Leslie Levesque

What an incredible evening to celebrate and welcome RAISEfashion’s newest Masterclass cohort. This marks J.Crew Group's fifth year partnering with RAISEfashion, and we are so proud to support a program that expands access, opportunity, and meaningful industry connection for emerging designers.  Congratulations to this exceptional group of designers and thank you @BoF and Yasmine Dahlberg for sharing more about our celebration and the 2026 cohort: https://lnkd.in/eMxNuVAN Creating a more inclusive and equitable fashion industry is a shared responsibly. We can all have impact by investing in the next generation of talent that will shape the future of our industry. 

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In luxury retail, leadership is often mistaken for control and constant direction. True store leaders don’t dominate the floor, they empower their teams to deliver excellence with confidence and autonomy.

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This space communicates confidence before a single word is spoken. The visual language is clean, intentional, and disciplined, allowing product, proportion, and materiality to do the heavy lifting. There’s a clear respect for negative space and sightlines, which elevates both the customer journey and the perceived value of the assortment. What stands out most is how the environment supports discovery without distraction. This is retail design that understands pace, flow, and dwell time, not just beauty. When visual strategy and operational clarity meet at this level, it creates an experience that feels premium, scalable, and future ready. Strong execution by the team bringing this to life.

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Luxe department store operator Saks Global plans to close nine more stores as part of its Chapter 11 restructuring, with most of the closures affecting the Saks Fifth Avenue banner. https://lnkd.in/gXMMHk2v

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The Best store GM makes the difference During my 38 years in Retail and Fashion, I think the most underrated position is the GM of a department store . I had the pleasure of working with some all stars . Amazing Merchants. Clinton Paul - Saks San Francisco Don Perinchief -Westchester Lord and Taylor Carolyn Elder - Saks New Orleans Gretchen Pace - Saks Boston These folks , and many more made the companies I worked for great. To be a great GM you need the right and left brain thing happening. You are a big time people person . You need to be “on” for the customers . Dealing with the issues & needs . The best customers are the most needy. And the same goes for top sales associates. The best ones are a lot to handle. You also need to be a great developer of talent & a recruiter. Combine that with dealing with “corporate “ and you have a shit storm most days. Product - you need to figure out and lobby the corporate merchants for the “right” lines for your store . Colors , sizes , brands & then negotiate to get it . Then sell it - mean what you say and say what you mean ! These folks had a different gear that I appreciate. They could reverse a trend in a day. Like a general in a war , these GM’s could rally their stores & change in direction just with attitude & moxy. I remember Clinton from the San Fran days opening the mens store in 97. Great handle on product with a 25 million dollar mens store , down the street from the main building that had the best classic mdse to the best advanced designer in 5 floors of kick ass. He lobbied for product & got the best people in the city as sellers. Don was my GM at L&T Westchester & I remember him going through the flash by department then going to the floor to roll up the sleeves and reset the floor to get it right. A “hands on “ general. The Saks New Orleans store was special catering to the locals & tourists with Carolyn making it a top Saks store from demanding the best for her customers & her dedication to developing the best team. She made Saks New Orleans a top door , hurricane & all! Gretchen pushed the central merchants & her team to make Saks Boston a juggernaut. Rivaling the NY volume with some brands was not by accident. She had discipline to drive the group for results . Amazing store & GM! The Saks men’s shoe biz was super special due to the team’s dedication. Without a doubt the GM of a store makes or breaks the business. The skill set and devotion of this position is crucial to a company’s success. They can create momentum. Momentum is special in retail. You can’t touch it , you can’t see it , but oh can you feel it . Thanks to those mentioned above & to all the great ones I worked with for decades. Without a great GM you will not realize a store’s or company’s full potential. #retail #fashion #greatGM’s

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Patrice Louvet, President & Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Lauren, gives his take on 21st century leadership at WWD's Apparel and Retail CEO Summit.

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We recently announced a strategic realignment of our Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus Stores teams. With this move, all customer-facing functions for these brands, including Brand Partnerships & Buying, Merchandise Planning, Marketing, Digital, Commercial Analytics and Customer Insights, and now Store Experience will be part of the Saks Global Commercial organization, led by Emily Essner, President and Chief Commercial Officer. The structure will allow us to move quickly as an integrated team to capture opportunities to maximize growth and better serve our customers and partners as work to redefine luxury retail. With this change in structure, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Mary McGreevy to Chief Stores Officer, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. Reporting to Emily, Mary will be responsible for leading the strategy and performance of our store network, overseeing the in-store customer experience and driving innovation to deliver a luxury experience that is artfully curated for every customer. https://lnkd.in/ecmeH4N5

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In our continuing commitment to professional development in our virtual classroom at SMCP North America, Sr. District Manager, Francine Skowronski, and I had the pleasure of kicking off the first session of our 6-part Recruitment 2.0 Advanced Training Series for our North America Area Managers. Together, we launched an exciting learning journey to transform how our Field Leaders approach recruitment—from reactive to proactive, with a focus on strategic talent sourcing and pipeline creation for Store Manager and Assistant Store Manager roles. Each session includes real-time exercises, passive candidate sourcing techniques, and LinkedIn optimization strategies. Our Area Managers are learning how to identify, engage, and connect with top-tier talent to help drive the future success of our Sandro, Maje, and Fursac brands across North America. The future of field recruitment is here—and it's personal, data-driven, and pipeline-powered. 💼✨ #SMCP #Recruitment2Point0 #TalentStrategy #FieldLeadership #RetailCareers #ProfessionalDevelopment #PassiveRecruitment #TalentPipeline #HiringExcellence #LinkedInRecruiting #PeopleFirst #RetailLeadership #CareerGrowth #LuxuryRetail #Sandro #Maje #Fursac #SMCPNorthAmerica #RetailHiring #Retail #TAW #TalentAcquisitionWeek #SHRM #Retail #RetailManagement #TalentAcquistion #Recruiting  Ida Simonsen Tommie M. Laura O'Steen Yetman Elizabeth McGhee Kerri Solomine AJ Mundie Walky Torres Grace Amarante Maria Freedberg Sanjeet Parsard Sandra Gaj Lori Sherman Crystal Johnson DeAnna Hooker Francine Skowronski

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Saks Global announces CEO Marc Metrick's immediat exit – Richard Baker takes Interim role. Saks Global confirmed today that Marc Metrick is stepping down as CEO, after nearly 30 years with the group, including eight as CEO. Executive Chairman Richard Baker assumes interim leadership. The timing is telling: this announcement comes 48 hours after the >$100M interest payment miss we analyzed yesterday, as Chapter 11 is reported to be in preparation. - Why Metrick is stepping down now? Scapegoat for financial distress: Post-$2.65B Neiman Marcus merger (2024), debt has become unsustainable. Missed payments and vendor pressure have driven the need for a visible leadership change to buy time with creditors. Operational integration struggles: Merging two legacy department store organizations while traffic and sales eroded required decisive execution. As a long-time retail operator, Metrick bore the brunt. Signal to creditors & vendors: Key leadership change buys time and shows ownership stepping in ahead of restructuring. - Why Richard Baker as interim replacement? Real estate & turnaround specialist: Through his roles across Hudson’s Bay Co. and NRDC, Baker has deep experience structuring, monetizing and negotiating retail real estate assets – key to unlocking value in a Chapter 11 scenario. Aligned with lenders: As majority owner and deal architect, he has direct ties to private credit players. Precedent in distressed retail: Baker previously navigated HBC through multiple restructurings and asset sales - exactly the playbook needed here. For PE investors, family offices, and luxury strategists: this marks a clear pivot from growth to survival mode. How are you adjusting your 2026 luxury retail theses in light of these distressed signals? #TheFashionLedger #LuxuryIndustry #RetailStrategy #SaksGlobal

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New York Fashion Week is here — one of the busiest, most dynamic, and exciting times of the year in our city. As someone who has led retail teams, built partnerships, and navigated countless events, I’ve learned a few strategies that help make NYFW not just memorable but impactful. Here are my top tips: 1️⃣ Be Intentional with Networking Don’t just collect business cards or LinkedIn adds. Think about who you want to meet, why, and how you can add value to them. A simple follow-up message that shows genuine interest goes a long way. 2️⃣ Support Your Community If a friend, peer, or colleague invites you to their event, show up. Behind every runway or pop-up is months of hard work, late nights, and creative energy. Your presence and support matter. 3️⃣ Manage Your Energy With so many shows, parties, and activations, burnout is real. Prioritize what aligns most with your goals and give yourself time to recharge. Remember: you don’t need to be everywhere to make an impact. 4️⃣ Stay Organized The next two weeks are packed with events, deadlines, and opportunities. Keep a calendar, track your RSVPs, and set reminders for follow-ups. Being prompt and respectful with responses shows professionalism (and helps others manage their own busy schedules). 5️⃣ Follow Up Thoughtfully Met someone great? Send a quick note within 48 hours. Whether it’s a thank-you, a collaboration idea, or simply “it was nice to meet you,” it keeps the momentum going. 6️⃣ Soak in the Inspiration NYFW is not just about fashion — it’s about storytelling, innovation, and creativity. Take time to reflect on what you see, and think about how it inspires your own work. At The Canvas Global, Inc., we’re proud to be hosting a marathon of sustainable fashion events this Fashion Week, bringing together over 100 designers and brands from 40+ countries who are pushing the industry forward with purpose and innovation. 🌍 NYFW is more than a calendar of shows — it’s a chance to build relationships, share ideas, and celebrate the incredible creativity shaping our industry. Hope to see you at our first event tonight! RSVP link in the comments! 👇🏽

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The off-price retail sector is telling us something important about where fashion talent needs to be right now. Burlington is opening stores across 19 states. Century 21 just reopened its flagship in Lower Manhattan. Ross and TJ Maxx are crushing earnings expectations. Meanwhile, Saks Off 5th is closing 10 locations. Here's what it's tells me, and what I tell fashion professionals The "treasure hunt" retail model isn't just surviving - it's winning. And that creates a massive talent opportunity. These aren't struggling retailers looking for cheap labor. They're growth-focused businesses that need strategic merchandising talent, operations leaders who understand fast inventory turns, and buying teams that can spot opportunity in overstock chaos. If you're a merchant, buyer, or sales or ops leader who thrives in high-velocity environments, this market shift is your moment. The value-conscious consumer isn't going anywhere. The retailers serving them are expanding aggressively. And they need people who understand both the treasure hunt model and how to scale it. P.S. If you're leading hiring at an off-price retailer or you're a professional looking to pivot into this space, let's talk. This trend isn't slowing down, and my network is getting bigger

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There’s a striking contrast between this farewell and the reality the organization is now facing. Personal reflections matter. But moments like this also highlight how easily leadership narratives can drift away from operational outcomes — and how quickly hardship gets reframed as legacy. The real test of leadership isn’t how well the story ends, but where the organization stands when the storyteller leaves.

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On Monday, David’s Bridal announced the launch of a wholesale business. Ahead of the news, Glossy met with David's Bridal CEO Kelly Cook to learn more about the company’s growth and evolution plans, which also include opening shop-in-shops in department stores.

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Saks Global said on Friday CEO Marc Metrick has stepped down, naming executive chairman Richard Baker as his successor, amid reports that the luxury retailer ⁠is preparing for bankruptcy. Read more https://lnkd.in/es9Vd8Wv

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