Fashion retailer Express and supermodel Karlie Kloss have teamed up for the Karlie Kloss x Express Collection, which debuts on March 30, 2017. According to an Express press release, Kloss and Express are set to reveal the collection (which consists of 17 styles) at a live fashion show featuring innovators, game changers, and go-getters as runway models in Kloss’ hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. The event, which will be webcast at 7 p.m. Central Time on Express’ official Facebook page, will also feature live DJ sets by Hannah Bronfman and a special musical performance by Charli XCX. The collection is available online on March 30, 2017 after the event and in Express stores on March 31, 2017. Pieces in the collection (which include T-shirts, blazers, maxi dresses and bombers) have a price range from $24.90 to $168.00 (U.S. dollars).
Karlie Kloss and Express selected the inspiring individuals who will appear in the runway show via a contest where applicants uploaded videos to Instagram, explaining how they live their best life and empower others to do the same. Kloss is also featured in Express’ “Your Life, Your Dress Code” campaign, which launched in late February 2017.
Bebe, a contemporary fashion retailer for women, is closing all of its stores but will still operate online, according to a Bloomberg report. The report says that the company might file for bankruptcy if it can’t get out of its leases. The company has lost about $200 million over the past four years, according to Bloomberg.
Bebe was founded in 1976. The company’s name is inspired by the famous Shakespeare quote from the “Hamlet” play: “To be or not to be.”
In February 2016, Bebe announced that Manny Mashouf had rejoined bebe’s management team as CEO and that Walter Parks rejoined as president/COO and interim CFO. At the same time, company also announced the exits of CEO/board member Jim Wiggett and CFO Liyuan Woo.
In March 2017, Bebe hired the company B. Riley & Co. for financial advice and also retained a real estate adviser “to assist with options related to its lease holdings.”
Nordstrom has announced plans to open several new locations for its discount Nordstrom Rack retail chain. Here are the details:
New York City
A Nordstrom Rack will open in New York City’s Manhattan borough at the Durst Organization’s 855 Sixth Avenue, on the corner of 31st Street. The approximately 46,500-square-foot store is scheduled to open in fall 2017. Nordstrom Rack will occupy the first three floors of the newly constructed office/residential tower. It will be the second Nordstrom Rack store in Manhattan. The company has also announced plans to open a Manhattan flagship Nordstrom store in 2019.
Baltimore
Nordstrom Rack will open in 2019 at The Shops at Canton Crossing in Baltimore. The approximately 32,500-square-foot store will be at 3501 Boston Street.
Portland, Oregon
A 28,000-square-foot Nordstrom Rack at Cascade Station in Portland, Oregon is scheduled to open in fall 2017. This will be the fifth Nordstrom Rack store in the Portland area. Portland is also home to the first stand-alone Nordstrom Rack store, which opened in Clackamas in 1983. The company also operates a full line stores at downtown Portland and Clackamas Town Center.
Bellevue, Washington
A 43,000-square-foot Nordstrom Rack is set to open at the Lincoln Square Expansion in Bellevue, Washington, in fall 2017. When it opens, the new store will be the eighth Nordstrom Rack in Western Washington. The company also operates six Nordstrom stores in the area: Downtown Seattle, Bellevue Square, Northgate, Alderwood, Southcenter and Tacoma Mall.
During the first three months of 2017, select Nordstrom stores in North America will have KPOP-IN@Nordstrom, a three-part shop in a series of pop-up shops inspired Korean fashion and beauty.
For January, the series will feature Korean eyewear company Gentle Monster. February will showcase K-Beauty. March will have Korean fashion brands curated by Nordstrom vice president of creative projects Olivia Kim.
According to a Nordstrom press release: “For the launch, Pop-In partnered with the Gentle Monster team to produce unique virtual-reality and 360 video content that allows customers to explore the experience in Gentle Monster flagship stores in Shanghai, Nonhyeon-dong and Bukchon stores in Seoul, South Korea, as well as the Downtown Seattle Nordstrom Pop-In shop.”
Here are the locations of the participating Nordstrom stores:
Century 21, a New York-based chain of retail stores that sells designer wear at discount prices, has opened its first location outside of the Northeast. The 85,000-square foot store—which launched on December 16, 2016—is in Sunrise Florida, at Sawgrass Mills, a Simon Center.
The Century 21 in Sunrise has departments for men, women, children, shoes, accessories, fine jewelry, cosmetics (including an in-store MAC Cosmetics) and home departments. The store also has the C21-On-1 Stylist Program, providing guests the opportunity to book a free one-on-one appointment with a fashion stylist. C21 has also partnered with LXR&Co. to offer an exclusive collection of vintage designer handbags, accessories, jewelry and watches.
The Sunrise location is one of several business expansions for Century 21. In October 2016, the retailer opened a location at City Point in Brooklyn, New York. In September 2016, Century 21 teamed up with Alliance Data Systems Corporation for a long-term agreement to provide private label credit card services for Century 21. In 2018, Century 21 will open at the entertainment destination American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey.