I figure-in the next few months, there's gonna be SO much press, so it probably deserves a new topic.



'World of JLo' boutique raises hopes for Field's

July 25, 2005

BY SANDRA GUY Business Reporter

Pop diva Jennifer Lopez' decision to open her first U.S. boutique at Marshall Field's State Street store has set off a flurry of speculation about the future of the store's exclusive boutiques.

The 500- to 600-square-foot "World of JLo" boutique will be modeled after JLo's only other shop, in Moscow, and will sell handbags, jewelry, fragrances, underwear, sportswear and sunglasses.

The boutique will be hard to miss because its design by Robin Kramer will feature padded quilted walls, patent-leather ottomans and a dusty rose color scheme with gold trim. It will be on the State Street store's second floor in the "young contemporary" department.

The announcement last week offers hope to fans of Field's boutiques that the stores-within-a-store concept will continue after Field's gets a new owner this fall. The luxury shops, run by outside vendors such as Baccarat crystal, Bose electronics, and menswear shops Thomas Pink and Alexandre Savile Row, were a key part of Field's flagship store makeover two years ago.

Federated Department Stores, owner of Macy's and Bloomingdale's, bought Field's owner, St. Louis-based May Department Stores, for $11 billion. The deal requires antitrust approval, but is expected to go through this fall.

Terry Lundgren, CEO of Federated, told reporters after a July 13 shareholders' meeting that he wanted to get a better look at "what's working and what's not" inside Field's store at 111 N. State.

On the other hand, Lundgren signaled that State Street could remain as is, but that its new parent would use more real estate inside the store for unique merchandise.

"There is no problem with space in that store for plenty of high-end merchandise," Lundgren said.

Andy Hilfiger, brother of Tommy Hilfiger and president and co-founder of Sweetface Fashion Co., the JLo brand holding company, said Field's and Federated have been excellent customers of the JLo brands, and he expects the relationship to continue. "I believe we're in good hands," he said.

Nevertheless, the Wall Street Journal quoted Lundgren in a June 9 article as saying that Federated had no plans to expand its sales of JLo's three-year-old apparel collection at Macy's beyond the 110 stores where it is sold. Stores had early problems with the apparel's fit, but Lundgren described it as improved.

About six months ago, Field's representatives reviewed Lopez' latest Sweetface women's apparel collection, which launched earlier this year at New York's Fashion Week, and suggested selling all of Lopez' products in Chicago. The Sweetface collection is heavy on embellishments, short-shorts, cashmere sweaters, fur capes and baby doll tops.

Hilfiger said he suggested the boutique concept.

Field's included Lopez in its Glamorama fashion benefit last year, and already sells her fragrances, accessories and intimate apparel collection in different departments at the State Street store.

Lopez -- singer, actress, designer, repeat bride and tabloid favorite -- is slated to open the boutique at a fashion show at the store on Sept. 22.

Retail analyst Candace Corlett said she understood Lundgren's concern about whether some of the boutiques produce a return on their investment.

"Who is buying organic, natural bath remedies at Field's?" said Corlett, an analyst at WSL Strategic Retail in New York.

Analysts Britt Beemer and George Whalin, in separate interviews, said they believe that Federated will turn Field's into a Macy's store and fashion it after upscale Macy's stores in New York and San Francisco.

"I can't imagine that Federated will have something so different than the rest of the chain as the boutiques in one store [in downtown Chicago]," said Beemer, chairman of America's Research Group, based in Charleston, S.C.

But Corlett offered an opposing view: Federated should install its most popular boutiques in a greater number of Field's stores.

Said Corlett, "Exclusivity is a fine thing, but I don't believe that department stores are in a financial position to dicker. They need to give shoppers more reason to go into the mall stores."

i didn't know that.!

just realised the opening is in 2 days already

well guys i'm leavin' in a few hours...will be in Chicago tomorrow evening...I'll try to get the scoop for the boutique opening and report back as soon as possible...but it might not be until Sunday when I come back - wish me luck gettin' close!!

hey bellajlo im leving tommorow to go see her.so i guess ill see you don there

Where is this going to be? Where is this store?

i wonder if later on Jen is going to go Martha Inc. on us and start selling stock from her company...I'd buy as much I can...

its gonna be in chicago at marshall fields

Style shows, cosmetic demonstrations and celebrity appearances are the highlights of the city of Chicago's "Fashion Focus Chicago," which started Monday and runs through Sept. 29.
In conjunction with those events, Marshall Field's will hold its second annual "Fall Fashion Week."The following are expected to be some of the highlights of both. (All Field's events will be held at the downtown store, 111 N. State St., Chicago.)

Chicago Designer Shop at Field's. The new boutique is to be open through Oct. 31. Original creations by 20 of Chicago's independent designers will be featured.

Fashion Columbia Study Collection, on display until Sept. 30, at the downtown Palmer House Hilton windows, on Monroe Street between State and Wabash streets. Fashions created by Chicago-based designers will be exhibited.

Actress/singer Jennifer Lopez will appear at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Field's to debut her new boutique, "World of JLo Shop," in the store. A charity fashion show featuring Lopez's collection will be held later that evening to benefit Children's Memorial Hospital. Show tickets are $100. For more information, call (773) 880-4268.

Happy Hour at the Beauty Bar, from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Field's. Beverages and hors d'oeuvres will be served to patrons as they review fragrance and makeup collections with beauty expert Fatima Olive. For a reservation, call (312) 781-5445.

"Street Beat" Fashion Show on State, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 28 on State Street, between Washington and Madison streets. The Chicago Loop Alliance will present a free fashion show featuring clothing designed by students attending Chicago fashion and design institutions.

Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion, 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at Chicago's Millennium Park rooftop garden and promenade on Michigan Avenue. Clothing from Chicago designers, including Lara Miller, Shane Gabier, Michelle Tan and Orlando Espinoza, will be modeled. For ticket information, call (312) 229-1701.

My home girl gave me a pic of Jen from the paper and it was about 2morow! I wanted to go sooo bad but my dad wont take me and my mom's not home! Plus I have skoo!

u better find a way to get there cause its free,you can get a picture and autograph wit jen as long as you buy something from her store tommorow.and i know this for a fact cause i called the store and i also called marshall fields and they told me that.

OMG!!!!!I cant belive that!! I HAve to gooooo!!!I will die if I cant!! Im mad now!! I have to go!!Im freakin out now!!@!!

if you dont bellieve me call marshall fields tommorow morning they open at 10am.and they will tell you aswell/so you lknow that im not lying

O nooo I belive u im just mad cuz i dont have a ride!! Sorry i made u think that!

i was leaving tonight,but my trip is canceled.my car rental went all wrong.lost my wallet with my liscence and credit card soo i cant go anymore and i was leaving like three hours ago.

I hope this store is a big success for Jen and all goes well at the opening, no unwanted guest protesting.

No we have to wait for PeTA to ruin the fun....this is today...any pics...wait @ what time does this start?

4:30 pm

oww cant wait

I'd love for her to wear a floor-length fendi fur coat made from an endangered animal, laugh at the ugly PETA hippies and pose glamorously (ala paris hilton) for the paparazzi in her Scott Barnes make up at the store opening. I'd say she is getting ready right now. I hope Jenny will dazzle us!

^yea....

so I guess its going on right now

Jennifer Lopez debuts new clothing line at Marshall Field's By Ben Bradley

September 22, 2005 - Hundreds of cheering fans showed up at Marshall Field's on State Street Thursday afternoon to catch a glimpse of JLO. Jennifer Lopez was at Field's to kick off a new clothing line. But with Field's becoming Macy's next year will the store still be able to draw big names for fashion?

'Jenny From The Block' grew up about a mile from the Macy's Department store in New York City but she is debuting her Sweetface Fashion Company line at the store that will become Macy's in a year.

"We have only one thing to do: Let's shop!" said Jennifer Lopez, Singer, fashion designer.

This is not your mother's Marshall Field's -- and that's kind of the point. As this stately store on State Street beings the process of morphing into Macy's -- executives at the parent company Federated Department stores have to decide what to carry -- and who to appeal to.

"I've actually never shopped here but I plan to before I go home," said Janelle Pahnke, visiting from Arizona.

This new JLO line called "Sweetface" is making its world debut in Chicago. It is urban and chic -- just the kind of thing that will leave an impression on shoppers.

"There's still a lot that's unknown in terms of how we'll operate in the future but what go us here is thinking we're doing to provide a different experience for our guests," said Ralph Hughes, Marshall Field's Vice President.

Experts say the trick over the next year will be for this once grand store to offer new visitors -- and those who simply haven't shopped here in awhile -- a powerful first impression.

"The store is going to have to become fresher, newer, more interesting to people to attract and hold people coming back to the store," said George Rosenbaum, retail analyst.

Management says it's too soon to tell what the magic formula will be -- but those at Thursday afternoon's appearance by Jennifer Lopez -- have definite opinions.

"Since JLO has her clothes are here, I'm going to come more often now," said Mabely Vargas Shopper

"Now that I see they have nice clothes here and other Hispanic girls like JLO making it -- it makes us want to buy even more, definitely," said Jackie Mendiole, shopper.

"The selection here is such that you can't mix and match the suits. You have to the same size top and bottom -- down the street you can mix and match in another size," said Camilah Collins, shoppers.

The trick for this century old store will be to attract a younger crowd -- while not alienating its long-time loyal customers -- many of whom are already miffed about the name change.

"I happen to like the Marshall Field's name for here because there's so much history -- but Macy's isn't a bad name to be," said Andy Hilfiger, J-Lo Fashion Company.

Fashionista Andy Hilfiger says Chicago and State Street are still the place to be when debuting new lines. He says regardless of the name on the door -- this piece of property, its size, history and style make this store one of the four A-list entry points for new apparel and products.

"I look at 34th Street in New York, State Street, and San Francisco actually - Union Square - that's the fashion I'm interested in," said Hilfiger.

Andy Hilfiger heads-up Jennifer Lopez's new clothing line.

Jennifer Lopez waves to the crowd as she opens the first-ever 'World of JLO' shop in the U.S. inside Marshall Field's Chicago State Street Store September 22, 2005. The shop houses the entire JLO and Sweetface collections, intimates, fragrances, jewelry and accessories.

Jen looks so pretty and happy!!