>> INSIDER WIRE —Anna Wintour popped up in the audience of the last presidential debate last night, looking very pleased with herself.  The campaigns receive a significant number of the tickets to hand out, so it's likely that either all her Barack Obama support earned her an invite, or an assistant spent a good amount of time procuring one.  She may not be front row like in her own domain, but she still arrived way before everyone else like she does during Fashion Week. [The Cut]

>> Karl Lagerfeld has a new favorite blonde, and her name isn't Claudia Schiffer.  Meet Heidi Mount, who opened and closed Chanel's Spring 2009 presentation and is now appearing in the house's Resort 2008 campaign, shot by none other than Lagerfeld himself.

Rumors are flying that after three Claudia Schiffer campaigns (Resort 2007, Spring 2008, Fall 2008), Karl Lagerfeld is ready for some new blood — and Heidi might just be the right choice: He did personally give her some freebies after the Spring 2009 show, after all, and the Resort campaign portends well.

It does seem plausible that Karl would be ready to switch it up, he tends to use a different model every year (Claudia for 2008, Freja Beha Erichsen did Fall 2007 and Spring 2007, and before that he really liked Daria Werbowy, who did Spring 2005, Fall 2005, Spring 2006, and Fall 2006).  So if the pattern continues, and Heidi is the girl — that means she would not only do Spring 2009 but be a likely contender for Fall 2009 as well.  Two seasons at Chanel would be quite the grab.
*image: source

Mexico Fashion Week just began and all it will take to please us is some muslin and masking tape; Los Angeles has just been, well, that bad--Carlo Demichelis was one of the designer's to start things off, and although his collection wasn't all that different from what we've seen this week, there were a few garments of note. Namely, a vampy glamazon-like frock, which fits right in with what we've been seeing this Spring 09 in the leg-department and a couple of jackets that were very nice pieces indeed. First there was a mid-length silk steel colored coat, that looked like it could be worn often and in many different ways, and then there was a little white motorcycle jacket that we hope was made out of leather because it's cut quite well if that's so. All we can say is that it's a relief to be South of the border. 

If you haven't visited the Rich & Skinny Jeans website, prepare yourself for quite the interactive denim experience--when we first visited, it reminded us of the Nudie Jeans website; both attempt a Sims-like shopping experience in an effort to display the jeans properly and make the whole thing kind of fun for shoppers. It sure isn't Net-a-Porter but it's interesting in its own way. Between Facebook and Myspace add-ons, a video narrative called "Lifestyles Of The Rich & Skinny", and blog and music components, it is safe to say that Rich & Skinny endorses the interactive experience wholeheartedly. The team behind this new site starts with Rich & Skinny founders Michael Glasser and Joie Rucker, who founded Seven For All Mankind and Joie Jeans respectively, and also includes multimedia agency iNDELIBLE. Check out the new site, right here. 

The Collette Blanchard Gallery is opening its doors tonight with it's inaugural exhibition Belle du Jour and fashion observers would do well to note that designer Cynthia Rowley has two paintings at the gallery. The exhibit is a collaborative effort between Blanchard and independent curator Chrissy Crawford.

According to the press release, Belle du Jour brings together some of the art world's most relevant and contemporary female artists, each imparting on a unique approach to the female figure. Presenting painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography and video; there is a diversity of mediums as well as perspectives.

Belle de Jour includes works by Asgar/Gabriel, Sarah Baley, Jane Benson, Libby Black, iona rozeal brown, Zoe Charlton, E.V. Day, Langdon Graves, Julie Heffernan, Tracey Langfitt, Maria Porges, Mickalene Thomas, Cynthia Rowley, Laurie Simmons, Shinique Smith and Cindy Wright.  The group exploration transports the viewer across a wide continuum.

The mummified Barbie Dolls of E.V. Day, which reference both embalmed Egyptian queens and captive Islamic women barely visible in their burkas, compliment the lush, self-portraits of historical set paintings of Julie Heffernan. The sexual identity photographs of Sarah Baley share a forum with the graphite drawings of Maria Porges. In their totality, all the exhibiting artists stake their claim to redefining the vocabulary of the female figure imagery.

Curator Chrissy Crawford opened her own art advisory while in London working directly with private clients. Her business moved to New York in 2006 with a focus on independent curating. After fifteen years in the art world, Blanchard has opened her own establishment to focus on her specific vision. She will be exhibiting and representing artists reflecting that cutting-edge point of view. Located in the burgeoning gallery district on the Lower East Side, the space will be within the sphere of the recently relocated New Museum.

Karl Lagerfeld made flying look glamorous for Chanel's Cruise 2008 collection so it is only natural that Chanel will continue to find new ways to merchandise a more glamorous experience of flying given that most of us don't have a private Chanel jet at our disposal. Chanel's new limited La Beauté Du Voyage is a travel set of the best of Chanel's beauty and skin care regimen that is specially packaged for today's less than first class flying arrangements.

The collection includes a signature Chanel sleep mask, includes: Hydramax +Active Sérum Active Moisture Boost, soin tendres Lévres Hydra Treatment Lip Care SPF 15, Pro Lumière correcteur Professional Finish Concealer in Medium, Inimitable Mascara Multi-Dimensionnel in Noir-Black, and a mini Lèvres scintillantes  Glossimer in Seashell. It all comes in a signature Chanel bag with a removable, full-size clear insert that keeps these beauty essentials travel-safe and easy to find. And the cost? Well at $175.00 it runs as much as our flight to Miami next week. But at least we know that with the kit we will look just fine once we get to South Beach. Find it at Chanel.com