She's The Boss

Hugo Boss flooded Paris with its newest, most serious women's apparel line yet. Three exclusively Boss Women stores have opened in the past two weeks, including a 1400-square-foot boutique on Rue Bonapart, scheduled to unlock its doors today. The other freestanding locations are the 1400-square-foot Palais des Congres shopping center unit and the 1700-square-foot Avenue de l'Opera location. Boss's Paris flagship on the Champs Elysees recently became home to a Boss Women vendor shop, as well.

Boss has launched two other women's collections, including a small line unveiled in 1990, which lasted only one season, and the 1998 Hugo line. Last year the young, trendy collection generated approximately $7 million in sales. But Boss Women has been deemed the company's most significant venture into the world of women's ready-to-wear, since it has already invested about $33 million in the project's establishment.

Boss expects to open 45 freestanding locations worldwide, including stores in Mannheim, Germany, and London slated to open later this month.