Fashion retailer French Connection on Wednesday reported trading at its UK/Europe retail business was broadly flat on a like-for-like basis for the first 15 weeks of trading. French Connection said it saw a strong performance in the early weeks of the year, which softened in March but has improved again recently, in line with the same trend seen in the market as a whole.

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LK Bennett becomes the latest luxury retailer to open its stores to the Chinese market. The news comes after a spokesman told the Mail On Sunday that a deal with China is ‘looking very close’ and could be signed as early as the summer. Financial reports show that profits before finance charges had rose 37 per cent to GBP 11 million for the financial year.

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Hong Kong held its place as having the world’s highest rent for prime retail properties in the first quarter, demanding almost 50 per cent more than property in comparable locations worldwide. According to a report by CBRE Group Inc., rents in Hong Kong were more than four times those in similar locations for London and Paris, with annual retail rent in high-end shopping areas in the Chinese metropolis averaging at USD 4,328 per square foot.

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London remained a favourite with investors in 2012 with more money channeled into shops and offices in the capital than the rest of Britain combined last year. A report by property consultancy DTZ on Wednesday reported some £16.1 billion was invested in central London in 2012 versus £10.9 billion a year before and total of £32 billion for the country as a whole.

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Arcadia’s Miss Selfridge this week announced the opening of its first store in Lebanon, in Beirut’s city centre. Having launched on Saturday 13 April, Miss Selfridge’s first store in the region runs across 180 square metres, and features a bespoke edit of the brand’s dresses, accessories and footwear.

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Karl Lagerfeld is reportedly close to agreeing to open his first store based in the United Kingdom.

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Beyoncé, Florence and the Machine and Rita Ora are all set to perform at Gucci’s The Sound of Change concert at London’s Twickenham Stadium this summer. As part of the fashion house’s international campaign Chime For Change, the concert will be underwritten by Gucci so all ticket sales will support projects pursuing change for girls and woman, specifically in the areas of ‘Education, Health and Justice’.

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Stella McCartney pictured with editor of American Vogue, Anna Wintour. British fashion designer Stella McCartney on Tuesday collected her Order of the British Empire for services to fashion from HM the Queen. McCartney, who created the Olympic 2012 kit for Team Great Britain in collaboration with Adidas, told the Press Association she felt “really proud and really excited and honoured” to receive the award at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

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Victoria Beckham has purchased a 850 sq foot Spar store in Battersea. The location, situated in walking distance from the fashion desinger’s office in South-West London, is to be renovated and serve as an extension of the Victoria Beckham head quarters,Mirror reports. The former pop star has seen her brand develop in a rapid pace over the the last eight years it has been up and running, and has successfully built up a renowned fashion range with high credibility.

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Fourth-quarter net profits fell 32.5 per cent for J Crew, despite the US fashion brand posting strong results for 2012 as a whole. J Crew net profits rose 86.7 per cent in the year to 2 February, while revenues were up 20 per cent to USD 2.23 billion, with a 3 per cent comparable-sales gain.

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