Apparel

Rue La La cottons to Molly Sims
Boston – Rue La La is adding some celebrity appeal to its omnichannel partnership promoting cotton. Actress, model and author Molly Sims is the new face of its "Cotton. It's Your Favorite for a Reason" campaign with promotional group Cotton Inc.
Canadian department store to expand across country
Quebec -- The Quebec City-based Simons department store chains is planning to extend its brand across Canada, according to Canada’s Global News.

The 175-year-old Canadian retailer - plans to spend up to $200 million over the next four years on its expansion plan, which will result in eight additional stores openings across the country, the report said.

Macy’s reduces Pittsburgh presence

Cincinnati – Macy’s is reducing its presence in Pittsburgh. The retailer has sold its downtown Pittsburgh building at 400 Fifth Avenue to Philadelphia-based Core Realty and will close its store in that location.
Ascena downgrades 2015 outlook

Mahwah, N.J. - Ascena Retail Group Inc. has downgraded several aspects of its outlook for fiscal 2015, which ends July 25. Ascena now expects full-year adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations in the range of $365 million to $375 million, and full-year adjusted earnings per diluted share from continuing operations in the range of $0.57 to $0.60, as compared to its prior expectation of $0.70 to $0.75 per share
Take a look: Target comes to Boston’s Fenway neighborhood

Boston – A three-level CityTarget store is a main feature of a new $315 million mixed-use development on Boylston Street in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston. The Samuels & Associates development also includes a 172-unit luxury apartment building and adjoining 11-story office tower.

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Shoes for customers on the run

Vancouver – Customers on the run have a new option for purchasing shoes.

In an effort to enhance its mobile capabilities, OnlineShoes.com, a sister brand of Shoes.com, is launching a refreshed mobile responsive website.
Shoes.com still in growth mode

Shoes.com is laucnhing new efforts to make the shopping experience more convenient and accessible for customers on the go.

The company has launched a refreshed, mobile responsive OnlineShoes.com website and iOS app, designed to keep up with customer demand and enhance the mobile shopping experience for customers. The company will also release a mobile app for the Android platform that will debut later this summer.
Kate Hudson athleisure line going brick-and-mortar

Fabletics, Kate Hudson’s athletic wear and accessories line, is taking the next step in the evolution of the brand.

The athleisure brand co-founded by the award-winning actress will open its first brick-and-mortar stores at five General Growth Properties (GGP) shopping centers this fall to build off the success of its e-commerce platform.

Launched in 2013, Fabletics offers premium fashion-forward activewear for women, and recently launched a versatile and high-performance athletic wear line for men, FL2.
$350 million Liberty Center reveals first group of tenants

Cincinnati -- The highly publicized mixed-use project Liberty Center, in Cincinnati, Ohio, has just announced its first slate of retail tenants.

With a scheduled October 2015 opening, Liberty Center includes more than 800,000 sq. ft. of retail, restaurants and entertainment, including a 200,000-sq.-ft. Dillard’s anchor that will be the state of Ohio’s first ground-up Dillard’s store.
And the latest online retailer to go offline is…

Chicago -- The list of online retailers jumping into the offline space keeps getting longer. And this one has celebrity underpinnings.
J. Crew to launch new store concept

New York -- J.Crew Group, a company struggling to regain its mojo, is jumping into the value category.

The company announced it will launch a new store banner, J.Crew Mercantile, selling lower-priced (“value-driven”) merchandise with classic J. Crew styles for women, men and children. The first J.Crew Mercantile store will open in late July, at The Shops at Park Lane in Dallas. The retailer plans to open more Mercantile stores in strip centers and some malls, Bloomberg reported.
Vestar center in Dallas welcomes four new retailers

Dallas - Village on the Parkway, a 357,731-sq.-ft. retail center situated on 31 acres in Dallas, announced that four new retailers will open at the property during the next few months. Privately held real estate firm Vestar currently handles property management, leasing and marketing at the center.

The new retailers include Soma, which will occupy 2,549 sq. ft. with a July 18 opening. Also opening on July 18 is Francesca’s, which will occupy 1,400 sq. ft.