Then he tackled Casual Corner's outdated, conservative careerwear, adding shoes, accessories and weekend clothes.

FORBES: The son also rises

His first move was to slash the number of factories supplying Casual Corner from 100 to 50, improving its relationships with suppliers.

FORBES: The Son Also Rises

Assets: Owns 72% of Luxottica, which in turn owns Lenscrafters in the U.S. Other holdings include stake in Italy's GS hypermarket chain and 100% of U.S. women's clothing retailer Casual Corner.

FORBES: Europe

Then, on a flight from New York to Milan in 1997, Leonardo mentioned to Claudio that he was at his wit's end with Casual Corner, the ailing women's apparel chain that had come with his acquisition of LensCrafters' parent, U.S. Shoe.

FORBES: The Son Also Rises

Then, on a flight from New York to Milan in 1997, Leonardo mentioned to Claudio that he was at his wit's end with Casual Corner, the ailing women's-apparel chain based in Enfield, Connecticut, that had come with his acquisition of LensCrafters' parent, U.S. Shoe.

FORBES: The son also rises