View source for Lord & Taylor

{{Short description|American department store}}
{{pp-sock|small=yes}}
{{Promotional|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Lord & Taylor
| logo = Lord and Taylor.svg
| logo_size = 165
| logo_alt = 
| logo_caption = 
| image = Former Lord & Taylor Building (48105832886).jpg
| image_size = 250
| image_alt = 
| image_caption = Exterior of the former [[Lord & Taylor Building]] in [[Midtown Manhattan]]
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| industry = [[Retail]]
| genre = [[Department store]]s
| founded = {{Start date and age|1826}} in [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], United States
| founder = [[Samuel Lord]]
| num_locations_year = 
| key_people = 
| products = {{flat list|
* Clothing
* footwear
* jewelry
* beauty products
* fragrances
* bedding
* housewares
}}
| website = {{URL|lordandtaylor.com}}
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Lord & Taylor''' is an American brand founded by [[Samuel Lord]] in 1826. Once known for its [[department store|department stores]], the company operated 86 brick-and-mortar stores at its peak as a retailer in the 2000s, including its [[Lord & Taylor Building| flagship store]] in [[Midtown Manhattan]] from 1914 until 2019.

The brand has been owned by several companies, including [[Associated Dry Goods]] from 1916&ndash;1986, [[The May Department Stores Company]] from 1986&ndash;2005, [[Hudson's Bay Company]] from 2008&ndash;2019, and [[Le Tote]] from 2019&ndash;2021. Founded in 1826, the retail chain declared bankruptcy in 2020, ceasing operations in 2021. The [[intellectual property]] was sold to the Saadia Group, which attempted to relaunch the brand as a [[Online shopping|web store]]. Saadia went into default in March 2024, and the intellectual property was acquired by Regal Brands Global that September.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |author=Jordan Valinsky |title=Lord & Taylor is closing all of its stores after 194 years in business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/27/business/lord-and-taylor-store-closures-bankruptcy/index.html|access-date=May 2, 2021 |website=CNN |date=August 27, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/28/business/lord-taylor-sale-le-tote/index.html |title=Iconic but troubled Lord & Taylor sold to clothing rental subscription company Le Tote |work=CNN |date=August 28, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Reuters">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lord-taylor-liquidation-exclusive-idUSKBN22H2SJ |title=Exclusive: Lord & Taylor to liquidate its stores as soon as they reopen – sources |last=DiNapoli |first=Jessica |work=[[Reuters]] |date=May 5, 2020 |access-date=May 19, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Saadia Group Plans to Buy Lord & Taylor's Assets for $12 Million |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/saadia-group-plans-to-buy-lord-taylors-assets-for-12-million|access-date=May 2, 2021 |website=Bloomberg Law |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite press release |last=Taylor |first=Lord & |title=The Saadia Group Announces the Official Digital Launch of Lord & Taylor |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-saadia-group-announces-the-official-digital-launch-of-lord--taylor-301270838.html|access-date=May 2, 2021 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
===Under the Lord family, 1826–1916===
[[File:Lord & Taylor, business in Westchester. LOC gsc.5a14758.tif|thumb|The [[Scarsdale, New York]] Birdcage restaurant in 1948]]
[[File:Lord & Taylor, business in Westchester. LOC gsc.5a14787.jpg|thumb|The Scarsdale, New York store in 1948]]
English-born [[Samuel Lord]] started a [[dry goods]] business in [[New York City]] in 1824 and opened the original store that would become Lord & Taylor in 1826, on Catherine Street in what is now [[Two Bridges, Manhattan]]. The shop stocked hosiery, misses' wear, and cashmere shawls.<ref name="gotham">{{cite gotham}}</ref> His wife's cousin, George Washington Taylor, joined in 1834, and the store was named Lord & Taylor.<ref name=":0" /> The store continued to grow: it annexed 49 Catherine Street in 1832 and moved six years later to 61–63 Catherine Street.<ref name="history2001">{{cite book |title=The History of Lord & Taylor, 1826–2001 |publisher=Guinn Company |year=2001 |location=New York |pages=5, 11, 13, 14, 16–17, 19, 21–23, 25, 34, 37, 39}}</ref><ref name="desrep" /> James S. Taylor, Lord's brother-in-law, replaced George Taylor in 1845.<ref name=":0" /> The company erected a new building at [[Grand Street (Manhattan)|Grand]] and [[Chrystie Street]]s in 1853 and moved into that location the following year.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/boards/surnames.lord/43.153/mb.ashx |title=America's Successful Men of Affairs:An Encyclopedia of Contemporaneous Biography (Samuel Lord entry) |date=1895 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Tribune |volume=1 |page=403 |location=New York| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730024738/https://www.ancestry.com/boards/surnames.lord/43.153/mb.ashx| archive-date=July 30, 2017| url-status=live| access-date=May 5, 2017}}</ref><ref name="desrep" /> Lord later named his son John T. Lord and his employee John S. Lyle as partners in the enterprise.<ref name="desrep" />

On August 29, 1859, Lord & Taylor opened a second store on [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]] at [[Grand Street (Manhattan)|Grand Street]] in the modern-day [[SoHo, Manhattan|SoHo]] neighborhood, keeping the older store open.<ref name="gotham" /><ref name=":0" /> The new store was described as a "five-story marble emporium" and was among Broadway's first major new department stores since the [[Alexander Turney Stewart|A.T. Stewart]] building at [[280 Broadway]] was completed in 1846. At the same time, Lord & Taylor started participating in [[wholesaling]].<ref name="desrep" /> Lord retired in 1862.<ref name="gotham" /> Samuel Lord Jr. and George Washington Taylor Lord succeeded the original partners in leading the company.<ref name="desrep" />

In 1870, the Broadway store moved uptown to a new [[Cast-iron architecture|cast-iron building]] at Broadway and [[20th Street (Manhattan)|20th Street]], in the area known as the "[[Ladies' Mile Historic District|Ladies' Mile]]".<ref name="gotham" /> This store was designed by James H. Giles and included one of the first steam-powered passenger elevators.<ref name="desrep" /> The new store expanded around 1890 by annexing a building to the east.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10779070/attractive_to_shoppers_lord_taylor/ |title=Attractive to Shoppers (Lord & Taylor) |date=October 15, 1891 |work=The New York Times| access-date=May 5, 2017 |page=8 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] {{open access}}}}</ref> Lord & Taylor faced economic troubles after the [[Panic of 1873]], though the original partners gave the company "a large loan" in 1879. By 1894, the company was fast-growing and would open stores on [[Fifth Avenue]] in 1903 and 1906.<ref name="desrep" /> The downtown store continued to function, expanded through to [[Forsyth Street]] and advertised until at least 1887 as a new building. Samuel Lord's estate sold the Grand Street store in 1901.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10780598/lord_taylor_advertisement_showing/ |title=Lord & Taylor (Advertisement) |date=March 10, 1879 |work=The New York Times| access-date=May 5, 2017 |via=Newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PbZNAQAAMAAJ&q=lord+and+taylor+%22forsyth+st%22&pg=PA331 |title=The Christian Union |publisher=J.B. Ford & Company |date=April 17, 1878 |location=New York |page=331 |via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oeJOAAAAYAAJ&q=lord+and+taylor+%22forsyth+st%22&pg=PA616 |title=The Evening Post Record of Real Estate Sales in Greater New York |date=January 1, 1901}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10781490/dresses_furs_and_bonnets_lord/ |title=Dresses, Furs, and Bonnets (Lord & Taylor) |date=October 8, 1880 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| access-date=May 5, 2017 |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10781714/our_new_building_lord_taylor/ |title=Our New Building – Lord & Taylor |date=December 5, 1887 |newspaper=The New York Times| access-date=May 5, 2017 |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref><ref>Morrone, Francis (December 27, 2007) [http://www.nysun.com/arts/landmark-department-store/68609/ "A Landmark Department Store"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628064142/https://www.nysun.com/arts/landmark-department-store/68609/ |date=June 28, 2021 }} ''[[The New York Sun]]''</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://observer.com/2006/09/dear-lord-taylor-retails-resting-place/ |title=Dear Lord & Taylor, Retail's Resting Place |date=September 11, 2006 |work=Observer|access-date=May 23, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://vintagefashionguild.org/label-resource/lord-taylor/ |title=Vintage Fashion Guild : Label Resource : Lord & Taylor |website=vintagefashionguild.org |language=en|access-date=May 23, 2018}}</ref>

The [[Lord & Taylor Building]], the [[Starrett & van Vleck]]-designed [[Fifth Avenue]] store opened between 38th and 39th streets on February 24, 1914.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10781998/fifth_avenues_wonderful_evolution_as/ |title=Fifth Avenue's Wonderful Evolution As Shopping Center |date=February 22, 1914 |work=The New York Times| access-date=May 5, 2017 |page=71 |via=Newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10782080/the_new_store_opens_tuesday_lord/ |title=The New Store Opens Tuesday (Lord & Taylor) |date=February 22, 1914 |work=The New York Times| access-date=May 5, 2017 |page=5}}</ref> It touted many modern improvements, including an electric delivery vehicle garage; elevator and hidden conveyor systems for moving goods, people, showcases, and trash, and for loading and unloading trucks; and an on-site electrical generation and heating system. The Broadway store was quickly sold after the new store opened on March 26.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10782387/lord_taylors_old_corner_sold/ |title=Lord & Taylor's Old Corner Sold |date=March 27, 1914 |work=The New York Times| access-date=May 5, 2017 |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref> The new store became a [[List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan|New York City Landmark]] on October 30, 2007.<ref name="desrep">Percival, Marianne (October 30, 2007) [http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/reports/Lord_and_Taylor.pdf Lord & Taylor Building Designation Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206210247/http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/reports/Lord_and_Taylor.pdf |date=February 6, 2017 }} [[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]]. pp. 1–2.</ref>

Lord & Taylor announced in November 1915 that it would sell off its wholesale business.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1915/11/27/archives/lord-taylor-quit-wholesale-field-directors-authorize-sale-of-that.html |title=Lord & Taylor Quit Wholesale Field; Directors Authorize Sale of That Branch of Their Business, and J. H. Emery May Buy It. To Extend Retail Trade Final Assent Must Come from Stockholders, Who Are to Meet on Next Tuesday. |date=November 27, 1915 |work=The New York Times|access-date=October 11, 2019 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

===Under Associated Dry Goods, 1916–1986===
[[File:Lord & Taylor, business in Eastchester. LOC gsc.5a28229.tif|thumb|The Scarsdale, New York store in 1961]]
[[File:Lord & Taylor - Boca Raton.jpg|thumb|The [[Mizner Park]] store in [[Boca Raton, Florida]], in 2019]]
A founding unit of [[Associated Dry Goods]], Lord & Taylor was considered to be its [[crown jewel]].

In 1945, [[Dorothy Shaver]] became the first woman to head a major retail establishment in the United States as president of Lord & Taylor.<ref name="amhistory.si.edu">{{cite web |url=http://amhistory.si.edu/archives/WIB-tour/dorothy_shaver.pdf |title=Dorothy Shaver (1893–1959), The First Lady of Retailing |publisher=[[National Museum of American History]] Archives Center |access-date=May 6, 2017 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305023026/http://amhistory.si.edu/archives/WIB-tour/dorothy_shaver.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> As vice president working with the well-known design firm of [[Raymond Loewy]] Associates, she opened what is credited as the first-ever branch store, in [[Manhasset, New York]]. Unlike earlier forays into the suburbs that consisted of smaller boutique-style shops, this merchandising effort became the model for modern suburban shopping. The store consisted of 66 individual shops. Lord & Taylor's relationship with Raymond Loewy Associates continued until 1969, following the construction of the [[Stamford, Connecticut]] store (designed by Loewy Vice President [[Andrew Geller]]).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cooperalumni.org/alumni-profile-andrew-geller-ar49-and-shirley-geller-a44/ |title=Cooper Union Alumni Association {{!}} Alumni Profile: Andrew Geller, AR'49, and Shirley Geller, A'44|website=cooperalumni.org|date=September 21, 2015|language=en-US|access-date=May 23, 2018}}</ref> Many of Lord & Taylor's special services, including personal shoppers, were introduced while Shaver presided.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Stephanie |last=Amerian |date=June 1, 2009 |title=Fifth Avenue's First Lady: Dorothy Shaver |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7w18h2jx |journal=CSW Update Newsletter}}</ref> During this period she introduced the Andrew Geller handwritten logo and the American Beauty Rose as icons of the store. Shaver died in 1959.<ref name="amhistory.si.edu" /><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/06/29/archives/miss-shaver-dead-led-lord-taylor-dorothy-shaver-is-dead-at-66.html |title=Miss Shaver Dead; Led Lord & Taylor; Dorothy Shaver Is Dead at 66; Headed Lord & Taylor Since' 45 |date=June 29, 1959 |work=The New York Times|access-date=May 23, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,886788,00.html |title=Retail Trade: Fifth Avenue's First Lady |date=December 31, 1945 |magazine=Time|access-date=May 23, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0040-781X}}</ref>

William J. Lippincott was elected chairman and chief executive in 1972. His obituary in ''[[The New York Times]]'' read: "In his years as president and chairman, Lord & Taylor moved beyond its traditional territory in the northeast to open stores in Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas and four stores in Illinois."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2003/07/28/daily44.html |title=Metro Atlanta Lord & Taylor stores closing |website=Atlanta Business Chronicle|date=July 30, 2003 |access-date=May 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=W. J. Lippincott, 73; Headed Lord & Taylor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/07/obituaries/w-j-lippincott-73-headed-lord-taylor.html |newspaper=The New York Times |page=B17 |date=May 7, 1992| access-date=January 2, 2018}}</ref> A management shakeup ousted him in 1976.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/01/11/archives/new-lord-taylor-team-plans-expansion-new-team-at-lord-taylor.html |title=New Lord & Taylor Team Plans Expansion |date=January 11, 1972 |work=The New York Times|access-date=May 23, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Under the leadership of CEO Joseph E. Brooks during the 1970s, the company aggressively expanded into [[Texas]], [[Illinois]], and [[Michigan]]; throughout the 1980s, [[South Florida]] saw 11 stores opened in quick succession.

===Under May Department Stores Company, 1986–2005===
When the [[May Department Stores|May Company]] acquired ADG in 1986, it was assumed that May bought it just for the luxury division.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-10-16-fi-5818-story.html |title=Hilsberg to Run May Division |date=October 16, 1986 |work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 23, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0458-3035}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/10/04/associated-merges-with-may/ |title=Associated Merges With May |work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=May 23, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

The chain partially withdrew from the oil-shocked Texas and southern Florida markets in 1989–1990 after its 1986 acquisition by May.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/11/19/Mervyns-to-acquire-five-Lord-Taylor-stores-in-Florida/3597658990800/ |title=Mervyn's to acquire five Lord & Taylor stores in Florida |work=UPI|access-date=May 23, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Under May, the upscale [[Hahne & Co.]], [[Wanamaker's]], and [[Woodward & Lothrop]] chains were repositioned and converted into Lord & Taylor.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1995/08/29/at-woodies-taking-stock-before-a-final-sales-blitz/525795dd-39b3-4c00-a0aa-112da1e63930/ |title=At Woodies, Taking Stock Before a Final Sales Blitz |last=Pressler |first=Margaret Webb |date=August 29, 1995 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=May 23, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/1997/08/11/editorial3.html |title=Hello, Lord & Taylor |website=Philadelphia Business Journal|date=August 11, 1997 |access-date=May 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/12/business/lord-taylor-to-bolster-presence-in-new-jersey.html |title=Lord & Taylor to Bolster Presence in New Jersey |last=Barmash |first=Isadore |work=The New York Times |date=January 12, 1989 |access-date=May 23, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>{{clear left}}

[[Jane T. Elfers]] became Lord & Taylor's second female president in June 2000.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/13/business/private-sector-loosening-up-at-lord-taylor.html |title=Private Sector; Loosening Up at Lord & Taylor |last=Kaufman |first=Leslie |date=August 13, 2000 |work=The New York Times|access-date=May 23, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Former [[Neiman Marcus]] executive, Brendan Hoffman replaced her in October 2008, when Elfer's contract had expired.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2008/09/26/news/companies/lord_taylor.fortune/ |work=CNN |title=Shakeup at Lord & Taylor |date=September 26, 2008| access-date=May 11, 2010 |first=Suzanne |last=Kapner| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211135424/http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/26/news/companies/lord_taylor.fortune/| archive-date=December 11, 2008 }}</ref> A third female president, [[Bonnie Brooks]], took over in 2011, and a fourth female president, Liz Rodbell, took over in 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.limcollege.edu/life-at-lim/news/2017-commencement-speaker-liz-rodbell-president-hudson%E2%80%99s-bay-and-lord-taylor |title=2017 Commencement Speaker: Liz Rodbell, President of Hudson's Bay and Lord & Taylor|access-date=May 23, 2018 |language=en|archive-date=May 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524080914/https://www.limcollege.edu/life-at-lim/news/2017-commencement-speaker-liz-rodbell-president-hudson%E2%80%99s-bay-and-lord-taylor|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://business.financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/bonnie-brooks-adds-top-job-at-lord-taylor |title=Bonnie Brooks adds top job at Lord & Taylor |date=January 23, 2012 |work=Financial Post|access-date=May 23, 2018 |language=en-US}}

===Under Federated Department Stores, 2005–2006===
</ref>[[File:Veterans Day 2008, NYC (3033556544).jpg|thumb|The [[Lord & Taylor Building]] flagship store on [[Fifth Avenue (New York City)|Fifth Avenue]] in 2008]]
[[Federated Department Stores]] acquired May Department Stores in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-lord-and-taylor-history-photos-2020-8|title=The rise and fall of Lord & Taylor, one of the country's oldest and most beloved department stores|first=Bethany|last=Biron|website=Business Insider}}</ref> On January 12, 2006, Federated chairman, president, and CEO [[Terry Lundgren]] announced that Lord & Taylor would be sold by the end of the year.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://wwd.com/business-news/financial/retail-s-changing-world-federated-opts-to-put-lord-taylor-on-block-549318/ |title=Retail's Changing World: Federated Opts to Put Lord & Taylor on Block |last1=Edelson |first1=David |last2=Moin |first2=Sharon |date=January 13, 2006 |work=WWD|access-date=May 23, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> Federated announced on March 10, 2006, that six Lord & Taylor locations would be sold or downscale into Macy's.<ref name="SLBJ">{{cite news |url=http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2006/03/06/daily51.html |title=Lord & Taylor closing at Galleria, West County malls |newspaper=[[American City Business Journals|St. Louis Business Journal]] |date=March 10, 2006 |last=Tritto |first=Christopher| access-date=January 2, 2018}}</ref> The legendary Center City, Philadelphia store, the former flagship of the [[Wanamaker's|John Wanamaker]] chain, opened after a one-month renovation as [[Macy's City Center]] on August 1, 2006.

===Under NRDC Equity Partners, 2006–2008===
On June 22, 2006, [[NRDC Equity Partners|NRDC Equity Partners, LLC]] announced it would purchase Lord & Taylor for $1.2&nbsp;billion after Federated converted and sold the previously announced locations; the sale was completed in October 2006.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84477&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=875337&highlight= |title=Federated Agrees to Sell Lord & Taylor to NRDC Equity Partners; Transaction Expected to Close in Third Quarter of 2006 |publisher=Federated Department Stores, Inc. |date=June 22, 2006}}</ref> Federated continued to service Lord & Taylor consumer credit accounts in an agreement with NRDC under the terms of its sale until mid-2007.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tuggle |first1=Kathryn |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/676892/federated-sells-lord-taylor-nrdc |title=Federated Sells Lord & Taylor to NRDC |work=Fast Company |date=October 4, 2006}}</ref>

===Under Hudson's Bay Company, 2008–2019===
[[File:Lord and Taylor.jpg|thumb|The [[Lord & Taylor Building]] at 424 [[Fifth Avenue (New York City)|Fifth Avenue]]]]
[[File:Lord & Taylor, business at 38th St. and 5th Ave., New York City. LOC gsc.5a21408.tif|thumb|The Fifth Avenue flagship store in 1952]]
On July 16, 2008, [[NRDC Equity Partners]] announced that it had purchased the 338-year-old [[Hudson's Bay Company]] (HBC) for an undisclosed price and positioned Lord & Taylor as a subsidiary under HBC. 

The combined HBC, as of February 2017, consisted of Lord & Taylor and [[Saks Fifth Avenue]] in the United States, the online luxury fashion retailer [[Gilt Groupe|Gilt]], [[Hudson's Bay (retailer)|Hudson's Bay]] and [[Home Outfitters]] in Canada, and [[Galeria Kaufhof]] in Germany.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150930005898/en/Hudson%E2%80%99s-Bay-Company-Completes-Acquisition-GALERIA-Holding |title=Hudson's Bay Company Completes Acquisition of Galeria Holding|access-date=May 23, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/nrdc-equity-partners-announces-the-acquisition-of-hudsons-bay-company-536455441.html |title=NRDC Equity Partners announces the acquisition of Hudson's Bay Company |website=www.newswire.ca |language=en|access-date=May 23, 2018|archive-date=March 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301104128/https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/nrdc-equity-partners-announces-the-acquisition-of-hudsons-bay-company-536455441.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Lord & Taylor Building|Fifth Avenue flagship store]] received a $150&nbsp;million (${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=150000000|start_year=2010}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) update in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theshophound.typepad.com/the_shophound/2013/03/retail-renewal-more-renovations-in-store-for-lord-taylor-on-fifth-avenue-.html |title=Retail Renewal: More Renovations In Store For Lord & Taylor On Fifth Avenue |website=The Shophound |date=March 27, 2013 |access-date=May 6, 2017}}</ref> In 2011, an ultra-modern concept store opened in Westchester County at the new [[Ridge Hill Mall]]. During this time, locations such as [[Manhasset, NY|Manhasset]], [[Garden City, NY|Garden City]], [[Bala Cynwyd, PA|Bala Cynwyd]], [[Scarsdale, NY|Eastchester]], and [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford]] all saw ultra-modern style renovations and upgrades. In 2012, a large outpost opened at [[The Mall at Rockingham Park]]. In 2013, a contemporary-style outpost opened at [[Mizner Park]] in [[Boca Raton, Florida]]. In 2014, a contemporary outpost, modeled after the Boca Raton location, opened at [[Crossgates Mall]] near [[Albany, NY]]. Around this time, a store was announced to open alongside [[Saks Fifth Avenue]] in the luxury wing of the [[American Dream Meadowlands|American Dream Mall]].

In 2015, Lord & Taylor launched Design Lab, a line of apparel for women aged 18 to 35. The advertising campaign, which concentrated on a single dress, made extensive use of social media, including a paid article in ''[[Nylon (magazine)|Nylon]]'' and posts on [[Instagram]] by fashion [[influencer]]s who were paid for their posts and had received the dress for free.<ref>{{cite book | last=Snyder | first=Wally | title=Ethics in Advertising: Making the case for doing the right thing | publisher=Routledge | date=November 3, 2016 | isbn=978-1-317-28152-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bjRuDQAAQBAJ | access-date=July 29, 2025 | page=163}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Fair | first=Lesley | title=FTC's Lord & Taylor case: In native advertising, clear disclosure is always in style | website=Federal Trade Commission | date=March 15, 2016 | url=https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2016/03/ftcs-lord-taylor-case-native-advertising-clear-disclosure-always-style | access-date=July 29, 2025}}</ref>  The advertised dress sold out, however the campaign was investigated by the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC). In 2016, Lord & Taylor agreed to a settlement with the FTC which stated that it is "prohibited from misrepresenting paid ads as independent editorial content, and it must clearly disclose when fashion influencers have received some form of compensation for their endorsement".<ref>{{cite web | last=Gustafson | first=Krystina | title=Lord & Taylor settles deceptive advertising charges | website=CNBC | date=March 15, 2016 | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/15/lord-taylor-settles-deceptive-advertising-charges.html | access-date=July 29, 2025}}</ref>

In October 2017, after an attempt made to build a skyscraper above the Fifth Avenue store, it was announced the building would be sold in a joint venture to [[WeWork]] for $850&nbsp;million (${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=850000000|start_year=2017}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}). WeWork was set to occupy the uppermost floors of the building, with the rest remaining a newly updated flagship for Lord & Taylor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://abc7ny.com/business/lord-and-taylor-sells-landmark-fifth-avenue-store/2562179/ |title=Lord & Taylor sells landmark Fifth Avenue store to WeWork |website=ABC7 New York |date=October 24, 2017|access-date=May 23, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180524003612/http://abc7ny.com/business/lord-and-taylor-sells-landmark-fifth-avenue-store/2562179/ |archive-date= May 24, 2018}}</ref> In February 2019, the sale completed for $725&nbsp;million (${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=725000000|start_year=2019}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) in cash and the remainder in equity, forming a joint venture with Lord & Taylor as a non-controlling interest. Analysts linked the decision to growing pressure from activist investors and a strategic push to monetize real estate assets.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.glossy.co/retail-redux/how-hudsons-bay-company-looks-to-to-pay-off-its-debt-and-revitalize-its-stores |first1=Danny |last1=Parisi |title=How Hudson's Bay Company looks to pay off its debt and revitalize its stores |date=January 4, 2019 |website=Glossy |language=en|access-date=January 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190211005142/en/HBC-Closes-Sale-Lord-Taylor-Avenue-Building |title=HBC Closes Sale of the Lord & Taylor Fifth Avenue Building |date=February 11, 2019 |work=Business Wire|access-date=February 13, 2019}}</ref>

In May 2018, [[Walmart]] began offering Lord & Taylor fashions on its website as part of an effort to modernize its brand and appeal to a more upscale customer base.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/13/wal-mart-set-to-launch-lord-taylor-fashion-store-online.html |first1=Lauren |last1=Thomas |title=Wal-Mart strikes deal with Lord & Taylor, growing in fashion against Amazon |website=[[CNBC]] |date=November 13, 2017|access-date=May 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/06/05/hudsons-bay-lord-taylor-stores-nyc-fifth-avenue/672197002/ |date=June 5, 2018 |first1=Nathan |last1=Bomey |title=Hudson's Bay to close up to 10 Lord & Taylor stores, including Fifth Avenue in New York |website=[[USA Today]] |access-date=June 5, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://abc7ny.com/business/flagship-lord-and-taylor-store-officially-closes-its-doors/5004618/ |website=ABC7 New York |title=Flagship Lord and Taylor store officially closes in Manhattan |date=January 3, 2019|access-date=February 20, 2020}}</ref>

===Under Le Tote, 2019–2020===
[[File:L&T Tysons Corner July 2015 - 1 (19619875655).jpg|thumb|The [[Tysons Corner Center]] store in 2015]]
In August 2019, Hudson’s Bay Company invested in Le Tote, Inc., a fashion rental retailer. In exchange for Hudson’s Bay Company gaining a 25% equity stake in the newly formed joint venture, Le Tote acquired operational control of Lord & Taylor, a Hudson’s Bay Company subsidiary, for $75 million in cash at closing and an additional $25 million payable two years later.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/06/hudsons-bay-to-review-strategic-alternatives-for-lord-taylor.html |title=Hudson's Bay to review strategic alternatives for Lord & Taylor |last=Lucas |first=Amelia |date=May 6, 2019 |website=CNBC |language=en|access-date=May 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKCN1VI1LV-OCABS |title=Hudson's Bay to sell Lord + Taylor for $100 million |newspaper=Reuters |date=August 29, 2019 |last1=Dowsett |first1=Sonya |first2=Jessica |last2=DiNapoli |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925142840/https://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKCN1VI1LV-OCABS |archive-date= September 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/28/business/lord-taylor-sold-le-tote.html |url-access=subscription |title=Lord & Taylor Will Be Sold to Le Tote, a Clothing Rental Start-Up |last=Maheshwari |first=Sapna |date=August 28, 2019 |work=The New York Times|access-date=September 3, 2019 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Le Tote retained ownership of the stores’ inventory, valued at approximately $213.2 million, while Hudson’s Bay Company maintained ownership of Lord & Taylor’s substantial and valuable real estate portfolio. As part of the agreement, Hudson’s Bay Company committed to covering store lease obligations for at least three years, at an estimated cost of $58 million per year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190828005408/en/HBC-Le-Tote-Enter-Agreement-Acquisition-Lord |title=HBC and Le Tote Enter Into Agreement for Acquisition of Lord + Taylor |date=August 28, 2019 |website=Business Wire |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231001122609/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190828005408/en/HBC-Le-Tote-Enter-Agreement-Acquisition-Lord |archive-date= October 1, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://business.financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/not-a-clean-exit-hudsons-bay-sells-lord-taylor-for-133-million |title=Not a 'clean exit': Hudson's Bay sells historic Lord & Taylor for $133 million |newspaper=Financial Post |date=August 28, 2019 |last1=Edmiston |first1=Jake |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203141031/https://business.financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/not-a-clean-exit-hudsons-bay-sells-lord-taylor-for-133-million |archive-date= December 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/28/business/lord-taylor-sale-le-tote/index.html |title=Iconic but troubled Lord & Taylor sold to clothing rental subscription company Le Tote |author=Chris Isidore and Nathaniel Meyersohn |website=CNN |date=August 28, 2019|access-date=September 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://chainstoreage.com/done-deal-le-tote-completes-lord-taylor-acquisition-names-new-president |title=Done Deal: Le Tote completes Lord & Taylor acquisition; names new president |website=Chain Store Age |date=November 8, 2019 |language=en|access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref> The joint venture with Le Tote was finalized in November 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.voguebusiness.com/consumers/inside-le-tote-lord-and-taylor-integration-hudsons-bay-company |title=Inside Le Tote's $100 million bet to rebuild Lord & Taylor |last=Milnes |first=Hilary |date=November 8, 2019 |website=www.voguebusiness.com |language=en|access-date=January 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=Financial Post |url=https://business.financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/hudsons-bay-selling-lord-taylor-department-store-for-100-million-to-le-tote |title=Hudson's Bay selling Lord & Taylor for $100 million to Le Tote}}</ref>

====Response to the COVID-19 pandemic====
[[File:Lord & Taylor Manhasset, NY 37 (51206727602).jpg|thumb|The [[Manhasset, New York]] store on [[Long Island]] in 2020]]
Lord & Taylor's stores were forced to close due to [[Executive (government)|executive]] [[state orders]] by the local and [[state governments]] on non-essential [[retail]] by Wednesday, March 18, 2020, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]]. While it took some time for the locations to reopen to the [[public]], some of its closed U.S. stores were looted following the [[murder of George Floyd]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/police-fire/looters-damage-businesses-in-friendship-heights-sunday-night/ |title=Looters damage businesses in Friendship Heights Sunday night |date=June 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local-news-2/2020/06/01/boston-businesses-looted-vandalized-list |title=A running list of the Boston businesses that have been vandalized, looted &#124; Boston.com |website=www.boston.com |date=June 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/video-friendship-heights-cvs-robbed-looted-during-protests |title=Looters steal gobs of Rx medicine from CVS in Friendship Heights, many others stores hit |first1=Kevin |last1=Lewis |date=May 31, 2020 |website=[[WJLA]]}}</ref>
Lord & Taylor began the process of reopening on Friday, May 15, 2020, with two of its locations in [[Florida]] and [[New Hampshire]] allowed to reopen.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lisicky |first1=Michael |title=There Is Still A Little Life Left In Lord & Taylor, Two Locations Reopen |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaellisicky/2020/05/22/there-is-still-a-little-life-left-in-lord--taylor-two-locations-reopen/?sh=eef501d13bba |access-date=March 2, 2021 |work=Forbes |date=March 22, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> All stores resumed operations by July 3, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/03/opinion/sunday/lord-taylor-closed.html |title=Opinion &#124; Goodbye to Lord & Taylor, and the Way We Used to Shop |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 3, 2020 |last1=Seltzer |first1=Sarah M.}}</ref>

On August 2, 2020, Lord & Taylor and [[Le Tote]] had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lisicky |first1=Michael |title=Lord & Taylor Surprises Shoppers With 'Store Closing' Signs At Many Locations, Files For Bankruptcy |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaellisicky/2020/08/02/lord--taylor-surprises-sunday-shoppers-with-store-closing-signs-at-many-locations/ |access-date=August 2, 2020 |work=Forbes |date=August 2, 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Clark |first1=Evan |title=Le Tote, Lord & Taylor File Bankruptcy |url=https://wwd.com/business-news/financial/le-tote-lord-taylor-file-bankruptcy-chapter-11-1203692453/ |access-date=August 2, 2020 |work=[[Women's Wear Daily]] |date=August 2, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> On August 27, Lord & Taylor revealed plans to close all of its brick-and-mortar operations after almost 200 years while reportedly simultaneously soliciting bids for its [[Le Tote]] and Lord & Taylor businesses.<ref name="PRNewswire">{{cite press release |author1=Hilco Global |author-link1=Hilco Global |title=Le Tote And Lord + Taylor To Continue Sale Process And Commence Store Closings At Certain Stores Through Voluntary Chapter 11 Filing |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/le-tote-and-lord--taylor-to-continue-sale-process-and-commence-store-closings-at-certain-stores-through-voluntary-chapter-11-filing-301104760.html |access-date=August 5, 2020 |work=[[PR Newswire]] |date=August 3, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> On October 15, 2020, the investment firm Saadia Group announced it would acquire Lord & Taylor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 28, 2020 |title=Lord & Taylor's final sale: Who will buy all that real estate? |url=https://www.marketplace.org/2020/08/28/lord-taylors-final-sale-who-will-buy-all-that-real-estate/|access-date=October 29, 2020 |website=Marketplace |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lord & Taylor, Le Tote $12 Million Asset Sale to Saadia Approved |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/lord-taylor-le-tote-12-million-asset-sale-to-saadia-approved|access-date=October 29, 2020 |website=Bloomberg Law |language=en}}</ref>

====Digital-first retailing====

In October 2020, the investment firm Saadia Group acquired Lord & Taylor; they transitioned the retailer into a digital-first format. In fall 2022, an ad campaign called "Fall Fete" debuted alongside a new logo.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retaildive.com/news/lord-taylor-fall-merchandising-new-logo/632427/|title=Online only, Lord & Taylor unveils fall merchandising, new logo|website=Retail Dive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Vicki M. |date=2024-03-01 |title=End of an Era: Layoffs and Lender Lawsuit Augur the Demise of Lord & Taylor |url=https://sourcingjournal.com/topics/retail/lord-taylor-saadia-lender-45-3-mn-court-order-seize-inventory-assets-white-oak-497271/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=Sourcing Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2024, Regal Brands Global acquired Lord & Taylor with the intention of continuing its digital retail approach.<ref>{{cite web | title=Lord & Taylor's New Owner Readies for Online Rebirth | date=December 6, 2024 | url=https://sourcingjournal.com/topics/retail/regal-brands-global-lord-taylor-sina-yenel-online-luxury-dresses-gen-z-1234725843/ }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Lord & Taylor, America's oldest department store, is making a comeback | website=[[Fox Business]] | date=December 14, 2024 | url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/lord-taylor-americas-oldest-department-store-making-comeback }}</ref>

==Logos==
<gallery>
File:Lord and Taylor.svg|Logo handwritten by [[Andrew Geller]], used before 2019, current logo since 2024.
File:Lord & Taylor 2015 logo.svg|A logo originally introduced by [[Hudson's Bay Company]], in use from 2015{{nbnd}}2019.
File:Lord & Taylor 2015 logo 2.svg|A slightly altered logo introduced by [[Hudson's Bay Company]], in use from 2015{{nbnd}}2019, 2021{{nbnd}}2022.
File:Lord & Taylor 2019 logo.svg|alt=Logo introduced by Hudson's Bay Company, in use from 2019{{nbnd}}2020|The logo introduced by [[Hudson's Bay Company]], in use between 2019{{nbnd}}2020.
File:Lord & Taylor 2022 logo.svg|The logo introduced by Saadia Group, in use from 2022-2024.
</gallery>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:(King1893NYC) pg854 LORD & TAYLOR, ORIGINAL STORE, CATHARINE STREET.jpg|Catharine Street store
File:New York by sunlight and gaslight - a work descriptive of the great American metropolis; its high and low life; its splendors and miseries; its virtu (1882) (14593294599).jpg|20th Street and Broadway
File:Lord and Taylor.jpg|Lord & Taylor Flagship at 424 Fifth Avenue
File:901_Broadway_exterior_view.jpg|Exterior view of the remaining section of the 1870 store at Broadway and 20th Street.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Companies|Fashion|New York City}}
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.lordandtaylor.com Official website]

{{Hudson's Bay Trading Company, L.P.}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Department stores in the United States}}
{{Coord|40.75149|-73.98307|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-NY|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lord and Taylor}}
[[Category:1826 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:2021 disestablishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:2008 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2019 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1826]]
[[Category:Retail companies disestablished in 2021]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1826]]
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 2021]]
[[Category:Companies based in New York City]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020]]
[[Category:Defunct department stores based in New York City]]
[[Category:Hudson's Bay Company]]
[[Category:Macy's, Inc.]]
[[Category:May Department Stores]]
[[Category:Midtown Manhattan]]
[[Category:Shops in New York City]]