saksfifthavenue

RNC Spends $150,000 On Outfitting The Palins

Did the Republican National Committee spend more than $150,000 on Sarah Palin and her family since she joined the Republican ticket? Politico reports that according to financial disclosure records, bills from Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York total $49,425.74 and there is also an astronomical $75,062.63 at Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis early September. The records also show that the RNC spent nearly $5,000 on hair and makeup in September. McCain-Palin spokesperson Tracey Schmitt has issued a statement chiding Politco for dwelling on the matter and saying that "it was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign." As you may recall, Cindy McCain's outfit at the RNC was worth over $300,000 but Mrs. McCain spent that money herself.

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Tags: neiman marcus, NeimanMarcus, rnc, saks fifth avenue, SaksFifthAvenue, sarah palin, SarahPalin

Gwyneth Paltrow Named Ambassador to 2008 Key to the Cure

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Charity, Big Givers

Saks Fifth Avenue along with the Entertainment Industry Foundation recently announced that Gwyneth Paltrow will act as the new ambassador for the 2008 Key to the Cure, a women's cancer initiative. Karl Lagerfeld has designed the exclusive tee for the cause, with all proceeds going to cancer research.

The weekend-long shopping event is slated for October 16 through October 19 at Saks stores nationwide and online at saks.com. Two percent of proceeds from the weekend's totals will be donated to the Women's Cancer Research Fund. Now in its 10th year, the annual Key to the Cure event has raised over $28 million for cancer research and treatment programs.

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Tags: entertainment industry foundation, EntertainmentIndustryFoundation, gwyneth paltrow, GwynethPaltrow, karl lagerfeld, KarlLagerfeld, key to the cure, KeyToTheCure, saks, saks fifth avenue, SaksFifthAvenue, womens cancer research fund, WomensCancerResearchFund

Ruby Slippers To Benefit Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Shoes, Charity, Children

Nineteen to-covet designers including Oscar de la Renta, Manolo Blahnik, Alberta Ferretti and Christian Louboutin are teaming up with Warner Brothers and Swarovski to reinvent Dorothy's ruby slippers to commemorate the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz. This time, we're not in Kansas anymore. Based on some of the designer sketches we've seen, we're talking Swarovski-fied, ruby red protect-me-from-the-evil-witch stilettos. Basically what sweet little Anne Hathaway could have used in The Devil Wears Prada.

Each designer will craft a mere two pairs, and the shoes will make their debut September 4 during New York Fashion Week, posing in Saks Fifth Avenue's window before moving on to Miami's Art Basel and further appearances throughout 2009. The iconic slippers will then be auctioned off with proceeds going to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Tags: alberta ferretti, AlbertaFerretti, art basel, ArtBasel, auction, dorothy, elizabeth glaser ped..., ElizabethGlaserPed..., louboutin, manolo blahnik, ManoloBlahnik, oscar de la renta, OscarDeLaRenta, saks fifth avenue, SaksFifthAvenue, shoes, wizard of oz, WizardOfOz

Saks Fifth Avenue Stays the Course on Luxury

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

The luxury market may be floundering but don't look for Saks Fifth Avenue to go down market any time soon. In an interview with MarketWatch, Saks chief executive Steve Sadove said that he is going forward with plans to renovate the company's stores, spending a projected $150 million. He is also committed to luxury brands, expanding the distribution of top-tier labels such as Chanel and Gucci, a brave move at a time when the brands that are desired most by aspirational consumers might be vulnerable to the biggest hits. Consumer confidence among luxury consumers is at an all-time historical low. Unity Marketing's Luxury Consumption Index has shown that more than two-thirds of those with an average income of $155,700 believe the economy is in trouble. Sadove, however, is looking beyond this year hoping that his strategy will pay off in the long run. You may find some particularly helpful salespeople in Saks too, part of Sadove's strategy is to have as much as 90% of the Saks sales staff working on commission, up from about 50% three or four years ago.

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Tags: consumers, luxury, saks fifth avenue, SaksFifthAvenue, shopping, steve sadove

Saks New Shoe Department Gets Its Own Zip Code

by Sandy Maple (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Shoes

Saks flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York is getting a brand new shoe department. Besides adding room for lots more shoes, the fancy new showroom on the 8th floor will include a VIP room for private shopping, lots of seating, a refreshment area and the availability of on site shoe repair. At 8,500 square feet, Sak's new shoe department is so large it is actually getting its own zip code: 10022-SHOE. Well, the zip code is more about promotion than anything else, but imagine 10,000 pairs of shoes in one place! Shoe lovers will have to wait a few months to experience this footwear paradise as the new space won't be complete until August.

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Tags: footwear, new york, NewYork, saks fifth avenue, SaksFifthAvenue, shoe department, ShoeDepartment, shoes, zip code, ZipCode