Montblanc has opened a new boutique in Chicago at 15 E Oak Street, relocating from its previous Michigan Avenue location.
Montblanc opens new Chicago boutique. – Montblanc
The new boutique spans 1,427 square feet and blends modern design with Montblanc’s rich heritage. It houses the full universe of the brand including its signature writing instruments, Swiss-made timepieces, fine leather goods, and accessories.
“Chicago has long been an important city for Montblanc, with a discerning clientele that appreciates the Maison’s dedication to craftsmanship and excellence. With our new boutique on Oak Street, we are offering a space that not only showcases our iconic writing instruments but also our expanding collections in leather goods, watches, and accessories,” said Sylvain Costof, Montblanc president Americas.
“This move is a testament to our commitment to creating immersive experiences for our customers so they can discover or re-discover the universe of Montblanc in a compelling way.”
The boutique’s façade is crafted from two black striped concrete slabs featuring the silhouette of the Mont Blanc mountain and Montblanc’s emblem.
Inside, Montblanc’s signature black-and-white aesthetic is elevated with golden details inspired by the Meisterstück writing instrument and coral touches drawn from the brand’s archive. Other design elements include lamps made from writing paper, calligraphy wallpaper featuring the infinite figure eight, and decorative wall nibs.
A store highlight is the Collectors Wall, where Montblanc’s most sought-after limited-edition writing instruments from collections like Great Characters, Masters of Art, and Writers Editions are displayed. An expanded timepiece collection is also featured.
For the opening, Montblanc commissioned artwork from Berlin-based contemporary artist Alexander Iskin.
To complete the shopping experience, the boutique offers personalized services such as on-site embossing and engraving.
German luxury e-commerce platform Mytheresa is set to finalize its acquisition of YooxNet-a-Porter (YNAP) from Swiss group Richemont on April 23, 2025. The deal marks a key milestone in the development of LuxExperience B.V.—a global luxury e-commerce group that was announced earlier this year to unite Mytheresa, Net-a-Porter, Mr Porter, Yoox, and The Outnet under a single operational structure.
Mytheresa will finalize the YNAP acquisition on April 23. – Mytheresa
Originally unveiled in October 2024, the transaction initiates the next phase of LuxExperience’s rollout, focused on integration and execution. The deal follows the European Commission’s unconditional merger control clearance, granted on April 11, 2025, which enabled Mytheresa to proceed with the transaction. The group’s strategic plan includes platform migration, backend harmonization, and a comprehensive restructuring of its off-price divisions.
The group will implement a shared backend across its in-season luxury platforms—Mytheresa, Net-a-Porter, and Mr Porter—to enhance logistics, inventory management, and the overall customer experience. At the same time, each brand will maintain an independent front-end identity to preserve brand equity and consumer loyalty.
Yoox and The Outnet will be separated from the core in-season platforms. This deliberate move is designed to streamline operations and improve profitability as LuxExperience navigates a competitive and evolving digital marketplace.
Initial projections show the consolidated group targeting €4 billion in annual gross merchandise value (GMV), with an adjusted EBITDA margin above 8% over the medium term. Richemont will retain a 33% equity stake in the newly combined entity and has committed €555 million in cash, along with a €100 million revolving credit facility, to support the transition.
The full integration process is expected to span 24 to 36 months. During this period, the group will concentrate on backend alignment, commercial restructuring, and redefined strategies tailored to each brand’s positioning.
As the acquisition’s finalization approaches, industry analysts are closely monitoring how LuxExperience will balance in-season and off-price strategies across its multi-brand portfolio, while maintaining operational efficiency and a seamless customer experience in the global luxury e-commerce space.
After a successful collaboration in 2023, Italian fashion label Calzedonia has once again partnered with Laetitia Casta to front its 2025 swimwear campaign. The 46-year-old French actress and model reprises her role as the face of the brand’s latest summer line, reinforcing Calzedonia’s focus on timeless elegance and Mediterranean style.
Laetitia Casta slips back into swimwear for Italian label Calzedonia. – Calzedonia
Known internationally for its hosiery, socks, leggings, and swimwear, Calzedonia designed a dedicated capsule collection for this year’s relaunch. To mark the renewed collaboration—coinciding with Casta’s appearance in Balmain’s Spring/Summer 2025 campaign—the brand unveiled a mini-line of one-piece swimsuits tailored to the French market.
The collection highlights refined details such as ruching and jewelry-inspired embellishments. It is available in a palette that includes blue, burgundy, glitter, and more. Released in mid-April, the capsule is available online and in Calzedonia’s nearly 230 retail locations throughout France.
Calzedonia is part of Oniverse, an Italian fashion group that also owns the brands Intimissimi, Tezenis, and Falconeri. In 2024, Oniverse reported a 13.5% rise in global sales compared to the previous year, surpassing €3.5 billion in revenue.
Chanel has tapped Grammy-winning rapper and entrepreneur Kendrick Lamar as the face of its upcoming eyewear campaign, set to launch on April 22, 2025. The appointment marks a bold move by the French luxury house to deepen its cultural footprint through collaborations that blend fashion, music and storytelling.
Kendrick Lamar fronts Chanel’s latest eyewear campaign as the brand’s new ambassador. – Photo: Karim Sadli
The Spring 2025 campaign highlights Chanel’s latest eyewear collection and features Lamar alongside actors Margaret Qualley, Lily-Rose Depp and Nana Komatsu. With this move, Chanel aims to engage younger, culturally connected consumers in key global markets.
Chanel first began building ties with Lamar in 2023, when he wore a custom look by the house to the Met Gala. In early 2024, his creative company pgLang collaborated with Chanel on “The Button,” a fashion short film that premiered during the brand’s haute couture presentation in Paris.
“Chanel has a timeless legacy, and that is always something I can get behind,” said Lamar. “Since they don’t make clothes for men, I knew it would have to be glasses.”
Kendrick Lamar attends the 2023 Met Gala celebrating “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.” – Photo: Getty Images / Arturo Holmes
Eyewear remains one of Chanel’s most dynamic commercial categories, serving as an entry point for new customers. The brand has continued to grow its presence in this segment with expanded retail efforts and seasonal storytelling. According to Bruno Pavlovsky, president of Chanel’s fashion division, eyewear is more than a functional accessory—it plays a strategic role in the house’s business model and overall brand strategy.
With this appointment, Lamar joins a select group of male ambassadors at Chanel, including G-Dragon and Timothée Chalamet. The partnership is expected to evolve beyond the eyewear campaign, with additional creative projects led by pgLang. The collaboration bridges Chanel’s heritage fashion codes with contemporary cultural storytelling.
As the campaign rolls out this week, Chanel’s move reflects a growing shift in luxury marketing, where cultural credibility and cross-industry partnerships are essential to maintaining global relevance in a competitive landscape.