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Liz Claiborne's Fortunes Hang On Isaac Mizrahi's Vision

Liz Claiborne, which hired celebrity designer Isaac Mizrahi as creative director earlier this year, is betting his star power will give its namesake label some sex appeal -- or "mojo," as CEO William L. McComb puts it. Mizrahi became a household name by designing a "cheap chic" line for Target that helped cement the retailer's reputation for selling stylish but inexpensive clothes.

Mizrahi's collection, which has been shrouded in secrecy, will be unveiled at a presentation for retailers in September. In an unusual step, the company is inviting only members of the media who agree not to write about the collection until Jan. 1, when Mizrahi is allowed to discuss it because he still has a line selling at Target. The line will hit stores in February.

Liz Claiborne fortunes are tied more closely to the label than they have been in years. Since his arrival in late 2006, McComb, a former Johnson & Johnson executive, has sold, licensed or discontinued more than a dozen labels, reversing the strategy of his predecessor to snap up niche brands to spur growth.

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