Chanel names Londoner and Unilever exec Leena Nair as global CEO December 14, 2021 One of the most recognised luxury fashion brands has announced British former consumer goods specialist Leena Nair as its new global CEO. Born in India, a British national and a fashion industry outsider, Nair’s appointment as the boss of the French luxury giant is an unexpected move by the fashion house, known to be a [...]
Ted Baker shows signs of recovery despite falling share prices November 11, 2021 Ted Baker is enjoying rebounding sales and has cut its losses by 70 per cent, with the clothing chain looking to revive its fortunes as pandemic restrictions ease. Brand sales are up 23 per cent to £433m year-on-year, retail sales have grown 10.4 per cent to £136.9m during the same period, and overall losses have [...]
Your choice of fabrics is key to beating the winter blues October 28, 2021 Last week I wrote with anticipation about overcoats. The promise of an Indian summer is now long gone and the air grows colder and harder by the day. As the clocks go back this weekend, we will soon be plunged into dark evenings, but this shouldn’t be cause for despair: as with many things, it [...]
Going grey gracefully: How to make silver hair work for you September 16, 2021 Last week, I wrote about the trauma I endure when going to the hairdresser. However, there was an upside. As the barber’s scissors danced around my head, he remarked that I had thick hair. I agreed, without wanting to seem boastful of something utterly outwith my control. But I ventured the opinion that, while I [...]
60 Seconds With… Fashion guru and placemaker Yasmin Jones-Henry September 14, 2021 Yasmin Jones-Henry works in the space where fashion meets finance, and where culture meets commerce. She has made her name describing the crucial role culture can play for the new generation of investors, and putting forward the business case for diversity in the fashion and culture sectors. Through her work with Futurecity, a ‘placemaking agency’, [...]
Shearing in the right direction: The haircut in a post-Covid world September 10, 2021 We need to start with a disclaimer, or maybe it’s a caveat; perhaps even an apologia. This column is entirely dedicated to men’s hair. That’s partly because I am, well, a man, and partly (in connection with that) I know little to nothing of the murky and rebarbative world of women’s hairdressing. I know it’s [...]
Aquascutum and Gieves & Hawkes face being dragged down by Chinese parent’s debt struggles September 8, 2021 Struggles in China are pushing some of the most established British fashion brands into a dicey position, with Gieves & Hawkes facing a winding-up order and Aquascutum pulling out of the UK entirely. Chinese outfit Shandong Ruyi, which owns the two firms, has come under increasing pressure over its staggering $4 billion debt following an [...]
Gentlemen do wear plaid: How to sport the tartan September 2, 2021 I spent the bank holiday weekend in Glasgow. I hadn’t visited the former second city of the Empire for a couple of years, but from its suburbs spring my roots and I always feel a degree of comfort—admixed with wonder and bewilderment, it is true—when I step into the throngs on Buchanan Street or Argyle [...]
It’s wedding season on steroids: Here’s how to dress properly August 19, 2021 I’m at an age where most of my friends who are so inclined have already married. However, throw in a partner a decade younger and some pals who have made mid-stream horse changes, and I do still get invited to weddings. This year is special, of course. The pandemic and its attendant lockdown acted as [...]