>>  Karl Lagerfeld has been opposed to the publication of "The Beautiful Fall" since it first came out in September -- he claims to have identified "100 mistakes or more" in the book, which chronicles Paris fashion in the 1970's, specifically following Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent.  Kaiser Karl especially seems to be incensed that the book insinuates he is older than he claims to be and that he has a "middle class" background.  When Alicia Drake, the author, was originally writing the book, she asked to interview both Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent, but both declined. 
N0w, Lagerfeld has started legal action in French courts against Drake, who lives in Paris, claiming invasion of privacy.  A court decision is expected January 15. 
When Pierre Berge (partner of Yves Saint Laurent) was asked about the situation, his comment was: "I would never do a legal procedure -- it is not worth it...There is a lot of complicity between designers and the press, but we must leave writers some space and freedom and not tie their hands."  Ouch.

Personally, I've been reading this book for a while and haven't wanted to finish it because it's so good.  If there wasn't a reason to pick it up before, there is now. 

 >> After seeing a couple more images from the Spring 2007 Louis Vuitton ad campaign, I have to say I like the originally released image (the one with the LOVE bag) the best.  Katie Grand (who styled the campaign) did a great job with the lines of that image -- the swing rope doesn't seem out of place like it does in the last (horizontal) image.  Also, Scarlett's leg frames the bag well, and she overall just seems more comfortable in this shot than the other two.  I really like the makeup though, and it seems like white-framed sunnies have been popping up everywhere lately...

>> Kate Moss to Alexander McQueen:  Do you wear a butt plug?

I was just re-reading an interview from December 2003 where McQueen gets peppered with questions from his peers, and that question was just the end-all.  Loves it.

>> Not his own hand, of course, but that of his creative director.  Kate Moss has hired McQueen creative director and Another Magazine fashion director and her dear friend (all one person) Katy England to help her out with her Topshop colloboration -- and by "help" I mean Katy will apparently design the collection for Kate.   Katy is involved  "in every stage of McQueen's process, from researching and picking trimmings, to working on the shows," according to SHOWstudio, so the Topshop line should be good.   At least I'm looking forward to seeing the product.

England is pictured at right with her husband, Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie.

>>  The woman lived and died for fashion, literally.  She smoked from the age of 14 and ate lettuce (instead of bread)-bound sandwiches to maintain herself within sample size range.  A few years ago, when she was in her seventies, she broke her hip wearing spiked heels.  In 2005, she passed away from emphysema. 
But for all her effort, fashion loved the original "social x-ray," Nan Kempner, back.  Diana Vreeland once said, "There are no chic women in America.  The one exception is Nan Kempner." -- A weighty statement coming from an editor of American Vogue.  Yves Saint Laurent called her "la plus chic du monde."

Mrs. Kempner had quite the personality -- in the 1960's, she wore a new style  --  a pantsuit  --  to dinner at La Cote Basque restaurant, where the dress code forbade women in pants.  Stopped at the door by hostess Madame Henriette, she yanked off the pants, handed them to her husband and told Madame, "I hope you like this better.'' She wore the tunic top as a dress, placed lots of napkins in her lap and "didn't dare bend over,'' she recalled.

Quotes like "The only plastic I want is plastic surgery!" and "I want to be buried naked, I know there's a store where I'm going."  spilled forth from her mouth.

There's no doubt that between the woman's panache and her vast collection of Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Oscar de la Renta, John Galliano for Christian Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Karl Lagerfeld for Fendi, Lanvin, and Emanuel Ungaro will make for quite an exhibition at the Constume Institute in the Met, running from December 12 to March 4 of next year.   

>>  For some reason, it seems a bit early for us to already be seeing spring ad campaigns, but who am I to complain?  In the past couple of days, Marc Jacobs has released preview shots from two of his three spring ad campaigns. 
Scarlett Johansson showed up to the Louis Vuitton set with pink-tinted hair, and I'm not one of those "OHMIGOD pink!!!!~~~" girls, but it does look fantastic -- her look all around absolutely suits the milkmaid theme of the collection.  Very "French coquette," as Marc quipped.  Mert and Marcus shot the campaign, and the primary prop was a swing -- I foresee romanticized shots for the rest of the campaign.

Little Miss Dakota Fanning is starting to get some serious attention from fashion designers -- Karl Lagerfeld shot her for the January 2007  issue of Vanity Fair, and Marc Jacobs picked her for his Marc Jacobs campaign, shot by Juergen Teller.  I've never been a fan of her, and neither of these shoots have done anything to change my mind.  My favorite Marc Jacobs campaign still remains the one with Kirsten MacMenamy.  And as far as a marketing strategy, why would I -- or anyone else who usually wears Marc Jacobs --  ever want to buy clothes that are advertised on a 12-year-old?

>>  Calling the designer of Dior "more Juicy Couture than jaunty buccaneer" -- isn't that, like, sacrilege or something?  Even if the author is talking about Galliano's travel wear.  Besides, everyone knows John totally is a pirate.

>> It's been a pin-up kind of day, first with the release of unseen Marilyn Monroe photographs, and second with the release of the December Vogue Italia cover by Meisel, featuring a smashing Karen Elson with finger waves.  The balance of the goth bondagewear (notice the ribbon around her neck) against the pink of her porcelain skin and the camellias is perfect.   If she's going to make images like this, no wonder Karen's been making such a comeback.   

>>  If someone wanted to give you a gift every day for 24 days, would you turn them down?  Nah, I wouldn't either. 
From today (December 1) until December 24, H&M is proposing to do just that, with their "Gift of the Day" in-store offer -- a new "gift" will be available each day for an extremely discounted price.  Today's gift, for example, is a gold puffer jacket, originally available for about $60, marked down to $19.90. 
From the first six gifts that have been revealed so far (which you can see on the H&M website), my personal favorites are the December 3 gift -- this fantastic lace overlay poofy party dress (it satiates my appetite for transparency that has been tickling me lately) and the December 5 gift -- a leather jacket to go with the Wayfarers -- I've been having a Bob Dylan moment.