The Indicator | March 14th, 2025

Lilly Pulitzer launched its first men’s collection in 15 years. Called “Men’s Stuff,” the collection takes its name from Lilly Pulitzer’s original men’s line in the 1960s and includes shirts, pants, blazers and pocket squares. Lilly Pulitzer added stretchy cotton to its pants, made its silhouettes more fitted and downsized its tie collection due to customers dressing more casually. In the future, Lilly Pulitzer plans to add men’s swimwear to the assortment. It’s also interested in performance fabrications that can be worn on the golf course or pickleball course. (Modern Retail) 

The Australian-born, digitally-native on-trend fashion brand, Princess Polly, plans to open seven U.S. stores in 2025, bringing the total number of locations to 13. The openings will include the brand’s brick and mortar debut in New York City. The store, located in the SoHo section of Manhattan, will span approximately 8,000 sq. ft. across two levels. (Chain Store Age) 

Ross Stores plans to open approximately 90 new stores in FY 2025, comprising about 80 stores under the Ross Dress for Less banner and 10 dd’s Discounts locations. The retailer is expanding its presence in the newer markets of Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York, while dd’s growth is primarily focused on existing markets of California, Georgia, and Texas. (Retail TouchPoints) 

In 2024, 52% of couples who were surveyed said their engagement ring featured a lab-grown diamond, according to the 2025 Real Weddings Study by The Knot. Many couples end up buying a lab-grown diamond ring because of the lower price tag. Lab-grown diamonds can sell for around one-tenth the price of a comparable natural diamond. (CNBC) 

M.M.LaFleur officially migrated its long-running editorial platform, The M Dash, from its own website to Substack, making it one of the first in fashion — and among the earliest companies, in general — to launch a branded newsletter on the subscription platform. While brands have experimented with Substack, largely through sponsored posts and founder-led accounts, a shift is underway. More companies like luxury resale marketplace The RealReal are now establishing their own Substack accounts and publishing newsletters under their brand name, using the platform as a direct-to-consumer marketing channel. (Modern Retail) 

Best Buy plans to launch a program allowing influencers and creators to build their own branded digital storefronts on the retailer’s website this spring. Amazon and Walmart both have programs that offer commissions to influencers who create storefronts to showcase products sold on the retailers’ websites. (Modern Retail) 

DTC swim brand Andie launched a semi-annual incubator program geared toward providing women-led businesses with resources and guidance. The program chooses one female entrepreneur per cycle to receive a $5,000 grant to invest in their emerging company. Among the other perks is access to a leading pitch deck consultant for advice on funding strategies and investment opportunities. (Retail Dive)