fashionologie

Tommy Hilfiger on Aging, Owning Karl Lagerfeld, and Those Alleged Racist Comments

fashionologie — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:58:38 PDT

>>Tommy Hilfiger has been plagued by rumors that he made racist remarks for decades - and he denied them once again Sunday night during a talk at New York's 92nd Street Y.

Hilfiger chatted in front of a live audience with Fashion Week organizer Fern Mallis, whose Fashion Icons interview series includes talks with everyone from Calvin Klein to Tom Ford. But neither of those designers has been accused of saying they don't design clothing for people who aren't white - and Hilfiger has. Rumors that Hilfiger told Oprah he wouldn't have made his clothing "so nice" if he'd known that people of color would wear them have circulated since the mid-'90s. WWD reports that last night, Hilfiger - who didn't make his first appearance on the Oprah show until 2006 - attempted to put those rumors to rest for the last time.

"Some people may still believe it," he said. "Some people may look at it logically and realize it was a myth. But it hurt for a long period of time, not from a business standpoint, because our business doubled in that time. It went from $1 billion to $2 billion in that time. But it hurt here [placing hand on his heart]. It really made me believe someone was out for me. We really never found the source but hope that at some point in time people will realize it was just a nasty rumor."

That rumor apparently didn't matter to Hilfiger's customers, whose continued support has allowed him to do things like buy the Karl Lagerfeld brand.

"I was doing a photo shoot in Paris, and he was the photographer. The next day he invited me to his home for lunch. I told him we were thinking about maybe acquiring new brands. He said, "Why don’t you buy my brand?" I said, "OK." We consummated the deal in less than 30 days . . . I think he wishes he had done with Karl Lagerfeld what we did with Tommy Hilfiger."

But even though he owns the rights to one of the most powerful names in fashion, Hilfiger says he's still just as inspired by the designers of the past as he was when he first started his collection years ago.

"Well, I look at the old guard, because the old guard had a certain way of doing things like a [Yves] Saint Laurent or a bit of [Christian] Dior. The way they did the collections way back was quite remarkable, so I look at them as inspiration. Or Giorgio Armani, or Ralph or Karl. As my hair gets whiter, I'm thinking, "Look, if I'm standing next to Karl, Giorgio or Ralph, I'll be in the crowd. They're much older, by the way, so I have a long way to go."

Tommy Hilfiger Fall 2012

Christina Perez — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:44:42 PST

>> With the Park Avenue Armory decorated to look like an autumnal park and a Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack on full blast, Tommy Hilfiger sent out a smart collection of military and equestrian-tinged separates for Fall 2012. It was a strong offering, with a lot to like: slim-cuffed trousers, silk dresses printed with buckled harnesses or trompe l'oeil cable-knits, suede pinafores, and a boatload of gorgeous, shiny-buttoned pea coats. Click through to see the entire collection - and watch the video from the show below:

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It Happened Backstage - Snaps at Thakoon, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria Beckham, DKNY, and Diane von Furstenberg

fashionologie — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 06:14:48 PDT

>> What did the Sunday show backstage scene bring us? Valerija Kelava mimicking her heart-embellished Thakoon top with her hands, a close-up look at the scrunchy leather spats from Victoria Beckham, and Karlie Kloss making a dash for the runway in her Tommy Hilfiger maillot. All that, plus peeks behind-the-scenes at Diane von Furstenberg and DKNY, in the slideshow.

Photos: Greg Kessler

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Tommy Hilfiger Spring 2012

fashionologie — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 22:01:36 PDT

>> Tommy Hilfiger continues to up his fashion ante - with the help of Peter Som, and this time, Karl Templer, who was listed as creative consultant/stylist for the show. "Pop Prep," as the Spring 2012 collection was dubbed, incorporated an abstract camouflage print, shirttail hems on boxy dresses, and suite of loose colorblocked caftans; in sum: a cross between an "homage to the 60s" and "a Technicolor interpretation of the prep classics Tommy Hilfiger is known for."

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Tommy Hilfiger to Invest in Michael Kors?

fashionologie — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:30:16 PDT

>> Tommy Hilfiger is said to be among those planning to privately invest in Michael Kors, WWD reports. Kors is reportedly seeking as much as $500 million to fund its global expansion plans, and hired Morgan Stanley to sell an equity stake of approximately 25 percent. The round of financing has since closed and is expected to be finalized next month.

Hilfiger, who put money into Belstaff earlier this month, declined to comment on whether he would invest in Kors, too, but did say: “Anybody would be crazy not to invest in it. Michael Kors is the next major global player in my eyes.”

If Hilfiger were to participate in this new round of funding for Kors, he would be joining his previous investment partners Joel Horowitz, Silas Chou, and Lawrence Stroll, all of whom were the original investors in Tommy Hilfiger (The latter two, Chou and Stroll, bought Michael Kors in 2003 for a reported $100 million.). “For over 20 years, we’ve invested in things together," Hilfiger noted. "If they ask me, of course I’ll invest [in Kors]."

Kors, which generates about $900 million in volume, is expected to do private placement funding followed by an initial public offering right away; some are estimating the company could be valued at over $2 billion. This strategy is notable because there hasn't been an American designer IPO in some time - Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren did theirs in the late '90s. More recently, brands have typically been bought up by larger players or conglomerates.

65 of the Best Backstage Photos from Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, Michael Kors, Phillip Lim and More!

fashionologie — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 14:43:01 PST

>> As New York Fashion Week winds down, we gathered the final installment of our favorite backstage snaps – including Proenza Schouler’s Lazaro Hernandez styling Caroline Brasch Nielsen pre-show, a close-up look at Rodarte’s incredible prairie-inspired boots and the fabulous long wavy dos at Phillip Lim. Enjoy more in the slideshow!

Photos: Greg Kessler

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The Best Backstage Photos from Thakoon, Diane von Furstenberg, Theyskens' Theory, and More!

fashionologie — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:21:10 PST

>> New York Fashion Week is a little over halfway through, and backstage, we've been nothing short of inspired. Our intrepid photographer has been on location to capture the best of the best moments - including Arizona Muse giving a nonchalant stare before Tommy Hilfiger and a zoomed-in look at Theyskens' Theory's chunky-heeled thigh high boots. Enjoy more eye candy in the slideshow!

Photos: Greg Kessler

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Tommy Hilfiger Fall 2011 Runway Video

fashionologie — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 21:04:00 PST

And check out Tommy Hilfiger runway photos here!

Tommy Hilfiger Fall 2011

fashionologie — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 21:03:32 PST

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Peter Som's Fall 2011 Collection Is Full of Clothes for His Friends

fashionologie — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:59:32 PST

>> "It was truly about things my friends wanted to wear," Peter Som explained of his Fall 2011 collection's starting point. "Everyday but heightened and with a touch of quirk." Translated to the runway, Som's friends wear their hair in mussed poufs and like their suiting in vivid reds and oranges. They don't mind having an odd tuft of fur on their jacket sleeve or over their coat pockets. And their shoes of choice - produced for Som once again by Charlotte Olympia - involve dual tone ladylike low heels in bright colors, instead of the teetering heels Som and Charlotte Olympia designer Charlotte Dellal usually make together. Another Som collaborator, Tommy Hilfiger (whose signature line Som consults on), and wife Dee Ocleppo made the front row.

Alana Zimmer's long sleeve jersey dress earned many a fan, and Som's closing look - a floor-length blue sequin gown with short sleeves - is sure to find its way onto a red carpet somewhere.

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