fashionologie

Former BCBG Max Azria President Joins Halston as CEO

fashionologie — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:29:38 PDT

>> As suggested last week amongst all the upheaval at Halston, Ben Malka - who served as president of BCBG Max Azria Group since 2001 - has left to join Halston as chairman and CEO. With his appointment, Malka becomes a substantial stakeholder in Halston, and his arrival marks new funding for the brand in excess of $20 million, according to a spokeswoman.

Despite the fact that Marios Schwab has left the company, Halston still plans to deliver his Fall 2011 collection to stores. Malka has yet to decide whether Halston will produce a high-end line for Spring 2012, the spokeswoman added.

Tamara Mellon Exits Halston, Which May Be Pillaging BCBG Max Azria for New Blood

fashionologie — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:54:14 PDT

>> With Sarah Jessica Parker, Harvey Weinstein, Marios Schwab, and now board member Tamara Mellon no longer involved with Halston, and rumors of clashes between the remaining board members, brand owners Hilco Consumer Capital are looking for a strong figure to help rebuild the brand, which is now focusing solely on the contemporary Halston Heritage line.

Max Azria put in a bid for Halston when a sale or additional investment was being considered by Hilco, and although neither panned out, the dealings may have provided the leader Halston is looking for: Ben Malka, who has been president of BCBG Max Azria Group since 2001, is said to be close to joining the brand to head up the Heritage business - and he may be bringing Marie Mazelis, creative director of Herve Leger and Max Azria, with him. Mazelis has confirmed that she plans to leave BCBG Max Azria Group, but would not comment on her next move: “I haven’t made a final decision yet.” Malka, for his part, denied that he was joining Halston on Friday.

Marios Schwab, Harvey Weinstein Both Officially Out at Halston

fashionologie — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:34:16 PDT

>> Marios Schwab's fate at Halston didn't sound promising yesterday, and now it's been determined: his contract, which expired, will not be renewed. It sounds like the Halston designer collection, too, is no longer: The brand will reportedly not produce a Spring 2012 collection, and it sounds like it's unclear as to whether the Fall 2011 collection will be delivered to stores.

Harvey Weinstein, who has had an equity stake in Halston for the past couple of years, has also officially split from the brand. As WWD notes, he brought high-profile attention to the brand with his name attached, but: "His role was essentially that of a figurehead with little or no operational responsibility."

Despite all the departures, Halston is still said to have full confidence from parent company Hilco Consumer Capital, which recently invested $7.5 million in the brand more after seeing recent growth at retail. The focus going forward is said to be on the secondary Halston Heritage line.

Marios Schwab's Status at Halston; Plus, Why Sarah Jessica Parker Didn't Work Out

fashionologie — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:52:00 PDT

>> On the heels of news that Sarah Jessica Parker and Harvey Weinstein are both on their way out from Halston, the next logical question is: What about Halston creative director Marios Schwab?

According to WWD, there's recently been speculation that Schwab's contract may not be renewed unless he relocates from London, where he designs his eponymous collection, to New York, where Halston is based. Adding fuel to that fire is the fact that Halston owners Hilco Consumer Capital currently seem to be interested in pursuing a licensing model over selling the brand or seeking additional investment to support Schwab.

But where did it go wrong with Parker? WWD points out: "Unlike Victoria Beckham and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who have made successful transitions into fashion, Parker never put her entertainment projects on the back burner to focus exclusively on Halston and instead spent months on movie sets when she might have been a fixture in Halston’s showroom . . . In the early days, Parker was very involved in the Halston Heritage design process and, on occasion, sported the label in her public outings. Over time, however, the actress is said to have used her role at the firm to demand the kinds of clothes she wanted for herself, which were often at odds with the positioning of the contemporary Heritage collection and the overall DNA of Halston."

Under Parker's current agreement with Hilco, which is in the process of being terminated, she is said to be entitled to roughly $13 million over the next four years.

Harvey Weinstein Also Said To Be Exiting Halston

fashionologie — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:45:28 PDT

>> After reports yesterday that Sarah Jessica Parker is parting ways with Halston - WWD confirms that the two parties are in the midst of terminating their agreement - Harvey Weinstein, too, is said to be on the way out, according to WWD's sources.

A Halston statement could be coming as soon as today, although it's unclear whether it will address Weinstein's next move with regards to the label. The Weinstein Company acquired Halston with Hilco Consumer Capital in 2007.

Sarah Jessica Parker, Halston Have Reportedly Parted Ways

fashionologie — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:09:03 PDT

>> Sarah Jessica Parker, who joined Halston in January 2010 as the president and chief creative officer of the Halston Heritage contemporary label (and simultaneously took equity in the company), is no longer involved with the brand, Vogue reports. In Parker's August 2011 Vogue cover story, writer Eve MacSweeney notes that her Halston "relationship recently came to an end." Parker was still working with Halston as recently as late April, but at the time it was also suggested that the label was cash poor and could be sold again. [Vogue]

Halston May Be For Sale Again Soon

fashionologie — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:33:11 PDT

>> Halston, which was acquired by Hilco Consumer Capital and Harvey Weinstein's The Weinstein Company in 2007, is said to be looking for some more funds these days. According to a source familiar with the situation, WWD reports, the brand has hired an investment bank to explore its options, which could range from a cash infusion to a sale of the whole company.

The contemporary Halston Heritage label, of which Sarah Jessica Parker is president and chief creative officer, has been gaining traction since its launch a year ago. It “was definitely a viable business,” says the source, but the company needs more growth capital and the investors don't want to put more money in after four years. It could be tough to do a deal, however, the source warns: “It’s a very complicated structure and dynamic at the board level."

Richard Kaye, EVP and chief marketing officer at Hilco Trading, Hilco Consumer Capital's parent company, had no comment on any future plans for Halston.

Marios Schwab Delivers a Full-Blown ‘70s Inspired Collection For Halston Fall 2011

Chi Diem Chau — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:57:14 PST

>> Marios Schwab’s third collection for Halston was a direct reference to the ‘70s. “The Halston girl is a temptress,” said Schwab, who referenced Lauren Hutton’s character in “American Gigolo” as his inspiration. The presentation, which took place last night at Cedar Lake, had models set up on a pedestal wearing an array of gowns and dresses fitting for a glamorous party at Studio 54. Fluid Grecian-inspired chiffon gowns, pleated and draped cocktail dresses, and even sequined glow-in-the-dark creations - the lights dimmed down every 10 minutes to show off the display - were all present and dipped in hues of white, melon green, olive, and brown. However, it was Schwab’s daywear selection that really stood out amongst the crowd, most notably, a knotted shirtdress made in supple brown leather. Schwab has to head back to London to present his namesake collection, but not before indulging in a “a couple of cocktails” to celebrate the Halston collection. And what exactly will he be drinking to toast the night? “I like the mixed berry kind,” said Schwab.

View Slideshow ›

Sarah Jessica Parker Reaffirms Commitment to Halston - "I Will Never Do This For a Title"

fashionologie — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 13:19:44 PST

>> Word went around recently that after Halston's board ousted the brand's CEO Bonnie Takhar, Halston president and chief creative officer Sarah Jessica Parker was upset. But from what she told Elle in its January 2011 issue, it sounds like she's committed to the brand: “I said, ‘Please know this now: I will never do this for a title. I will never dip in and out of this. I’ll do it like everything else I’ve ever done. I’ll be involved down to the splitting of the atom.’” As for her design skills: “I might not have the language; I can’t always tell you the exact blend of a fabric, but I figure it out.” [Elle]

Halston CEO Bonnie Takhar Reportedly Ousted by Board, Leaving Brand President Sarah Jessica Parker Upset

fashionologie — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 09:02:49 PST

>> Upheaval at Halston, once again: CEO Bonnie Takhar, who has been with the brand since relaunch in 2007, is exiting the company. Creative differences are reportedly the reason Takhar was let go.

Sarah Jessica Parker, who joined the house in January, taking an equity stake and the role of president and chief creative officer, was reportedly upset after learning that the Halston board requested Takhar leave the company. A source told Page Six: "Sarah and Bonnie had a meeting on Friday in Halston's offices to discuss problems with the latest collection. Sarah has been a strong supporter of Bonnie for a very long time, and has been the sole voice supporting her against the board and shareholders. She has been fighting this for a very long time. She believed in Bonnie. She was emotional and upset because this finally came to a head."

Halston board member Harvey Weinstein, meanwhile, released a statement, "Sarah Jessica is a huge supporter of Bonnie's, but it was time to change direction. It was the rest of the board that made the decision. No one was more steadfast to Bonnie than Sarah Jessica."