Apparel

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Chico's announced that Celia Rao Visconti has been named SVP marketing for Chico's. Rao Visconti will report directly to Cinny Murray, brand president of Chico's and will oversee the brand's marketing strategy and initiatives.  

Fort Myers, Fla. -- Chico’s FAS announced Monday that it has named Celia Rao Visconti as senior VP of marketing.

She will report directly to Cinny Murray, brand president of Chico's, and will oversee the brand's marketing strategy and initiatives. 

Rao Visconti was previously executive VP and chief marketing officer for New York & Co.

SECAUCUS, N.J.  -- The Children's Place Retail Stores has announced the appointment of Michael Giannelli as SVP design, effective March 28, 2011. He will report to Natalie Levy, EVP merchandising and design.

Giannelli spent 18 years with Gap Inc., culminating in his appointment as VP Gap Body. For 12 years of his tenure with the company, he designed children's apparel and non-apparel for Gap Kids and Baby Gap. Most recently, Giannelli held the position of SVP design for Ann Taylor Loft. 

It promises to be a fashion forward spring at Target as this week began a first-of-its-kind designer event online and in stores. The company is celebrating five years of its GO International program by offering a collection of 34 dresses from 17 designers who participated in the program in the past. Ranging from $24.99 to $44.99, the GO International Designer Collective will be available March 13 through April 10.

NEW YORK -- Macy’s announced Matthew Williamson as the second acclaimed fashion designer to take part in the designer capsule collection series for the retailer’s contemporary fashion Impulse department. Sold in approximately 225 Macy’s stores nationwide and on macys.com beginning April 13, Williamson’s collection will include dresses, tops, scarves and unique leather and suede pieces.

Price points for the collection will range from $50 to $120, with specialty pieces selling up to $300. 

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif. — First it was Family Dollar, now 99 Cents Only Stores finds itself in buyout talks, as investors are seeing the value in discount store chains.

The company has received a proposal to take the company private from the company's founding family and investment firm Leonard Green & Partners LP for $19.09 per share, the Associated Press reported.

New York — Ann Taylor Stores Corp. On Friday posted a bigger-than-expected quarterly profit on improved sales. The company, which said it will change its corporate name to Ann Inc. to better reflect its multichannel focus, also forecast strong first-quarter sales.

PLANO, Texas -- JCPenney is giving underprivileged teens the chance to have their very own prom dress, while at the same time encouraging those more fortunate to give to a worthy cause. The company announced that from March 13 through April 2, customers can donate their gently worn prom dresses at one of more than 1,100 JCPenney stores nationwide.