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Alexa Chung: Six million followers on Instagram
Fashion fans will remember that model and designer Alexa Chung closed her brand Alpha Charlie two years ago after a series of heavy losses.
The news surprised many given her style and social media influence: She has 6 million followers on Instagram and played a role in turning around the fortunes of Mark & Spencer after its suede skirt disappeared from shelves in 2016. .
But a source close to Chung now says the reason for her company’s demise was her lofty ambitions that led her to focus on expensive, high-end designs rather than affordable everyday clothing.
Her collection hit stores in 2017 with a pair of zip-up jumpsuits for £340 and a floral summer dress for £590.
‘Her followers are mostly young girls on Instagram. They wanted things like his M&S skirts, which were a big hit,” the source said. “Instead, Chung was obsessed with creating high-end clothes that weren’t selling.” Ouch.
Arnault regrets the drop in champagne consumption
French billionaire Bernard Arnault spent the week berating his compatriots, as well as Chinese and Americans, for not drinking enough champagne.
His firm LVMH noted a 16 percent drop in soda sales during the first quarter of this year, with high inflation, dwindling pandemic savings and war in the Middle East and Europe as excuses.
But a stroll along London’s Square Mile on Tuesday afternoon revealed no signs of slowing demand for Moët & Chandon, Krug and Veuve Clicquot.
Bankers’ bonuses have begun to leak and, as always, the young, very ambitious and sleep-deprived were wasting money.
Peter Mandelson has access to the Heathrow VIP lounge
Peter Mandelson has appeared cheerful after his PR firm Global Counsel was valued at £30m last week.
The handsome New Labor architect certainly clocks up air miles as part of his job, and revealed to The Mail on Sunday at a press conference that he has access to the Heathrow airport lounge.
‘It’s my natural habitat. I’m a Terminal 5 man. I like to fly the flag. I come in with the gold card,’ he said. No less for the Prince of Darkness.
Nationwide faces complaints over merger without vote
Nationwide is under pressure to give its 16 million members a say over its planned £2.9bn takeover of rival lender Virgin Money.
So when an email arrived last week urging them to vote at the annual meeting in June, it seemed the building society had caved in to the campaigners.
Member empowerment is “one of the ways we differentiate ourselves from banks,” Nationwide proclaims. But no, the votes of the General Assembly refer to other matters.
Or, as one disgruntled customer put it: “One of the differences between us and the banks is that we don’t consult our shareholders on transformative acquisitions.”
