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Charles Nolan Exits Anne Klein
By Jenny Bailly
Apr 7, 2003/ FWD/ --- The Anne Klein revolving door is spinning once again. After two successful years with the lion-logoed brand, designer Charles Nolan Wednesday announced his resignation. Michael Smaldone, whom Nolan hired as his number two six months ago, has already been tapped to replace him.
Nolan won't be heading to another fashion house, however, but rather turning his attentions to the White House. The designer's next project is to work on the presidential campaign of Democrat Howard Dean, currently Vermont's governor.
The designer is no stranger to the political scene. His partner, Andrew Tobias, is treasurer of the Democratic National Committee, and both were active in Al Gore's 2000 campaign.
"I had a great two years helping to put the buzz back in Anne Klein and I'm happy to be leaving on a high note," Nolan said of his departure. "I know Michael will do a great job going forward."
He continued, "After 12 years in the industry without a break, and with all that's going on in the world, some of which I feel compelled to help address more directly, this is the right time for me to go."
Nolan joined Anne Klein in February 2001, after 11 years at Ellen Tracy. Under his leadership Anne Klein kicked off a revival, and returned to the catwalk after a hiatus of several years.
The designer took his sixth collection for the house to the New York runways in February. The collection's mod looks, inspired by one of Anne Klein's 1969 sketchbooks, were well-received by retailers and reporters alike. Its predecessors - which have successfully mixed zippy silver jumpsuits, ripstop nylon parachute pencil skirts and off-the-shoulder sweatshirts with the brand's standby white oxfords and well-cut blazers -- also met with critical acclaim.
"Charles' design vision has helped to put Anne Klein back on the fashion map," said John Idol, CEO of Kasper, Anne Klein's parent. "We are very sorry to see Charles go and we wish him the best in his future endeavors. At the same time, we are excited to have Michael expand upon the foundation that has been built." Idol also boasted that the brand had a wholesale net sales increase of 13.2 percent in 2002.
Dee Salomon, senior vice president, marketing and corporate communications -- and the one who first gave Nolan a call back in late 2000 -- is sad to see him go, but says she respects his "very strong passions" and even plans to pitch in on the Dean campaign herself.
Though Salomon acknowledges "a big challenge" ahead, she vows to "keep the brand going in the same direction, keep building on the same platform we've created over the last two years, and keep making great clothes."
That last part now lies in the hands of Smaldone, who was creative director of Tahari before joining Anne Klein last fall. He also spent eight years at Banana Republic as both design director of women's design and later vice president of men's design.
Like Nolan, a Long Island native who headed to the Fashion Institute of Technology at only 17, Smaldone is a graduate of FIT. He also holds a degree from Polimoda in Florence, Italy.
Nolan told FWD in a February interview, "I hope that whenever I do anything it's relevant to the moment." The fireman's jacket he included in his post-9/11 fall collection was a prime fashion example of that philosophy. Now, he's taking it to a political level.
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Designer Charles Nolan
