>> For those holding out for Christian Dior's Fall 2009 campaign — since most other major brands have revealed their seasonal ads at this point — you're setting yourself up for a big disappointment. The brand — which posted a loss in profits last week — decided to forego a traditional ad campaign this season because Dior CEO Sidney Toledano found the formula "wanting," according to WWD.

Instead, the advertising budget — an undisclosed number — was poured into a new set of the Lady Dior handbag campaign featuring Marion Cotillard.  The original set, photographed by Peter Lindbergh, started running last November and a new set with Cotillard as "Lady Red," snapped by Annie Leibovitz, has been appearing in magazines starting since the August issues (above).  A sequel to Cotillard's short film for the brand, which hit the Internet in May, is planned for December.  

Toledano seemed satisfied in May with the brand's move toward using more star power and away from seasonal campaigns that typically feature models: “Now we have to give more meaning. People are looking for iconic products and they want to see a product representing the values of a company.”