Tommy Hilfiger

In the retail industry's latest game of musical chairs, Tommy Hilfiger Corp. and J. Crew Group Inc. emerged yesterday as the latest players to possibly put themselves up for sale, taking advantage of financial markets in which buyers are flush with cash. Fashion designer Hilfiger reportedly plans to put itself on the auction block, and retailer J. Crew, currently controlled by a private equity firm, said it plans to raise about $200 million in an initial public stock offering. "The capital markets are so liquid, despite some of the increase in borrowing costs, that they create wonderful choices for consumer companies like Tommy Hilfiger and J. Crew to go private," said Richard Hastings, senior retail analyst for Bernard Sands LLC. Or, the retailers can "break themselves into pieces, gobble someone else's pieces or just try to raise money to get bigger."

In the retail industry's latest game of musical chairs, Tommy Hilfiger Corp. and J. Crew Group Inc. emerged yesterday as the latest players to possibly put themselves up for sale, taking advantage of financial markets in which buyers are flush with cash. Fashion designer Hilfiger reportedly plans to put itself on the auction block, and retailer J. Crew, currently controlled by a private equity firm, said it plans to raise about $200 million in an initial public stock offering. "The capital markets are so liquid, despite some of the increase in borrowing costs, that they create wonderful choices for consumer companies like Tommy Hilfiger and J. Crew to go private," said Richard Hastings, senior retail analyst for Bernard Sands LLC. Or, the retailers can "break themselves into pieces, gobble someone else's pieces or just try to raise money to get bigger."

Asian women who work in ``America's worst sweatshop'' are suing such big-name clothing makers as Tommy Hilfiger, The Gap, The Limited, J. Crew and Wal-Mart, a lawyer for about 50,000 garment makers announced last month.The class-action suits accuse 18 U.S. manufacturers of selling garments made by workers who are mistreated by foreign subcontractors in the Pacific island of Saipan, a U.S. commonwealth. The lawsuits are the first to try to use U.S. racketeering laws to hold retailers accountable for worker conditions and seek about $1 billion in damages.

Calling used clothes "pre-owned" or "resale apparel" doesn't make them any less used, but Jeff Harden is hoping it will keep people from dismissing his new Towson-based store, Plato's Closet, which sells only "gently used" trendy stuff (clothes, shoes, accessories) for teens and young adults. "People hear they're used, and they kind of get an idea in their head," Harden says. "But the clothes are in style and in good condition. That's the key to the business: making sure we're selective."

Fashion fights against breast cancerShop 'til you drop to help fight breast cancer. "Fashion Targets Breast Cancer," a project started by fashion designers nationwide, is hoping to raise more than a million dollars in just one shopping weekend to battle the disease. From Thursday, Sept. 23, to Sunday, Sept. 26, Saks Fifth Avenue will donate 2 percent of every sale to breast cancer charities. More than 100 celebrities are involved in this nationwide event, including Kate Moss, Kirk and Anne Douglas, Ralph Lauren, Candice Bergen and Heather Locklear.

Few people are brave -- or fit -- enough to wear a thong to the beach. This summer, however, many people will be donning thongs. Thong sandals, that is. For women, also look for shoes featuring wood bottoms, beaded embellishments and animal prints. Clogs and mules are still in. Heels are lighter and more sculpted. Colors like red are back in a big way. For men, the casual shoes of summer include chunky sandals and streamlined slides. Look for updated soles and toes to give some European spark to classic styles.

IN THE NEW Tommy Hilfiger ad, a luscious young woman with cascading hair, pouty mouth, black leather pants and bare feet is curled on top of the president's desk, casting a come-hither look. The American flag is behind her.In another shot, the babe is squatting on the blue Oval Office rug, her knees over the presidential seal, her eager face looking up.Scandal chic has come to Madison Avenue. Patriotism and titillation -- a winning combination to hawk backpacks and loafers.Though a Hilfiger spokeswoman denied any connection, the ad is clearly a mischievous allusion to Monica and Bill.

Think light if fragrance tops your list of gift ideas for Father's Day.The heavy scents, such as Polo and Bijan, popular in the 1980s, still sell well, but the sweet smell of success surrounds a new breed of lighter scents.The blockbusters now are Polo Sport, Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Nautica, Davidoff Cool Water, CK One -- all sporty, subtle scents. CK One alone did more than $100 million in sales last year, compared with the industry average of about $25 million.The lighter scents are to strong colognes what eau de toilette is to women's perfume.

Two men who set up shop directly across from the state police barracks in Jessup are the first to be charged under a new state trademark counterfeiting law.Police said the two men are suspected of selling thousands of dollars in counterfeit designer goods -- Tommy Hilfiger sweat shirts and watches, Rolex watches and Disney T-shirts that came with Warner Brothers cartoon characters -- from their roadside stand y across the street from the Waterloo barracks on...

Shoppers at Maryland's newest factory outlet center, opening this August in Hagerstown, will find dozens of familiar, nationally known brands, among them Gap, Polo Ralph Lauren, Jones New York, Tommy Hilfiger, J. Crew and Nike.The developer, Baltimore-based Prime Retail Inc., plans to announce leases with about 45 merchants today during a preview tour of the village-style Prime Outlets at Hagerstown, which is under construction. The center, at the northwest corner of Interstate 70 and Route 65 in Washington County, will open Aug. 7.The 218,000-square-foot first phase will house about 60 stores, an enclosed food court, a playground and a customer-service center, all designed around landscaped pedestrian walkways and courtyards.

Mills Corp. officials know to the second how little time is left until the opening of their Arundel Mills megamall. They're reminded every day that the minutes are speeding by until the 1.6 million-square-foot structure opens its doors and an estimated 100,000 shoppers get their first look at the project responsible for transforming 380 rural acres west of Baltimore-Washington International Airport into a retail complex expected to attract more than...

Few people are brave -- or fit -- enough to wear a thong to the beach. This summer, however, many people will be donning thongs. Thong sandals, that is. For women, also look for shoes featuring wood bottoms, beaded embellishments and animal prints. Clogs and mules are still in. Heels are lighter and more sculpted. Colors like red are back in a big way. For men, the casual shoes of summer include chunky sandals and streamlined slides. Look for updated soles and toes to give some European spark to classic styles.

Fashion fights against breast cancerShop 'til you drop to help fight breast cancer. "Fashion Targets Breast Cancer," a project started by fashion designers nationwide, is hoping to raise more than a million dollars in just one shopping weekend to battle the disease. From Thursday, Sept. 23, to Sunday, Sept. 26, Saks Fifth Avenue will donate 2 percent of every sale to breast cancer charities. More than 100 celebrities are involved in this nationwide event, including Kate Moss, Kirk and Anne Douglas, Ralph Lauren, Candice Bergen and Heather Locklear.

Asian women who work in ``America's worst sweatshop'' are suing such big-name clothing makers as Tommy Hilfiger, The Gap, The Limited, J. Crew and Wal-Mart, a lawyer for about 50,000 garment makers announced last month.The class-action suits accuse 18 U.S. manufacturers of selling garments made by workers who are mistreated by foreign subcontractors in the Pacific island of Saipan, a U.S. commonwealth. The lawsuits are the first to try to use U.S. racketeering laws to hold retailers accountable for worker conditions and seek about $1 billion in damages.

ONCE UPON a time, folk tales had foxes and gnomes.Today, they have ... fast-food chicken from Company X that can make you sterile just by eating it!... cactuses from Company Y that are so full of baby spiders, they'll explode when you get them into your house!... the designer who doesn't want Asians wearing his clothes!Who needs the Weekly World News when you can rely on the friend of a friend for such juicy tidbits?Urban legends, the folk tales of the 20th century, can sway consumers - and affect companies' bottom lines.

IN THE NEW Tommy Hilfiger ad, a luscious young woman with cascading hair, pouty mouth, black leather pants and bare feet is curled on top of the president's desk, casting a come-hither look. The American flag is behind her.In another shot, the babe is squatting on the blue Oval Office rug, her knees over the presidential seal, her eager face looking up.Scandal chic has come to Madison Avenue. Patriotism and titillation -- a winning combination to hawk backpacks and loafers.Though a Hilfiger spokeswoman denied any connection, the ad is clearly a mischievous allusion to Monica and Bill.

Listen to a rap song by Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown or Sean "Puffy Daddy" Combs and in between boasts of sexual prowess comes bragging about acquiring and sporting clothes by Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Moschino, Donna Karan, Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Ferragamo and even Tommy Hilfiger.These songs have given rise to a controversy that surrounds Combs and a crew of other rappers who have come under increasing fire within the black community for their materialistic lyrics and lifestyle.The sexual nature of their music has long been bashed, but this new backlash concerns their glorification of expensive designer threads.

Calling used clothes "pre-owned" or "resale apparel" doesn't make them any less used, but Jeff Harden is hoping it will keep people from dismissing his new Towson-based store, Plato's Closet, which sells only "gently used" trendy stuff (clothes, shoes, accessories) for teens and young adults. "People hear they're used, and they kind of get an idea in their head," Harden says. "But the clothes are in style and in good condition. That's the key to the business: making sure we're selective."

Shoppers at Maryland's newest factory outlet center, opening this August in Hagerstown, will find dozens of familiar, nationally known brands, among them Gap, Polo Ralph Lauren, Jones New York, Tommy Hilfiger, J. Crew and Nike.The developer, Baltimore-based Prime Retail Inc., plans to announce leases with about 45 merchants today during a preview tour of the village-style Prime Outlets at Hagerstown, which is under construction. The center, at the northwest corner of Interstate 70 and Route 65 in Washington County, will open Aug. 7.The 218,000-square-foot first phase will house about 60 stores, an enclosed food court, a playground and a customer-service center, all designed around landscaped pedestrian walkways and courtyards.