bits and baubles

• Nick Knight captured Gareth Pugh and his longtime boyfriend, artist Carson McColl (left), as part of a video portrait project [SHOWstudio, SHOWstudio]
• Word is that the new TV project September Issue documentarian RJ Cutler is working on is connected to Teen Vogue; apparently they've reached out to at least one well-known blogger to participate [The Cut]
• Hamish Bowles shaved off the mustache he's had for the past year while in South Anjuna for New Year's Eve [WWD]
• Lauren Hutton is a fan of Tom Ford's films: "He said, 'I'm going back to fashion.' I said, 'Oh no, why? I like your work, but I love your movies!' But, anything for Tom, and he knows that" [Harper's Bazaar]
• Calvin Klein bought Manhattan restaurant Indochine out tomorrow night for his boyfriend Nick Gruber's 21st birthday party [NY Post]
• J.Crew extended their buyout deadline to Feb. 15 to appease shareholders [The Cut]
• Philip Crangi just signed a manufacturing and distribution deal with Lucas Design, the company that produced Tom Binns's Disney Couture line, and is considering a move into leather goods and eyewear [WWD]
• Anna Wintour, who attended the White House for Chinese President Hu Jintao last night, told reporters she intended to ask Hu: "Will he invest some money in Chinese fashion?" [Styleite]
• 22 year-old Lily Kwong, cousin of Joseph Altuzarra and an Elite model, collaborated with her photographer friend on a David Lynch-inspired editorial [T]
• Kate Moss loves her country home in the Cotswalds: "I need to get away from the city every weekend to talk, cook, ride my bicycle to Londis to pick up veg and do the country thing. I had another place in the country for three years. Then there was a year that I didn't have it and I didn't know what to do with myself. I was absolutely lost without it" [Vogue UK]
• Ryan McGinley captured Lauren Hutton, Lou Doillon, Tali Lennox, and many others for Club Monaco's Spring 2011 ad campaign [Fashionetc, WWD]
• Miguel Enamorado, who spent the past three years as Interview's fashion market director, has been promoted to the magazine's fashion director under creative director Karl Templer [DFR]

• Alberta Ferretti took a page out of Tom Ford's book and had the likes of Camilla Belle, Carmen Dell'Orefice, Poppy Delevigne, Paz de la Huerta, and Marisa Berenson walk in place of models as part of her Florentine show to open Pitti Immagine Uomo last night, for which she created an exclusive 30-piece collection [Style.com, Fashionista]
• The Costume Institute received a donation of $10 million from Jonathan and Lizzie Tisch to create a new gallery space; although this gift was the "tipping point" to start construction next year, fundraising for the project started several years ago and has been helped in large part by Anna Wintour and the Costume Institute Gala benefit [NY Times]
• Gucci Group parent company PPR just created a new business unit dedicated to developing online retail. CEO François-Henri Pinault called e-commerce a "strategic priority," adding: “My goal [is] to increase our digital presence and accelerate our growth in online sales, which should reach 10 percent of Gucci Group and Puma’s consolidated revenues over the next few years” [WWD]
• Bibhu Mohapatra, Pamela Love, Mandy Coon, The Lake & Stars, M. Patmos, and Study NY were all awarded $25,000 Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation grants to put toward their upcoming New York Fashion Week shows [WWD]
• Erin Wasson is designing a capsule collection for Zadig & Voltaire [ElleUK]
• W's February 2011 cover features a first look at sweet-looking Rooney Mara's transformation into punky Lisbeth Salander for David Fincher's upcoming The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo film [W]
• Instead of pouting across the board as in seasons past, models have notably been captured smiling in both the Valentino and Chloe Spring 2011 ad campaigns [Garance Dore]
• Jessica Stam's left arm is in a sling after she sprained and fractured it while snowboarding in Montana over the holidays [Modelinia]
• Using the same technology that made the Death Star explode in Star Wars, Loewe blows up its Amazona bag over and over in a new brand video [Style File]

• Riccardo Tisci is following up his Fall 2010 campaign featuring the transsexual model Lea T. with a Spring 2011 ad campaign featuring albino model Stephen Thompson, shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott in black and white alongside Mariacarla Boscono, Daphne Groeneveld and Iris Strubegger; the idea came from a Robert Mapplethorpe photo of an alabaster Roman bust juxtaposed against leopard print fabric [WWD]
• 39-year-old David Lauren and 26-year-old Lauren Bush, who met at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala six years ago, got engaged Friday at the museum; she Tweeted today: "Thanks for everyone's warm wishes about our engagement! I am so happy, and really enjoying every minute of it! I am truly a lucky lady!" [NY Post, @LaurenBushTweet]
• Conde Nast looks to be in shopping mode: its parent company just raised $500 million for mergers and acquisitions [All Things Digital]
• Karolina Kurkova posted a teaser photo of her and androgynous model Andrej Pejic on the set of Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring 2011 ad campaign [Frockwriter]
• Before The Sartorialist's Scott Schuman stops someone to ask to take their picture, he says, "I pretty much know where I'm going to stand, where I'm going to place them in relationship to the light, where in the street . . . so as soon as they say, 'Okay,' I'm pretty much ready to go." He continues: "I'm not much of a people person, I don't push to find out that much more [about his subjects]. I want to shoot them the way that I see them; as opposed to really creating a true essence of who they are, it's my idea of who they are." [NY Times]
• Christian Louboutin, on how extremes have changed in his twenty years in the business: "When I started, I remember people saying, ‘Oh my God, I can’t walk in that!’ It was like, three inches — they look like kitten heels now. The low cleavage I was doing was considered too sexy, but now what I call a low cleavage is much lower. It’s really very much a mental shift. I remember doing very pointy lasts. People would say, ‘I like the shoe, but it’s too pointy.’ And then the year after, it’s fine." [Style File]
• Marc Jacobs may bring his legendary holiday costume party — which hasn't happened since 2007 — back next year [The Cut]
• Anna Dello Russo is evasive on how she affords her two apartments and thousands' worth of designer clothing; her only response: "Of course, I am journalist! Then I have discount, I am privileged!" [Guardian UK]
• Peep Zac Posen's Pre-Fall 2011 lookbook, featuring "Zac-ettes" — his words (“They’re all women who have been significant for me this year”) — Hilary Rhoda, Crystal Renn, Anna Cleveland, and Leigh Lezark [Vogue]
• Reiss is planning on reissuing the dress Kate Middleton wore in her engagement photos as part of their Spring 2011 collection [The Cut]
• Former WWD Eye editor Emily Holt has been named fashion news editor at Vogue; she started last Monday [DFR]
• Leighton Meester is rumored to be the new face of Missoni [InTouch]
• Christian Lacroix is art directing and selecting the 150 Middle Eastern pieces to be featured in the Musee du Quai Branly's "The Orient of Women" exhibition, opening Feb. 8 [WWD]

• Kanye West is reportedly having Christophe Decarnin custom-remake a portion of the Balmain Fall 2010 collection, "specifically seventies-centric pantsuits, cutaway coats, and gilded jeans," for an upcoming tour [Hint]
• According to a Conde Nast source, there will most likely not be another Fashion's Night Out fashion show next September [Fashionista]
• On 2010 Vogue covers (American and international), Natasha Poly was the most frequently used model, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin were the most frequently used photographers, and Dolce & Gabbana the most frequently used designer [Fashin]
• Bryanboy says he makes more than $100,000 per year from advertising on his blog and charging fees for appearances [The Cut]
• Marilyn Minter shot Jimmy Choo's 15th anniversary ads, marking her first luxury campaign, below [Elle]

• Liya Kebede's film Desert Flower, in which she plays Somalian model Waris Dirie, finally has a release date is the US: March 18. Kebede is currently filming two more movies, Black Gold, with Antonio Banderas, Freida Pinto, and Mark Strong, and Le Marsupilami et l'orchidée de Chicxulub, with Gerard Depardieu and Julie Delpy [The Moment]
• Pierre Hardy just opened his first US store in New York, which has been two years in the making; it features black leather floors — “It’s same as the soles of the shoes, so it feels very good on bare feet when you’re trying on," the designer explained — and an exclusive Skyline heel ($1,540), based on the Manhattan skyline [Racked NY]
• Jane Mayle's limited-edition Holiday Kamikaze Love collection is now available online, with shoes and bags coming soon [Mayle]
• Yasmin Sewell, who left her position at Liberty earlier this year, has reportedly joined the team at Lauren Santo Domingo's online venture, Moda Operandi [@_BoF_]
• Vogue's bookings editor Valerie Boster shares one week of her outfits, which include an Isabel Marant fur coat, an Urban Outfitters thermal she bought in high school, and a croc tote she had custom made in Thailand [Vogue]
• Tanga Moreau, who once had a five year exclusive contract with Ralph Lauren — one of the highest paid of all time — is experiencing a comeback at age 32. She also suffers from a genetic malformation which causes cysts inside her spinal cord: "When they get too big, they explode and cause nerve damage. In 2004 I woke and I couldn't move. I was kind of paralysed. I spent two years in and out of hospital recovering. It could happen again any day" [Telegraph UK]

• Vogue's Virginia Smith turned down the Barneys fashion director position last week, and now the other front-runner, Lane Crawford fashion director Sarah Rutson, has too. “I have no intention or plans to leave Lane Crawford,” Rutson said over the weekend [WWD]
• Tomorrow's British Fashion Awards will honor Alexander McQueen posthumously for Outstanding Achievement; McQueen's frequent collaborator Nick Knight made a short film of the designer's archives for the occasion, scored by Bjork: “It is being styled by Edward Enninful and will feature black models only” [Style File]
• The first image of Dolce & Gabbana's Spring 2011 campaign, which features Izabel Goulart, Alessandra Ambrosio, Maryna Linchuk, and Isabeli Fontana captured by Steven Klein, has leaked (pictured) [TFS]

• Giorgio Armani and Lady Gaga, who have a multimillion dollar partnership, finally met for the first time last night; Anna Dello Russo also met Gaga and brought her a doll [Styleite]
• See the Ann Taylor-inspired looks the 2010 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists created as part of this year's competition [Fashionista]
• Hairstylist Didier Malige on Terry Richardson's childhood: "Now I see Terry as an adult, and at the time I knew him as three or four years old. His upbringing was totally liberal compared to a French kid of his age. They had a Fiat 500, which is a tiny little car, and he always had to share it with a huge poodle, like a royal poodle. And he always had to sit in the back with the poodle." [Into The Gloss]
• Juicy Couture co-founders Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor, who favor vintage pieces, furry vests, black leather pants, and vertiginous heels, plan to launch a new label next year, and they're dropping hints: “It will reflect the way we dress now. We have outgrown our track suits and grown up” [WWD]
• Sasha Pivovarova, who likes to make dolls, opens up her Brooklyn loft for T's cameras [T]
• Watch the music video for a young Jean Paul Gaultier's 1988 single, "How To Do That," featuring Naomi Campbell [Jezebel]
• 23-year-old Central St Martins graduate Thomas Tait only does private orders so far, but he's already got fans in Giles Deacon, Daphne Guinness, Stephen Jones, and Manolo Blahnik [T]
• Intermission Magazine's website just launched, featuring interviews with the likes of Gaia Repossi and Hanne-Gaby Odiele [Intermission]

• Givenchy called Adriana Lima when she was four months pregnant to walk in their Spring 2010 show, she says: "They take my measurements and I’m like, 'Oh my God, oh my God, I'm big!' And then they say, 'You’re not big enough!' Because they wanted to see the belly." [The Cut]
• Roland Mouret is anti-diffusion line: “I would never do a diffusion line. I don’t think the future is that. People mix brands all the time already, so you need to do something else. We are living in a different fashion world now.” [Style File]
• Karlie Kloss and Jourdan Dunn spent some quality time together yesterday, Kloss Tweeted: "Lovely day in London w/bff ms.dunn...lunch at Claridges, shopping at Selfridges, and now off to the eurostar...goodbye london hello paris!" [@karlie_kloss]
• Street style favorite and Harper's Bazaar senior fashion market editor Joanna Hillman is documenting her style daily during December for the magazine's blog [Harper's Bazaar]
• Gap's Spring 2011 faces include Anja Rubik, Liu Wen, Anais Mali, Carolyn Murphy, Karmen Pedaru, and Monika "Jac" Jagaciak [TFS]
• Talon cuff fans: Pamela Love just launched an online store [Pamela Love]
• Peek Naty Chabanenko in Cushnie et Ochs's new Spring 2011 lookbook (pictured) [Refinery29]
• Cathy Horyn takes an in-depth look at Chinese couturier Guo Pei as part of Sally Singer's first issue of T, which is slowing leaking online [T]

• Freja Beha Erichsen isn't just a Chanel face for Spring 2011 — she reportedly also posed for Louis Vuitton's Spring 2011 campaign, shot by Steven Meisel, alongside Raquel Zimmermann, and Kristen McMenamy [WWD]
• The Innovative Design Protection and Piracy Prevention Act, which aims to copyright fashion designs, was passed unanimously by the Senate Judiciary Committee and is headed for full Senate deliberation [WWD]
• Proenza Schouler's mochila totes ($225) and wallets ($145) are now available on their website [Teen Vogue]
• Missed the Alexa Chung for Madewell illustrated bat tee the first time around? It's back for sale online tomorrow, except this time, in tunic form ($58) [People StyleWatch]
• Casting director and Tales of Endearment blogger Natalie Joos sounds like she has a television project in the works: "More on that soon" [Fashionista]
• The sell-out J Brand Houlihan cargo pant was inspired by a vintage pair of army pants the brand's design director found in Japan [BoF]
• Roland Mouret sunglasses are on the horizon — they're one of the exclusive products he'll test at his first store in London's Mayfair, opening in February [WWD]
• Jewelry designers Ruby Kobo just launched their website, but won't do e-commerce — they prefer private appointments. They also hope to do a runway collaboration with Phillip Lim, Band of Outsiders, or Phoebe Philo [Fashionista]
• A street artist applied a cartoon Karl Lagerfeld decal to a New York taxi [Refinery29]
• The iPad inspiring print advertising: Vogue Russia's December 2010 issue has a video advertisement inside [Gawker]

• Style.com's reality show North of Madison is rumored to run on the web only, rather than on television as previously thought [Fashionista]
• Steven Meisel photographed Gisele Bundchen for Vogue Italia's December 2010 cover [Models.com]
• The ruffle-filled Valentino for Gap collection — which was thought to be only available in Milan, London, Paris — can be ordered online through Colette [Nylon]
• Alexander Wang has appointed Rodrigo Bazan, who was VP and general manager of Europe, Middle East, and India at Marc Jacobs, president of his company. Bazan joins the designer's brother and sister-in-law Dennis and Aimie Wang, who will remain chief principal officer and chief executive officer, respectively [WWD]
• Miuccia Prada is rumored to be bringing former marathon Prada campaign face Sasha Pivovarova back, except this time she's said to be in the Spring 2011 Miu Miu campaign, alongside Querelle Jansen and Kasia Struss [TFS]
• Crystal Renn wore prosthetic cheeks and lips for the plastic surgery-themed Vogue Paris shoot she worked on with Tom Ford; she also had Ford sign the gauze mask she wore: "It sits in my living room as we speak" [Fashionista]
• Alexa Chung gives a video tour of her favorite Williamsburg haunts, proclaiming: "Williamsburg is sort of like my lover, whereas London is more like my husband. I love my husband, and I'll always be with him, but Williamsburg is so exciting." [Style.com]
• Sophie Theallet, on her training under Azzedine Alaia: "All this time in NYC, still can't get around 2 think in INCHES -Mr.Alaia formed my eye on Millimeters-how 2 explain take 2 mm off in INCHES?" [@sophietheallet]
• Hilary Swank said to be developing a fashion-themed game show, in which contestants will be tested on their fashion knowledge, for the CW [Vulture]

• Anna Dello Russo now has a perfume ad, shot by Juergen Teller, to go along with her promotional video [ADR, ADR]

• Nina Garcia welcomed her second son over the weekend, she announced over Twitter: "Delighted to announce that over the wknd we welcomed 8lb13oz Alexander David Conrod into our home! Baby is doing great & Lucas [her oldest son] is thrilled!" [@ninagarcia]
• Stella McCartney also reportedly welcomed her fourth child just before Thanksgiving last week; she just relaunched her website, with behind-the-scenes photos and videos, as well [The Cut, Style File]
• 40 percent of Vogue Italia's readers come from the United States, but Anna Wintour calls Franca Sozzani "magnificent" [WashPo]
• Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott shot Laetitia Casta in London for the Spring 2011 Roberto Cavalli campaign [Laetita Casta]
• More Spring 2011 campaign rumors: Iselin Steiro is said to be the face of Lanvin; Gisele Bundchen of Isabel Marant (by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin); Raquel Zimmermann of Louis Vuitton (by Steven Meisel); and Givenchy's group is said to be Daphne Groeneveld, Iris Strubegger, Mariacarla Boscono, and Natasha Poly [HoM, HoM, TFS]
• Prada, which saw its profits triple in the last nine months, is now eyeing an initial public offering in 2011 rather than 2012 [WWD]

>> New York Fashion Week is a little less than two weeks away, and the tidbits are flowing freely — a compilation of the highlights from the past couple of days:

• Juergen Teller is meeting Cathy Horyn for a free, open to the public, discussion about his work at New York's Visual Arts Theater Sept. 12, 7 pm [On the Runway]


• Zac Posen explains his move from the big Tent at Bryant Park to a smaller Altman Building show for 400: “For this collection, an intimacy between model, clothing and audience could only be achieved in a smaller space. I really enjoyed the experience of a more intimate show after Pre-Fall 2009, followed by our successful Resort 2010, which was held at my downtown atelier." [WWD]

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