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Victoria Beckham on the cover of British Vogue.
Photo By WWD Staff
TAX PROBE: Dolce & Gabbana SpA reportedly has been fined for tax evasion. According to today's edition of Italian current affairs weekly L'Espresso, Italian tax authorities have ordered Dolce & Gabbana to pay a fine of 2 million euros, or $3 million at current exchange, for allegedly not declaring sales of stock to distributors via a satellite company. The company in question, Sto.Tex Srl, which is 80 percent owned by the fashion house and which sells company merchandise to distributors according to the article, allegedly resold more than 100,000 items of stock off the books. Dolce & Gabbana declined to comment on the allegations Thursday. Italian tax authorities could not be reached for comment at press time.
The article also reported that investigators were seeking more than 20 million euros, or $30.4 million, in unpaid monies from Salvatore Ferragamo SpA, related to its Holland-based holding company. However, Ferragamo issued a statement Thursday evening saying it had been cleared of the charges on appeal in January and reserved the right to legal action against L'Espresso for misrepresentation of the facts. Ferragamo said it had proven on appeal that its holding company, Ferragamo International B.V., was a fully consolidated part of the group, and not, as fiscal authorities had alleged, little more than a legal entity, which the fashion house used to avoid paying higher corporate taxes in Italy. — Andrew Roberts
HEELS 'R' US: So what's really standing between Victoria Beckham and a daily workout at the gym? Laziness? Fear of bulking up? Verrucas? Actually, it's footwear. She tells British Vogue in the upcoming April issue that she's joined a gym, but can't bear to go. "I would never put my health at risk. Obviously, working out is important. Well, I don't. What do you wear on the running machine? I can't bring myself to wear flat shoes," says Beckham.
British Vogue editor in chief Alexandra Shulman, who conducted the interview, notes Beckham is "fully aware she's parodying herself — her common default position when questioned."
Speaking of shoes, Beckham also reveals a top tip for gals who have to have a certain pair of shoes — even if they're too big. "If they don't have my size, I just stick toilet paper in — if that's what it takes to get a nice shoe." The issue goes on sale Monday. — Samantha Conti
The article also reported that investigators were seeking more than 20 million euros, or $30.4 million, in unpaid monies from Salvatore Ferragamo SpA, related to its Holland-based holding company. However, Ferragamo issued a statement Thursday evening saying it had been cleared of the charges on appeal in January and reserved the right to legal action against L'Espresso for misrepresentation of the facts. Ferragamo said it had proven on appeal that its holding company, Ferragamo International B.V., was a fully consolidated part of the group, and not, as fiscal authorities had alleged, little more than a legal entity, which the fashion house used to avoid paying higher corporate taxes in Italy. — Andrew Roberts
HEELS 'R' US: So what's really standing between Victoria Beckham and a daily workout at the gym? Laziness? Fear of bulking up? Verrucas? Actually, it's footwear. She tells British Vogue in the upcoming April issue that she's joined a gym, but can't bear to go. "I would never put my health at risk. Obviously, working out is important. Well, I don't. What do you wear on the running machine? I can't bring myself to wear flat shoes," says Beckham.
British Vogue editor in chief Alexandra Shulman, who conducted the interview, notes Beckham is "fully aware she's parodying herself — her common default position when questioned."
Speaking of shoes, Beckham also reveals a top tip for gals who have to have a certain pair of shoes — even if they're too big. "If they don't have my size, I just stick toilet paper in — if that's what it takes to get a nice shoe." The issue goes on sale Monday. — Samantha Conti
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