fashion

Athleta, a women's sportswear merchant that the Gap bought in 2008, opened its first two East Coast stores in New York this week. At a time when 200 Gap stores are closing, Athleta is sprinting toward its goal of 50 stores by 2013. But can it beat out its fast-growing competitors?

Chipkos hopes its latest pair of fashionable flip-flops could help save the Costa Rican rainforests. One purchase will protect 100,000 square feet of the eco-rich land. But it's had no takers so far. Did we mention the sandals cost $18,000?

Have you ever imagined walking down the red carpet with Christina Applegate, Eddie Cibiran or Kathryn Hahn? You don't have to stop dreaming. A fall marketing campaign by Bloomingdale's and NBC will enable customers to take pictures with digital versions of NBC's stars.

Consumers who don't feel good about their body image are less likely to purchase something they try on if they see an attractive shopper wearing the same thing, according to a study in the August issue of the Journal of Consumer Research.

Madonna and her 14-year-old daughter, Lourdes "Lola" Leon, have designed a juniors line for Macy's called Material Girl. But will the edgy style prove too sexy for teens -- and the parents they're shopping with?

Lands' End has named Edgar Huber, former CEO of Juicy Couture, as its new chief executive. Will he be able to breathe new life into the 48-year-old brand?

In an attempt to turn around flagging sales, Gap has launched a new brand devoted to jeans from 1969, the year the company was founded. But can retro styles alone bring back its old popularity?

As part of a larger push to bring its classic American design aesthetic to international markets -- and build on its recent Italian successes -- Gap will debut a flagship store in Rome on Via del Corso, a key shopping area, on Saturday.

The nation's big retailers are betting on exclusive lines to ring up back-to-school sales, and also targeting kids and teens where they wile away the hours -- online -- with digital campaigns designed to both entertain and stoke a social-shopping experience tailor-made for the tech-savvy generation.

Gilt Groupe pioneered the private "flash sale" fashion website biz, which is now one of the fastest growing sectors in retail. Kevin Ryan, Gilt Groupe's CEO, spoke with us about growth opportunities, the world of private-sale sites, and competition -- including why it has a leg up on Amazon.