Mike Ashley’s Frasers Says It’s Taken Control of Hugo Boss
The British retail group has pushed its stake in the German apparel brand above 50 percent in a move that will turn Hugo Boss into a subsidiary of Frasers.
High Margin
Interviews on creativity and business in the world of luxury — from fashion and watches to art, wellness, travel and more — from our chief luxury correspondent in Paris.
Luxury
Gucci Gloom
This week in luxury, Art Basel Paris was cut short by lingering civil unrest and Gucci owner Kering scrapped its guidance for a return to growth in 2026.
Luxury
Luxury’s Spooky Season: Bad Numbers and Empty Chairs
LVMH’s sales dropped in China while Luca de Meo clears out Kering’s creative ranks. Plus, Kim Jones' new venture.
Luxury
Fashion’s Designer Reset (Kind of) Worked
A year after more than a dozen brands changed creative directors, the fashion market remains sluggish. But when it comes to image, storytelling and product — things designers actually influence — it’s not just Chanel that’s looking better than it did a year ago. Robert Wiliams evaluates the resets at Gucci, Dior, Loewe and more.
Luxury
Luxury’s Summer of Muddling Through
This week’s LVMH and Kering results suggest a fragile recovery is underway in the face of sluggish Chinese demand, succession drama, wildfires and heat waves.
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Luxury
Inside Chanel’s Charvet Deal
In this week’s High Margin luxury newsletter: more from Robert’s interview with Charvet’s Anne-Marie and Jean-Claude Colban on the eve of their sale to Chanel. Also: fashion’s renewed focus on personal style, from Charvet to Chanel to Celine.
Luxury
Is It a Vibe Shift — or Just Summer?
The collective effervescence of the Paris heatwave on the heels of Knicks fever in New York suggests culture is shifting. Can fashion keep up? Plus, Dior, Saint Laurent and Louis Vuitton show menswear in Paris.
Luxury
The Business of Euro Summer
Mytheresa, Gucci and Jacquemus have converged on Monaco for summer takeovers while Burberry sets up shop in Athens. As big luxury’s beach club era stretches into a ninth summer, how are brands tweaking their approach to hooking wealthy clients? Plus, a Q&A with Mytheresa’s new CEO hired from Christie’s, Francis Belin.
Luxury
The Formula That Powered Pucci’s Revival
One of LVMH’s smallest brands is also among its fastest growing, powered by designer Camille Miceli’s Gen Z-friendly, unabashedly commercial celebration of the label’s Mediterranean DNA.
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Luxury
Who Will Survive Luxury’s Post-Growth Era?
Disposals, store closures, blurry financial guidance… Decision-makers at LVMH, Kering, Ferragamo and Burberry are no longer betting on a return to the industry’s boom years.
Luxury
How Italian Fashion Startups Are Making It Work
Milan’s most promising upstarts are emphasising custom orders, embracing cross-cultural dialogue and adopting a high-tech angle on ‘Made in Italy.’ Plus, Lanvin’s new CEO, Gucci’s F1 deal and Ferrari’s EV launch debacle.
Luxury
Can Luxury Bounce Back? The Bears Are Getting Louder
‘Sell any rally,’ Berenberg says, as Barclays forecasts long-term stagnation. Plus: Burberry’s cautious outlook, Anderson’s Dior cruise show in LA, a renewed focus on placemaking.
Luxury
Did Lauren Sánchez Bezos Win the Met Gala?
The polarising wife of billionaire Jeff Bezos offered a lesson in how media and power really work today, writes Robert Williams. Plus: unexpected wins for Robert Wun, garment workers and more.
The News in Brief
Shein Agrees to Pay $100 Million to Settle US FTC Probe
The settlement, equivalent to 44 percent of the ultra fast-fashion company’s second-quarter profit, is the latest blow amid regulatory and tax crackdowns in Europe and the US that have hampered Shein’s growth.
Kering Drops 12% as Luxury Braces for Tough Winter
The recovery long promised by luxury brands seems nowhere in sight, as the expansion of war in the Middle East, along with China’s tax crackdown on the wealthy, piled further pressure on the world’s biggest luxury conglomerates in the third quarter, and executives buckled in for a tough winter.
UK Retail Sales Fall 0.4% in September, More Than Forecast
Sales fell in September as above-average temperatures hit demand for autumn clothing.
Elle Launches Moroccan Edition
Hitting newsstands in October, the magazine marks Elle’s 51st international edition, published under licence by the Geomedia group.
David’s Bridal Plans Spinoff and IPO of AI Wedding Planning Platform Pearl
Pearl, a subsidiary of David’s Bridal, will own David’s Bridal and license its intellectual property back to the bridalwear brand. David’s Bridal CEO Kelly Cook will serve as Pearl’s CEO.
L’Oréal Sales Beat Expectations as Premium Products Surge
The French giant handily beat expectations on strong demand for hair products at salons and premium skincare from its dermatological division.
P&G Beats Revenue Estimates, Flags Bigger Hit to Annual Profit
The maker of Pantene shampoo was helped by strong personal care demand, but expects higher commodity costs to reduce profit by about $1.4 billion this year.