CLAIBORNE FOR MACY'S MEN'S VINTAGE MEN'S PURE LAMBSWOOL WINDOW-PAINE BLAZERAMAZING LAMSWOOL FABRICFULLY LINEDTAILORING:Shoulders 19.5"Armpits 21.5"Sleeve Length 26"Jacket Length 29.5"* Note: This unique jacket is especially tailored to be waist length(2) Available.ColumbiaMiss Claiborne, the designer who has built a multimillion-dollar business by offering moderately priced, stylish but not trendy, separates to women, announced last month that she was introducing a line of men's wear.''We had requests to enter men's wear two years ago, but the male mindset was still pretty conservative,' she said. ''I think men's retailing is now ready for something a little more casual that would compare in concept to our women's line.''Biggest Gamble YetThe introduction marks a diversification further afield than any that Liz Claiborne Inc. has taken so far, and as such, is arguably the biggest gamble in the eight-year-old company's history. However, industry experts observed that the men's market is ripe with potential. And, they agreed that diversification has been one key to Miss Claiborne's success. 70 percent of men's clothing purchases are made by women, so the company is banking on brand loyalty by its women customers to fuel sales of its men's line.Liz Claiborne has not only attracted the consumer. Its steep growth chart has also bowled over Wall Street, where - despite investors' aversion to volatile Seventh Avenue - it is one of the hottest stocks.NY TIMES.
