China is currently the world’s third-largest market for cosmetics and toiletries, behind the United States and Japan.

While wealthy Chinese once had to travel overseas to get their cosmetics, the domestic market is now spoiled for choice as the world’s leading cosmetic companies open shops across the nation.

That makeover of the Chinese market received another boost this week with news that massive New York-based Estee Lauder Companies group is planning to expand its presence in the country with new stores and e-commerce channels.

For being one of the fastest-paced industries, fashion has sometimes been remarkably slow in jumping on the online bandwagon.

One of the brands that took especially long to get selling on the internet is Miu Miu, which finally launches its first e-shop on April 6.

According to Women’s Wear Daily, the site will feature all of the label’s collections, making it the biggest Miu Miu store in the world.

Polo Ralph Lauren has announced that it will further extend its e-commerce reach with the launch of Ralphlauren.com in the UK.

After the success of Ralph Lauren’s US e-boutique, launched in 2000, the company has decided to roll out a British version on October 14.

The site will offer a full assortment of clothing and accessories for men, women and children, in addition to a full array of home products.

Marc Jacobs has launched its first e-commerce site (marcjacobs.com).

The new e-commerce site is playful, unique and innovative and brings the online storefront alive through a mix of whimsical illustration, photography and video.

The look for Marc Jacob’s first e-commerce site was designed to go back to the roots of the Marc Jacobs brand, which is fun, entertaining and engaging.

Luxury consumption and e-commerce both jumped in February, according to data released March 3 by MasterCard.

After a largely positive January, MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse reported that the rise in US online spending continued in Feb, up 16.7 % year-on-year.

Although the severe weather may have contributed to this rise, the firm added that February’s excellent results capped seven straight months of double-digit online spending growth.

New survey results show 66% of Luxury Interactive conference attendees have an e-commerce website in place. Which is 33% percent higher than the industry average according to Forrester Research.

The survey mainly explored how luxury brands plan to take their integrated on- and offline marketing strategies several steps further.