loose threads

Hermès Sales Jump 12 Percent; Barack Obama’s Pants Too Long?

• Sales at Hermès, which breeds its own crocodiles to make handbags, rose 12 percent in the second quarter. [WSJ]

• Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte were the first Americans to win the Swiss Textiles Award last year, but this year three of the six finalists are American labels: Alexander Wang, Thakoon, and Ohne Titel. [FWD]

• The new JCPenney store coming to the Manhattan Mall will include a full-size Sephora, even though a stand-alone Sephora already exists around the corner. The new store will also tout perks like same-day delivery in Manhattan for $15 and an in-store interactive panel for finding out-of-stock or catalogue items. [WWD]

Roberto Cavalli’s fall campaign features paparazzi-esque shots of Isabeli Fontana (who also appeared on the foldout cover of Vogue’s May issue) and Karen Elson inside the El Morocco nightclub, shot by Steven Meisel. [WWD]

• Bernhard Roetzel, author of the recently released second edition of Gentleman: A Timeless Guide to Fashion: “[L]et me say with greatest respect for the president of the United States that I find his suit trousers sometimes a bit too long … And I never understood why the man with the biggest intelligence agency behind him didn’t know that a white tie is not worn with a dinner suit.” [Moment/NYT]

Hermès Sales Jump 12 Percent; Barack Obama’s Pants Too Long?