Posts by Kevin Harson
Inside Beauty’s Growing Universe of Distressed Acquirers
In 2025, beauty M&A was a tale of two extremes. There were the buzzy, hefty transactions of red-hot assets like Hailey Bieber’s Rhode (acquired by E.l.f. Beauty for $1 billion), Medik8 (acquired by L’Oréal for $1.1 billion) and Touchland (acquired by Church & Dwight for up to $880 million), and on the opposite end of…
Read MoreFeminine Care Is Soaring on TikTok Shop – Meet the Top 10 Brands Driving the Category
TikTok Shop’s beauty boom is turning into a wellness one, too. Data from Charm.io shows that feminine care was the number-two beauty category by sales growth on TikTok Shop in 2025, reaching roughly $17 million in U.S. sales. That’s up 333 percent versus the year prior, tracking only behind the 480 percent growth of what…
Read MoreFrom the Archive: Brigitte Bardot – the 1960s Icon Who Revolutionized Fashion and Film
French actress and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot (1934 to 2025) revolutionized the concept of the cinema screen siren during the 1960s while leaving an indelible mark on fashion. Her bombshell looks, signature French girl chic, and iconic informal gingham wedding dress designed by Jacques Esterel — a commission notably declined by Yves Saint Laurent…
Read MoreNew Balance’s Trendy 1906L Sneaker Loafer Gets a Tuxedo Makeover
New Balance isn’t letting up on its sneaker loafer releases. In 2026, the Boston-based sportswear company will deliver a tuxedo-like Black/Angora colorway of the popular 1906L loafer. In what would have been an ideal piece of New Year’s footwear, the shoe features a predominantly black upper and tooling which breaks things up with a creamy…
Read MoreDSW’s Biggest Sale of the Year Is Here and It’s Good— Save Over 60% on Top Styles From Ugg, Crocs, Nike, Michael Kors
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, WWD may receive an affiliate commission. 10 Trending Shoe Styles on Sale at DSW View more + The gift wrap has been discarded, the Christmas entrées have been devoured, and you might or might not be satisfied with the presents…
Read MoreThe Biggest Footwear Business Issues That Grabbed Headlines in 2025
If footwear firms thought 2025 would be challenging under a new presidential administration, they weren’t wrong. The year was fraught with many competing concerns and much uncertainty, mostly due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs and trade policy. That unleashed a chain of events impacting business planning throughout the year. There were lessons to…
Read MoreThe Best Duffel Bags for Taking the Road Less Traveled
Most Organized Duffel Bag: KNKG Conquer Duffel 40L AccordionItemContainerButton Pros Tons of pockets Removable dividers Four color options available Cons Not super formal, mostly suited for gym and work Whether you’re a seriously type-A packer, going fishing, hauling tons of gym gear, or need plenty of pockets for film equipment, the KNKG Conquer Duffel has…
Read MoreLady Glenconner Talks About Life With the British Royals in Her New Book, ‘Manners & Mischief’
LONDON — For an inside track on the British royals — the good bits, at least — look no further than Lady Glenconner’s latest, and possibly her last, memoir “Manners & Mischief: An A-Z of a Life Lived Well,” a collection of anecdotes, memories and reflections from the nonagenarian who grew up with Queen Elizabeth…
Read MoreBoxing Day Footfall Rises in the U.K., but It’s Still Unclear Where, and How Much, People Spent
LONDON — Boxing Day footfall hit a 10-year high as British shoppers hunted for bargains during the long Christmas holiday weekend in the U.K. According to MRI, an international analytics company, footfall rose 4.4 percent year-over-year across a variety of retail destinations, ranging from high streets to out-of-town retail parks and high-end destinations such as…
Read MoreKyle Richards Gets a Boost from Chunky Platform Boots in Aspen
Kyle Richards bundled up for a walk around Aspen, grounded with a pair of winter-ready boots. The “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star spent her Christmas in Aspen, and a few days after the holiday she was seen with her daughters in the ski town. Kyle Richards (center) with her daughters Alexia Umansky, Sophia Umansky…
Read MoreFrench Actress and Style Icon Brigitte Bardot Dies at 91
Brigitte Bardot, the actress whose sensual style defined French fashion in the ‘50s and ‘60s and helped usher in the sexual revolution, has died at the age of 91. French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the film star and animal rights activist, often referred to simply by her initials B.B., whose face was used…
Read MoreBest Luxury Shoe Collaborations of 2025: Christian Louboutin x Maison Margiela and More Buzzy Moments
2025 brought about a slew of fashion trends in the footwear realm, many of which were embodied by buzzy luxury collaborations. These partnerships spanned a wide range, from French fashion houses teaming up on glamorous dress shoes to sport and luxury labels teaming up on athletic products. Below, FN rounds up some of the best…
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