You flew all the way down here from New York just to come to this place?” says the guy behind the counter at the Marni outlet in Orlando, Fla., incredulous that two women of seemingly reasonable intelligence — this would be me and my friend Laura — would travel a thousand miles to chase a bargain on a saggy sack dress or a cashmere sweater with elbow patches.

But hey, did anyone question Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady tiffany silver bracelets they crossed the country in search of hot chicks and enlightenment? They may have trekked in service of the dharma, but Laura and I — and thousands of other women just like us — are members of another powerful cult, one that worships the oddly charming Italian clothes, sort of a cross between Raggedy Ann on a bender and Sophia Loren in “Two Women,” that bear the Marni label.

I’ve never been to Orlando before, but I like what I see as soon as I alight from the plane: lots of people are wearing mouse ears, which (1) are kind of cute and (2) suggest that the wearers are in most cases not in Orlando planning to spend $900 on a muslin Marni blouse.

By the time we rent a car at the airport (Orlando has many good points — the glorious weather and the Marni outlet, to name two — but a comprehensive public transportation system is not among them), check into our rooms at the Marriott (four times as big as the hugest rooms in Europe, but no room service) and cross the four-lane highway to the mall, it is 2 p.m. and we are quivering with anticipation. Not for us the humongous tiffany silver earrings. No time for the kiosks selling twirling metal things called wind spinners. (Don’t get me one for my birthday, O.K.?) Finally, in the distance, we spy the pristine sign bearing the five little letters we are seeking.

Who would believe that nine hours and thousands of dollars could evaporate so quickly? By 11 p.m., when Marni shuts its doors, we have between us accumulated two vast pleated smock dresses, a coat that looks as if its sleeves were chopped off in a horrible accident, a cashmere sweater thick enough for Wasilla (maybe not the most useful item for Orlando), a green leather jacket with a gray lining borrowed from a sweatshirt, a yellow skirt with a curious flared back and, well, some other stuff, all at least 50 percent off the list price. (So what if fancy New York department stores offer Marni at similar end-of-season tiffany silver keyrings? Does Bergdorf’s have a food court? Can you get a wind spinner at Barneys?)

The next morning, over a repast of croissants and Tater Tots — two basic food groups! — in the Marriott breakfast room, Laura and I both experience that hideous affliction known as buyer’s remorse. To paraphrase Sandra Bullock when she takes the football kid shopping in “The Blind Side,” “You will never like something as much as you like it in the store.” (Yes, I saw it. It was Thanksgiving night. Don’t give me a hard time.)

Seems that Laura and I were both up at 4 a.m. in our respective rooms, trying on our new clothes and thinking that perhaps a little judicious editing, a soupcon of restraint, might have been in order. But wait, what’s this? Another reason to love Orlando! I happen to glance at my rather extensive receipt and note this magical message on the bottom: “Seven days. Exchanges only.” Suddenly the idea of swapping a marigold skirt for a purse that looks as if it’s made from porch-furniture upholstery is glowing as brightly as the tip of Neal Cassady’s reefer.

The staff at the still-empty Marni shop greets us like long-lost relatives, and five minutes later we’re half-naked in the familiar dressing rooms. Desperately confused and with time running short — my plane leaves in six hours — I cast around for guidance. Should I add a few thousand more and buy a fur jacket that looks as if it had been stitched together by a second grader in a sewing class run by Tracey Emin?

In the end, I pretty much stick with my original stash: after a certain point — say, 14 hours of unrelieved shopping — all faux-naif embroidered sweaters begin to look alike. Which is not to say I’m unhappy with my purchases. So why is it that, cramming my huge white Marni shopping bags in the overhead compartment on the flight home,

I am momentarily jealous of my fellow travelers, light as air and with only a pair of mouse ears and a wind spinner to remind them of their sojourn south?

As the women and men sashay down the catwalk, you can’t help cheering in support. This is a grand fashion show, and it isn’t happening in Delhi or Mumbai or Bangalore. The venue is Chandigarh, and the atmosphere is electric. The first Chandigarh Fashion Week has stalwart designers-Ritu Kumar, Pallavi Jaikishen, Bhairavi Jaikishen, Satya Paul, Arpan Vohra, Akhil & Nikhil and Charu Parashar-sharing space with local designers-Sonu Gandhi from Ludhiana, Babi from Chandigarh, jewellery designer Anmol from Chandigarh-on the ramp.

A genuine sense of achievement pervades backstage for quite a tiffany silver pendants after the show ends. The success of the event has led to it becoming an annual affair, and the state’s fashion council is already working on the next one.

Punjab’s stint with fashion did not begin recently. Amritsar-born Ritu Kumar, the oldest brand in the region, says, “Women here are individualistic, with a nice sense of colour and style. They are not easily swayed by new fashion trends and love to blend tradition with modernity.” Looking at India as a continent and comparing Punjab, in terms of its size, to a country in Europe, Kumar feels that the region is ready to have its own fashion platform, with ensembles relating to the local climate and socio-economic norms.

Pallavi Jaikishen and Bhairavi Jaikishen’s bridal collection was a huge hit at the Fashion Week. While in the region Bhairavi made a trip to Patiala just to see the traditional phulkari work made there. “We are looking at this beautiful traditional form as references in our future designs,” she explains.

Satya Paul, another large brand, with four stores in the region and 25 years behind them, is the oldest entrant. Satya Paul’s Puneet Nanda says, “Punjabis, as a community, are perhaps the most elegant people in India. The women are beautiful and love to experiment with clothes.” The brand has sourced cheap bracelets from Punjab and looks at the region as an integral part of the industrial base of Satya Paul’s designs.

Arpan Vohra, a London-trained designer, feels that it is the perfect time to get back to his roots in Punjab. “People here appreciate new designs, labels and experimental garments,” he says. Vohra’s line is traditional, with playful experimentation, and encompasses structured and draped silhouettes. He says his interaction with potential clients has been very encouraging.

At the other end of the spectrum are designers who specialise in Western cheap bangles. Delhi-based Punjabi designers Akhil & Nikhil, with their impressive fashion background, are proud of Punjab’s grand splash in the fashion scene. They look forward to gaining a gathering for their deftly crafted line of Western garments, designed “for the young and the ones who are experimental,” they say.

Another Delhi-based designer, Charu Parashar, says, “Punjabis are known for their happy disposition, and my line echoes that.” Having presented her Spring 2010 collection, with large sprays of sunflower and rose prints, Prashar’s range of Western wear and saris are targeted at the young at heart.

Many regional designers also look at the home front as a mature market for fashion. Chandigarhbased Babi Grewal says, “People here are very fashion-conscious and like to wear well-coordinated ensembles.” The growing awareness about trends is an aspect that Sonu Gandhi also agrees with. Having showcased her Serpent Collection at the Fashion Week, Gandhi says, “It is a blend of the modern and the traditional that people look forward to.”

Jewellery is also a perennial favourite of Punjabi women. Anmol, a jewellery designer from Chandigarh says, “They are willing to spend if the product is good. Women have now broken away from the old family-jeweller trend and are looking at new designs.”

Retailer Saks Incorporated (NYSE: SKS) (the “Company”) today announced that owned sales totaled $147.1 million for the four weeks ended January 31, 2009 compared to $190.3 million for the four weeks ended February 2, 2008, a 22.7% decrease. Comparable store sales decreased 23.7% for the month.

For the fourth quarter ended January 31, 2009, owned sales totaled $843.4 million compared to $985.6 million for the prior year fourth quarter ended February 2, 2008, a 14.4% decrease. Comparable store sales decreased 15.3% for the quarter.

For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2009, tiffany cufflinks sales totaled $3,053.8 million compared to $3,249.1 million for the prior fiscal year ended February 2, 2008, a 6.0% decrease. Comparable store sales decreased 6.1% for the fiscal year.

In the prior year, comparable store sales increased 4.1%, 9.0%, and 11.7% for the fiscal January, fourth quarter, and fiscal year periods, respectively.

The categories at Saks Fifth Avenue with tiffany earrings strength in January were eveningwear, cosmetics, fragrances, and men’s shoes. The weakest categories at Saks Fifth Avenue for January were women’s apparel, men’s apparel and accessories, outerwear, fashion jewelry, women’s shoes, and handbags.

Based on the degree and amount of tiffany key taken during the fourth quarter and the fact that customers continued to shift purchases from regular price to promotional and clearance priced merchandise, the Company will report a significant year-over-year decrease in the gross margin rate for the fourth quarter.

Saks Incorporated currently operates 53 Saks Fifth Avenue stores, 51 Saks OFF 5TH stores, and saks.com.

The nation’s retailers said they suffered a fourth consecutive month of steep sales declines in January, underscoring a broad and sustained shutdown in consumer spending.

“For the last 10 years people bought cars and refrigerators and TVs like they were going grocery shopping,” said Mike Moriarty, partner at A. T. Kearney, a management consulting service. “Now people are grocery shopping like they’re buying a car.”

Sales for the entire retail industry fell 1.6 percent last month cheap bracelets with the same month a year ago, the International Council of Shopping Centers, an industry group, said Thursday. The research firm Retail Metrics put the industry decline at 1.8 percent and said that without Wal-Mart Stores, the nation’s largest retailer, sales would have fallen 5.6 percent.

January is always a slow period for stores, but nowadays big-box retailers and luxury chains are contending with paltry sales trends and profit margins that have been hurt by excessive discounting to attract consumers. Stores with weak balance sheets “are not going to make it through the summer,” said Claire Gruppo, managing director of Gruppo, Levey & Company, a New York investment bank.

On Thursday, Fortunoff, the nearly 90-year-old upscale cheap cufflinks furnishings and jewelry chain, became the latest retailer to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Several chains that reported sales figures on Thursday beat low expectations, but most still turned in double-digit declines. Analysts were not surprised. As they had expected, the most successful stores were the ones selling quality and name-brand essentials at low prices.

“When there’s a need for product, whether that’s food, consumables, kid’s apparel — nondiscretionary items at a value and at a convenience — then the consumer is shopping,” said Matthew F. Katz, a managing director in the retailing practice of cheap earrings, a reorganization firm.

Wal-Mart, for instance, exceeded expectations. The retailer posted a 2.1 percent increase, not including fuel, at stores open at least a year, a barometer of retail health known as same-store sales.

“Our sales results were driven by a continuation of gains in customer traffic,” said Eduardo Castro-Wright, vice chairman of Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart also said it would no longer offer monthly sales forecasts. Instead, it will offer guidance four times a year.

“We believe this guidance is a more appropriate measure for our investors,” said Tom Schoewe, Wal-Mart’s chief financial officer, “particularly in volatile times when consumer swings are more difficult to predict. This is more consistent with the long-term view we take on our business.”

Wal-Mart’s discount competitors also fared better than the rest of the industry. Sales at BJ’s Wholesale Club were up 7.6 percent, not including fuel, this January compared with last January. Sales were down 3.3 percent at Target and 2 percent at Costco but those figures were an improvement over the chains’ December sales figures.

The freeze in discretionary spending continues to weigh most heavily on department stores, especially luxury chains. Same-store sales fell at Neiman Marcus (down 24.4 percent), Saks (down 23.7 percent) and Nordstrom (down 11.4 percent).

NEW YORK - Less than a week after seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, home furnishings and jewelry retailer Fortunoff’s asked a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge last week to swiftly approve an auction and sale of virtually all of its assets.

The retailer asked the court to require potential buyers to Charm bracelet bids by Feb. 16 and conduct an auction on Feb. 19.

Following the auction, the retailer is asking the court to conduct a hearing to approve the sale on Feb. 23.

Fortunoff’s said the sale needs Coin Edge disc pendant take place quickly because the company “is facing a severe liquidity crisis.”

In court filings, the company described sales during the 2008 holiday season as “Double heart pendant,” and said many vendors had tightened their credit terms in the weeks before the bankruptcy filing.

For the nine months ended Nov. 30, the company had sales of $260.1 million and an operating loss of $42.2 million.

Feb. 25–Final sales at Fortunoff will begin tomorrow under plans from a group of well-known liquidators, whose bid to buy the bankrupt retailer got final court approval yesterday.

“Going-out-of-business sales will commence, and we’ll continue Elsa Peretti everything is sold,” said Scott Bernstein, principal of SB Capital in Great Neck, an asset and liquidation specialist in the winning group.

The one-time retail giant, which is based in Westbury, went for more than $85 million, or 88.8 percent of its value, in the winning auction bid late Monday by Great American Group, Hudson Capital, SB Capital, Tiger Capital, Kimco Realty Services and jewelry liquidators Bobby Wilkerson Inc. and The Gordon Company — some of the firms overseeing the closures of bankrupt chains Circuit City and Linen ‘n Things.

Bernstein said salespeople who were laid off are being called Elsa Peretti Butterfly pendant to help with Fortunoff’s closure. The merchandise, mostly home goods and jewelry, is expected to go within two months, with the usual increase in discounts as the weeks go on, he said.

Last week, Fortunoff said it would stop accepting customers’ gift cards, but the liquidators said yesterday they would be honored for a certain period of time. Details of the liquidation are expected to be ironed out today.

The obit for Fortunoff comes after 87 years. The Elsa Peretti Open Wave earrings was started in Brooklyn by Max and Clara Fortunoff.

With the economy sinking and sales slipping, Fortunoff was sold last March to NRDC Equity Partners, which is based in Purchase.

Fortunoff filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection again on Feb. 5, its second filing in a year. The retailer had said it was seeking a buyer to possibly continue operations, but no potential new owners surfaced. As the auction neared, the company laid off about 300 workers in its corporate offices.

Before its recent layoffs the retailer employed 900 people on Long Island. It has 19 locations in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

“I’m really very sorry to see an icon like Fortunoff disappear,” said Thomas Pabst, chief operating officer of the Great American Group, one of the asset and liquidation specialists that won the auction. “I’m disappointed to see people losing their jobs, but we’re going to do our best to offer the New York-New Jersey area some incredible values over the next few months over the time of this liquidation sale.”

A team of two other well-known liquidators, Hilco Merchant Resources and Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, also bid for the company.

Claire’s Stores Inc. reported that its same-store sales improved in January and moved into positive territory in February.

However, in its preliminary report on results for the fourth Charm bracelet ended Jan. 31, the privately held value-priced jewelry and accessories retailer said sales and earnings were pressured down in the final quarter of 2008 by declining same-store sales and damaging currency fluctuation.

The Pembroke Pines, Fla.-based company, acquired by Apollo Management LP in 2007, said it expects to record operating income of between $39 million and $42 million, down from $78 million in the year-ago quarter. Excluding cost-cutting initiatives and other items, adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) is anticipated to be in the $75 million to $78 million range, compared with adjusted EBITDA of $115 million in the 2007 quarter.

Claire’s projected net sales to fall 12.2 percent, to $393 Coin Edge disc pendant from $447.4 million. Excluding currency fluctuation, Claire’s said revenue would have decreased 5.4 percent.

Comparable-store sales were down 7.2 percent, including a 7.8 percent decline in North America, but began to improve in January and were slightly positive in February. During the quarter, Claire’s, which closed 118 underperforming North American stores, said it saved roughly $9 million, and it has identified about $20 million in new potential reductions for 2009.

For the year, the company expects operating income of between $77 million and $80 million, versus $114 million in the previous year. Claire’s anticipates adjusted EBITDA of $212 million to $215 million, compared with $300 million in the previous year. Revenue is expected to dip 6.5 percent to $1.41 billion from $1.51 billion.

The company said it is analyzing the recoverability of its Double heart pendant and other assets and expects to record a material noncash impairment charge for the quarter, which will be disclosed when it releases its audited fourth-quarter results in April.

Dallas jewelry designer Elizabeth Showers celebrates her new open-to-the-public showroom at 3131 Turtle Creek Blvd., Suite 1118, from 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday. While there, shop her fall 2009 18-karat gold collection, enjoy Champagne and desserts, and use your Partners Card. For more information, call 214-879-9944.

See the latest trends in both fashion and hair at 6 p.m. Elsa Peretti when Lovers Lane neighbors Osgood-O’Neil Salon and Elements collaborate on a fashion show. Seating is limited at the salon-hosted event, which includes nibbles from Bolsa, so get your $20 ticket at www.osgood oneil.com. The evening benefits children’s charity Variety.

New York’s Wilhelmina Models (home to Halle Berry’s baby-daddy Gabriel Aubry) is sending representatives to Dallas in search of six-packs. More specifically, the Wilhelmina Hot Body Model Search invites nonmodest hard-bodies age 18 and up to Plano’s Gold’s Gym to show off their healthy lifestyles to a trainer and a camera. Five male and five female finalists from across the nation will head to New York later this year, where two winners (one male, one female) each will receive a five-year modeling contract and some glossy love in Shape or Men’s Fitness magazines, co-sponsors of the contest. For details, go to www.wilhelmina modelsearch.com.

Louis Vuitton hits NorthPark Center in a major way on Monday, with the opening of a 6,200-square- foot location between Montblanc and the forthcoming Bulgari store. The free-standing emporium is Dallas’ second LV location, joining Elsa Peretti Butterfly pendant Dallas, and offers a two-story glass facade opening directly onto CenterPark — a second entrance through which to nab leather goods, men’s and women’s shoes, watches, textiles, sunglasses, jewelry and other logo loo

Pranaa Ayurveda Spa & Yoga celebrates a second anniversary this month and will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Stop by to check out Dallas’ only Ayurvedic spa. See www.pranaa.com for info.

Stop by Victory Park’s VOD Thursday to Elsa Peretti Open Wave earrings out the Mad Max-ish shoes from LA-based LD Tuttle, which will be in the boutique as part of a one-day trunk show. The Italian-made but Belgian-looking designs were featured in the spring 2010 runway shows from Victoria Bartlett and Dallas model turned brand builder Erin Wasson.

Nordstrom NorthPark previews spring 2010 looks from Jason Wu from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. The New York designer’s director of sales will be in the Collectors department on level two to assist with your selections. To schedule an appointment, call 214-231-3900, ext. 1350.

Sierra Leone-born, Finland-trained textile designer Elizabeth Anyaa is an artist-in-residence at Southside on Lamar and will host a trunk show there Saturday, featuring her handmade pillows, throws, jackets, capes, scarves, skirts and dresses. The show and sale will be in studio 104 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., with a portion of sales benefiting the projects and programs of Dallas-based nonprofit Today Marks the Beginning (www.todaymarksthe beginning.org). LD Tuttle “Moon” open-toe calf-skin boot, $570, VOD18-karat gold Madeleine ring with diamonds, quartz and mother of pearl, $1,705, Elizabeth ShowersLV opens at NP.

Borders is offering four exclusive “New Moon” T-shirts. The “Atlas tag pendant trio” T-shirt features images of Bella, Jacob and Edward on a rich brown background. Also available are shirts that include individual images of Edward and Jacob, both of which are available in black. The favorite among Borders’ staff is a silky thin T-shirt — perfect for layering — that depicts the “Wolf Pack” tattoo Jacob sports in the movie, superimposed on a background that cascades in color from gold to chocolate brown. There’s also a knit “Wolf Pack” tattoo hoodie just right for cool nights and temperate days. And, for “Twilight”-inspired dreams, there’s the “Wolf Pack” tattoo pajamas in soft 100 percent cotton. Both the hoodie and the pajamas are also Borders exclusives.

For moms who love “Twilight” as much as their daughters

Borders knows that there are many moms who Bead bracelet the “Twilight” Saga as much as their daughters, so the retailer offers a number of pieces of jewelry with a high cool factor that moms and daughters alike can share and trade. Fans can choose from dangly earrings inspired by Jacob’s Quileute Tribe, a turquoise necklace and turquoise bracelet — the latter, a replica of the one worn by Alice in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” For those who can’t choose between Edward and Jacob there’s a charm bracelet which includes “E” (for Edward) and “J” (for Jacob) charms as well as other symbols emblematic of their Black oynx Toggle necklace.__

For fans who love utility — with a “Twilight” twist

Borders is carrying a variety of bags to help “Twilight” fans get to all of their destinations in style. Options include a black canvas tote bag featuring the “love trio” image, a reversible hobo bag, as well as a heavy duty Edward messenger bag in the “New Moon” colors.

Marine Exploration, Inc. (OTCBB:MEXP) announces the RV Hispaniola has returned to the site of the 1700 wreck the Company has been salvaging. According to the contract extension and expansion recently signed with the Dominican Republic, the money clip is now allowed to explore and recover treasure from additional shipwrecks in DR waters. The dive team will resume searching for more treasure immediately.

“It is likely this ship sunk many years before the signing of our Declaration of Independence. Every bit of the treasure recovered thus far has been delivered to the Dominican Republic Sub Aquatic Office, Ministry of Culture for inventory and division under our Host Country Contract. The sunken treasure already salvaged includes gold and pearl jewelry, silver fittings, dynasty china and other artifacts. We also have great photos of a beautiful bronze cannon raised from the site and expect to upload them to our website soon,” notes Mark Goldberg, CEO Marine Exploration.

Marine Exploration, Inc. and joint venture partner Hispaniola Ventures, LLC, headed by Burt D. Webber, Jr., plan to continue the shipwreck site survey and salvage and anticipates locating and recovering additional historic shipwrecks with valuable artifacts and treasure. Working under exclusive contract with the Dominican Republic, the Company has plans in place to pursue multiple notable shipwrecks in Dominican Republic pendant and jurisdictional waters. http://www.mexp.biz/

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements, which may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Prospective investors are cautioned (http://www.sec.earring/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?type=424B3&dateb=&owner= include&count=40&action=getcompany&CIK=0001019654) that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Important factors currently known to management that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include fluctuation of operating results, the ability to compete successfully, and the ability to complete before-mentioned transactions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results. To see our website, go to http://www.mexp.biz.