Nina Ricci has reopened its Paris store on Avenue Montaige after a 6th month renovation. Olivier Theyskens' new gray cozy interior has contributed to daily sales tallies roughly triple that of last year.

Short Starbucks lines seem like a good thing until you realize that no one is shopping. The deserted Vegas Starbucks is given as evidence that things are unusually subdued at Magic Marketplace

Japan Fashion Week, which runs September 1st through the 5th, is a challenge for Japanese designers.

Stefano Pilati faults Tom Ford for giving women what they want. We are torn on this opinion.

Sallie Underwood Baker, fashion collector, one cool broad, has passed away

Canadians need a little extra insulation to keep warm in their frigid winters. Or at least that is the sense we get considering the outcry over Quebec retailer La Maison's use of overly skinny models. The catalog has been recalled and everyone is happy again.

The Venice Film Festival debuted Valentino: The Last Emperor. While the title references the famed designers it is really about "the deeply rooted, inspirational and unique union between Valentino and Giammetti."

Tom Ford opened his first stand alone store in Milan yesterday. Much excitement over the venture was expressed by the fashion press. "It's more contemporary than New York, which is in a 1930s building," he said during a walk-through. "We used the same vocabulary and colors, but this one is housed in a Fascist building so it's more linear and modern."Measuring nearly 12,000 square feet over five floors, its Ford's largest store to date.

Liz Claiborne is working on a new logo and ad campaign for the spring launch of Liz Claiborne-brand women's clothing under creative director Isaac Mizrahi. No one is saying anything and naturally the whole thing is quite tight lipped. As big fans of Isaac Mizrahi we are certainly hoping for the best for the designer and his new label.

Jemima Khan, daughter of Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart and the late tycoon Sir James Goldsmith, has designed a capsule collection for Paris fashion house Azzaro which will include ready-to-wear and accessories. It will be presented in the showroom during the Paris couture. accessories line.

Jimmy Choo is going to Japan with a new Ginza location. The 1,700-square-foot store will be set over two floors, with a mirrored staircase leading to a salon space on the second floor. The unit will carry the brand's handbags, leather goods and sunglasses, along with its most complete selection of shoe styles in its stores in Japan.

Council of Fashion Designers of America presented the following 2008 fashion awards.

Womenswear Designer of the Year: Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein Collection. See the Resort 09 collection.

Menswear Designer of the Year: Tom Ford

Accessories Designer of the Year: Tory Burch. See the Fall 08 fashion show.

Swarovski Womenswear: Kate and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte. See the Fall 08 collection.

Swarovski Menswear: Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders

Swarovski Accessories: Philip Crangi

Lifetime Achievement Award: Carolina Herrera. See the Fall 08 fashion show.

Designer Yves Saint Laurent passed away this Sunday at the age of 71. More coverage will obviously follow on Coutorture but we figured it should be in the round up. Reuters, CNN, The Guardian, The BBC, The International Herald Tribune, and the AP report.

Bergdorf Goodman Men unveiled their largest shop in shop in their retail history with a 1,600 Tom Ford boutique.

British denim line Lee Cooper is turning one hundred.

Proenza Schouler and Vicini SpA home of Giuseppe Zanotti are teaming up for a larger Proenza Schouler shoe offering and WWD finally has a photo to show off! Proenza Schouler shoes will retail for an average of $685, with pieces beginning in the $300s up to $3,000.

Fashion sucks in Washington D.C. Well, at least the respective Ann and Annes (Taylor and Klein) still battle it out there.
Just buy one great dress. Really! OK and lots of accessories to go with it to make it special.

Elie Tahari is launching a costume jewelry line.The Elie Tahari Empire Collection will be available in smoke, diamond and ruby hues. It will be sold at Elie Tahari's six boutiques in the U.S., as well as at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. The pieces will retail at around $400.

Stella McCartney will show a collection at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts on June 1. The show is part of a program that will celebrate Liverpool as the European capital of culture in 2008.

Proenza Schouler continues resort season with a collection inspired by loungewear and layering. WWD calls it a collection full of contrast: "masculine, slouchy suit in delicate silk paired with a structured linen coat, and a flimsy checkered beaded dress layered over pajama pants."

Yigal Azrouël is opening a destination store in Water Mill New York. We have no clue where Water Mill is located.

Marc Jacobs thinks Tom Ford was a preppy back in the day. We say Tom Ford can be however he wants to be.

Apparel trends are still dismal. And we mean finances not the actual clothing.

In Soviet Russia Gap clothing wears you! No really, the Gap is opening in Russia thanks to a franchising agreement with Fiba Holding AS.