With shoppers deserting Madison Avenue, the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District has set up a by-invitation-only shopping suite at the Hotel Plaza Athénée next weekend, where the selected retailers' most important clients can come shop in private. [WWD] 

Perhaps in an effort to dispel rumors of Anna Wintour's departure, "industry sources" are saying that Vogue was Conde Nast's most profitable title this year.  [P6]  

While it is already known that Barack Obama will be wearing a Hart Schaffner Marx single-button, notch-lapel tuxedo on the evening of the inauguration, designers like Thom Browne, Paul Smith, and Tommy Hilfiger have submitted sketches to Women's Wear Daily of the sort of suits and tuxedos that they think he should wear. [WWD] 

French First Lady Carla Bruni is suing the clothing company Pardon for making a handbag depicting a nude image of her that was taken early in her modeling career. [Vogue UK]