Learning the professional tips and tricks of the beauty and fashion world isn't always easy. That's why Suave Professionals has teamed up with designer and reality TV star Nicole Richie to sponsor NBC's "Fashion Star" for the second consecutive year.

Boldface Group — a celebrity beauty licensing company that focuses on entertainment and designer opportunities in the market, including the "Khroma Beauty by Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian" brand — closed on $2 million in financing, the company has announced.

M-Edge — a leading designer of tablet, smartphone and e-reader accessories — on Tuesday launched an expanded line of cases for iPhone 5.

Market research company the NPD Group has announced that the prestige fragrance industry showed solid sales of $1.6 billion in U.S. department stores — up 7% year-to-date (January to September 2012) — with men’s fragrance sales growing slightly faster than women’s.

Lately a number of mass merchandise retailers have been taking the little road and opening small-format stores in dense, urban areas. One of the most notable of these is CityTarget, which recently opened in Chicago.


Yellow Wood Partners has acquired mass market fragrance provider Parfums de Coeur, whose brands include Body Fantasies, Designer Imposters and BOD Man.

Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., on Wednesday introduced the Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act, a bill that will protect consumers by providing the Drug Enforcement Administration with new enforcement tools to identify and quickly respond when new designer anabolic steroids are created and marketed as dietary supplements.

Unilever has tapped model, producer, television host and designer Heidi Klum to help launch its new Clear Scalp and Hair Beauty Therapy line of nourishing shampoos and conditioners. Klum will star in the 360-brand campaign including TV, print and digital, beginning in May.

For the second season in a row, Essie Cosmetics will unleash its creative and colorful vision on Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for fall 2012.

Texting and social media have not killed the traditional greeting card business.

There's one trend that retailers should brace for this holiday season.