Angel Reese is the 2024 FNAA Style Influencer

Welcome back to FN Daily, where we break down the biggest stories happening in footwear and retail.

Today, we have some legal news about Lululemon and a look at a new boot that can turn into a slipper . Plus, Angel Reese is the 2024 FNAA style influencer.

Here's what you need to know.

WNBA Star Angel Reese Is the 2024 FNAA Style Influencer of the Year

More people than ever before tuned into the WNBA this past season, and many of those eyes were on Angel Reese —?both on and off the court. Aside from her basketball accolades , she also solidified herself as a certified style star.

At the 38th annual?FN Achievement Awards ?ceremony, to be held Dec. 4 in New York, the 22-year-old hooper will be recognized with the Style Influencer of the Year Award , an honor that has previously been bestowed on the likes of Storm Reid , J Balvin, Cardi B, Law Roach, Nicole Richie and Hailey Baldwin, among others.

“I am so honored to be recognized by Footwear News as this year’s Style Influencer,” said Reese. “For me, personal style is about seizing the moment and expressing who you are with unapologetic confidence. There’s no playbook for personal style, which makes fashion so empowering. Working with Reebok has been a dream because they truly support my vision and collaborate with me throughout the design process to create pieces that are authentically me. Together, we hope to inspire others to embrace their unique style with the same confidence.”

Reese has also made inroads in the world of high fashion .?For instance, she attended several industry events, such as the Met Gala in May, the CFDA Fashion Awards in October, a pre-Olympics event at Fondation Louis Vuitton in July and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in October. Her love of fashion has manifested itself most notably with Reebok, the athletic brand she has been aligned with since 2023.?Her first collection with the athletic brand, dubbed Reebok by Angel, arrived in July and featured several performance and lifestyle selections, including new-look versions of the BB 4000 II, the Premier Road VI and the Classic Leather.

Read more about some of the other FNAA honorees, here .

Bluemarble’s New Odyssey Boots Can Transform Into Slippers

Parisian menswear brand Bluemarble has launched a new out-of-this-world shoe for fall – the Odyssey Boot .

First spotted on the brand’s fall 2024 runway show during Paris Fashion Week Men’s in January, the new boot style is an engineering feat. Taking cues from the design of moon boots, the Odyssey Boot aims to redefine explorer footwear with a unique detachable upper that’s adorned with hiking-inspired trim . This removable feature, the brand noted, allows the wearer to transform the boot into a slipper, for the ultimate two-in-one shoe.

Anthony Alvarez, founder and creative director of Bluemarble told FN that the new boots are the result of wanting to create a shoe that “transcend the bounds of Earth .”

“Inspired by the spirit of Apollo 11, the boot reflects humanity’s drive towards space as is an invitation to exploring the boundless possibilities of our collective journey into the unknown,” Alvarez said. “It’s a unique crossover between a funky slip-on and a hiking boot . We wanted to create a shoe that pairs innovation with comfort, giving adventurers a versatile base for any terrain, whether here on Earth or among the stars.”

Lawsuit Says Lululemon’s Mishandled DEI Efforts, Botched Leggings Launch, Led to Dropping Share Price

A Lululemon shareholder is accusing the activewear giant of several management failures that contributed to a falling share price.

In a lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York on Monday, Lululemon shareholder James Wong alleged that shortcomings in the retailer’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs, as well as concealed inventory issues that led to a botched launch for a new line of leggings, significantly impacted the company’s share price.

In October of 2020, Lululemon launched an “Impact Agenda” that included a focus on the company’s “Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Action” (IDEA) efforts through 2025. The long-term strategy included a commitment to invest $75 million into wellbeing programs by 2025 and a goal to expand to full pay equity for its employees by 2022. But according to a recent article from Business of Fashion, which was cited in the lawsuit, Lululemon created culture that was “unwelcoming of Black people.”

The article also alleged that Lululemon concealed broader inventory allocation issues, especially in the Americas region. Lululemon’s stock price fell from $478.84 to $403.19 within a day when these issues were revealed in March of 2024, the complaint noted. Eventually, more issues prompted Lululemon to pause the launch of its Breezethrough leggings in July 2024, which also negatively impacted the share price .

FN reached out to Lululemon for a comment.

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