FOLEY+CORINNA L.A AND OTHER FASHION TIDBITS

FOLEY+CORINNA STORE OPENING

founders Dana Foley and Anna Corinna

Dios Mio Alehjaaaaaandro(Dania Ramirez)

Amy Osbourne in the mid

Ashley Scott

Michelle Trachtenberg

MICHAEL KORS STORE OPENING

WARHOL DENIM-
Warhol is set to be immortalized as the inspiration for a denim collection created by Pepe Jeans London. The Madrid-based brand has acquired a European license from the Andy Warhol Foundation to produce a collection of apparel and accessories dubbed The Andy Warhol Collection by Pepe Jeans London.

Nish Soneji, managing director of Pepe Jeans Europe, clearly sees the link between the two — even if fans of the artist might be cringing about the deal. "Pepe Jeans London is a brand that achieves innovative originality in all its activities," said Soneji. "Andy Warhol being a contemporary icon, immersed in the same ethos, made it a natural pairing of a preeminent jeans brand with an iconic timeless artist."

The 250-piece men's and women's collection will make its debut at Pitti Uomo in Florence in January, and later that month it will show at the Mies van der Rohe pavilion at Bread & Butter in Barcelona. A spokesman for Pepe said the range would retail in Europe only.The collection will comprise two lines, called Pop and Factory. While both will include Warhol-branded denim, casualwear and accessories, the company said Pop would take its inspiration from Warhol's signature works, such as "Campbell's Soup Cans."In contrast, Factory will take its cue from the style of Warhol and his crowd. A capsule collection of pieces from the line will launch at retail at Pepe's London flagship on Portobello Road in May, while a full range for fall 2008 will hit stores in August.


REBRANDING FRENCH CONNECTION-
French Connection plans to focus more on luxury and sophistication for spring (Leaving behind the cheeky, and often controversial, FCUK campaigns of the past). "That is really the challenge," said Fabien Baron, on changing the way people see the brand. His agency, Baron & Baron, was in charge of art direction and he also shot the campaign. "FCUK was not about the product, but it got attention. Now, for the first time, we want to establish an image drawn from fashion and lifestyle to elevate the brand."


AMERICAN APPAREL DEAL SET TO CLOSE: A year after announcing plans to acquire vertical manufacturer and retailer American Apparel, New York investment firm Endeavor Acquisition Corp. said its shareholders will meet today to vote on the transaction. If approved, Endeavor will immediately complete the deal and issue 37.3 million shares to American Apparel founder Dov Charney, or a maximum value of $526.1 million. Endeavor also said it will pay $67.9 million in cash to Sang Ho Lim, American Apparel's other principal shareholder, and that certain employees of Los Angeles-based American Apparel will receive cash bonuses totaling $2.5 million.