US fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch is set to open its first A&F and Hollister stores in Mexico during the first quarter of 2015. The apparel group has signed a franchise agreement with Grupo AXO to set up a retail network throughout the country, with the first Hollister store slated to open late spring 2015 and the group debut A&F store opening its doors in the summer. Abercrombie & Fitch has singled out main regions of the cities and aims to set up stores with its p

Joanne Swift, Josie Chen’s creative director, has made a home in Shanghai. JOANNE Swift started designing accessories on a whim, asked by a friend to display a collection in the UK. Receiving an array of compliments inspired her, and two years later she launched her own brand, Josie Chen, in 2010 in Shanghai. The British designer studied fine arts and textile and pattern design in Japan for nine years, specializing in Indigo dying. She has worked in fashion for more than 15 years and had

What to wear on a first date is a tricky question because there are so many factors. You want to like it and you want a guy you don't really know that well to like it. You want to look pretty and stand out from the single-girl sea, but you're playing it on the safe side. I've spent a lot of time being impressed by Marissa's dating skills and formulas, especially how she views first-date dressing. It's all logical: Pick something that's simple, wears well, and will look totally perfect for a wide

As circumstances within Russia remain bleak due to ongoing financial, economical and political factors, FashionUnited felt it was time to hear how the fashion market in the region was coping with the continual instability. Anna Lebsak-Kleimans, Chief Executive Officer for the Fashion Consulting Group took a moment to answer a few questions regarding the Russian fashion market and summarize the current situation. How have the geopolitical and economic event's from the past year affected Russia

Channeling the spirit of the collection, the spring-summer 2015 campaign from Dolce & Gabbana focuses on the Spanish influence on Sicilian tradition with a cast led by Bianca Balti. Joined by Vittoria Ceretti, Irina Sharipova and Bianca Padilla; the girls take on Mediterranean style while posing next to grandmothers and matadors in a color palette of red, black and white. One half of Dolce & Gabbana, Domenico Dolce, photographed the new advertisements. Source:

Anouk Wipprecht, the techno-couture designer of Dutch origin known for creating convention defying ensembles, has unveiled an updated version of her famous Robotic Spider Dress, featuring sensor-installed spider like legs and shoulder epaulettes which move if a stranger strays too close to the wearer’s body. First showcased at VIVE LE ROBOTS / Cafe Neue Romance in Prague, the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic, during the EU Robotics week in November, 2012, the outfit’s revised vers

It may be cold weather season, but H&M is already preppy for sunny days with its spring 2015 preview. The trend update stars model Hana Jirickova wearing delicate florals and sunny shades of yellow that totally pop. From wool-blend cardigans to patterned pants to playful stripes, the spring is looking up thanks to H&M. Source: Fashion Gone Rogue.

Germany fashion brand Gerry Weber International has agreed to buy Munich-based fashion group Hallhuber, as it looks to return to the menswear market as part of its expansion strategy. Gerry Weber is to purchase Hallhuber from private equity firm Change Capital Partners, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition will give the Dortmund-based mainstream womenswear company access to a younger womenswear marketing in their mid-twenties, to complement its existing Gerry Weber and Taifun brands, whic

Get ahead for Fall/Winter 2015-16 with Trendstop's new Woven Basics Buying Guide, a must-have resource for keeping your commercial core lines on-point and booked in advance, allowing you to be responsive closer to season. 14 best-selling woven basics trends have been pinpointed by Trendstop's expert team, each revealing directional updates across fit, adjusted fabrication and evolutions in the details. This week, Fashion United readers can get a sneak peek look at Trendstop's Luxe Joggers basics

Givenchy‘s Riccardo Tisci has made a habit out of casting unexpected musicians and actresses as faces of his campaigns. Recently, we’ve seen faces as varied as Amanda Seyfried, Erykah Badu and Kendall Jenner, and this season, he’s hit the jackpot by announcing America’s sweetheart Julia Roberts as the lead for Givenchy’s Spring 2015 campaign. Shoot in black and white by photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, the photos capture Roberts as powerful, masculine with a hint of sex appeal. Tis