De-Klein: Lagging Sales Force Tyler out as Anne Klein Designer

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IT'S ALL over for Richard Tyler and Anne Klein.

In an abrupt, unexpected announcement, the company said Dec. 19 that "due to differences pertaining to the future design direction," Tyler would no longer create its signature collection.

In fact, the real reason was very simple: Tyler's three collections had failed to perform at the box office.

Rumors were flying that Tyler might be replaced by Patrick Robinson, who only this week resigned from his position as head stylist at the Giorgio Armani Le Collezioni line produced by GFT.

An Anne Klein spokesman declined to comment, and Robinson couldn't be reached.

There were also suggestions that Tyler …