Notes

INTRODUCTION

1  “We sold Isaac …”: Kai Runenstein, A.I., 11/26/97.

2  “It looks divine …”: Isaac Mizrahi, A.I., 7/2/97.

3  “All my life …”: Michael Gross, “Slave of Fashion,” New York, 10/1/1990.

4  “I just got…”: Isaac Mizrahi, A.I.

5  “Look, it is all …”: Ibid.

6  “I will always have …”: “Isaac Mizrahi Shutting Down,” WWD, 10/2/98.

7  “Today my style … “: Teri Agins, “Way of All Flash: The Decline of Couture Is Seen in the Closing of a New York Salon,” The Wall Street Journal, 4/28/92.

8  “There used to be …”: Teri Agins, “Breaking Out of the Gray Flannel Suit,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/23/92.

9  “Have We Become …”: Jerry Adler, “Have We Become a Nation of Slobs?” Newsweek, 2/20/95.

10  “I got more …”: Teri Agins, “Out of Fashion: Many Women Lose Interest in Clothes to Retailers’ Dismay,” The Wall Street Journal, 2/28/95.

11  “was only a bit … “: “How to Buy a Sweater,” Consumer Reports, December 1994.

12  “In another trial …”: “Wash and Worry,” Consumer Reports, May 1997.

13  “The fact is …”: Martha Nelson, A.I., 8/4/97.

CHAPTER 1

1  “We will know …”: Karl Lagerfeld, A.I., 4/24/98.

2  ‘The fact is …”: Holly Brubach, “In Fashion: The Rites of Spring,” The New Yorker, 6/6/88.

3  “You know, you …”: “Lacroix Takes New York,” WWD, 10/30/87.

4  “she felt forced, …”: Dennis Thim, ‘The New Lacroix,” WWD, 7/19/91.

5  “I believe I have … “: Lacroix fashion show program, July 1997.

6  “When I wrote …”: Bemadine Morris, A.I., 6/26/97.

7  “It’s the same …”: Teri Agins, “Not So Haute: French Fashion Loses Its Primacy as Women Leave Couture Behind,” The Wall Street Journal, 8/29/95.

8  “Nowhere else in … “: Marilyn Bender, The Beautiful People, New York: Coward McCann, 1966, p. 205.

9  “Worth, who invented …”: Caroline Rennolds Milbank, Couture, New York: Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 1985, p. 26.

10  “The fashion system …”: Pascal Morand, A.I., 7/9/97.

11  “They were all snobs …”: Gerry Dryansky, A.I., 1/23/97.

12  “Christian Dior darted …”: Bettina Ballard, In My Fashion, New York: David McKay, 1960, p. 60.

13  “Right after the shows …”: Agins, “Not So Haute.”

14  “better to wait…”: Ballard, In My Fashion, op. cit.

15  “Most every French home …”: Veronique Vienne, French Style, Columbus, Ohio: Express, 1993, p. 81.

16  “The women who … “: James Brady, A.I., 1/9/97.

17  “The real issue …”: John Fairchild, Chic Savages, New York: Pocket Books, 1989.

18  “What was amusing…”: Karl Lagerfeld, A.I.

19  “From then on …”: Bender, Beautiful People, p. 228.

20  “Dior rejected an initial offer …”: Alice Rawsthom, Yves Saint Laurent, New York: Nan A. Tálese, 1996, p. 20.

21  “From 1983 to 1989 …”: Marie Foumier, A.I., 4/23/98.

22  “all that horrible …”: Marc Bohan, A.I., 1/24/97.

23  “suffered from ‘inconsistency’…” and following: Colombe Nicholas, A.I., 5/2/97.

24  “My name is more…”: Richard Morais, Pierre Cardin, London: Bantam, 1991, p. 150.

25  “Cardin is a very … “: Henri Berghauer, A.I., 7/28/97.

26  “when he was forced …”: Morais, op. cit., p. 164.

27  “His fortune was … “: Ibid., p. 234.

28  “I don’t understand …”: Pierre Cardin, A.I., 1/22/97.

29  “Pierre was considered …”: Henri Berghauer, A.I.

30  “A name is like … “: Joan Kron, “Fashion Empire: Haute Couture Means High Finance at the House of Yves Saint Laurent,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/10/84.

31  “The perfume business …”: Patrick McCarthy, A.I., 12/10/97.

32  “was valued at…”: Bryan Burrough, “The Selling of Saint Laurent,” Vanity Fair, 4/93.

33  “In the next…”: Philip Revzin and Teri Agins, “All About Yves: Saint Laurent Remains Idol of French Fashion but He Isn’t Immortal,” The Wall Street Journal, 4/6/89.

34  “If he dies …”: Burrough, “Selling of Saint Laurent.”

35  “developed a marketing …”: Armando Branchini, A.I., 3/8/97.

36  “In one sense …”: Fairchild, op. cit., p. 29.

37  “In 1984, Arab …”: Kron, “Fashion Empire.”

38  “It was Pierre …”: Morais, op. cit., p. 119.

39  “In 1996, bridge … “: Katherine Weisman, “Secondary Collections Can’t Seem to Make a French Connection,” WWD, 10/15/97.

40  “French designer brands …”: Ibid.

41  “Mugler and Montana …” and following: Armand Hadida, A.I., 1/21/97.

42  “I just couldn’t …”: Elizabeth Snead, A.I., 4/99.

43  “We’re really not…” and following: Joan Kaner, A.I., 5/23/97.

44  “When you look … “: Agins, “Not So Haute.”

45  “It is better …”: Didier Grumbach, A.I., 7/4/97.

46  “Fashion in France …”: Pascal Morand, A.I.

47  “Mouclier claimed that…” and following: Jacques Mouclier, A.I., 7/11/97.

48  “I know something …”: Godfrey Deeney, “Ralph Cries Foul in Yves Saint Laurent Copycat Suit,” WWD, 4/28/94.

49  “line for line …” and following: Godfrey Deeney, “Lauren Fined by Paris Court and So Is Bergé,” WWD, 5/19/94.

50  “The French respondents …”: Susan Rice, A.I., 7/95.

51  “Karl is a …”: Bernadine Morris, A.I.

52  “All this media …”: Karl Lagerfeld, A.I.

53  “no longer impressed …”: Agins, “Not So Haute.”

54  “Behind his angelic …”: Nadege Forestier and Nazanine Ravai, The Taste of Luxury, London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 1992, p. 41.

55  “There was always …”: Colombe Nicholas, A.I.

56  “My relationship to …”: Forestier and Ravai, Taste of Luxury, p. 106.

57  “It is a massive …”: Patrick McCarthy, A.I.

58  “looks ‘like vomit’…”: Laurence Benaim, “La Revolution de Soie,” Paris Match, 1/19/97.

59  “People aren’t going to … “: James Fallon, “Alexander de Paris,” W. 49 “crude and vulgar …”: Karl Lagerfeld, A.I.

60  “For Bernard Arnault …”: David Wolfe, A.I., 4/16/97.

61  “What is the press …”: Colombe Nicholas, A.I.

62  “guaranteed to pill …” and following: Zoe Heller, “Jacob’s Ladder,” The New Yorker, 9/22/97.

63  “It isn’t a question …” and following: Bernard Arnault, A.I., 3/19/99.

CHAPTER 2

1  “My colleagues always …”: Charlotte Aillaud, “Emanuel Ungaro,” Architectural Digest, 9/88,

2  “Ferragamo was prepared …”: Ferrucio Ferragamo, A.I., 8/96.

3  “I want this …”: Emanuel Ungaro, A.I., 7/96.

4  “Emanuel had such …”: Grace Mirabella, A.I., 4/5/97.

5  “Nearly all of…”: Carlo Valerio, A.I., 1/21/97.

6  “These are huge…”: Katherine Weisman, “Ungaro’s New Marriage,” WWD, 7/8/96.

7  “had stashed them …”: Pier Filipo Pieri, A.I., 1/21/97.

8  “During that time …”: Ferrucio Ferragamo, A.I., 8/96.

9  “It was easy …”: Ibid.

10  “had a perfect…”: Aillaud, op. cit.

11  “What I can …”: Gruppo GFT, Emanuel Ungaro, Milan: Electa, Milan Elemond Editori Associati, 1992, p. 38.

12  “When Balenciaga changed …”: Beverly Rice, A.I., 6/11/97.

13  “Knapp hocked her …”: Emanuel Ungaro, A.I., 1/29/97.

14  “One name on …”: WWD, 7/65.

15  “GFT said …”: Emanuel Ungaro, A.I., 7/12/97.

16  “But the couturier …”: René Ungaro, A.I., 4/24/98.

17  “He makes what … “: Catherine de Limur, from an unpublished 1984 interview with Joan Kron.

18  “Research just shows …”: Emanuel Ungaro, A.I., 4/24/98.

19  “I sew the sleeves …”: Emanuel Ungaro, A.I., 1/29/97.

20  “Everything evolves from …”: Pamela Golbin, A.I., 1/29/97.

21  “full of suffering … “: Emanuel Ungaro, A.I., 1/21/97.

22  “I try to teach … “: Emanuel Ungaro, A.I., 1/21/97.

23  “After twenty-three years …”: Jennet Conant, “The Heat Is On,” Newsweek, 4/4/88.

24  “Emanuel puts a woman …”: Lynn Wyatt, 4/17/97.

25  “turning off lights …”: “Rich, Rich, Rich,” WWD, 1/1/86.

26  “never spent more … “: Carlo Valerio, A.I., 1/21/97. 67 “We have a …”: Maura De Visscher, A.I., 6/97.

27  “I knew the …”: Kyra Sedgwick, A.I., 7/97.

28  “hearts were shattered …”: Ben Brantley, “Ungaro Undone,” Vanity Fair, 3/90.

29  “I like to play …”: Laura Ungaro, A.I., 7/11/97.

30  “heavy, clumsy and brutal…”: Salvatore Ferragamo, Salvatore Ferragamo, Shoemaker of Dreams, Florence: Centro di Delia Edifimi srl, 1985 (originally published in 1957), p. 42.

31  “Salvatore became famous …” and following history: Stefania Ricci, Salvatore Ferragamo, The Art of the Shoe, New York: Rizzoli International Publications, 1992, pp. 60–86.

32  “For them, it was …” and following: Steven Slowick, A.I., 7/9/97.

33  “The Bain review …”: Carlo Valerio, A.I., 9/97.

34  “We know he gets …”: Ferrucio Ferragamo, A.I.

35  “thought it might …” and following: Peter Arnell, A.I., 6/2/97.

36  “Valerio worried that …”: Carlo Valerio, 1/8/98.

37  “zero for the …”: Ferragamo, A.I. With regard to Ferragamo’s aversion to licensing, see Harvard Business School case study E 9–391–159 on Salvatore Ferragamo SpA, in which Fulvia Ferragamo is quoted: “If the label says Ferragamo, then there is a Ferragamo behind it from design to sale.”

38  “There was little …” and following: Carlo Valerio, A.I.

39  “The division had …”: Carlo Valerio, A.I., and confidential source.

40  “difficult opportunity …”: Thierry Andretta, A.I., 4/23/98.

41  “I like the history…”: Ibid.

42  “Laura Ungaro hit the …”: Thierry Andretta, A.I., 9/10/98.

43  “Ferrucio is more …” and following: Laura Ungaro, A.I., 4/24/98.

44  “The Ferragamos are …” and following: Emanuel Ungaro, A.I., 4/24/98.

45  “We can’t force …” and following: Ferrucio Ferragamo, A.I., 4/11/99.

CHAPTER 3

1  “I don’t respect…”: Ralph Lauren, A.I., 4/9/97.

2  “Lauren couldn’t get …”: Confidential sources.

3  “You know, most …”: Frank Rich, “Stars and Stripes for Polo,” The New York Times, 7/18/98.

4  “We’ve been assured …”: Patricia Leigh Brown, “Hillary Clinton Inaugurates Presentation Campaign,” The New York Times, 7/14/98.

5  The Washington Times cartoon ran on 7/19/98.

6  “A shopper at…”: Rich, “Stars and Stripes.”

7  “Congress was considering,…”and following quote from Rich: Ibid.

8  “It’s not the jeans…”: Terry Lundgren, A.I., 12/23/97.

9  “Ralph Lauren, who …”: Ralph Lauren, A.I., 4/9/97.

10  “Young Ralph set…”: Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg, Ralph Lauren: The Man Behind the Mystique, Boston: Little, Brown, 1998, p. 26.

11  “as Brooksy as …”: Cathy Horyn, “Ralph Lauren, Suiting Himself; Sometimes, Criticism Can Wear a Little Thin,” The Washington Post, 5/24/92.

12  “Frank Lifshitz was …”: Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg, p. 20.

13  “millionaire …”: Ibid., p. 26.

14  “Nobody was interested …” and following: Ibid., p. 29.

15  “The age of elegance …”: Ibid., p. 60.

16  “buoyed by a …”: Ibid.

17  “I elevated the …”: Ralph Lauren, A.I.

18  “I would be …”: Lang Philips, “Confessions of a Young Wasp,” New York, 9/2/91.

19  “The only difference …”: Jonathan Yardley, “King Lauren Conferring Nobility,” The Washington Post, 12/15/86.

20  “I don’t put…”: Ralph Lauren, A.I.

21  “LVMH’s Bernard Arnault…”: Bernard Arnault, A.I., 3/19/99.

22  “Polo’s licensees generated …” (for fiscal year ending 3/31/86): Trachtenberg, p. 263.

23  “In 1894, the …”: Trachtenberg, p. 9. Author’s note: “The Madison Avenue store generated sales of $33.8 million in fiscal 1993. Given the significant original investment in construction, as well as the ongoing expenses associated with maintaining it as a perfect prototype for Polo’s customers and licensees, management expects that the store’s expenses will continue to exceed its revenues.” From a confidential financial document on Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. prepared by the company.

24  “Everyone loves M&M’s …”: Ralph Lauren, A.I.

25  “Ralph is demanding …”: Confidential source.

26  “Ralph was always …”: Confidential source.

27  “The salespeople were …”: Confidential source.

28  “Think of this …”: Confidential source.

29  “I always see …”: Mimi Avins, “The Good Life for 30 Years. Ralph Lauren Has Set the Standard for American Style,” Los Angeles Times, 9/12/96.

30  “Now I think …”: Ibid.

31  “stuff inside there …”: “Ralph’s Teepee,” W, 12/1/95.

32  “Ralph is busy …”: Confidential source.

33  “We work with …”: Ralph Lauren, A.I.

34  “Every year the …”: Confidential source.

35  “Ralph is the …” and following: Confidential source.

36  “Do I need …”: Ralph Lauren, A.I.

37  “Ralph wanted the …”: Teri Agins, “Gang of Five,” Avenue, 9/89.

38  “When you see him …”: Confidential source.

39  “There probably isn’t …”: Horyn, “Suiting Himself.”

40  “gobbled up and …”: Michael Gross, “Ralph’s World,” New York, 9/20/93.

41  “In 1990, Calvin …” and following: Teri Agins and Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg, “Designer Troubles: Calvin Klein Is Facing a Bind as Magic Touch Appears to Be Slipping,” The Wall Street Journal, 11/22/91.

42  “Klein’s reversal of…”: Teri Agins, “Shaken by a Series of Business Setbacks, Calvin Klein Inc. Is Redesigning Itself,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/21/94.

43  “preppy classics with …”: Hilfiger Corp. press releases.

44  “Murjani’s Polo-lite …” and following: Teri Agins, The Wall Street Journal.

45  “Every decade someone …”: Trachtenberg, p. 220.

46  “He may have …”: Agins, “Tommy Hilfiger,” op. cit.

47  “To the consumer…”: Vicki Vasilopoulous, “U.S. Designers Set Out to Redefine Themselves,” DNR, 12/24/90.

48  “By setting his …”: Amy M. Spindler, “Hilfiger’s New Blueprint,” The New York Times, 6/11/96.

49  “Tommy came down …”: Michael Toth, A.I., 6/19/97.

50  “I haven’t done …”: Ralph Lauren, A.I.

51  “He chatted up …”: Tommy Hilfiger, A.I., 8/5/97.

52  “They couldn’t believe …”: Jim Moore, A.I., 4/97.

53  “I saw products …” and following: Silas Chou, A.I., 8/5/98.

54  “Tapping into his …”: Joel Horowitz, A.I., 8/18/97.

55  “From the beginning …”: Ibid.

56  “Hilfiger’s initial public …”: Hilfiger Corp. stock prospectus, 6/12/92.

57  “We are just …”: Silas Chou, A.I.

58  “Now I’m not…”: Joel Horowitz, A.I.

59  “Four times a year …”: The author attended Hilfiger’s adoption meeting.

60  “We always bought …”: Jonathan Van Meter, “Hip Hop Hilfiger,” Vogue, 11/96.

61  “honest working people …” and following: Michel Marriott, “Inner-City Outer Gear, Urban Youth Take to Clothing of the Outdoors,” The New York Times, 2/17/94.

62  “Andy knew that…” and following quote: Andy Hilfiger, A.I.

63  “The next week …”: Ibid.

64  “He didn’t use …” and following: Lloyd Boston, A.I., 8/5/97.

65  “Kidada speaks her …”: Andy Hilfiger, A.I.

66  “Tommy Hill was my …” and following quote: Alex Foege, “Playboy Interview: Tommy Hilfiger,” Playboy, 10/97.

67  “I feel proud …”: Joel Horowitz, A.I.

68  “the number one …”: According to spokesman from Oxford Industries, Hilfiger’s shirt licensee, 8/97.

69  “Tommy is a …” and following quote: Ned Allie, A.I., 8/5/97.

70  “There are people …”: Ralph Lauren, A.I.

71  “Tommy gives Ralph …”: Confidential source.

72  “his salary would climb …”: Hilfiger Corp. 1996 proxy statement.

73  “Ralph and I …”: Alex Foege, op. cit.

74  “Tommy shrugged it…” Tommy Hilfiger, A.I.

75  “I sensed that…” and following quote: Ralph Lauren, A.I.

76  “Ralph knows the …”: Susan Caminiti, A.I., 98.

77  “Is this going to be on the cover …”: Ibid.

78  “And on one …”: Spokespersons for Lauren and Hilfiger, A.I., 5/99.

79  “Lauren’s first jeans …”: Trachtenberg, pp. 200–201.

80  “As a matter …” Ibid. p. 202.

81  “The company rolled out…”: Mary Ellen Gordon, “Double RL Hits Some Bumps Along the Way,” WWD, 9/93.

82  “By the time …”: Andy Hilfiger, A.I.

83  “Such were the …”: The author attended Hilfiger’s book signing in New York.

84  “I don’t know …”: Michael Toth, A.I.

85  “Friday night was …”: The author attended the Hilfiger party.

86  “People around here …”: Confidential source.

87  “It’s a generational…” and following quote: Joel Horowitz, A.I.

88  “Maybe we can …”: Silas Chou, A.I.

CHAPTER 4

1  “The press gives …”: Giorgio Armani, A.I., 7/30/98.

2  “high-energy …”: Armani press release, 9/19/96.

3  “an estimated $2 million …”: Estimate provided by Armani officials. The Emporio Armani concert was largely underwritten by its licensees.

4  “He recruits my …”: Sara Gay Forden, “Armani Ballistic as Forte Leaves Him for Calvin,” WWD, 5/24/94.

5  “great complicity …”: Giorgio Armani, A.I., 3/14/97.

6  “For the moment…” and following quote: Ibid.

7  “felt very young …”: Ibid.

8  “an impressive $90 million …”: Jay Cocks, “Suiting Up for Easy Street; Giorgio Armani Defines the New Shape of Style,” Time, 4/5/82.

9  “changed his life …”: Teri Agins, “Who Loves Armani? Actors, Car Washers, and Senior V.P.’s,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/31/90.

10  “Armani is safe…”: James Servin, “Look Who’s Watching,” Harper’s Bazaar, 9/98.

11  “Change has to …”: Suzanne Somers, Italian Chic, New York: Villard Books, 1992, p. 19.

12  “Armani changed the …”: Patrick McCarthy, A.I.

13  “Armani put women …”: Rosita Missoni, A.I., 3/6/97.

14  “The news from …”: “Notes on Fashion,” The New York Times, 7/18/83.

15  “Nicholas auditioned several …” and following: Colombe Nicholas, A.I.

16  “I know that …” and following: Patrick Robinson, A.I., 4/5/97.

17  “went through the …”: Colombe Nicholas, A.l.

18  “We had our …”: Patrick Robinson, A.I.

19  “I pay attention,…” Giorgio Armani, A.I.

20  “journalist Carl Bernstein …”: Agins, “Who Loves Armani?” op. cit.

21  “Fashion is finished…”: Rebecca Mead, “Giorgio Armani Designer,” New York, 9/16/96.

22  “Celebrities work on …”: Martha Nelson, A.I., 8/4/97.

23  “Versace loved the …”: Hal Rubenstein, A.I., 8/97.

24  “wore Versace on …”: Cathy Horyn, A.I.

25  “The Italian designers have …”: Sara Gay Forden, A.I., 7/98.

26  “In Italy, we …”: Armando Branchini, A.L, 3/9/97.

27  “There was no way …”: Marie-France Pochna, Christian Dior, New York: Arcade Publishing, 1996, p. 161.

28  “Lancia charged us …”: Nino Cerruti, A.I., 7/8/97.

29  “Cerruti’s Paris boutique …”: Ibid.

30  “What I could spot…”: Ibid.

31  “fruitful years …”: Cocks, “Suiting Up,” op. cit.

32  “People were all …”: Giorgio Armani, A.I.

33  “Armani had already …”: Nino Cerruti, A.I.

34  “Kathleen was very …”: Nino Cerruti, A.I.

35  “Hollywood is like …”: Ibid.

36  “Gabriella is a true…”: Pier Filipo Pieri, A.I., 1/21/97.

37  “Radziwill had mentioned …”: Karen Stabiner, “Dressing Well Is the Best Revenge, or How a Former Reporter Went from Missouri to Milan—and a Job That Pays Her to Wear $2,000 Designer Suits,” Los Angeles Times, 12/11/88.

38  “It’ll be a …”: Los Angeles Times, “Listen,” 6/10/88.

39  “bought up a storm …”: Marylouise Oates, “Marylouise Oates: Broadway at the Bowl: Bet on a Sequel,” Los Angeles Times, 8/31/88.

40  “Costner turned …”: Wanda McDaniel, A.I., 11/15/97.

41  “Catholic schools had …”: Pat Reilly, A.I., 11/24/97.

42  “My players always …” and following: Ibid.

43  “Armani initially provided …”: Ibid.

44  “made an adjustment …” and following: Ibid.

45  “also flew Reilly …”: Confidential source.

46  “Lee Radziwill called to …”: Bridget Foley, “CFDA: A Bumpy Trip to Its Lincoln Center Bash,” WWD, 2/3/92.

47  “So maybe they …”: Ibid.

48  “I’d almost feel …”: Pat Reilly, A.I.

49  “looks like an …”: Kevin Doyle, “Armani’s True Confessions: The Magician of the Jacket, Giorgio Armani Is a Secret Dreamer Who’s Putting His Fantasy on Display in His First Major Retrospective,” WWD, 6/25/92.

50  “I had a business …”: Ibid.

51  “The stars were …”: Bob Mackie, A.I., 1/6/98.

52  “That dress was so …”: Ibid.

53  “It’s not so …”: Wayne Scot Lukas, A.I., 10/97.

54  “hip, cool and …” and following: Ibid.

55  “On a night …”: Glenn Close, A.I., 9/20/98.

56  “When I’m in …”: Ibid.

57  “He was so …”: Armani spokeswoman, A.I., 11/15/97.

58  “I like to keep …”: and following quote: Giorgio Armani, A.I.

59  “According to its …”: Armani spokeswoman, A.I.

60  “It started out…”: Wanda McDaniel, A.I.

61  “she received, unsolicited …”: Lisa Bannon, “And the Winner Is: Anybody Who Has an Oscar-Night Gig,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/21/97.

62  “After the Escada …”: Teri Agins, “Will Tom Hanks Wear Hush Puppies on Oscar Night?” The Wall Street Journal, 3/24/95.

63  “The maker of …”: Ibid.

64  “I’m trying to …”: Ibid.

65  “Gap sold thousands …”: Gap spokeswoman, A.I., 1998.

66  “Mr. Armani is …”: Agins, “Will Tom Hanks.”

67  “We’re cutting back …”: Armani spokeswoman.

68  “The company’s wholesale …”: Armani spokeswoman.

69  “In 1998, several …”: Heidi Parker, “Film Fashion Frenzy,” Movieline, 9/98.

70  “can overhype …”: Martha Nelson, A.I.

71  “Armani is synonymous …”: Sara Gay Forden, A.I.

CHAPTER 5

1  “The consumer is …”: Daniel J. Boorstin, The Americans: The Democratic Experience, New York: Random House, 1973.

2  “This was a moment…”: Michael Francis, A.I., 1/97.

3  “the noisiest confrontation …”: Peter Wilkinson, “Store Wars: Marshall Field’s and the Bloomingdale’s Invasion,” Vanity Fair, 10/88.

4  “It’ll be fun …”: Ibid.

5  “Marshall Field’s and a little …”: Gary Witkin, A.I., 6/30/97.

6  “The ambiance is …”: Gloria Bacon, A.I., 6/10/97.

7  “Customers [were] telling …”: Dan Skoda, A.I., 7/22/97.

8  “When you go …”: Gary Witkin, A.I.

9  “Establishing an identity …”: Arnold Aronson, A.I., 8/12/97.

10  “about $70 million…”: Janet Key, “Field’s Keeps Legend Alive, Still Chicago’s Number One,” 9/9/85, Chicago Tribune.

11  “We had an …”: Arnold Aronson, A.I.

12  “People would stop …”: Phyllis Collins, A.I., 8/23/97.

13  “Miller’s biggest challenge…” and following description: Key, Chicago Tribune, op. cit.

14  “You can’t get …”: Ibid.

15  “Disneyland of party …” and following: Jon Anderson, Barbara Mahany, Ron Grossman, “Social Studies: Chicago Pops the Cork on a Magnum Party Season,” Chicago Tribune, 9/11/88.

16  “I’m not eating …”: Ibid.

17  “I hope this …”: Jon Anderson, Barbara Mahany, Genevieve Buck, John Teets, “Party Wars: 3,400 Cheer on the Blast on Boul Mich,” Chicago Tribune, 2/25/88.

18  “This is the …”: Ibid.

19  “If it’s done …”: Ibid.

20  Description of Robert Campeau’s speech: Dorothy Fuller, A.I., 8/24/97.

21  “$7.5 billion …”: Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg, “Campeau’s Federated and Allied Stores Take Step Toward Leaving Chapter 11,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/29/91.

22  “an ‘ideal marriage’…”: Genevieve Buck, “Can Crown Jewel Be Restored? Dayton Hudson Will Need Magic Wand to Revive Field’s Mystique,” Chicago Tribune, 12/25/95.

23  “Marshall Field’s is …”: Dorothy Fuller, A.I.

24  Descriptions of Field and Leiter and Marshall Field & Co.: Lloyd Wendt and Herman Kogan, Give the Lady What She Wants: The Story of Marshall Field & Co. New York: Rand McNally, 1950.

25  “marble palace …”: Charles Collins, Chicago Tribune, 2/10/52.

26  “style expert …” and bustle dress: Homer Sharp, A.I., 2/23/97.

27  “I like this …”: Wendt and Kogan, Give the Lady What She Wants, p. 237.

28  “Chicago gangster Al Capone …”: Ibid., p. 355

29  “Kathleen was so …”: Dorothy Fuller, A.I.

30  “we put them …” and following Carmel Snow quote: Ibid.

31  “Kathleen knew that…”: Ibid.

32  “who swept through …” and following: Wendt and Kogan, Give the Lady What She Wants, pp. 204–207.

33  “came by the …”: Ibid.

34  “Dayton Hudson was keen …”: Gary Witkin, A.I.

35  “Never in their minds …” and following: Phyllis Collins, A.I.

36  “Gloria Bacon, a Field’s …”: Gloria Bacon, A.I.

37  “The Chicago customers …”: Gary Witkin, A.I.

38  “Our buyers are your …”: Homer Sharp, A.I., 8/23/97. 178 “Our buyers are lucky …”: Dan Skoda, A.I.

39  “before television and …”: Allen Questrom, A.I., 4/16/97.

40  “created the ultimate …”: Philip Miller, A.I., 4/30/97.

41  “Most people don’t…”: Allen Questrom, A.I.

42  “or about a million …” Dayton Hudson Corp. 1997, 1998 annual reports.

43  “a show of…”: Genevieve Buck, “Marshall Field’s for Fall: Fashion and Theatre Share the Same Stage,” Chicago Tribune, 5/8/91.

44  “‘Cause for Applause’ was …”: Genevieve Buck, “Fashion Show a Festive Affair with Patinkin,” Chicago Tribune, 8/11/91.

45  “The way we …”: Gerald Storch, A.I., 7/97.

46  “There were more …”: Teri Agins, “Out of Fashion, Many Women Lose Interest in Clothes to Retailers’ Dismay,” The Wall Street Journal, 2/28/95.

47  “The way retailers …”: Carl Steidtmann, A.I., 6/23/97.

48  “Never ones to…”: Ann Hagedorn, “Will Many Go Mini? The Fashion World Awaits the Answer,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/22/87.

49  “Claiborne spent hundreds of …”: Irene Daria, The Fashion Cycle, New York, Simon & Schuster, 1990, p. 14.

50  “Nina Totenberg …”: Ibid., p. 7.

51  “apparel prices fell…”: Agins, “Out of Fashion,” op. cit.

52  “Only about 20 percent …”: Teri Agins, “Liz Claiborne to Close Stores but Problems Remain,” The Wall Street Journal, 12/29/94.

53  “The average retail …”: Agins, “Out of Fashion,” op. cit.

54  “the more confident…”: Susan Faludi, Backlash, p. 174.

55  “In women’s apparel …”: Agins, “Out of Fashion,” op. cit.

56  Gap brand has been the second most popular brand after Levi’s since 1991: Russell Mitchell, “The Gap,” Business Week, 3/9/92.

57  Gap 1998 results from company reports.

58  “For years, we …”: Patrick McCarthy, A.I.

59  “Fashion had ground …”: David Wolfe, A.I.

60  “That is the big …”: Patrick McCarthy, A.I.

61  “By 1996, discounters …” and following on Wal-Mart and department stores’ market share: Ira P. Schneiderman, “Discounters Snag More Apparel Shoppers,” WWD, 6/11/97.

62  “Outside of Bloomingdale’s …”: Terry Lundgren, A.I., 12/23/97

63  “is not growing …”: Management Horizons report “North American Retail Outlook to 2001,” 5/97.

64  “There are maybe …”: Robert Buchanan, A.I., 3/97.

65  Description of Eileen Fisher’s relationship with department stores: Eileen Fisher, A.I., 9/97.

66  “The worst thing …”: Ellin Saltzman, A.I., 2/25/97.

67  “May has never …”: Arnold Aronson, A.I.

68  “I can wait …”: Dan Skoda, A.I.

69  “desperately need to …”: Management Horizons.

70  “If we really …”: Kal Ruttenstein, A.I.

71  “We give them …”: Joan Kaner, A.I.

72  Banana Republic estimates are for 1998 from Richard Baum, Goldman, Sachs & Co., A.I., 3/99.

73  “We felt the …”: Mickey Drexler speech at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Retailing Conference in New York, 9/11/98.

74  “Gap Gets It…”: Nina Munk, Fortune, 8/3/98.

75  “We were promotionally …” and following quote: Dan Skoda, A.I., 8/22/97.

76  “In the old …”: Hank Lorant, A.I., 9/11/98.

77  “They are now …”: Dan Skoda, A.I., 9/11/98.

78  “We couldn’t believe …”: Confidential source.

79  “They’re slowly …”: Susan Chandler, “Field’s Re-Wooing of Upscale Shoppers May Be Winning Strategy: Parent Has Seen Payoff in the Last Four Months,” Chicago Tribune, 7/26/98.

80  “They recognized …”: Ibid.

81  The author attended Field’s 9/11/98 party in Chicago.

82  “Thank God, the …”: Sugar Rautbord, A.I., 9/11/98.

CHAPTER 6

1  “No, I’m not…”: WWD, 5/97.

2  “I don’t watch …”: Teri Agins and Wendy Bounds, “Donna Karan CEO Is Sobered by Wall Street Fling,” The Wall Street Journal, 11/13/96.

3  “Women will decide …”: Mimi Avins, “Karan Layers It on with Her New Line,” Los Angeles Times, 10/30/96.

4  “talked her into …”: Josie Esquivel, A.I., 97.

5  “It was all …”: Confidential source.

6  “Unfortunately, we never …”: Tomio Taki, A.I., 2/5/97.

7  The description of the road show and quotes from Karan are all from “Going Public,” Donna Karan, Vogue, 9/96.

8  “She made it …”: Tomio Taki, A.I.

9  At the $24-a-share June 1996 offering, Takihyo’s 24.7 percent stake in Donna Karan was valued at about $127.5 million. By October, DK traded at around $15.50, making Takihyo’s stake worth about $82 million.

10  “I have been a …”: “Donna Karan’s Agenda: Find a Co-chief Executive, Firm Up Licensing Deals,” WWD, 6/6/97.

11  “The market has …” and following quote: Linda Killian, A.I., 4/14/97.

12  “Donna Karan’s best…”: Linda Sandler and Teri Agins, “Donna Karan IPO Got a Warm Reception but Designer’s Earnings Outlook Is Uncertain,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/1/96.

13  “Investors were starstruck …”: Josie Esquivel, A.I. 5/97.

14  “Fashion companies can …”: Arnold Cohen, A.I., 7/97.

15  “Puritan couldn’t survive …” and following quote: Ibid.

16  “Kimmel personally pocketed …” and following: Thomas J. Ryan and Lisa Lockwood, “The Age of the IPO: Fashion Execs Wear Crowns of Royalty,” WWD, 4/17/97.

17  “Columbia skirted the …”: Thomas J. Ryan, “Columbia’s IPO Wows Wall Street,” WWD, 3/30/98.

18  “High fashion and …”: Alan Millstein, A.I., 2/97.

19  “Donna is an …”: Ibid.

20  “poured more than $10 million …”: Tomio Taki, A.I.

21  “a terrible student …”: Jennet Conant, “The New Queen of New York,” Manhattan Inc., 10/89.

22  “I was always a …”: Ibid.

23  “But Donna was unfocused …”: Ibid.

24  “Young Taki had …”: Teri Agins, “Tomio Taki Is Hoping to Stay in Fashion,” The Wall Street Journal, 8/30/88.

25  “he sent dozens …” Ibid.

26  “get the order …”: Dexter Levy, A.I., 7/27/98.

27  “Oppenheim had no …”: Ibid.

28  “Anne was legendary …” and following: Ibid.

29  “There are no …”: Agins, “Tomio Taki Is Hoping,” op. cit.

30  “sit wherever you …”: Ibid.

31  “I wanted her …”: Tomio Taki, A.I.

32  “it was always …”: Ibid.

33  “I needed a …” and following quote: Teri Agins, “Woman on the Verge,” Working Woman, 5/93.

34  “Go talk to …”: Tomio Taki, Ibid.

35  “Unfortunately, the combination …” and following quote: Ibid.

36  “I design from …”: Agins, “Woman on the Verge.”

37  “In my opinion …”: Stephen Ruzow, A.I., 2/98.

38  “Fortunately, her bread-and-butter …”: Ibid.

39  “Karan was a …”: Agins, “Woman on the Verge.”

40  “intimately acquainted …”: Conant, “The New Queen.”

41  “What’s business to …”: Agins, “Woman on the Verge.”

42  “insures that a …”: Ibid.

43  “She would do …”: Ibid.

44  “We creative types …”: Agins and Bounds, “Donna Karan CEO.”

45  “Donna is the …”: Confidential source.

46  “In creating financial…”: Tomio Taki, A.I.

47  “Whenever the costs …”: Stephen Ruzow, A.I.

48  “She and Weiss …”: Agins, “Woman on the Verge.”

49  “We had so …”: Tomio Taki, A.I.

50  “The scent was …” and following quote: Georgina Howell, “Donna’s Prime Time,” Vogue, 8/92.

51  “losses of $5.9 million …”: Teri Agins, “With IPO in the Wing Is Donna Karan in Fashion?” The Wall Street Journal, 8/16/93.

52  “The fragrance debacle …”: Tomio Taki, A.I.

53  Details of Leslie Fay accounting scandal: Teri Agins, “Loose Threads: Dress Maker Leslie Fay Is an Old Style Firm That’s in a Modem Fix,” The Wall Street Journal, 2/23/93.

54  “So Karan, Weiss, and …”: Teri Agins and Sara Calian, “Donna Karan Suspends Plan for Public Offer,” The Wall Street Journal, 11/18/93.

55  “He wasn’t credible…”: Rebecca Mead, “Donna Sells Her Soul,” New York, 5/6/96.

56  “burns my butt …”: Ibid.

57  Gucci results from 1995 and 1996 offerings from Gucci Group press releases.

58  “The company’s balance…”: Donna Karan International stock prospectus, 6/10/96.

59  “For the use …”: Ibid.

60  “advised against…”: Josie Esquivel, A.I., and Tomio Taki, A.I.

61  “claiming that it…”: Tomio Taki, A.I.

62  “if anybody deserved …”: Ibid.

63  “Designer Holdings made …”: Wendy Bounds, “Donna Karan Shares Sink After Pact with Designer Holdings Is Terminated,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/6/97.

64  “The contract stated …”: Arnold Simon, A.I., 6/11/97.

65  “We were on track …”: Stephen Ruzow, A.I.

66  “Mori appealed to …”: Jennifer Steinhauer, “Donna Karan in the Cutting Room,” The New York Times, 6/28/97.

67  “didn’t sit well …”: “Karan Reflects on Her Week’s Development,” WWD, 8/4/97.

68  “But there was …”: Stephen Ruzow, A.I.

69  “estimated $100 million …”: Ibid.

70  “Employees saw many …” and following: John Idol, A.I., 3/10/99.

71  “But Karan had gotten …”: Ibid.

72  “Consistency in menswear …”: Stephen Ruzow, A.I.

73  “one-time fashion …”: John Idol, A.I.

74  “ridiculous that DKNY’s …”: John Idol speech at Goldman Sachs & Co. Retailing Conference, 9/9/98.

75  “This is The …”: Ibid.

76  “I’ll pay for …”: Confidential source.

77  “We may have …”: Wendy Bounds, Donna Karan interview on Dow Jones News Service, 4/27/97.

78  “We’ve turned the …”: Teri Agins, “Donna Karan Reports Much Narrowed Loss and Cost Cutting,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/25/99.

79  “The post IPO …”: Valerie Seckler, “Wall Street Runway, Why Some Stocks Fly and Others Don’t,” WWD, 5/11/98.

80  “to pull in $44 million …”: Russ Stanton, “The Rise and Fall of Mossimo Giannulli,” Los Angeles Times, 3/8/98.

81  “latter-day version of rat-packer …”: Frederick Rose and Teri Agins, “Fashion Designer Becomes Fashion Victim on Wall Street,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/23/96.

82  “shareholders headed into …”: Frederick Rose, “Designer Mossimo to Wear New Title of Firm’s ‘Visionary,’” The Wall Street Journal, 3/6/98.

83  “I never believed …” and following: Robert Gray, A.I., 11/10/97.

84  “the Grays sold …” and following: Ibid.

85  “We’re not going …”: Ibid.

86  “You know we …”: Gray speech to analysts at Robertson Stephens Retailing Conference in New York on 10/11/98.

87  Claiborne study: Al Shapiro, A.I., 1/98.

CHAPTER 7

1  “You don’t have to …”: Zoran, A.I., 2/98.

2  “amounted to an estimated …”: Estimates from retail executives.

3  “Zoran recalled spending …”: Teri Agins, “Uniquely Chic: If Zoran Doesn’t Ring a Bell That’s Fine with Quirky Designer,” The Wall Street Journal, 5/8/95.

4  “was an equal …”: Marion Greenberg v. Zoran Ladicorbic, State Supreme Court of New York, 7/1/83.

5  “who was initially …” and following: Ben Brantley, A.I., 97.

6  “didn’t consider Zoran …”: Ibid.

7  “Zoran is a man …”: Ibid.

8  “You need to …”: Agins, “Uniquely Chic.”

9  “He wanted to …”: Ibid.

10  “I want you …” and following: Cathy Horyn, A.I., and Zoran, A.I.

11  “I told him …” and following: Lauren Hutton, A.I., 11/12/97.

12  “With their implicit…”: Ben Brantley, “Zoran Zeitgeist,” Vanity Fair, 3/92.

13  “There was this …”: Ben Brantley, A.I.

14  “I am your …”: Agins, “Uniquely Chic.”

15  “You like to look …”: Zoran, A.I., 3/95.

16  “give jewelry …”: Agins, “Uniquely Chic.”

17  “Woman should be …” and following: Zoran, A.I.

18  “Zoran has an incredible …”: Ann Free, A.I., 95 and 5/97.

19  “If they want …”: Zoran, A.I.

20  “Arena logged …”: Roberta Arena, A.I., 95.

21  “I feel that …” and following: Nancy Friday, A.I., 97.

22  “One Bendel’s client…”: Ted Marlow, A.I., 4/29/97.

23  “They are separating, …” and following: Agins, “Uniquely Chic.”

24  “Zoran believed that…”: Zoran, A.I.

25  “Garratt maintained all …”: Sandra Garratt, A.I., 3/98.

26  “Garratt’s first year …” and following: Diane Reischel, “Units Creator Wrapped up in Legal Woes,” Los Angeles Times, 5/4/90.

27  “I knew I could …”: Zoran, A.I., 3/97.

28  “Labels scratch …”: Agins, “Uniquely Chic.”

29  “$14,000 in 1998 …”: “Designer Agrees to Label Fine,” WWD, 7/28/98.

30  “it was more typical…”: June Home, A.I., 3/97, and Gary Galleberg, A.I., 3/97.

31  “great success with …” and following: Agins, “Uniquely Chic.”

32  “Zoran grew into a …”: Joan Weinstein, A.I., 7/97.

33  “understands his …” and following: Ibid.

34  “His seamstresses kept…”: Agins, “Uniquely Chic.”

35  “I close up …”: Ibid.

36  “More than 25,000 combinations …”: Zoran, A.I., 2/98.

37  “the best mills …”: Gary Galleberg, A.I.

38  “But they don’t …”: Ann Free, A.I., 4/95.

39  “I had heard …” and following quotes: June Home, A.I.

40  “The most time …”: Zoran, A.I.

41  “I was intrigued …” and following: Gary Galleberg, A.I., 6/17/97.

42  “The tab for …” and following: Agins, “Uniquely Chic.”

43  “Is kitchen available?” and following: Author attended the 3/7/95 dinner in Milan.

44  “hadn’t been profitable …”: Bill Blass, A.I., 7/1/97.

EPILOGUE

1  “Companies that stumble …”: George Anders and Scott Thurm, “The Innovators—The Rocket Under the Tech Boom: Heavy Spending by Basic Industries,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/30/99.

2  “The alarms were …”: From Peter Jacobi speech to the American Textile Manufacturers Institute, 3/13/99.

3  “‘war of the handbags’…”: Thomas Kamm, “War of the Handbags Escalates as LVMH Revives Gucci Quest,” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones News Service, 6/10/99.

4  “The brewing battle …”: Thomas Kamm, “Gucci Watch: Behind the Competition for Luxury-Goods Firm Is a New European Ethic,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/22/99.

5  “Cardin insisted that…”: “Pierre Cardin Says Prefers to Sell to Italian Group,” Dow Jones News Service, 3/15/99.

6  “This company has …”: Teri Agins, “Polo Ralph Lauren Agrees to Acquire Canadian Chain,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/2/99.

7  “The Hilfiger organization …”: Hilfiger spokeswoman, A.I., 5/99.

8  “which generated $17 million …”: Susan Chandler, “Outsourcing Risks, Rewards: The Decision to Farm Out Production of Frango Mints Has Left a Not-So-Sweet Aftertaste in Chicago, but Field’s Is Hardly Alone in Retailing or Other Sectors in Taking That Route,” Chicago Tribune, 3/14/99.

9  “This is the candy capital …” and following on zoning proposal: Gary Washbum and Susan Chandler, “A Taste of Politics of Field’s Daley Message Hits Target on Frango Jobs,” Chicago Tribune, 3/12/99.