>> INSIDER WIRE —Although Rachel Zoe's docureality show The Rachel Zoe Project only garnered 688,000 viewers during its first season (compared to Stylista's 1.97 million viewers per week), it instead cultivated a cult following — and that seems to be good enough for Bravo. The network decided to pick a second season of the show, set to air in mid-2009. Production hasn't started yet, but come Fashion Week, there's sure to be a camera crew following Zoe around. [LA Times]
*image: source
Posts for December 4th 2008
Chanel Brings Moscow to Paris
>> The economy doesn't seem to have touched Louis Vuitton or Chanel one bit. While some major American designers are cutting back their advertising and looking at runway alternatives, Vuitton is keeping their Spring 2009 media placement and ad budget on par with one year ago — a budget analysts have estimated to be more than $250 million annually.
And Chanel? Well, Karl just staged a full runway show — plus movie — for a Pre-Fall collection, when most designers do a presentation at most. Chanel's pre-Fall — in this case, Paris-Moscow — collection was established to showcase the skills of the house's couture ateliers, so the extravagance goes without saying. The dresses may be expensive, but Karl waved off any mention of the economy: "These dresses come out in six or seven months from now, and the world may have changed by then." And the annual tradition which has carried through Paris, New York, Tokyo, Monte Carlo, London, and this year Moscow will continue on next year in another emerging market: Shanghai.
*image: source, source
>> IN PRODUCTION —We still haven't gotten a look at the sandals or the evening envelope clutch that Sofia Coppola designed for Louis Vuitton, but here's a better shot of the slouchy SC bag that comes out this Spring. She says of designing the SC that she "definitely" didn't want it to be black — "people wear so much black that it's nice to have a bag that's a different color." Funny, since the prototype of the bag that she posed with before was black. [T Magazine]
Anna Wintour Comments on Future at Vogue, Steven Meisel's Expensive Taste
>> A couple of weeks ago, Anna Wintour had no interest in commenting on the rumors of her leaving Vogue, but since the rumors reached fever pitch earlier this week, Si Newhouse, Carine Roitfeld, and Conde Nast insiders have all spoken out against them — and this morning, Anna finally decided to say her piece.
She participated in a New Yorker-sponsored panel discussion with New Yorker editor David Remnick and Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, during which the moderator asked all three editors what would be next for them. Anna's response? "I think — my father always said to me that when you get too angry that's the time to stop. The day I get too angry is the day I take up gardening."
It's pretty clear that she doesn't plan on willingly leaving Vogue anytime soon — reiterated by her comment to The New York Observer as she left the panel: "I have no plans to leave American Vogue now or in the foreseeable future." But, as The Observer pointed out, "if we want to get really precise about it there is a difference between leaving Vogue and leaving the editor's chair."
Rather than focus on the future of her career, she pointed out during the panel that she's adjusting to the state of the economy just like the rest of us:
Recently, a sequined mini-dress "not much bigger than your shirt, Graydon" came through the Vogue offices, on request for a photo shoot. When she found out the garment retailed at $50,000, Wintour said she told everyone, "I'm sorry, but we're not putting that in the magazine, no matter how magical Steven Meisel thinks it is."
Take that, Steven Meisel.
*image: source
Coutorture Community Must Reads 12/04/08
From flashbacks to forward thinking, our Network has everything a girl could ask for on a Thursday afternoon.
Cult of Couture posted a shoutout to the Alexander McQueen Fall 2008 show complete with raw footage from the runway. We love looking back on a season, especially when we can marvel in the readiness of the clothing. After all, Fall 08 is not over until we clink our glasses and say 'Happy New Year'.
Fashionologie has the teaser to Karl Lagerfeld's silent film meant to accompany his upcoming Chanel Paris-Moscow collection, which will debut this December 5th.
Gift guides are in full swing and Network Partners are making no exceptions. Couture in the City posted a gift guide including ten items under ten dollars. We were pretty sure that you could only get bottled water and coffee for those prices...until now.
Kingdom of Style posted an outfit of the day we just can't not mention. When luxe DIY, orange hosiery, and black lace come together in one outfit, something special is at work.
Topshop Channeling Moschino Spring 2009

When we saw these waistcoats crop up on Topshop we nearly dropped to the floor with desire--when we realized they called up the same vision as the Moschino Spring 09 show we pulled out our credit card and ordered one. Topshop suggests wearing them with a full skirt and platform heels and although we couldn't agree more, we think these luxe vests would look great with leggings or bloomers just the same. Regardless of your styling preference a vest like this is an interesting piece to have in your wardrobe. The best part is, it will only cost you seventy dollars.
>> THE MODELIZER —Not only has Coco Rocha recently earned herself a mannequin in her likeness, she has also just relaunched her website. The giggly, lovable personality that comes through in her videos for Style.com will be reflected very soon on the new site — she's launching a personal blog in a couple of weeks. [Style File]
Madonna Works It for Louis Vuitton Spring 2009
>> The casting for the Spring 2009 Louis Vuitton campaign? Blame it on a Madonna concert. The night before Marc Jacobs had a brainstorming meeting, he had attended a Madonna concert in Paris: "I was totally just blown away by it, and moved by her performance, by what she had to say, and her energy." He emailed Madonna on his BlackBerry right then and there, and within five minutes came the reply: "I'd love to."
As rumored, Madonna was indeed captured in six images at Figaro in LA by Steven Meisel, marking the end of a six year partnership between the brand and photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. This seems to be the first of many collaborations between Meisel and Louis Vuitton — Antoine Arnault, the brand's director of communications — said it's "very probable" the association will continue. As for the rumored $10 million fee Madonna commanded? Arnault dismissed it as "absurd": "It’s very far away from that."
*image: source
West/Feren Handbags: Resort Friendly, Affordably Priced

If resort deliveries have you thinking Spring thoughts, a midseason-appropriate handbag might rid you of living too far in the future. These West/Feren handbags would work for both seasons and have the kind of Resort vibe that show you're a girl who follows the change of season. What's more, you can pick one up for slightly less than your average contemporary handbag.
Lizzie Fortunato For VPL Spring 2009
The VPL show turned out to be one of our favorites this Spring 09--however understated and, well, understood is the VPL aesthetic there was something in the air that made an impact. Maybe it was just the right timing; a relatively subdued break in the insanity of fashion week, or maybe it was the crowd; Sally Singer and the Voguettes were front and center, or maybe it was...the jewelry. The jewelry in the VPL show was delicate and beautiful, geometric, handmade, special--it was something that enhanced the clothing without distracting us from it. Today we put two and two together and realized the jewelry was designed by our friends at Lizzie Fortunato jewels. The line is, in fact, all of those adjectives and then some and, we are too excited about this, the jewelry we saw in the VPL show makes up what will be the Spring 09 collection. Prepare yourself for heart palpitations...


