Glossy

“Bath & Body Works has always appealed to the younger age groups. With how the store is set up, it’s a really engaging experience. It’s really bright and vibrant, and a lot of their partnerships and collaborations are with brands and products and themes that align with that younger demographic,” said Korinne Wolfmeyer, CFA, vp and sr. researcher at investment bank Piper Sandler. “Fragrance as a category is growing, and it’s certainly a growing category for young female teens. And Bath & Body Works is one of the rare brands that plays in that entry level price point category.”

Nine months into her role as CMO of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, Sarah Crockett is making some changes. Crockett, who has led marketing for companies including Dickies and Burton, has been tasked with driving a brand refresh: “What the leadership team was looking for and what was needed [when I was hired] was some level of brand amplification and brand relevance,” Crockett said on the latest Glossy Podcast. 

From Prada Group’s razor-sharp leather trenches to Versace’s reimagined moto jackets to Hermès’ all-leather collection, the Fall 2025 runways across New York, London, Milan and Paris confirmed that leather is firmly back at the center of fashion. But leather’s resurgence is more than a runway trend. It also reflects a deepening commitment by luxury brands to craftsmanship, exclusivity and long-term value in an uncertain market. As such, demand is spiking on the consumer side, too. Creator technology platform LTK, which tracks consumer search data, shows searches for leather pencil skirts were up 1,200% this week, reinforcing that this is not just a designer-driven push. In this piece by Zofia Zwieglinska, we speak to Fulvia Bacchi of Lineapelle.

Celebrities have long since fueled consumer culture, with jewelry trends no exception. But social media has given consumers a more intimate window into celebrities’ lives, including their engagement ring choices. And with the rise of fast-paced platforms like TikTok and a growing acceptance of lab-grown diamonds, even the resolutely traditional engagement ring is subject to quickening trend cycles. “There are just so many influencers and sources setting trends these days,” said diamond industry analyst Paul Zimnisky, CFA. “When a celebrity gets engaged and they show their ring off, the distribution of that is so much more [widespread] than it was when you would just have a small handful of fashion media outlets sending out whatever story.” In this piece by Emily Jensen, we also speak to Lauren Boc of Hera Fine Jewelry.

The sleep economy, which covers everything from bedding and mattresses to wearable sleep devices and supplements, was valued at a record $585 billion, according to the non-profit Sleep Foundation. Venture capital pouring into sleep tech doubled between 2017 and 2021, and that investment is now paying off. People, and Americans in particular, are spending a lot on getting a better night’s rest. The reasons are manifold. Stress from the pandemic and increasing political and economic uncertainty is a likely culprit behind 37% of Americans reporting poor sleep in 2023. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ee5A-iH6

The sleep economy, which covers everything from bedding and mattresses to wearable sleep devices and supplements, was valued at a record $585 billion, according to the non-profit Sleep Foundation. Venture capital pouring into sleep tech doubled between 2017 and 2021, and that investment is now paying off. People, and Americans in particular, are spending a lot on getting a better night’s rest. The reasons are manifold. Stress from the pandemic and increasing political and economic uncertainty is a likely culprit behind 37% of Americans reporting poor sleep in 2023. ✨ Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/ee5A-iH6 In this piece by Danny Parisi, we speak to Tim Rosa of Somnee, and Catarina Tucker of Snuggle Sense.

When Too Faced Cosmetics launched its famed Better Than Sex mascara in 2013, it “changed the entire trajectory of the brand,” according to Somer Tejwani, the recently promoted svp and global gm for the brand. Tejwani worked at Too Faced then, too. In fact, she vividly remembers working on box copy for the volumizing mascara, which, 12 years later, is the No. 1 mascara in the U.S., according to Circana’s January 2024 to December 2024 report encompassing prestige mascara sales. In recent years, the brand has expanded the franchise — a common strategy for a hit product. In 2016, it introduced a waterproof version of the product; in 2022, a brown shade; in 2023, Better Than Sex Foreplay, a mascara primer; and last year, Naturally Better Than Sex, a 98% naturally derived version of the cult product. Now, it’s recognizing that not everyone wants a volumizing mascara. ✨ Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/edRiaQ-C Story by Sara Spruch-Feiner

To combat the slowdown, Ulta Beauty CEO Kecia Steelman unveiled a plan called “Ulta Beauty unleashed” on Thursday’s call: “First, drive core business growth. Second, scale new accretive businesses. And third, realign our foundation for the future,” Steelman said. “I’ve made organizational changes to streamline decision-making and align our teams around guest entry goals, and I’ve leaned in where we have immediate opportunities to improve our execution, all through the lens of protecting and nurturing the culture that we believe makes us so special,” Steelman said.

On Thursday, Oscar de la Renta will launch a new addition to its Bella perfume line: Bella Soleil. Inspired by Dominican gardens, the floral scent will be available at major retailers like Macy's. But even before its official launch, the scent is already available to order on a growing fragrance platform: Amazon. Interparfums, Inc., which owns the fragrance license for brands such as Oscar de la Renta, MCM WORLDWIDE and GUESS?, Inc., began selling its perfumes on Amazon in 2021. Amazon has been courting premium beauty since it launched its prestige beauty platform in 2013, but a growing number of companies have seen the value in setting up their own storefronts on the platform in the years since 2020. In 2024 alone, more than 300 beauty brands joined Amazon’s premium beauty store. That includes fragrance brands. “We are very open to being on Amazon,” said Interparfums chief commercial officer Hervé Bouillonnec. “You have a marketplace where you can find anything. So if you control your image [on Amazon], it’s much better.” In this piece by Emily Jensen, we also speak to Emily Safian-Demers of Front Row, and Vicken Arslanian of Europerfumes.

This week, we checked in with wellness executives and renowned researchers leading the charge on bringing awareness to NAD+, an essential co-enzyme that’s quickly become the buzziest term in longevity. The opportunity for consumer brands offering NAD support, whether through IV drips, oral supplements and drink mixes, or skin-care products, has grown exponentially over the past year thanks to breakthroughs in research and consumer understanding. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eQjwJqf9 In this piece by Lexy Lebsack, we speak to Andrew Shao, Ph.D. of ChromaDex, Anna Keller of Mintel, Christopher Rhodes of Mimio Health, and Daniel Yadegar MD FACC RPVI.