Mikahila Bloomfield
Updated: Aug 29, 2022
Alexis Bennett is Vogue.com's Commerce Editor. She has also worked for Cosmo, InStyle, and SELF.
On this episode of the Fashion League podcast I interviewed Alexis Bennett; we discussed her career and plans for the future. Alexis is a Commerce Writer at Vogue. She’s held similar positions — as a Shopping Editor at Cosmopolitan, and Ecommerce Editor at InStyle.
Alexis earned her MBA in Fashion Management & Entrepreneurship from LIM College in New York, which allowed her to pursue internship opportunities in the fashion industry since she had already graduated from Florida State University once she decided she would pursue a career in fashion. Listen to how Alexis Bennett got her start in fashion and her plans for her career: www.fashionleague.io/podcast
Before we get into that convo, let’s review some things I read this week.
Barneys is back! Kind of?
Following it's second bankruptcy, Barneys New York closed in early 2020. This new shop-in-shop project with Saks was expected to launch in September 2020, but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Merchandise at Barneys at Saks will feature selections by both emerging and established designers and they'll be offering VIP suites, style advisors and after-hours appointments.
Authentic Brands Group bought Barneys New York and licensed it to Saks in North America. Barneys at Saks will open it's first standalone location in Greenwich, Connecticut, on January 25.
On Instagram, fashion industry watchdog Diet Prada pointed out the execrable nod to the insurrectionist Trump-supporters, from Burberry and Givenchy. Both luxury brands debuted horned hats in their recent collections following the Capitol Riots. Is this a reach, or is Diet Prada right? I myself don’t believe in coincidences, and outrage marketing is real. Though my favorite podcast Hidden Brain says coincidences are more common than people would like to believe.
In 2020, despite much of the world being on lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, luxury and streetwear brands managed to expand their operations via several splashy brand acquisitions. This week, retail communications platform HERO detailed the leading acquisitions that will be shaping the luxury and streetwear markets for 2021 and beyond.
VF Corp., which owns The North Face, Timberland, Vans, and Tommy Hilfiger acquired Supreme in November for $2.1 Billion. VF says it has no plans to modify Supreme’s current business model, which primarily relies on scarcity. However, VF will likely leverage Supreme’s knowledge of international markets in order to open new brick-and-mortar locations in key cities around the world.
Luxury ski brand Moncler, founded in France and bought by Italian billionaire Remo Ruffini in 2003, acquired technical luxury pioneer Stone Island for $1.4 Billion. While Moncler earns 77% of its revenue through the brand's 218 stores, Stone Island on the other hand only has 24 stores and earns 75% of it's revenue from wholesale partners. It's also speculated that Moncler may look to take advantage of Stone Island’s existing relationship with Supreme, and squeak out a collaboration with Supreme for the first time ever.
And lastly, French conglomerate LVMH finally put a ring on it in with New York-based jewelry brand Tiffany & Co. in the will-they-won’t-they acquisition which started talks way back in 2019. The deal was finally completed in the first week of January 2021.
Are you guys excited about that Sex & The City reboot with no Samantha?
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Faux or Fashion™ trivia segment:
1. Lady Gaga Maurizio Gucci True Crime:
https://variety.com/2020/film/news/jeremy-irons-lady-gaga-gucci-murder-movie-1234848160/
2. Emily In Paris:
3. Comme des Garçons Lace-Front Wigs:
https://www.wmagazine.com/gallery/comme-des-garcons-paris-fashion-week-2020/
4. Montauk Influencer Squatter:
https://nypost.com/2020/10/28/influencer-squats-at-hamptons-house-after-not-paying-rent-suit/
5. Billionaire Kayne West PPE Loan for Yeezy:
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/07/the-billionaires-and-country-clubs-that-received-ppp-loans.html
6. TikTok x Walmart:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90587877/walmart-is-bringing-shoppable-fashion-to-tiktok