LeBron James surges for short-handed Lakers; Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma seal win late

  • Lakers forward Brandon Ingram attempts a shot while being defended by Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, left, as Kings forward Marvin Bagley III watches during the first half of Thursday’s preseason game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

  • Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, center, drives the ball between Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III, left, and guard Frank Mason III during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

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  • Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, center, goes up for a shot while Sacramento Kings forward Skal Labissiere, second from left, and forward Marvin Bagley III defend during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

  • Los Angeles Lakers guard Josh Hart, front, and Sacramento Kings forward Harry Giles reach for a rebound during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

  • Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III, right, drives the ball past Los Angeles Lakers forward Johnathan Williams during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

  • Lakers forward Brandon Ingram, left, drives past Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox during the first half of Thursday’s preseason game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

  • Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram, center, goes up for a dunk past Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield, left, as center Willie Cauley-Stein watches during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

  • Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, talks with guard Josh Hart during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

  • Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, left, looks to pass the ball while under pressure from Los Angeles Lakers guard Josh Hart, right, and center JaVale McGee during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

  • Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, reacts after a foul is called on the Lakers as guard Josh Hart looks on during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

  • Lakers forward LeBron James, left, drives past Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield on his way to the basket during the first half of Thursday’s preseason game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

  • Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, celebrates with center JaVale McGee, left, and guard Lance Stephenson during the second half of the team’s NBA preseason basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. The Lakers won 128-123. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

  • Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, left, moves the ball while defended by Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

  • Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, celebrates with Lance Stephenson after a dunk by Johnathan Williams during the second half of the team’s NBA preseason basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

  • Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III, right, attempts to drive the ball past Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. The Lakers won 128-123. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

  • Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, center, reacts on the bench after a dunk by Johnathan Williams next to Lance Stephenson, left, and Jeffrey Carroll during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. The Lakers won 128-123. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

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LOS ANGELES — It was a tag-team act. LeBron James got the Lakers started. Brandon Ingram made sure they finished.

Breaking out of a sluggish start without their top two point guards, the Lakers finally managed their first preseason victory, 128-123 over the Sacramento Kings, behind 18 points from James in another one-half cameo followed by 31 points from Ingram, who guided the team down the stretch.

As Ingram made a key steal and two free throws in the final minute, James could be seen clapping and smiling from the bench.

It wasn’t a game the Lakers felt wholly good about – their third straight preseason effort with iffy defense and too many fouls. But between James’ second-quarter surge and Ingram’s strong offensive effort, they were finally able to get over a hump and see some potential from a budding young player.

“I think he was great all game, not just in the second half,” James said of Ingram. “His pace, his ability to play the point and play the wing, he’s a very special talent and we’re definitely happy to have him on our side.”

With Lonzo Ball missing another game and Rajon Rondo held out for rest, the bar was low. Ingram started at point guard, and Kyle Kuzma slid into the power forward spot. Walton said pregame that he wanted to see better defensive effort, fewer turnovers and fewer fouls.

What he saw wasn’t all that good: The team had seven turnovers in the first quarter while giving up 39 points. Without Rondo directing things as he had in the first two games, the slip-ups added up for the Lakers.

“We were not good at any of those tonight,” a frustrated Walton said at the postgame podium. “We have to get a lot better in this next week or however long we got left until the start of the season.”

Then, James took over, knowing he would be sitting out the second half. He made five straight Lakers baskets to end the first half, finishing the thrust with a layup over Skal Labissiere that tied the score and drew a foul.

James thumped his chest before he stepped to the line and made the shots, giving him 18 points in just 16 minutes.

“Tonight I felt really, really good,” he said. “You know, you see the ball go through the rim when you get to the free-throw line, and it makes you even more and more comfortable offensively.”

As James sat in the second half, the slack was picked up by Ingram, with some help from his teammates. Kuzma, making his first preseason start at power forward tipped in an Ingram missed free-throw attempt with nine seconds remaining that all but clinched the result.

Walton held off on being too kind to Ingram: While the third-year forward had some key defensive plays late, his coach wants to see that effort throughout entire games.

Ingram agreed with Walton on that point. Still, he said, it felt good to get a compliment from James, who has a locker right next to him.

“It makes you want to keep going,” he said. “I don’t think I want to stop here and like I said, my expectations are way higher than anyone’s expectations in this room or anybody, so for him to say that is an extreme compliment.”

🎥 Luke Walton discusses Brandon Ingram’s defensive performance, and Josh Hart’s overall play this preseason. pic.twitter.com/o8aa2CuL1D

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 5, 2018

🎥@B_Ingram13 talks about his expectations for himself, and playing alongside LeBron pic.twitter.com/2BM9MuTLOJ

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 5, 2018

🎥@KingJames: “I’ve been feeling really good throughout training camp and throughout these preseason games, but tonight I felt really, really good.” pic.twitter.com/Jfp9qYVeLH

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 5, 2018

🎥 HIGHLIGHTS: Behind Brandon Ingram’s 31 points, five Lakers reached double-digit scoring in tonight’s 128-123 preseason win over the Kings. pic.twitter.com/mbicUJnMCR

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 5, 2018

Lil bro gone be a problem!! #YoungDripKing👑@B_Ingram13 https://t.co/vat8SCJAgc

— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 5, 2018

05.10.2018No comments
AG Denim Scion Samuel Ku Launches New Line CQY

The premium denim resurgence continues in Los Angeles. Samuel Ku, who was president and creative director of AG Jeans for a decade, is launching a new denim an essentials line called CQY.
With CQY, pronounced “coy,” Ku envisioned clothes built to last – with clean and modern silhouettes balanced by a deep respect for the rich heritage of denim. Using Japanese selvage denims produced by Kaihara, and jersey knitted by the finest mills in Japan and Los Angeles, CQY’s collection will consist of minimal wardrobe essentials – a handful jean styles, a pair of khakis, a denim jacket and shirt, and a handful of cotton tops for both women and men.

The CQY campaign was styled by Samantha Traina and features Louise Follain. 
Courtesy photo

Denim runs in Ku’s blood; he is the son of Yul Ku, one of the founders of AG (Adriano Goldschmied) denim), and while he was at AG, he increased the business fourfold.
Launching for spring 2019 in stores such as Ron Herman, American Rag, Guild and Elyse Walker in January, CQY will also soft launch online with a campaign styled by Samantha Traina and featuring Louise Follain (www.cqydenim.com).
“We have created the CQY brand with the

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Bridget Foley’s Diary: Spring Things

The season was packed with news, on and off the runway. Some fashion was great, some, not so. There were anniversaries, a retreat from street, a major trans-Atlantic sale. Here, a far-from-exhaustive list of points of interest from spring 2019.
It’s Personal. Rei Kawakubo and Miuccia Prada on a wavelength? Only in that both approached spring in deep-thoughts reevaluation mode. As per the rare statement she sent out before her Comme des Garçons show, Kawakubo advised of a shift from her powerful, abstract approach to something “quiet, serenely internal.” Her models wore faux-pregnancy padding, an apparent reflection on the responsibility of creation. Her clothes, she offered, were now “free of design on the surface.” Mere mortals would beg to differ. Prada’s contemplative mood was brought on by external forces. She sought to simplify her clothes, she said, “because eccentric pieces aren’t worn by many people.…And fashion needs people who care.”
Fabulous at Fifty. It was something fashion hasn’t seen before: A 50th anniversary with the house founder still at the creative helm — and calling a lot of the business-side shots as well. Ralph Lauren’s fete at Bethesda Terrace in Central Park proved just about perfect for the moment, the presence of

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05.10.2018No comments
Margo Lafontaine to Unveil First Amsale Bridal Collection

Today marks the debut of the first collection by new creative director Margo Lafontaine for Amsale with a 1 p.m. fall 2019 bridal show. Prior to the brand’s founder and former creative director Amsale Aberra’s death in April, Lafontaine was set as successor and had the opportunity to work hand in hand with Aberra.
The new creative director was brought over in January from Vera Wang, where she was working as senior studio director, and worked alongside Aberra for two months before maternity leave [in which time the designer died and the spring collection was shown]. She marked her return this summer to oversee both the ready-to-wear and bridal collections.
“Amsale really was the creator of the modern wedding dress,” said Lafontaine, “She left us the most incredible gift, which is her brand, her aesthetic, which is the strong, clean minimal dresses. It’s really about the bride for Amsale. Making her feel the most beautiful on her wedding day and letting her natural beauty shine. Not letting that be covered up too much. That said, we’re never dedicated to minimalism. Some dresses have more or some are a little cleaner.”
For the debut fall show, Lafontaine will be showing three collections together:

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05.10.2018No comments
CEO Talks: David Jones’ David Thomas on Reinventing an Australian Icon

SYDNEY — Like much of the capital’s central business district, which is undergoing a 62 billion Australian dollar, or $44 billion, development boom, the Elizabeth Street flagship of department store chain David Jones is a construction site.
Originally opened in 1927, the store is midway through a 200 million Australian dollar refurbishment that David Jones is claiming will raise the bar for luxury retailing in Australia.
At its helm is David Jones’ chief executive officer David Thomas, who assumed the role in September 2017 following several years of executive reshuffling in the wake of the 2014 acquisition of David Jones by South Africa’s Woolworths Holdings Limited for $2 billion.
In January, Woolworths slashed David Jones’ value by 34 percent, citing poor execution of turnaround plans and structural changes in retailing.
David Jones’ profit fell by 50 percent to 64 million Australian dollars for fiscal 2018, but returned to its strongest sales growth in three years.
Thomas will be hoping to capitalize on some of that sales momentum with the unveiling, on Friday of the first completed stage of the Elizabeth Street refurbishment — the Level 7 shoe floor.
The store’s relocated and dramatically expanded shoe department is now housed inside the store’s

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05.10.2018No comments
EXCLUSIVE: Thylane Blondeau Readies Fashion Line

FASHION FOCUS: Thylane Blondeau couldn’t find that perfect sweatshirt, so she decided to design her own. And that led to the 17-year-old French model and actress — a L’Oréal Paris brand ambassador — to conceive a full urban clothing line under the brand Heaven May (after her middle name), WWD has learned.
Blondeau’s followers — she has 2.4 million on Instagram alone — will be able to rock the look sold on her own site, heavenmay.com, starting Oct. 11.
“I have a lot of fans, and they’re always like: ‘Where did you buy this? Where did you find this?’” she said. “And I was like, everything they like I am going to do it for them and for me.
“I wanted to do my own brand, my own thing,” she continued. “I love clothes.”
Her first sweatshirt was black, with her label’s logo on the back. “Then I did pants, and after had to do socks and shoes — everything,” explained Blondeau.
Comfort was key. One sweatshirt has a hood that can be zipped up over the wearer’s head. “So I can hide my face — you know, when you are sleeping on the plane,” said Blondeau, who has been working with Paris-based designers, sending

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05.10.2018No comments