AD BUDGETS FLAT FOR SPRING; MEN'S FASHION MARKETERS TRY SEX, SPORTS AND "SOFTNESS" IN THEIR NEW ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

Daily News Record, January, 2003 by COLAVITA, Contribution by COURTNEY; LIPKE, DAVID

Neither the doom-and-gloom of news headlines nor the vacillating economy influenced spring advertising campaigns on either the creative or budgetary fronts, according to many men's labels. Prominent advertisers including Tommy Hilfiger, Perry Ellis, Hugo Boss and Versace said their ad buys are on par with last year, while Ralph Lauren said ad spends for both its Purple Label and Polo brands grew. At Kenneth Cole, spending for the women's lines received a boost, but men's spending was flat.

"Our marketing budget is flat to last year, it's always 7 to 8 percent of our total turnover," said Philipp Wolff, director of worldwide communications at Hugo Boss. That investment will be directed toward two ad schedules in the U.S., the first in January and February...