LVMH: Berluti celebrates its 120th anniversary

© Berluti

© Berluti

 

PARIS, 2015-12-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Berluti is celebrating the 120th anniversary of the shoemaker’s founding with the publication of its first book, entitled At Their Feet, an ode to iconic shoes and the creative talents who wore them.

Loafers, slip-ons, boots or Oxfords … The models created by Berluti since 1895 set the standard in luxury footwear, earning them a loyal following among artists. To fête 120 years of shoemaking savoir-faire and the artists who wore its shoes, Berluti has published a strikingly original book entitled At Their Feet.

Showcased by photographer Erwan Frottin, the shoes and their stories are recounted through the artists who brought them to life, including Andy Warhol, Patti Smith, Yves Saint Laurent, Greta Garbo, Jean Cocteau and other illustrious customers who embodied Berluti elegance. Designed and illustrated by the creative director duo M/M (Mathias Augustyniak and Michael Amzalag), the book includes quotes from the artists and texts by American author Glenn O’Brien, an expert in fashion and lifestyle.

The limited edition of 200 numbered copies went on sale on December 15th. The Venezia leather cover can be customized with a distinctive patina, tattoos or initials. Both the limited edition and a classic edition are available at Berluti flagship stores.

At Their Feet, published by Editions Rizzoli
64 pages, 52 color and b/w illustrations, 33 x 43 cm
Available at Berluti stores and the Colette concept store.

SOURCE: LVMH

HAWKE & CO SOARS BEYOND JACKETS – INTRODUCES MEN’S FOOTWEAR LINE FOR FALL 2015

New York, NY, 2015-2-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Hawke & Co introduced their first collection of men’s footwear today, extending the company’s offerings beyond outerwear. The design of the new collection is inspired by their outerwear, and will compliment Hawke & Co’s Pro, Outfitter and Black Collections.

“We are thrilled to be introducing these awesome shoes to our loyal Hawke & Co consumers,” said Michael Rosenberg, President of Hawke & Co. “We’ve had a lot of buyers and customers asking for Hawke footwear, and we listened. The interpretation of Hawke & Co’s DNA into this line of footwear was very well executed by Core Classics and we couldn’t be happier.” Core Classics marks the brand’s fist licensee.

The team paid careful attention to the designs of Hawke & Co outerwear and developed shoes that hint at the innovative designs of jackets such as the company’s flagship line of ultra lightweight packable down jackets. The collection features twelve designs ranging from casual sneakers, loafers, vintage boots and dress boots.

The collection is available to view at Project in Las Vegas from February 17-19th, and will become available this fall on the company’s website at www.hawkeandco.com. Other retail channels will be announced as they become available.

For More Information Contact:
Daniel Montelongo
Director of Marketing & Communications
T: (212) 461–4332
E: dan@hawkeco.com

About Hawke & Co
Founded in 1958, Hawke & Co designs apparel that is innovative, stylish and affordable for the modern explorer. Primarily known for their outerwear, Hawke & Co offers premium quality products that are enjoyed by customers around the world. Hawke & Co is a privately held company and is headquartered in New York, New York.

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Hawkes footwearline for Fall 2015-big

Countess of Wessex visits Hotter Shoes

The Countess of Wessex has visited the UK’s biggest shoe maker Hotter Comfort Concept to discover how the company makes 1.6 million pairs of stylish, comfortable shoes each year.

Her Royal Highness took part in a tour of the factory, met staff in the company’s UK and USA customer service centres and was introduced to the team behind Hotter’s current retail expansion programme, which has spearheaded the opening of over 35 stores in the past two years.

“We were delighted to welcome our Royal visitor and show her the passion and pride of our very British brand,” said Stewart Houlgrave, Hotter Comfort Concept Founder and CEO. “The Countess was a wonderfully charming guest, who was genuinely interested in what we were doing and took time to speak with many of our staff, immediately putting them at their ease. Everyone was delighted to have the honour of such a distinguished visitor at our headquarters and the seven longest serving staff who were introduced to Her Royal Highness have already said that meeting her was the highlight of their combined 263 years service.”

Hotter manufactures one third of all shoes currently made in the UK in its Lancashire factory which, when combined with its innovative multi-channel retailing, makes Hotter a very unique brand. Hotter’s comfy women’s shoes are sold via mail order, www.hotter.com and branded stores nationwide and the company employs nearly 800 people across the UK.

“We are fiercely proud of our British heritage and we invest and reinvest in development and new technology to continually improve our ‘Comfort Concept’ and wow our customers,” added Stewart.

At the end of HRH’s tour she was presented with a pair of Hotter shoes by Stuart Brooks, Assistant Manager of Hotter’s Bournemouth store, and Yvonne Hamilton from the company’s warehouse.

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Dorothy Perkins Launches Kardashian Kollection in the UK

Dorothy Perkins is excited to announce an exclusive partnership with Jupi Corp. to bring the Kardashian Kollection to the United Kingdom.

The Kardashian Kollection will launch in November 2012 and will comprise of more than one hundred pieces from the ready-to-wear clothing and handbag collections, with footwear to follow in early 2013.

The range will be stocked in more than 250 Dorothy Perkins stores throughout the United Kingdom, including 8 shop-in-shops within BHS, online at dorothyperkins.com and internationally to thirteen further countries via franchise stores.

From trend led pieces to fashionably tailored looks the breadth of the range will appeal to all women who love fashion. There is something for every fashionista with looks that embrace a woman’s natural curves through bold and beautiful fashion statements for all occasions.

Bruno Schiavi President of Jupi Corp said: “The A/W12 collection embraces Kim’s glamorous red carpet looks, Kourtney’s more Bohemian chic, and Khloe’s edgier style.”

Commenting on the partnership, Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian added: “We’re looking forward to expanding our line and making Kardashian Kollection available to so many more people. We pride ourselves in having a line that is affordable and yet of great quality and we’re excited to bring it to new territories.”

The Kardashian Kollection features a range of stylish women’s clothes and accessories including shoes, swimwear, denim, jewellery and intimate nightwear. The collection also features items for the home including bedding, bathroom accessories including wash cloths and towels, shower curtains, lotion pumps and wastebaskets.

The collection originated in the Autumn 2011, with the Kardashians involved in creating the pieces themselves. The sisters contributed to the design process from start to finish and were able to draw on their previous experience of working on clothing lines. The collaboration was aimed at 17-35 year olds and debuted in over 400 US stores.

Since its release the Kardashian Kollection has received rave reviews, with bloggers and writers praising the range’s quality and affordability. Pieces from the collection have been featured in renowned magazines such as Cosmopolitan and InStyle. The line’s figure enhancing denim jeans have received particular praise, with three individual styles to mirror the sisters’ different styles and figures proving popular with critics and public alike.

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Debenhams Reveals Formula For Perfect Pair Of ‘Drop-A-Dress Size’ Shoes

Debenhams has announced its formula for how to drop a dress size in seconds. According to the retailer, if chosen carefully, a mere pair of shoes can have a dramatic slimming effect on the wearer – creating the illusion of having dropped a dress size.

Debenhams logo - links to home page

The slimming effect is so apparent that, when asked to guess the dress size of the same woman in two images, people shown the image of her wearing the slimming shoes gave an average of one dress size smaller than those shown a picture of her without the magic shoes on.

Debenhams technologists created the formula when they noticed an onslaught of celebrity women, including Kate Middleton, Victoria Beckham and most recently Ed Miliband’s wife Justine wearing similar nude high heels.

The formula for the perfect pair of slimming shoes is as follows: (colour + platform + height + heel width) – ankle strap = slimming, or as it is written in short-hand: (C + P + H + HW) – AS = S.

For those wanting to look slimmer in their dresses, they must first choose a nude coloured shoe which matches their skin tone. This works as an extension of the leg. Platforms should be concealed and should have at least a centimetre in depth to ensure maximum lengthening.

Heel height is critical and it is advised that women choose three-inch or higher heels. This provides added height and instantly gives a slimming effect. Heel width should also be considered. Thick heels draw the eye and break the illusion, so stiletto heels are recommended.

The final aspect of the formula is ankle straps. According to the formula, ankle straps should be avoided at all costs as they cut the leg short, making them look shorter and wider.

The formula combines a combination of tricks that give the impression of lengthened legs and tighter thighs while encouraging the torso to be pushed out, in turn flattening the stomach.

In response to the slimming formula, Natelle Baddeley, head of accessories for Debenhams, said: “It seems that performing magic tricks is no longer reserved for the likes of Dynamo and David Blaine.

“If followed to the letter, this formula gives women the chance to walk in the shoes of the famous tricksters of our time – creating a slimmer silhouette in an instant.”

Natelle Baddeley continued: “This is a diet in a shoe. Once you have found the perfect pair all you need to do is slip on your shoes to instantly transform your silhouette. It’s the perfect party cheat.”

High profilers who currently benefit from this sneaky cheat are A-listers such as Beyonce Knowles, Victoria Beckham, Alesha Dixon, Jessie J and Sarah Jessica Parker.

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Debenhams Reveals Mothers Pass On The Ability To Walk In High Heels

Debenhams revealed that a woman’s ability to walk well in high heels is inherited from her mother, with balance, poise and even choice of heel height all passed on through the maternal line.

Debenhams logo - links to home page

However, the debate over whether skilled high heeled walkers are born or made has still not been answered.

Debenhams Head of Accessories Design Natelle Baddeley said: “Whether it’s genetics or training in teenage years, we may never know, but it’s clear that the saying ‘like mother like daughter’ applies to walking in heels.”

The striking links between a mother and daughter’s taste in high heels were revealed during recent Debenhams customer research into consumer trends. This is something that is also reflected in Hollywood A-listers and their daughters, such as actress Kate Hudson and her mother Goldie Hawn, who have been spotted in numerous photographs wearing similar shoes.

When asked about their perfect choice of high heeled shoes, women who were unrelated produced a wide range of answers, showing enormous statistical variance in heel height, style and colour. Mothers and daughters however, differed in their answers on all three topics by only a few percentage points, with a well-heeled 92% having matching answers.

Despite having a multitude of colours, styles and heel heights to choose from, each chose women’s shoes which bore a remarkable resemblance to the other.

Daughters who loved four inch heels had mothers who also loved four inch heels.

When questioned on their favourite colour of shoes, 79% had the same answer. Mothers who loved striking reds had daughters who also loved striking reds.

Daughters who loved extremely narrow pointed heels also had mothers who loved extremely narrow pointed heels.

However, the most striking evidence suggesting a maternal link for the ability to wear high heels well emerged during crucial walk tests; a towering 87% of mothers who could stride confidently across a room in a wide range of heel heights had daughters who could do the same. Conversely, mums with limited heel height skills had appeared to have passed this deficit onto their offspring.

Debenhams Natelle Baddeley continued: “The correlation was striking. We could almost pick out who were mother and daughter in a crowd just by the similarities as they walked in high heels.

“Even though we now know that a link exists, we still don’t know what causes it.”Is it genetics? Or do young girls become accustomed to and copy their mother’s tastes in shoes simply by wearing them during “dressing up” as a child?

“Our research suggests that all daughters are destined to literally step into their mother’s shoes as they grow older.”

Debenhams research was conducted individually, so that choice in shoe style could be made free from an accompanying partner.

The small differences between a mother and daughter’s tastes were most pronounced when the daughter was below the age of twenty, but converged again as they grew older. The link between mother and daughters extends across all demographics, including celebrities.

Even Suri Cruise, daughter of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise has shoes which bears a remarkable resemblance to those worn by her mum, which Katie has said her daughter chooses herself.

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Debenhams Reports Women Getting Cold Feet Over Growing Foot Print

Debenhams has revealed new research which suggests the female foot is getting bigger across the UK.

Debenhams logo - links to home page

With sales soaring, demand for size nine shoes has sparked a massive 80% increase in stocks at the department store.

But despite the growing trend, 82% of size eight and nine customers say they are ashamed of their shoe size, ironically most blokes in the UK are a size nine.

Merchandisers at the department store thought something was afoot when it was revealed that 67% of all size nines sold, are bought online as opposed to in store.

Carie Barkhuizen, Debenhams Spokesperson, said: “Buying shoes online can be a tricky feat which is why we decided to ask women why they were shopping behind closed doors. We were surprised to learn a case of cold feet was behind it all.

“It’s even more surprising when you consider the host of celebrity women like Michelle Obama and Nicole Kidman proudly stepping out on their larger paws.”

When asked to identify what part of shopping for shoes in store they found particularly uncomfortable, 64% said it was asking the shop assistant for their size and 36% said they hated taking their shoes off in public.

The survey also revealed that 47% of women had lied to their partners and friends about their shoe size.

To help combat this embarrassment, Debenhams has instructed stores to put more size eight and nine stock out on the shop floor for women to help themselves to.

Women needn’t feel alone however, the average female shoe size has increased by one and a half sizes over the last 10 years; from four and a half in 1990 to a size six in 2011, and larger sizes are increasingly in demand.

The change is attributed to women’s feet becoming broader rather than longer which experts believe may be due to an increase in average body weight as women grow taller.

Demand for size nines was highest in Dublin, followed by London, Birmingham, Glasgow and Newcastle.

Carie Barkhuizen continued: “If the current trend continues, then we will start stocking women’s shoes in size ten and eleven too.

“Shoes with high heels, such as stilettos in larger sizes, have to be made much stronger with sturdier load bearing points, able to cope with greater levels of stress and wear.

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Wallis has announced its collections for Autumn/Winter 2011

The womens fashion company continues the paired down trend during the autumn/winter season with ’60s Modernity’, offering a strong modernist take on the 1960s. Architecturally tailored pieces such as the three quarter length coat, long lined tunic and the flood length trousers create clean lines in futuristic shapes. Unexpected colour clashing on a pallet of electric blue, ginger and black are blended on fabrics of denim, tweed and leather, while prints on knitwear pieces provide stark contrasts. Favourite pieces from the story include the ankle grazing two tone trouser and the leather T shirt, which makes a welcome return this season with fur trim sleeves. Accessories are kept simple to complete the minimalistic look, with snakeskin adding texture.

The ‘Babington House’ collection offers masculine tailoring and historical referencing, combined to create a quintessentially English collection with a nod to the 1970s. Russet hues blend with peach and camel while colour blocking of muted tones remains important. Ali MacGraw inspired T dresses in autumnal shade colour clashes add retro glamour to the collection. Culottes and flared cords are key trouser shapes for the season, creating fluid lines in intrepid colours of berry and burnt orange. These can be paired with a pussy bow blouse and a snug sweater vest or velvet blazer to complete this feminine silhouette. Hero items include the tweed belted trench coat and the berry Afghan faux fur coat. Accessories could include a fedora with a feather in the brim and a patent ladylike tote for 1970s chic.

This autumn/winter, the womens clothing company also pays homage to Alexander McQueen with the ‘Gorgeous Gothic’ collection in a story that evokes Gothic glamour. Leather and chiffon fabrication come together throughout the collection to create dramatic effects. Black mink and soft smoke lilac are blended for vintage boudoir feel. The silhouette is lean; sheer fabrics and contrasting hem lines create a provocative response, while pleats and tucks soften the look and create floaty elegant lines. Victoriana boots laced to the knee are teamed with outerwear favourites including the opulent beaded cape or the midnight black faux fur coat to complete the look.

All products will be available on-line at wallis.co.uk including a fantastic range of shoes, belts and bags to accessorise outfits for all occasions.

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PacificPlex Expands Store Inventory for Summer Collection

PacificPlex, a premier online retailer and fashion leader specializing in bridesmaids dresses, formal evening wear, and plus size clothing, are expanding their inventory just in time for the summer season. With the latest in summer clothing, PacificPlex stocks fresh, trendy, and fun-loving plus size dresses to radiate and capture the hot season.

Sun dresses are a favorite amongst girls who enjoy the summer weather, and still want to retain a fun, flirty appeal. Pacific Plex has added several new sundresses perfect to fit any style. Designs range from a crossover halter, to a 50’s style black lace sundress, among many others. The attire adamantly reflects the feeling of the exciting summer season, while still retaining a sophisticated and chic appeal.

Tank tops and cool blouses are a staple when it comes to the hot summer weather. Thus, in addition to the expansion of summer dresses, PacificPlex has also expanded their inventory towards summer loving tops. One of the latest blouses to be added is the satin pullover blouse with puff sleeves. The bright and fun color choices: pink, fuchsia and turquoise provide a cooling ambience. The lightweight silky material also allows for a fresh and vibrant feel, perfect for the scorching hot summer days. Other latest top additions include camisoles, graphic tees, or a butterfly lace tank with crotchet back to name a few.

PacificPlex allows its users the luxury of shopping online and browsing the continuous expansion of its collection. The assortments of clothing are oftop-of-the-line quality, and are the latest in the fashion industry. With the ability to carry extended sizes up to 5X, women of all sizes can enjoy and lavish in the chic and stylish appeal that PacificPlex offers.

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Dorothy Perkins announces Summer Style Weekender

Dorothy Perkins is inviting the British public to celebrate the Summer Style Weekender, with four days of fashion and make-up tips, with 20% off everything.

The company has teamed up with Closer magazine and Rimmel London to bring customers a guide to their most stylish summer. Each day the Dorothy Perkins website will have a new feature, guest-edited by the Closer Fashion team, to handle all summer wardrobe dilemmas, from what to wear to a wedding to what to pack for a holiday. The Closer girls will also be taking to the blog to take part in the infamous DP Dress Up Challenge, solving a daily dilemma from a capsule holiday wardrobe of just five pieces.

Rimmel London will be blogging daily with expert advice from Kirstin Piggot, make-up artist to the stars. A range of Rimmel London products, from mascara to lipstick to nail polish, will be available from dorothyperkins.com for the first time, in a choice of colours to complement the store’s summer collection.

The first 5,000 customers will each receive a free copy of Closer magazine and a free Rimmel London nail polish with their order.

In addition, every customer will receive a 20% discount, automatically applied online and redeemable in store with a downloadable voucher.

Finally, the Summer Style Weekender competition will allow customers to win their own stylish weekend away. Dorothy Perkins have two prizes to give away for a VIP trip to London for two people on Friday 15th July. Each winner will receive two VIP tickets to see Ellie Goulding at Somerset House, a £200 shopping spree in Dorothy Perkins and makeover from Rimmel London for them and a friend, and an overnight stay at Mercure Bankside, a contemporary 4 star hotel, ideally located in central London.

To enter, and for more Summer Style Weekender activities, interested parties can visit the Dorothy Perkins Facebook page at facebook.com/dorothyperkins and follow the company on Twitter at twitter.com/dorothy_perkins.

For 20% off, and a free Closer magazine and Rimmel London nail polish while stocks last, customers can visit dorothyperkins.com.

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European Union Cookie Regulations May Change Online Shopping

The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) have recently (26 th May) a mandate which dictating that website operators with the EU gain explicit consent from their visitors before using cookies to track their interaction with the site.

Cookies are, at their most basic, a short line of text placed on to your computer when you access specific sites. The text file is then used to help the browser remember details about the visitor such as what items are held in the basket or whether this is a first time visit or a returning customer.

Forcing visitors to consent to these cookies is designed to make the internet safer. However, many argue this will come at the expense of functionality. It is currently unclear what form displaying consent will come in, it may simply be an opt-in box.

Simon Crisp, Director of shopsafe.co.uk has voiced his concern about this directive, “This is going to add a regulatory and cost burden to digital economy at a time when we don’t need it” Crisp felt that further cookie regulations may add further complications to online shopping which users, new to online retail, would be put off by.

Further issues have been raised by those online experts who use these tracking methods to prove return on investment for their campaigns. Matthew Barker, managing partner of Hit Riddle was keen to mention that without being able to measure the performance of selected ads internet marketers may begin to struggle proving the efficacy of their campaigns.

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PacificPlex Adds a Slew of Additional Items to Their Expanding Collection

PacificPlex, a premier online retailer and fashion leader specializing in bridesmaids dresses, and formal evening wear, has added a slew of additional items to their online store. The fashionable retailer adds the most up-to-date merchandise and continues to expand their collection for the most variety and choices.

Miraclessuit Shapewear is one of the latest additions to the PacificPlex collection. This garment is designed to remove inches around the torso for a smooth defined fit. The torsette has fantastic edge silicon grips at the waist for no lines or ride when worn. The garment helps define waist, flattens the tummy, and smoothes unsightly back bulge, thus revealing a chic and sleek look when wearing any formal attire.

In addition, PacificPlex has added flirty occasion shoes by Chinese Laundry. With a variety of designer shoes ranging from glitter platform peep-toe pumps to satin platform sandal Baldwin’s, one can find the ideal shoe to wear for a night out. Accessorizing is a cinch with the PacificPlex selection of hot evening clutch bags, gloves, and jewelry.

Also having reached the most popular time of the season for weddings, PacificPlex carries the latest 2011 bridesmaid styles in a wide variety of colors and sizes. The dresses are top-of-the line quality. By carrying a large selection of the most popular styles and colors, one is sure to find the ideal dress to satisfy even the most particular bridesmaid.

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Compact Footwear Category Showing Huge Growth as Footzyrolls Surpasses $1M mark after only one year in business

Footzyrolls, the rollable shoe, the leader in the compact Footwear market with over $1M in Sales their first year, has leaped into fashion with their new collection, Bohemian Chic.

Debuting May 10, 2011, it has made a trend setting impact on compact flats. As Footzyroll’s summer collection, it features vibrant tie-dye colors, as well as chic corals and denim with flower piping in different styles. The collection showcases the classic Mary Jane style shoe with a striking look that is perfect for walking around the city or the shore during those hot summer days.

Footzyrolls are transforming comfort and style, and women have come to rely on these stylish flats to provide relief after a long day at work, summer travel, running around with the kids, or a night out on the town. The new Bohemian Chic shoe line embraces the “free spirited” iconic woman of any age. The Bohemian Chic collection will be available at high end boutiques across the country and at www.footzyrolls.com.

Footzyrolls’ innovative design allows them to be rolled up and fit practically everywhere: from the glove compartment in your car, to a tiny evening bag, Footzyrolls are conducive to providing instant relief for your aching feet! The trend for compact footwear was started by Footzyrolls, and this new collection elevates the fashion aspect of this functional flat. Every woman will eventually have at least one pair for every handbag!

Photos of the new collection can be viewed at http://bit.ly/mumpgA and this amazing and vibrant collection is priced from $25 to $30.

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Latest Vans Styles Offer Universal Appeal Claims Extremepie.com

The original skate shoes manufacturer proves to be a big hit with the youth market at Extremepie.com; however the highly functional and stylish skate have much broader appeal.

Vans shoes first came to the market in 1966, catering to the growing popularity of skateboarding and rapidly became one of the best loved street brands, producing a wide range of shoes and apparel specifically targeting the highly popular sport. With such a long pedigree in the industry, it is no surprise that they are one of the leading brands for skaters, and with top names endorsing the brand including some of the world’s leading skateboarders, and sponsorship of some of the major skating and x-games events, they remain at the forefront of the sport.

“Vans are one of the most easily recognisable skate brands, having provided the footwear for generations of skaters since the birth of the sport in the 1960’s and are just as popular today as when the skating craze first started” says Extremepie.com MD Richard Gundle. The shoes are a popular choice at the online skating and extreme sports apparel store, with the brand no longer restricted to skaters, with it now catering to the full range of street sports.

Whilst the brand has diversified from skater apparel and footwear into all extreme street sports, Vans shoes are still primarily constructed for skateboarders, providing a high quality construction, double and triple stitched panels for extra protection from grip tape, and use leather and mesh for comfort and breathability, in addition to traditional suede to give greater durability to deal with a highly abrasive environment.

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Early Spring Sunshine Sees Keen Shoes Sales Surge at Fitnessfootwear.com

Warm spring weather sparks a surge in sales of Keen Shoes, as water sports and outdoor enthusiasts are able to secure early season discounts on hybrid shoes for the summer.

The first decent spell of warm sunny spring weather is usually enough to see consumers heading to the shops and online stores to pick up new footwear for the summer. This year has proved to be no different, with most of the country bathed in sunshine and temperatures heading into the twenties, it was a welcome reminder that summer is fast approaching and that wardrobes need to be replenished before the summer starts. Visitors to online performance footwear retailer Fitnessfootwear.com have been treated to massive early season discounts on summer shoes and sandals, with Keen shoes one of the most popular choices. Current discounts offer up to 20% savings on the recommended retail price, something which has proved to be too much to resist for its customers with Keen shoes sales soaring.

Keen shoes started life in 2003, with the brand formed with the singular goal of producing a new breed of sandal which offered exceptional protection for the toes. The brand was launched with the Keen Newport, a revolutionary new shoe with the lightweight and airy design of a sandal and the sturdy performance of a walking shoe. Termed hybrid footwear, the shoes offered the benefits of both shoes and sandals, and proved to be an instant hit with outdoor enthusiasts, with both hikers and water sports aficionados flocking to the brand. One of the key components which made the brand such a runaway success is the patented toe protection system. The soles of Keen shoes wrap up and around the toes for exceptional protection on the trail and from underwater hazards, with the quick drying water resistant design ideal for a life in and out of the water. Whilst the toe protection system was designed for use in their range of sandals, the system now features in every Keen shoe model, even in their range of slippers, making stubbed toes a thing of the past.

In addition to the technology used in their toe protection system, Keen has developed a host of new technologies to further enhance comfort and performance, with the brand developing a reputation for innovation throughout its footwear range. Keen shoes offer an excellent fit thanks to the metanomical footbed, which closely follows the contours of the foot for excellent support and day long comfort, whilst the footbed takes on the shape of the individual’s foot for an exceptionally comfortable and personal fit. With the comfort, performance, protection and versatility of Keen shoes it is no surprise that they are such a popular choice.

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PacificPlex Dress Featured on EngagementinNews.com

PacificPlex, a premier online retailer and fashion leader specializing in prom and bridesmaid dresses, has been featured on a popular engagement website with one of their products. The first product listed in the “Featured Product” category provides a small glimpse as to what the retailer offers.

EngagementinNews.com is a popular website geared towards newly engaged individuals by assisting in locating ideal bridesmaid dresses, gifts, and all the essentials that go into a wedding ceremony. When one logs into the website on the homepage EngagementinNews.com features a categorical display of featured products that the individuals at EngagementinNews.com felt worthy of its followers to seek out further.

The first product listed is one by PacificPlex. The product is a strapless fairy pink gown. The dress may be worn as a cocktail dress to a holiday party, an eye-catching prom dress, or used as a bridesmaid gown to a modern-themed wedding. The multi-use of the dresses shows its versatility, which many may take a liking towards. The pink dress is short and flirty, yet has detailing that leaves a sophisticated and classy demeanor.

EngagmentinNews.com features a slew of products on their homepage. Amongst some of the products other than dresses are shoes, jewelry, and accessories. Thus, because of the extensive selection being featured on the webpage, as well as being listed as the first product is a true feat. Being that EngagmentinNews.com does not have any affiliation with PacificPlex, it is noteworthy that the individuals of the website found the product value worthy to be mentioned on their homepage.

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Current Weather Conditions Spark a Surge in Visitors at Onshoes.com Seeking Warm Footwear

The current Arctic weather conditions in the UK have triggered a surge in visitors at Onshoes.com, looking for warm yet stylish footwear to cope with the cold.

Onshoes.com is a relatively new website catering to fashionable footwear lovers keen to find out the latest news and gossip from the world’s elite fashion designers. The site offers news, reviews and comment on the latest footwear to be spotted at glitzy ceremonies around up and down the country. However it is warm winter boots which are the biggest attraction this month, as the brutal winter weather grips the whole country. Lovers of Jimmy Choo and Christian Audigier are turning to the brands such as Hunter and Emu, drawn by their fashionable styling and highly protective design, with thoughts of strappy stilettos placed to the back of the mind until the weather abates.

“Hunter wellies are always popular when the snow starts to fall” claims Onshoes.com MD Luke Barlow. They have been big sellers over the past couple of weeks, with the design perfect for snowy conditions and even better when it finally turns to slush. Sales have been high at Onshoes.com, along with warm winter boots and heavy duty winter walking footwear which normally seeks sales peak well into January.

The bitterly cold conditions have brought forward many winter purchases, with visitors snapping up boots following the dismal weather prediction for the coming weeks. Anyone stuck with ideas for Christmas presents has been able to turn to warm winter wear, and it’s unlikely that any gift will be better appreciated. on Christmas morning with the snowy and icy conditions looking set to continue well into the festive period. At Onshoes.com, Merrell has been a popular choice, with its rugged trainers and boots being ideal to deal with snow and ice, and the Outbound boot being irresistible according to the sites visitor numbers. For the women, waterproof ankle and calf boots are the most popular choices, with the Merrell Oslo one of the most popular styles. With temperatures dropping to as low as -19ºC in some parts of the UK over the weekend, it is no surprise that PolarTec insulation is taking precedence over Christian Louboutin.

“Footwear trends closely follow the weather, and as soon as the first icy spell arrives, warm winter boots sales go through the roof” says Barlow, although few would have predicted that the sales rush would arrive this side of Christmas. Onshoes.com is certainly looking forward to the weather easing, and the return of the designer strappy high heels to celebrity’s feet once again, although it would seem that few visitors are entertaining the thought of lightweight sexy shoes this week.

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Reebok Easytones Have The X Factor

Tomorrow night’s X Factor will be the starting point for the re-launch of the Reebok ReeTone Campaign. The main focus is the best selling Reebok EasyTone trainer that claimed to stimulate muscle activity, leading to improvements in muscle density and overall general fitness.

The Summer Reebok EasyTone campaign was supported by ex-glamour model and body-icon Kelly Brook. The ex-glamour model appeared on billboards and posters worldwide wearing nothing but the Reebok trainers. This generated a large amount of publicity for the brand and many retailers saw sales sky rocket. However, interest is set to heighten even further with the launch of the new TV advertising campaign. The advert, which will air during tomorrow night’s X Factor show, features Kelly Brook completing household chores in skimpy outfits and a pair of Reebok EasyTone trainers.

Reebok are spending thousands of pounds in the second round of advertising, in an attempt to generate even more interest in the fitness footwear range. In order to concrete the publicity, Reebok have also enlisted the help of several male celebrities such as F1 driver Lewis Hamilton and Footballer Thierry Henry. These endorsements are targeted at getting males, who are interested in health and fitness, to start considering the toning shoes as part of their exercise wardrobe.

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House Of Fraser Launches New Autumn/Winter 2010 Shoes Collection Online

House of Fraser, the leading premium department store, has launched its Autumn/Winter 2010 footwear collection by Dune online.

The Dune Group offers affordable luxury shoes and accessories, with brands including Dune, Pied a Terre and Bertie. The Dune Group was formed in March 2009 with the acquisition by Dune of the Shoe Studio Group and opened its first store in London’s Kings Road in 1993.

Autumn/Winter 2010 footwear concentrates on three main trends. From opulent velvet peep toes to platform courts and pull-on ankle boots, online shoppers will find Venetian Masquerade, Starlight Express and The Aviator trends all at houseoffraser.co.uk.

The Venetian Masquerade trend is a romantic yet striking story with an air of mystery surrounding it. An intense colour palette of ebony black, deep navy and rich red appears on opulent velvet peep toes and delicate lace up strappy sandals for a ‘belle of the ball’ feel. Lace, jewels, corsages and caging are prominent features in this theme. Black leather over the knee boots and suede peep toe shoe boots take on a subtle yet seductive approach.

Starlight Express makes a statement with sky scraper heels and bold shapes. The trend focuses heavily on chains, buckles, studs and zips in high shine metals appear on fierce suede or leather shoe boots, platform courts and statement lace up knee high boots. Flat laser-cut pumps have metal toe caps, carrying through the hardwear theme. Black, nude, grey and taupe are the key colours for this trend, with flashes of silver and pewter to highlight. Heel shapes take on a different dimension, soles are sharpened, and the wedge is set to return for AW10 in a big way.

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Cloggs Put Fitflops On Trial In The Bullring

Cloggs.co.uk is giving sceptics in Birmingham (UK) the chance to put the thigh toning sandals Fitflops to the test. On 7th May the Bullring based shoe retailer Cloggs.co.uk will be giving everyone the chance to try the so-called ‘shoes with the gym built in’.

At the event, Cloggs.co.uk will be demonstrating how Fitflops use biomechanical engineering to help wearers improve their posture and burn more calories than they would through walking normally. The sandals have specially designed soles that destabilise the feet, making the muscles in the lower body work harder when the wearer is walking around.

Fitflops have been available since 2007, and when they first came out the huge demand for the shoes saw them sell out all over the world. Cloggs.co.uk director, Nick Thomas, believes that even more people are likely to be wearing them this summer.

“Fitflops have universal appeal because of the way they combine comfort, style and fitness, things which people of all ages are looking for in a summer shoe.

“This year we have bought as much stock as we possibly can because as soon as spring arrives Fitflops always start selling really quickly.

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Topman Launches Oliver Spencer Capsule Shoe Collection

Oliver founded his own label in 2002 and now boasts flagship stores in both New York and London as well as being stocked in some of the world’s most respected outlets. He wanted to create a collection that reflected his own wardrobe: a bridge between popular streetwear and traditional tailoring. The brand is an expression of modern man; his tastes, his touch, his style.

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Oli’s main inspirations come from hunting and the military. He adapts bits of Americana and ideas from Japan into his cool, English aesthetic. He admires Sandy Powell, costume designer for the Martin Scorsese movies Gangs of New York and The Aviator, as much as any fashion designer.

Oli has gained a cult following due to his use of quality fabrics, characteristic detailing, modern fitting, old-school construction and exquisite craftsmanship-characteristics which has been perfectly demonstrated in the new range of shoes.

“Oliver has that innate skill of being able to reinterpret an iconic menswear item and with just the slightest tweak of proportion, colour and fabric, redefine it as a modern classic. This Topman collaboration epitomises this with a collection that is both referential yet distinctively new”, commented Gordon Richardson, Topman design director.

The collection focuses on one style of boot and one style of shoe, incorporating a unique brick red EVA wedge sole design which Oliver has championed through his own range of shoes to great acclaim. All the boots have been designed in a traditional desert boot style in either navy blue, stone or chocolate brown suede whilst the shoe is an oxford style toe cap in both navy blue or off white nubuck with white stitching.

The collection will be available from May 10 through the London and New York flagship stores and on line.

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Topshop Launches Charity Christmas Dress Hire Project

Topshop’s Oxford Circus flagship store is exclusively offering the once in a lifetime chance for customers to take a walk through the wardrobes of its fabulous circle of fashion friends. With one-off pieces donated by the crème of the fashion and celebrity world, customers will have the chance to hire their dream designer dress for December’s forthcoming Christmas parties.

Shoppers will be able to browse the selection of garments and try things on for size between 26th November and 6th December, before the hire period which runs 7th – 23rd December. Dresses will be available to hire for one day, and following the dress hire period there will be the opportunity to enter a silent bid and be the life-long owner of their desired dress when it is auctioned. Dress hire costs just £40. Most importantly, all of the hire fees and proceeds f r o m the auction will go to Topshop’s chosen charities Age Concern and Help the Aged.

Celebrities that have kindly donated to the project include Kate Moss, who donated a beautiful beaded Lanvin party dress, and Freida Pinto, who gave a pale yellow Burberry Prorsum dress. Scarlett Johansson’s Nanette Lepore animal print minidress will be available for hire, alongside a full length floral gown by Dolce & Gabbana f r o m Peaches Geldof and a midnight blue evening dress by Australian designer Jayson Brundson f r o m Dita Von Teese. Customers will also have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to wear one of Nicola Roberts’ of Girls Aloud’s bespoke stage costumes f r o m the band’s recent tour.

Not only will the dresses be the main talking point of the evening, wearers will not risk running into anyone in the same inimitable piece.

Sophie Dahl commented: “I am thrilled to support Help the Aged and Age Concern through Topshop’s Christmas ‘Dress Me Up’ initiative. What a good cause to put a lovely frock on for. The dress I donated is one I love, a proper party dress that deserves an outing.”

Peaches Geldof is also thrilled to be able to support the campaign: “This dress was a gift f r o m my good friends Dolce & Gabbana. It was beautifully made and means a lot to me. I wore it in Cannes and had lots of fun; I hope the next person who hires it does too. I think dress hire for charity is a great idea and Age Concern and Help The Aged are worthwhile causes. I am glad to be able to give something back to the third generation.”

Emma Cook, designer, commented: “Having worked with Topshop for so long, we didn’t think twice about donating our dress. It’s such a great cause, especially at this time of year. The combination of being able to help support Age Concern & Help The Aged and the chance for someone to wear our dress that wouldn’t ordinarily be able to afford to, is such a fantastic concept.”

About Topshop
Topshop is continually recognised as being an authority on Womens clothing, having won several awards for design reputation and new services, and has a wide range of dresses, shoes, coats, women jackets, jeans and bags.

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Wynsors Offers Free Poncho With Welly Purchases

Wynsors, the footwear specialist, is offering a free poncho with any purchase of wellies for this year’s music festival season. This poncho can be used – not only to keep dry in the rain – but also to enter a competition on the Wynsors website to win £50 worth of vouchers to spend on iTunes.

wynsors

The free, disposal poncho is available with any purchase of a pair of festival wellingtons while stocks last and is perfect for festival revellers who may get caught in adverse weather conditions.

On top of this promotion, anyone who receives a free poncho is invited to send in a photo of themselves wearing the garment. Poncho wearers are encouraged to photograph themselves in interesting, funny or unusual places to stand out from the crowd and to put them in with a chance of winning a £50 iTunes voucher.

Entries for the competition close on 13 September 2009 – the last day of the Isle of Wight Bestival, which this year sees the likes of Kraftwerk, Elbow, Bjorn Again and Fight Like Apes performing.

Wynsors’ festival wellies come in a number of different styles and sizes. While men only have the traditional black and green styles to choose from, women have a much greater choice. The range for ladies includes standard colours, metallic silver and gold, as well as a collection of fashion wellies with various patterns including flowers and love hearts.

In addition to wellies, Wynsors has a complete range of other festival footwear. Walking boots – perfect for trekking through the muddy conditions most notably seen at Glastonbury as well as other festivals – are available. Wynsors also has a variety of flip flops, canvas shoes and trainers for the good weather.

The disposable festival poncho is also available for shoppers who are not in the market for a new pair of wellies, in the bags and accessories section of the site.

About Wynsors
Wynsors World of Shoes is a chain of 40 stores across the north of England and a website that delivers to anywhere in mainland UK. Founded in 1956, Wynsors works by the philosophy to be the one stop shop for value footwear for the whole family. Wynsors stocks all the leading footwear brands including Adidas, Converse and Nike. Wynsors sell more than four million pairs of shoes per year through their stores and their website. Delivery on orders over £40 made online is free.

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New Larger Shoe Sizes Collection By Base London

Base London, men’s footwear brand, has always been a big name in men’s shoes, but now it is big in big shoes too. Producing a range of larger size men’s leather formal and casual shoes, Base London is set to give the more ample sized guy a choice of fashion shoes that he can finally be proud to wear, with a choice of formal and casual styles ranging from size UK 12 to 15 (EUR 46 to 50).

Base London has released the men’s casual leather styles Vital Excel, Vista Excel and Control Excel in new mens large size shoes. These are all men’s fashion shoes crafted from the finest leathers, and are ideal for men who don’t want to sacrifice style just because they need big size shoes and want to have a relaxed look.

Control Excel by Base London brings a classic casual men’s lace up wallaby shoe, up to date with fresh detailing. Whether for a few drinks with friends or for a more dressed down look at work, this luxury leather versatile style is a great choice to complement any look.

Vital Excel and Vista Excel both incorporate rich crazy leathers with modern, up to date detailing to freshen up classic moccasin constructed casual loafers. A dual centre seam stitch runs down a vamp that is encircled by a chunky stitch that brings design features and stylish quality to the shoes. Vital Excel features an elasticated gusset to make the slip on extra comfortable, whilst Vista Excel reveals a fashionable side lace system, and both are packed with details and ooze style. Design heavy yet perfectly formed, Vista Excel and Vital Excel are ideal for any situation from catching up with a few mates down the pub or blagging the way into a club.

For the more formal occasion Base London’s smart formal men’s formal shoe Sense Excel, is the perfect slip on men’s loafer, with its strong detailing and high quality leathers. It takes a classic slip on loafer but adds a unique sole which wraps up onto the upper of the shoe at each side to create a contemporary look. This is combined with precise hand stitching around the moccasin toe and a luxurious leather outer and interior. An extremely versatile men’s shoe; it will be a staple for work with a suit or teamed with casual clothes for a more relaxed post work drink.

The new additions to the Base London collection mean larger men can step out of the box this summer and into a new more stylish, fashionable pair of Base London formal and casual mens shoes.

About Base London
Base London was founded in 1995 after a niche was spotted in the market – branded fashion formal footwear for the high street shoe shop. Previously consumers had the choice of own label or exclusive designer names with nothing in between.

base londonThe Base London Brand was launched at around the same time as lads’ mags such as FHM hit the shelves for the first time. These provided the perfect platform to talk directly to the target audience.

Keeping in line with consumer needs, the footwear range was expanded to include more casual styles. Base London rapidly earned an excellent reputation for high quality, affordable mens designer shoes and remains market leader in this arena.

Base London has received public commendation in the form of numerous finalist nominations in the Footwear Brand of the Year category of the FHM/Drapers Footwear Brand Awards. The company has actually gone on to win the award a remarkable 3 times – more than any other fashion brand has achieved.

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Burton Is Celebrating The Resurgence Of The 80’s And The Reuniting Of Ska Legends ‘The Specials’, With The Launch Of A Limited Edition Tonic Suit

With the 80’s making a forceful statement on the high street once again, the men’s fashion world is drawing influence from many cultural facets, from art to music. To celebrate this new trend and the 30th anniversary tour of cult band The Specials, Burton has designed two new exclusive versions of their classic tonic suit and used key design elements from their archives to create the new ‘Mod’ suit.

More prevalent than with other musical styles, achieving exactly the right look has always been a defining part of the Mod and Ska movement. Sharp suits with precise lines and clean cut styling epitomized the look of 2 Tone, and now with the reforming of The Specials to celebrate their 30th anniversary, the look is also set to make its return.

Available in deep blue and charcoal, the limited edition suit is 100% wool and has an extra finish which creates a slight sheen to give it the tonic look. The style is a one button single breasted slim fit jacket with a narrow peak lapel, while the trouser is narrower on the calf and thigh and at just £99 makes it an affordable style essential for every man. Slim fit tonic waistcoats can be added to help finish the classic ‘Rude Boy’ look.

The Specials tour will see the 2 Tone Coventry Gangsters getting suited and booted again in their iconic suits as they tour 6 venues across England and Scotland in April and May.

The limited edition Burton Tonic Suits will be available in the Bath, Poole, Bluewater, White City, New Enfield, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Swansea, and Braehead stores, as well as online.

About Burton
Burton has a long history in men’s clothing and fashion having been founded in 1903 by Montague Burton in Chesterfield. Burton now has over 400 outlets all over the UK and Ireland making it one of the country’s largest sellers of casual and formal menswear, including men’s suits, jeans, shirts, jackets, suits, knitwear, shorts, shoes, underwear, accessories and men’s tshirts.

Customers can also shop online from the Burton.co.uk website which offers free returns in-store or by post and fast delivery to their home. The site features a useful size guide to ensure customers can get the correct fit. They can also sign up for the Burton newsletter, which offers all the latest style updates, exclusive discounts and competitions.

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Fitness Footwear, a leading supplier of Merrell shoes is pleased to announce the launch of the Merrell brand’s new 2009 Spring/Summer catalogue

Fitness Footwear is the UK ‘s biggest online stockist of Merrell shoes, providing a one stop shop for the Merrell brand on the internet for over 4 years. By offering a wide range of Merrell shoes and styles in a complete selection of sizes the online retailer has been able to quickly build a substantial following for the Merrell brand.

Merrel’s new Spring/Summer 2009 catalogue will provide Fitness Footwear with an unrivalled opportunity to offer their customers a new range of fashionable and functional sandals, trainers, walking boots and other specialist shoes across a wide range of activities. Similarly, the 2009 range of Merrell footwear incorporates a number of new styles while expanding upon the world renowned Chameleon range with many new and exciting styles.

Luke Barlow, Fitness Footwear partner highlighted the company’s long history of working with Merrell,

“As a favoured retailer of Merrell footwear we have been able to develop a large and loyal customer base and build much renown for the American brand here in the UK . As such, we are looking forward to the new styles and innovations the spring and summer ranges will bring. I’m sure our many Merrell customers feel the same way.”

Offering the web’s widest choice of sports and outdoors shoes, Fitness Footwear and Merrell have made a winning combination since 2005. While Fitness Footwear promotes every outdoor activity f r o m running and hiking to more extreme sports such as parkour, the mission of the Merrell brand is to inspire the outdoor athlete in everyone by embracing the natural world or the urban landscape. With a philosophy that is driven by bringing people adventure and exhilaration, discovery and freedom, as well as self knowledge and fulfillment, the Merrell brand is the perfect flag for passionate online retailer Fitness Footwear.

The Merrell brand itself is owned by Wolverine World Wide Inc, an American superpower in shoes who recently acquired Cushe, adding the small, yet innovative brand to their awe inspiring portfolio which currently includes Bates, Hush Puppies, Sebago and also Merrell.

Emma Barlow, Fitness Footwear partner described the relationship with Wolverine and Merrell shoes

“You couldn’t ask for a better supplier than Merrell. We’ve had nothing but a great experience since day one with wonderful support and amicable solutions to any problems. As a customer is makes us feel valued and as an independent retailer we’ve been pleased to dedicate our time to them as well. It’s very much a giving relationship between Fitness Footwear and Merrell, creating a mutually beneficial business model.”

About Fitness Footwear

Founded in 2004, Fitness Footwear has rapidly grown into the UK’s most successful online retailer of sports shoes and outdoor footwear, with a bold dedication to outstanding service, easy transactions and secure online shopping for its customers.

These philosophies have led Fitness Footwear to become the online champions of many leading brands including Merrell, Fit Flops , Magnum boots and Caterpillar boots.

This press release was written by Adam Smith

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Burton announce VAT price reductions will be passed on to all customers from the 1st December

Following The Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling’s decision to cut Value Added Tax (VAT) from 17.5 per cent to 15 per cent, Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group has released a statement on behalf of a group of the high street’s most powerful retailers, confirming they will pass the full VAT cut onto their customers.

The change in the VAT rate will mean huge changes for all the shops in the Arcadia group, as all shelving and register prices will need to be updated. However, Burton, Arcadia, Mosaic Fashions, Bhs, Marks & Spencer, New Look and Next all confirmed in the statement they planned to pass the 2.5% VAT cut on to customers on Monday, or soon afterwards.

The group of retailers covers some of the biggest names on the high street, including; Topshop, Topman, Wallis, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge, Evans, Burton, Bhs, Oasis, Coast, Karen Millen, Warehouse, Principles, Shoe Studio Group, Jane Norman, New Look and Next fascias.

The statement by Sir Philip said: “Following the recent announcement reducing VAT from 17.5% to 15%, equating to a price reduction of 2.13%, we are pleased to confirm that it is our intention to pass the benefit of this reduction onto our customers.”

The price reduction will be given on standard rated product and will be applied on, or as soon after Monday December 1 as possible.

The statement added that this would, “allow for the complexities of implementing the changes required.”

It is unclear how the price cuts will be implemented, however many retailers are expected to take off the discount at the till point rather than by re-ticketing stock.

For Burton, all mens clothing, mens suits and mens accessories will be adjusted at point of purchase as of 1st December 2008.

About Burton
Burton has a long history in men’s clothing and fashion, having been founded in 1903 by Montague Burton in Chesterfield. Burton now has over 400 outlets all over the UK and Ireland making it one of the country’s largest sellers of casual and formal menswear, including mens shirts, jeans, jackets, knitwear, shorts, shoes, underwear and accessories.

Customers can also shop online from the Burton.co.uk website which offers free returns in-store or by post and fast delivery to their home.

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