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MITCHELLS JOURNEY WEST

We want to share an exciting new opportunity for our business.  Last week we entered into an agreement to purchase San Francisco’s premier specialty store Wilkes Bashford.

Wilkes Bashford opened his first store in Union Square in 1966 and currently also has a store in Palo Alto, a suburb about 30 minutes from downtown.  For over 40 years, he has offered the finest quality men’s and women’s merchandise available to the Bay Area’s most discerning customers.

We have long been acquainted with Wilkes, work with many of the same world-renowned designers and share a similar aesthetic as well as a like commitment to impeccable customer service and community involvement.  Our vendors are supportive of this merger.

“Mitchells’ retail philosophy merges family-oriented service with modern business principles. We look forward to continuing our long and successful relationship with the Mitchell family in their new venture with Wilkes Bashford,” said Todd Barrato, President of Brioni North America.

“With this move the legacy of this historic specialty store will be continued by a family that will truly respect their values of luxury retail,” said Brunello Cucinelli.

“Ermenegildo Zegna is thrilled to see two of our industry’s most important specialty store retailers coming together.  We believe that the combination of Mitchells, with their renowned customer service and retailing expertise, and Wilkes Bashford, with its prestige and history as one of the nation’s finest specialty stores, is an ideal fit.  I’m sure the customers in the San Francisco Bay Area will benefit, as will our industry” – Robert Ackerman, President & CEO, North America.

You all can be assured while we start a new chapter in our company’s history that we remain 100% committed to Mitchells / Richards / Marshs and this partnership will only strengthen our ability to bring you the finest quality men’s and women’s merchandise available…now on both coasts!

Warmest regards,

The entire Mitchell Family

Brunello Cucinelli Comes to Richards

We were thrilled to host one of our favorite designers, Brunello Cucinelli, in Richards of Greenwich, CT! Mr. Cucinelli flew in from Italy to spend an informal and informative afternoon with us, treating us to a preview of looks from his stunning Resort/Spring 2010 collection. We lunched on an elegant Italian spread of delicious meat and cheese antipastos, while models dressed in Cucinelli intermingled with guests for two hours.

Lunch was followed by a speech by Cucinelli about his warm relationship with the Mitchell family. Mr. Cucinelli spoke eloquently about his passion for giving back and how people buying his clothes enables him to support some wonderful initiatives in Italy that are close to his heart. (Read more here.) Mr. Cucinelli’s philosophy on family and community parallels that of the Mitchell family and has long strengthened the business and personal relationship between the two families.

It was a beautiful afternoon, literally and figuratively, despite torrential rain outside. We thank the many dedicated Cucinelli aficionados that ventured out!

“Fall into Fashion” At The Loft

A great night was had at The Loft Friday for our first ever “Fall Into Fashion” Event.

We had to stop taking RSVPs a week before the event and the place was packed. Divine food by Match Restaurant, sinful cocktails by the Loft and must-have fashions by Mitchells / Richards was a recipe for success. With the doors wide open, traffic on the street was at a standstill as models presented a live exhibition of the best of fall from such designers as Theory, Vince, Catherine Malandrino, DVF, Charles Chang Lima, Michael Kors, Dolce, Brunello Cucinelli and more.

All of us greatly thank Matt and Scott — the owners of Match and the Loft — for co-hosting the event with us.

The word at the end of the night? We need to create a “Step Into Spring” Event!

Shana Tova

One of our Jewelry Designers, Robin Rotenier, forwarded this image to me and I loved it so much I thought I would share.

To all our friends, clients, family members celebrating tonight, may the new year be filled with sweetness, love and peace – The Mitchells.

Are You Ready For Spring????

Michael Kors presented his spring 2010 collection yesterday in Bryant Park and our teams collective thoughts were the collection showed a strong sense of confidence. Sleek architectural shapes were contrasted with beautiful soft pastels and spring like silvers.

Eleni our Michael Kors specialist’s favorite look was a soft crinkled sheer gray wrapped sweater, Andrew Mitchell-Namdar’s was the white jersey asymmetric draped dress and Ellen Finlayson loved the small clutches. Linda Mitchell’s favorite (which we all loved) was the opening white glove leather zipper shift dress.

The entire collection will be at our stores Oct 14 & 15th in Westport and Oct 16 & 17 in Greenwich to pre-order. Also view the show for yourself by clicking here.

P.S. The room rocked to Lady Gaga and Madonna. Michael is also a master music mixer as well.

Fall ’09 Padma Launch

Mitchells Richards and Marshs Associates travelled to NYC to meet Padma Lakshmi and learn about her new jewelry collection lauching this week at our stores. You might recognize Padma as one of the Hosts of Top Chef and former model. A great time was had by all and we look forward to her visiting our stores this fall. Stay tuned for dates.

Jack And Bill Mitchell Honored With First-Ever “Menswear Retailing Hall Of Fame” Award

Jack and Bill Mitchell were honored on July 20, 2009 at the first-ever “Menswear Retailing Hall of Fame” Awards, which was sponsored by MR Magazine, the leading trade publication in the men’s fashion industry. The awards dinner was held Monday night July 20th at The Four Seasons restaurant in New York City.

Touted for their “broad assortment of quality fashion, top branded and designer labels, amazing customer service, beautiful stores, extraordinary charity events, exceptional value and the world’s finest tailors,” MR saluted the Mitchells for creating “ amazing businesses in Westport, Greenwich and more recently on Long Island.” In MR’s press release, they joke that “Though now managed by a third generation of Mitchells (Jack’s sons Russell, Bob, Andrew and Todd, and Bill’s sons Scott, Chris and Tyler), you still can’t walk into the stores without getting a huge hug from Jack or Bill. “

In presenting Jack and Bill Mitchell their award, MR Magazine editor in chief Karen Alberg Grossman spoke fondly of founders Norma and Ed Mitchell, and how Ed in 1954 left his high-powered NYC marketing position to open a little shop in Westport. “Jack and Bill learned their values and work ethic from their parents and have passed these down to their children, “ Alberg Grossman told the crowd of 225 industry luminaries. She also gave special mention to their wives, Linda and Sue.

St. Vincent’s Fundraiser:
“Building Health, Hope and Compassion”

This past spring, together with Chairmen Clea Newman Soderlund, Patricia Willett, Megan Foley, and Program Chair Beth Hayes, Mitchells hosted the St. Vincent’s fundraiser for “Building Health, Hope, and Compassion.” The proceeds from the event are to benefit the Elizabeth M. Pfreim SWIM Center for Cancer Care, scheduled to open in January 2010. It gives us great pleasure to be involved in this project and to reach out a helping hand to our community. In honor of our parents, Norma and Ed Mitchell who founded Mitchells and our belief in giving back, the main corridor of the new SWIM Center will be named after them. Some of the highlights of the evening included a jewelry fashion show by Kimberly McDonald, a martini bar compliments of Grey Goose and Pirical, and a live auction. Approximately 200 guests joined us to support the cause and helped raise nearly $300,000. A special thank you to everyone who helped make this event a success!

© 2009 Mitchells Richards. All Rights Reserved.

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