Is Net-A-Porter up for Grabs Again?

The UK-based e-commerce site and go-to for the stylish set may be sold again, industry insiders speculate. And it wouldn't be all too surprising considering demand for the e-retailer's luxury items isn't wavering (the site recently sold out of a $4,150 Dolce & Gabbana crystal-encrusted crown (opens in new tab) from the Fall '13 collection). Expansion is booming as the web site launched The Netbook last month, an app that allows shoppers on the site to share their favorite picks with one another. Come February, the brand will reveal Porter, a print title with shoppable content that will be published six teams each year.

Net-a-porter is currently owned by Compagnie Financière Richemont (a Swiss company that owns brands like Cartier and Chloé), which bought the brand from founder Natalie Massenet a little more than three years ago. Although it has been rumored that Yoox.com was in talks to buy Net-a-Porter this year, Yoox CEO Federico Marchetti told WWD on Wednesday that "there are no negotiations taking place with Richemont." Richemont also denied the sale (opens in new tab). Still, those in the know are saying the site can be sold for three times what it went for in 2010. As for what will happen next? Only time will tell.