol, formerly president of apparel at Vera Wang, has been named president and chief operating officer of J.Mendel.

Lucia Albero has joined DL1961 as sales account executive.

Ashley Bez, formerly of Aveda, has been named account executive
at Shadow PR.

Amy Boyle, formerly photo coordinator, is now photo assistant at Vanity Fair.

Vanessa Contini is the new fashion contributor at GQ Italia.

Sophie Dawson, formerly photo assistant, is now photo associate at Vanity Fair.

Cristina Pozzi has left GQ Italia.

Cate Sturgess has joined Vanity Fair as photo coordinator.

Heidi Wolfeld has joined DL1961 as sales account executive.

Siren PR announces its representation of Baby Phat.

Shadow PR announces its representation of 77 Kids, American Eagle's new children's collection, and The White Tie Affair.

Susan Magrino Agency announces its representation of Pixi.

Williamson PR announces its representation of Gilded Age for both men's and women's.

Men's VOGUE Calls It Quits

In an effort to cut expenses Conde Naste has decide to fold Men's Vogue. The move will cut expense by 5%. Men’s Vogue will all but disappear as a separate operation. It will be folded into Vogue and will be published twice a year instead of 10 times, the company said. Employees said they were told Thursday that most of the magazine’s staff would be laid off.

We will miss the publication as a stand alone. It was one of the few high fashion magazines the consistently had African American males on the cover. Be sure to check it out when it runs twice a year

LA Designers Stir up Noose Controversy

Two small designers in LA thought it would be funny to hang an effigy of Vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin by a noose for Halloween....guess what guys, not funny

FASHION ON SUNDAY

Sunday is supposed to be the day of rest, but to those that frequent The Abyssinian Baptis Church or Riverside, know that's not the case.

Among the myriad attractions of Sunday morning services at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem are the impassioned sermons of the Rev. Calvin O. Butts III, its pastor, and the chance to hear its stirring gospel choir.
Then there are the parishioners, including, on occasion, members of the fashion flock like Bethann Hardison, a model agent, and André Leon Talley, the editor at large at Vogue, along with a community of the faithful who fan out their plumage as neighbors and tourists look on.

CHECK OUT MORE PHOTOS HERE

THE CHURN

Jarrod Johanns - VP Merchandise Planning; Saks has left the position

Marie O'Riordan, editor in chief of U.K. Marie Claire, has left the title.

Christine Oh and Shawn Buchanan have been promoted to senior fashion managers at BPCM NY.

Celia Cohen has been promoted to senior beauty manager and will oversee the beauty department of BPCM NY.

Susan Morjain has been promoted to senior accessories manager and will oversee the accessories department of BPCM NY.

Tanya Jensen is now editorial director for Custo Barcelona. She was previously a contributing editor for The Daily.

Barry C. Parasram has joined Paul Wilmot Communications. He was previously at PMK/HBH.

Fred Perry has appointed Danae Dade as its key account footwear sales representative for the U.S.

Abby Gardner, formerly executive editor at The Daily, is now a contributing editor developing beauty coverage for The Daily, the Fashion MINI, and Fashionweekdaily.com.

Melissa Galandak, formerly with Ben-Amun jewelry, has joined Krupp Group as senior account executive, fashion and accessories.

Amanda Makoujy has been named public relations fashion assistant at Fingerprint Communications.

Dana Tannenbaum, formerly with Elie Tahari, has left the company.

BPCM NY announces its representation of Anne Klein NY, Azzaro, Bonpoint, Comptoir des Cotonniers, George Gina & Lucy, Marios Schwab, Omelle, and StyleCaster.

Krupp Group announces its representation of JT Handbags and Monique Péan fine jewelry.

Michele Marie PR announces its representation of Custo Barcelona and John Varvatos Eyewear.

BREAKNG NEWS - Former Bush Press Secretary Supports Obama

Former White House Press Secretary, Scott McClellan the consummate Bush loyalist no more, has a knack for dropping bombshells.

And now comes his grinning declaration, taped for a new weekend CNN show, "D.L. Hughley Breaks the News," that he has a favorite in the presidential election, and it is not John McCain.

His face lighting up as bright as his French blue shirt, it is clear what he's going to say before he opens his mouth.

"I will be voting for Barack Obama," he declares.

So the week that began when one former top Bush administration figure, former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, endorsed Obama ends with the endorsement of another.

BRAG SPONSOR; SEAN JOHN TO BUY ENYCE

Liz Claiborne Inc. is selling its urban lifestyle brand Enyce to Sean John Clothing Inc., the apparel company owned by hip-hop impresario Sean "P. Diddy" Combs (pictured at a BRAG Event)

Representatives for Liz Claiborne and Sean John declined to discuss the terms of the deal. But a person familiar with the deal (notice we always have a person "familiar with the deal") said that Enyce (pronounced "En-EE-chay") -- which Claiborne bought for $114 million in 2003 -- was valued at about $20 million. Enyce's sales, which hit $100 million at their peak, have shrunk to about half that amount as retailers have consolidated.

In an interview, Mr. Combs said he plans to retool the brand, expand its distribution and take advantage of his connections in the entertainment industry to promote it.
"In music, people know me as the 'King of the Remix,' " Mr. Combs said. "Now I am remixing this brand and making it a hit."

READ MORE HERE

THE CHURN

Michelle Cutter, formerly vice president of marketing and international sales for Coach Watches, has been named vice president of marketing and new business development at Kooba.

Nicole Matusow, formerly senior public relations manager of Clarins USA, has been named PR director at Guerlain.

Leslie Bennets, contributing editor at Vanity Fair, has also been named contributing editor at Portfolio.

Susan Sokol, president of apparel for Vera Wang, has resigned.

Honor Brodie, assistant managing editor at In Style, has been named editor in chief of Tory Burch's website.

Tiffani Carter, formerly of account AVP of Tractenberg & Co., has been named assistant vice president of PR at Essie Cosmetics.

Jacqueline Long, previously senior publicity manager at Ports 1961, has been named account executive at BPCM.

Stacey Renee Benedetti, formerly division manager of luxury, fashion, and beauty at Tara, Ink., has been named senior vice president, director of beauty and fashion at The Patton Group.

Lisa Axelson, formerly senior vice president of design for Club Monaco, has been named senior vice president of design for Ann Taylor.

Mary Kay O'Connor-Wente, formerly vice president of the West region for Express, has been named senior vice president and director of stores for Ann Taylor.

Danesha Dixon Smith, formerly in human resources at Liz Claiborne Inc., has been named senior vice president of human resources for Kenneth Cole Productions Inc.

Michelle Davidson, formerly senior account executive at SHADOW PR, has been promoted to account supervisor.

Alexandra Lasky, senior account executive at SHADOW PR, has also been named celebrity manager.

Alexis Tedesco joins Behrman Communications as an account manager.

Lauren T. Parr is an account supervisor at Matter, an Edelman Entertainment Company, focusing on branded entertainment and content, sponsorship acquistion, event marketing and new business efforts for clients including Dove, Starbucks, Expedia and Burger King. She was previously at Ketchum Entertainment Marketing.

Michael Collins, previously senior vice president of planning and analysis at General Electric Corp.'s NBC Universal unit, has been named senior vice president of finance at Sears Holdings Corp.

Richard Vorisek has been named president of Housing Works Thrift Shops.

Christopher Bizzio has been named chief executive officer of Antichi Pellettieri Bags Srl.

HONOREE PROFILE: B OYAMA

This is the the height of the charity season and I'm in the back of the Escalade coming from an event as I write this. The event was great and as I was making my way to chocolate fountain I ran into B Oyama. The way you know it's B Oyama is that great smile. I call it one of the best smiles in Retail. If you get a chance to meet him check out the smile; if you don't get a chance to meet him then here is his bio.

Born in the West African nation of Gabon, menswear designer Bernard Oyama has been influenced by fashion since childhood. The grandson of a tailor, Oyama gained an appreciation for fine clothing and the art of dressing at a young age. “As a teenager, I delivered the suits to my
grandfather’s clients,” said Oyama. “That’s where I learned the trade and learned about fabrics and cuts. My grandfather was known as the go-to man for the best quality suits, so quality is all I’ve ever known.” Oyama eventually left Gabon to study marketing in Paris. Upon graduation, he worked as a financial services representative for three years. However, still fuelled by his passion for tailored clothing, Bernard dreamt of opening his own menswear boutique in the heart of Paris. His first boutique, aptly named Bernard, opened in 1992 to much success.
Five years later, Bernard closed his Paris shop to pursue the American dream. Oyama immigrated to New York in 1997 to pursue a master’s degree in banking and worked as a security guard while studying at American Institute of Banking at Mercy College. Upon completing his graduate coursework, Oyama served as a small business banker gaining notoriety at such notable organizations as EAB, North Fork Bank and Fleet Bank, now Bank of America. Though Oyama achieved immense success in the financial arena, his true passion for menswear continued to beckon him. His experience in New York
City opened his eyes to a unique and new interpretation of style. Oyama looked to Harlem and its tradition for style and panache as his inspiration. He knew Harlem, a place he viewed as the epicenter of American style, would ultimately be the destination of choice for the menswear boutique he’d always dreamt of opening in
New York City. Harlem, at the time, was on the verge of a new Renaissance, and B. Oyama sought to be the
first to bring upscale, quality clothing back to the neighborhood. His background in banking and experience as a business development officer provided a solid foundation for a successful retail business. In 2003, Oyama launched B. Oyama, his first ready-to-wear and
bespoke boutique, at 2330 Seventh Avenue in Harlem.
Filling a void in the menswear market, B. Oyama was one of the first upscale, freestanding retail stores to open in a previously underserved area. It was Oyama’s
goal to create an uptown Seventh Avenue fashion district similar to Soho, Madison Avenue or Fifth Avenue. Today, B. Oyama has been the catalyst for the opening of
other upscale Harlem area stores such as N Boutique, Montgomery, The Denim Library and Hats by Bunn.
B. Oyama has become the fashion destination for many of New York’s top business executives and social elite. Renowned for its well-cut suits, high-quality shirts and colorful ties and ascots, B. Oyama is reinventing the
way men are approaching fashion. B. Oyama has been featured in The New York Times, Black Enterprise and was most recently named one of the hottest designers of 2007 by Lloyd Boston on ABCs “The View.” In 2007,
B. Oyama introduced a women’s collection of sharp suits and shirts.

CAMPAING FASHION ITEMS

The campaign is alive with Fashion. Which one would you rather wear?
nuff said

HONOREE PROFILE: PATRICK ROBINSON

Of all the 2008 Honorees, Patrick is the youngest. At 41 he has been charged with turning the GAP around. After years of logo laden t-shirts and fashion experiments that worked in the fashion lab, but did not resonate with GAP customer, GAP decided it was time for a change. GAP decided to cast off it's Khakis for slim fit shirts. Early indications is that Patrick is making good on the promise to make GAP relevant & sexy again. Samuel L. Jackson brought Shaft back and Patrick Robinson is bringing sexy back.
Congratulations Patrick on your BRAG Business Achievement Award

Patrick Robinson was selected in May 2007 to serve as executive vice president of design for Gap Adult and gapbody. Robinson oversees all elements of design for Gap women’s and men’s apparel, accessories and intimates lines in North America.
Robinson joined Gap from Paco Rabanne in Paris, where he had been artistic director since 2005. Previously, he had designed a limited-edition collection for Target’s GO International initiative. Prior to his tenure at Paco Rabanne, Robinson held senior design and leadership roles at Perry Ellis and Anne Klein. Robinson served as the design director at Le Collezioni White Label by Giorgio Armani from 1990 to 1994.
Robinson is a graduate of the Parsons School of Design, was chosen one of Vogue magazine’s 100 rising stars in 1996 and has been a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America since 1994.

excerpt from Mike Albo's New York Times Article:

I HAVE rarely seen someone as crazy and as determined as the Italian mother who jostled me in the Gap flagship store in Midtown. She bumped into me as she snatched up a pair of tan cargo pants. She went over to her teenage son and threw them at him. He exhaled furiously — the international sign for “God, Mom, whatever!” — and went to the dressing room. Then, to my right, a Frenchman wheeled a baby carriage onto my foot until I moved out of his way.

There must have been 100 Europeans in this store: men wearing sweaters tied around their shoulders, women wearing sunglasses inside, entire families chattering and pointing. All of them had rapacious looks in their eyes because they knew time is money. They needed to buy as much as possible before the increasingly global financial meltdown turned their powerful euros into a currency as pathetic as, well, the United States dollar.
But ... Gap? At first it was difficult to understand why the Eurofolk were so intense about this place. It leaves the bland taste of the 1990s in my mouth. I see the square blue sign, and it calls to mind Helen Hunt on “Mad About You,” sitting on a puffy couch in comfy khakis and a big, shapeless chambray shirt, holding a huge mug of tea with both hands. When Gap was at its peak of influence, Seinfeld was a style icon. Blech.

But Gap is on a mission to lure us back, hiring the sharp, youthful designer Patrick Robinson to revamp the line. His designs started showing up in stores last spring. Maybe the Eurofolk are on to something.

Walking into the giant store, I could see the revamping effort. The space was brightly lighted, cool music was playing, huge photos of Hugh Dancy and the sexily scarred hockey star S. Avery were on the walls, and the mannequins wore hip outfits in layered combinations I wanted to wear — especially one tweed jacket, sleeves pushed up.

A lot of the merchandise invites you to try it on right there on the floor, like a warm charcoal cable knit cardigan ($138), a leather bomber ($298) or a hip-length cargo jacket on sale for $49.99. This was a total of about 360 euros, and if I were a literature grad student visiting from Strasbourg, I would have bought all three and then gone home and worn them while smoking loose tobacco cigarettes and reading Houellebecq.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

HONOREE PROFILE: WILLIAM HAWTHRONE

I was at an event at the W Hotel a few months ago and I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Hawthrone. The one thing I recalled from our conversation was that I did most of the talking and Bill did a lot of listening. One of my former VPs use to say you have one mouth and 2 ears, so listen twice as much as you speak. Mr. Hawthrone has been a success because he listens. It's easy to understand why BRAG is honoring him this year.
Here is what we know about Bill Hawthrone.

Mr. Hawthorne joined Macy's, Inc. (then Federated Department Stores) in 1990. He currently serves in the capacity of Corporate Vice President, Diversity Strategies and Legal Affairs and is a member of the Corporate Management Team. Mr. Hawthorne has corporate wide responsibility for overseeing diversity strategies and handles substantive legal matters as assigned by the General Counsel.

Macy’s, Inc., with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, stands as the nation’s largest department store retailer, with fiscal 2007 sales at $27 billion. Macy’s, Inc. operates 863 department stores in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. The company also operates Bloomingdale’s, Macy's.com, Bloomingdale's.com and Bloomingdale’s by Mail. Macy’s, Inc. is dedicated to building the company one customer at a time by molding brands around the needs, wants and aspirations of its diverse customer base.

Prior to his current role, Mr. Hawthorne served in the Law Department of Macy’s, Inc. in the roles of Divisional Vice President and National Practice Leader. His responsibilities included the oversight of most of the Company's legal matters arising in the Midwest and Southeast. In addition, he had national responsibility for coordinating dispute resolution and litigation strategies for the Company.

Mr. Hawthorne is a former attorney for the City of Atlanta Solicitor’s Office and served as a trial attorney for the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. As a prosecutor, he was the lead trial attorney in several high profile cases including the successful prosecution of a death penalty case.
Mr. Hawthorne also has significant teaching experience. He served for many years as an instructor for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) at Emory University School of Law and as an adjunct professor of Business Law in the MBA program at the Atlanta University. He has served numerous times as a panelist and speaker on topics of litigation management, early case assessment, dispute resolution, and Diversity Strategies in corporate and legal arenas.
Mr. Hawthorne has served on philanthropic and industry boards, served as Chair of the Labor and Employment Section of the American Corporate Counsel Association (ACCA). He is a current Board Member and Committee Chair of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA).

Mr. Hawthorne is an Honors Graduate of Morehouse College and earned a Doctor of Law degree from the Emory University School of Law. Mr. Hawthorne resides in Atlanta with his wife, D'anna, and their children.

Oscar: Mark Ingram Knows How To Sell A Gown

The Bridal Atelier owned by Mark Ingram is known for paying attention to a woman on the most important day of her life; her wedding day. Now the shop, which is located at 110 E. 55th St in New York City is being recognized for something else. The staff along with Mark (pictured here) was given a huge thumbs up and a "Thank You" from Oscar de la Renta for being able to sell a large volume of the Oscar de la Renta bridal gowns.

The Bridal shop, which has been open since 2002, is known has the "chic" place to buy a gown. The price tags range from $5,000 to $14,000, making the ability for Mark and his staff to sell such volumes all the more impressive.

As those prices grooms better be careful not get cake on them.

Macy's in Harlem

As the Real Estate market drops around the country there is one place that the commercial real estate market seems to be booming...Harlem. According to the Real Estate Board of New York the average price per square foot in Harlem is $107, an increase from $103 per sq ft last year. This is still below the $113/sq ft in the Bronx and far below the $300 average price per sq. ft in some areas of Manhattan.

One company that is taking note of this is Macy's Inc. The Herald Square store has a huge amount of Harlem residents that travel south to shop at Macy's and it would make sense to have a Macy's in Harlem. Sources at Macy's have declined to comment on whether or not they've looked at Harlem as a possible option, but it would be a great way to solidify the Macy's Inc anchor on the island of Manhattan with the Bloomingdales store in Soho.

If Macy's is not interested in Harlem other retailers should take note. Harlem is now the place for cool, hip tastemakers that like the urban setting as the backdrop for their lifestyle. So much so the West Side side of Harlem is now being labeled the next Meatpacking District.

For those retailers that are taking note there is a 31,000 sq ft lot on 125th and Lenox. Saks 5th Ave...Saks Lenox Ave, has a certain ring to it.

HONOREE PROFILE: HARRIETTE COLE

As the team puts the final touches on the larger than life Gala for Friday night I couldn't help but be inspired by Harriette. She spoke at an event I attended a few years ago at Lord & Taylor, and the one thing I remember her telling the group was to be true to yourself. Her book "How to Be" is a must read for all young people. With that here is a little info about Harriette Cole.

Harriette Cole wrote the book on contemporary etiquette and life coaching—literally. As President and Creative Director of a New York-based life coaching company, Harriette Cole Productions, Cole has devoted her life to helping people discover how to cultivate their inherent ability to present themselves effectively. Harriette’s signature approach was developed over the course of many years of working in the fields of presentation, style and writing. She has performed life styling for a broad range of organizations, including Kraft Foods, Sara Lee Corporation, Cornell University, the National Urban League and the NAACP. Her training has supported the entertainment industry on behalf of such recording industry giants as Universal Records, J Records, Motown and Def Jam. She has worked directly with many notable recording artists including Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, Carl Thomas and teen pop sensation JoJo. Harriette has coached many forward-thinking members of the general population—from children in extra-curricular educational programs to women who are making their transition from welfare to work.

Among Harriette’s many accomplishments are her best-selling books that support daily living. Harriette wrote the preeminent African-American wedding planner, Jumping the Broom and its companion, Jumping the Broom Wedding Workbook (Henry Holt & Co.) Later, she penned a guide to living with grace and integrity, How to Be (Simon & Schuster). In 2003, she published two more books: Choosing Truth: Living an Authentic Life (Simon & Schuster), a general-market book designed to encourage people to pursue rigorously honest lives and Coming Together (Jump at the Sun/Hyperion, with photographer John Pinderhughes), an activity book for African-American children and families, created to inspire meaningful interaction. A second edition of Jumping the Broom (Henry Holt), along with a new wedding book focused on designing a sacred ceremony, entitled Vows (Simon & Schuster) were released in February 2004.

Harriette is currently the creative director of EBONY, the oldest and largest African American magazine in the world. As creative director, she works with the leadership of Johnson Publishing Company to refresh the visual presentation of the publication. She also oversees the production of all fashion, beauty and lifestyle pages. In addition to her editorial work, Harriette has significant experience in radio and television. She served as the host of PULSE, a magazine-format talk show on XM Satellite Radio’s Take Five, 155. PULSE addressed points of interest to a largely female audience including parenting, entertaining, fashion, personal finance and of course, relationship management and etiquette. In television, Harriette served as the relationship expert on the popular ABC Family Channel reality series "Perfect Match - NY."

She makes her home in Harlem, New York City, with her husband George Chinsee, a fashion and beauty photographer and their daughter, Carrie Emmanuelle.

You Go Harriette!!!!

SEE FULL BIO HERE

THE TASTEMAKERS: Elle's Personal Style Awards

Elle.com has come up with its list of Fashion Tastemakers and it's a very diverse list of the people that turn heads wherever they go.

There is heir to Rock & Roll royalty, Zoe Kravitz.

Rihanna (above) can really take a bow because she was chosen for her boyish good looks & style

The Latinas who we love Eva Mendes, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Alba, & America Ferrera (above) deserve a raised glass; which reminds me Ugly Betty is now filming in NY City (fashionistas be on the look-out for filming at your favorite store; hint-hint)

Our favorite model and past BRAG Honoree Naomi Campbell tops the super-model category

Rinko Kikuchi (pictured above) is one to watch; in and out of Chanel

Congrats to the tastemakers and congrats to Elle for a list that represents the diverse taste around the world

See the Complete List Here

THE CHURN

There is this belief that retail/fashion changes don't happen after October. We'll see, as the world churns...

Joseph M. Schmidt has been named president of Dick's Sporting Goods, effective in February. Vice president of operations and chief operating officer since February, Schmidt will replace Edward W. Stack.

Brendan Hoffman, former CEO of Neiman Marcus Direct, was named CEO of Lord & Taylor, replacing long time CEO Jane Elfers.

Francesco Russo, formerly footwear designer at Yves Saint Laurent, has been named creative director of Sergio Rossi.

Matteo Morandi has been named general manager of watches and licenses for Morellato & Sector SpA.

Glen S. Lyon, president of The Finish Line, Inc., has been named chief executive officer, effective December 1.

Rayna Greenberg has been promoted to account executive in Alison Brod PR's beauty division.

Ashley Berg, formerly of Kravetz & Company, has been hired as a senior account executive in Alison Brod PR's lifestyle division.

Sarah Cunningham has left the music and celebrity division at Susan Blond, Inc. to pursue new opportunities.

Francesca Simons, formerly of Shadow PR, has been named account executive at Kravetz and Company.

Thierry Falque-Pierrotin, head of the Redcats mail order division of French retail group PPR, has resigned, effective at the end of the year.

Bernard Manuel, chairman of Cygne Designs Inc. has resigned.

Paul Wilmot Communications announces its U.S. representation of Zufi Alexander handbags and shoes.

The Shop PR announces its representation of Eco-Ganik.

HONOREE PROFILE: ROBERT CHAVEZ

There are 3 things a woman wants before she has to think about her bucket list...something expensive in that little blue box with a white bow, a trip to Tuscany (alone) and a Hermes handbag. Not since the Babyface CD (you know the one with "Whip Appeal") has a product been so sought after by woman of all backgrounds. It was that compelling factor that made us at BRAG think of Robert Chavez when we decided to honor those who have done so much under the theme, Common Threads...enjoy the bio and we'll see you all next Friday Night.

Robert Chavez was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Hermès of Paris, Inc. in the United States in August 2000.
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Chavez is a graduate of Princeton University. In 1977, he joined the Executive Training Program at Bloomingdale’s in New York City, and took on the role of Assistant Buyer in the Cosmetics department. Shortly after, he became a Buyer in the Home Furnishings area.
In 1986, Chavez served as Merchandise Administrator for Cosmetics and Fragrances at Macy’s. As head of the department, he increased sales and profitability dramatically, and was appointed Senior Vice President of Merchandising in 1989. By 1991, he was promoted to President of Merchandising and oversaw several departments that included Fashion Accessories, Shoes and Ready to Wear.
Chavez joined Etienne Aigner as Chief Executive Officer in 1992. He was instrumental in Etienne Aigner’s significant increase in growth and profitability. During his tenure, Chavez implemented his strategy by enhancing the value of the Etienne Aigner brand and products, building faithful relationships with Aigner’s customers, and by creating a unique philosophy of team spirit that emphasizes strong collegial support within the organization.
As President and Chief Executive Officer of Hermès of Paris, Inc., Chavez oversees all business aspects in the United States including the Retail and Wholesale divisions. Under his direction, Hermès became the premier luxury house to lead in the revitalization of lower Manhattan with the opening of a new store on Wall Street in June of 2007 followed shortly thereafter by a Bergen County opening in December. His vision for Hermès through 2009 includes store openings in San Diego, Denver, Seattle, King of Prussia and a second store in Las Vegas.
Chavez’s outstanding service and achievements have been recognized by numerous institutions, universities, industries, and cultural and philanthropic organizations. He is committed to various causes that include the March of Dimes, God’s Love We Deliver and the Luxury Education Foundation.
Robert Chavez resides in Manhattan and Millbrook, New York.

DIVERSITY INC ACKNOWLEDGES BRAG

In the September Issue of Diversity Inc. there was a great article about Retailers and their vision for 21st Century Recruiting and catering to a 21st Century Customer. BRAVO to Target, Stop & Shop, Limited Brands and a big applause to Best Buy for the great recruitment ads. Below is an excerpt from the article which had a great quote from BRAG President Gary Lampley.

SHOPPING FOR TALENT
“Employers that want to succeed need to embrace a diverse work force,” says Jeffrey Humphreys, director of the Selig Center at the University of Georgia Terry College of Business. “You must have people working for you who
reflect your target markets.” Indeed, smart retailers are casting their recruiting nets far and wide to search for employees who demographically represent the communities where they do business.

One organization that’s helping to steer multicultural talent toward retailing is BRAG (Black Retail Action Group). This New York-based nonprofit, formed to promote Blacks in the industry, provides one-on-one mentoring, networking, employment opportunities and scholarships to college students. The College Club, Created at the Fashion Institute of Technology, the program has now expanded to other schools, including Howard University and The Laboratory Institute of Merchandising.
Groups such as BRAG are also trying to stem the tide of attrition within the retail industry. Reportedly as high as 25 percent, this is one of the biggest and most costly challenges facing retail managers. One way to retain and motivate associates is to constantly communicate the opportunities for professional growth and development. For this reason, BRAG recently launched its Executive Development Series, a three-session interactive workshop
developed to help top performers climb the retail industry ladder.
“Diversity in our industry used to be about what you could or couldn’t do legally,” says BRAG President Gary Lampley. “Now we’re addressing the issue from a different perspective: how to co-exist within an organization so that every voice is heard and everyone thrives.”

courtesy Diversity Inc

HONOREE PROFILE: GILLES BENSIMON

In case you've been under a rock since the 1970s, the 38th BRAG Awards Ceremony is next Friday night (10/17). If you've never been to a BRAG Awards event then you are missing out on one the most talked about event in the Retail/Fashion industry. As a tribute to the event we will profile an Honoree each day here in the BRAG blog leading up to the event. Today we profile Gilles (pronounced like the French Jeel) Bensimon

As International Creative Director of ELLE, Gilles Bensimon oversees creative ventures for ELLE’s 39 international editions. Previously, as Publication Director, Bensimon’s creative vision, photographic eye, and business savvy helped ELLE become one of the most relevant and provocative fashion magazines in the United States.
Bensimon’s photographic genius beautifully captures the essence of the ELLE woman—intelligent, with an independent spirit and individual style. A favorite among top celebrities and models, Bensimon takes photographs for ELLE’s 39 international editions, making him one of the most published photographers in the world. His long association with the magazine began when he partnered with ELLE’s founder, Hélène Lazareff, in Paris in 1967. Today, through the pages of ELLE, his work reaches 21 million readers on six continents.
In the world of international fashion photography, Gilles Bensimon is a rarity. He is a major artistic talent who not only established the creative direction of a leading women’s magazine but also took most of its photographs. This born observer takes in everything and misses nothing. His special sense for ambiance and mood has resulted in many priceless moments captured on film.
The fashion world’s ongoing admiration for Bensimon was again illustrated in 2005, when he received the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Eugenia Sheppard Award for excellence in fashion journalism. Bensimon’s stature in the fashion world is also demonstrated by the fact that a photography session with him has been the coveted prize awarded the winners of hit TV reality shows Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model.
Bensimon’s aesthetic has dazzled the world for nearly three decades. Now, as International Creative Director, Bensimon is poised to make a more personal contribution, by shaping the look and content of the international ELLE publications where his unique photographs have been featured for years.

READ MORE

On the Trail with Michelle Obama's Fashion

Not since Jackie O has a politician's wife garnered so much attention from the fashion industry. A Spring issue of Vogue called her the "It" Girl. Well Michelle Obama, fist bump and all has the fashion industry abuzz. It's not just the style that has us watching, it's the admittance of what she spends on her wardrobe. Faux pearls, $50. Tory Burch inspired flats, $35. Belted Dress from "The Barn", $80. Having all this in a walk-in closet at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, priceless!

Neiman Marcus- Home For The Holidays

DALLAS - The stock markets are sinking and fears of recession are rising, but Neiman Marcus carries on.
The luxury retailer unveiled its Christmas Book on Tuesday and made surprisingly few concessions to the financial crisis.
Among this year's offerings: a $160,000 limited-edition BMW sedan; a $1 million three-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus' team and a chance to play the first round with Nicklaus; and his and her life-size sculptures made out of Legos for $60,000 each.

WOW...Neiman Marcus is very aspirational. Well I guess the CEOs from AIG and Lehman Brothers can afford it. Now wonder they did $600 Million in On-line sales last year...That's why we love this business of retail.

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BRAG BLOG: BACK FROM FISHING

So, the summer vacation is over and the BRAG Blog is back in action
If you have story ideas or would like to post something on the BLOG please email stories to michaelbrown@bragusa.org