Free Republic

All is not well in the luxury world. Stalwart luxury buyers in China are cutting back, according to recent statements from Burberry and Richemont, among others. New data from research firm Euromonitor International confirms that the industry is in a bit of a slump. Global luxury sales are on track to grow by 3% this year, the slowest rate in four years. Euromonitor reckons that growth will pick up next year, though, driven by its strongest segment in recent years: accessories, specifically men’s accessories. The luxury goods industry has been “manning up” of late, says Fflur Roberts of Euromonitor. A...

Stuff has spent the long summer shoved miserably in the pockets of my blue jeans and khakis. Stuff like my wallet. It presses against my backside when I sit. My keys scratch my thighs with every step. When my reading glasses or sunglasses aren't clattering to the ground, they are hooked through the top of my shirt; if I cross my arms with abandon, I could break the frames. My iPhone tugs me down, and if I'm sitting when it chirps, I panic: How will I fish it out of my pocket in time? As we approach September, with every...

Coach Inc. (COH) is opening its first men's-only store as the retailer moves to extend its reach beyond traditional female customers. The store will be on trendy Bleecker Street in New York City's West Village, taking over space that was occupied by a Ruehl boutique that was closed as Abercrombie & Fitch Inc. (ANF) shuttered the concept last year. Coach, known for its leather handbags and accessories for women, wants to explore "a broader men's opportunity for the brand globally," said Mike Tucci, Coach's president of North America retail. Coach is also opening a few men's shops in department stores...

Are you a man who has been shamed into urinating while sitting down? Well, the the Chicago Tribune has found the perfect product to take with you to and from the toilet! That's right, it's the "murse!" "Guys are grasping the benefits of carrying, go ahead and say it, a purse It takes a big man to carry a lady-like bag. Wallets, cell phones, keys, PDAs, laptop computers - even the deepest of pockets can't hold everything the average guy is hauling around these days. While no-frills nylon gym totes or ho-hum pleather business cases would suffice, men are increasingly...