Procter & Gamble expands partnership with Dolce & Gabbana

CINCINNATI Procter & Gamble is expanding its partnership with high-end fashion house Dolce & Gabbana by entering the upscale cosmetics market.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana will launch in April the line of luxury cosmetics at Saks Fifth Avenue. The collection includes $59 foundation, $30 lipstick and $44 rouge in gold-tone packaging. Furthermore, the lipstick will have a light rose scent with a tube that "clicks, like an antique box," when it is closed, Gabbana told the WSJ.

While cosmetics are a way for the fashion house, which has 15 U.S. boutiques, to reach a broad audience, the move will also help P&G showcase its Dolce & Gabbana fragrances. The two entities teamed up three years ago to produce fragrances.

According to the report, P&G officials have stated that Dolce & Gabbana's fragrances gained market share last year as U.S. fragrance sales fell overall 6% to $2.68 billion, according to market researcher NPD Group. P&G says Dolce & Gabbana fragrance sales have tripled in the last three years. In 2008, the brand became one of the top-three highest selling fragrances in the United States, according to the company.