Posts for July 2009

Chanel

>> Karl Lagerfeld Responds to Rumors of Chanel Retirement —Yesterday evening, Cathy Horyn asked Karl Lagerfeld about the veracity of the rumors that he might be stepping down at Chanel and be replaced by Alber Elbaz of Lanvin: "Mr. Lagerfeld said to forget about it.
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>> Karl Lagerfeld Responds to Rumors of Chanel Retirement —Yesterday evening, Cathy Horyn asked Karl Lagerfeld about the veracity of the rumors that he might be stepping down at Chanel and be replaced by Alber Elbaz of Lanvin: "Mr. Lagerfeld said to forget about it. He was going to die with his boots on. He also mentioned that Alain Wertheimer, whose family owns Chanel, said he would sell the house when the designer leaves. This might not be the case, Mr. Lagerfeld said, but it was a nice thing to be told." [On the Runway]

Martin Margiela Goes Artisanal with Pen Caps, False Eyelashes for Fall 2009 Couture
martin margiela

Martin Margiela Goes Artisanal with Pen Caps, False Eyelashes for Fall 2009 Couture

>> There's been plenty of contention about Martin Margiela's current role at his Maison, and for the label's Fall 2009 couture Artisanal line, plenty of familiar tactics were used: faceless models, nude or black leotards, and handmade jackets out of blue pen caps and vests out of false eyelashes.
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>> There's been plenty of contention about Martin Margiela's current role at his Maison, and for the label's Fall 2009 couture Artisanal line, plenty of familiar tactics were used: faceless models, nude or black leotards, and handmade jackets out of blue pen caps and vests out of false eyelashes.  But as WWD pointed out — "While Margiela played to his artsy tune, there was tamer fare — a leather motorcycle jacket decorated with chains à la Michael Jackson and a shaved vintage fur, which illustrated the house is migrating into more commercial territory" — citing the fact that the presentation was also used to show off the house's second semiprecious jewelry collection.

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Louis Vuitton

>> Bruno Frisoni Donated Shoes to Lacroix's Show; LVMH President Speaks on Lacroix Purchase Rumors —If the shoes at Christian Lacroix's Fall 2009 couture show seemed familiar, it's because Bruno Frisoni of Roger Vivier and Vivier owner Diego Della Valle donated them, according to the former: "I called Mr. Della Valle and told him what was happening and he said, ‘Yes, of course, we’re with [Lacroix].”  As for the rumors of LVMH repurchasing Lacroix, LVMH President Yves Carcelle said after the show: “Oh, this I don’t know!
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>> Bruno Frisoni Donated Shoes to Lacroix's Show; LVMH President Speaks on Lacroix Purchase Rumors —If the shoes at Christian Lacroix's Fall 2009 couture show seemed familiar, it's because Bruno Frisoni of Roger Vivier and Vivier owner Diego Della Valle donated them, according to the former: "I called Mr. Della Valle and told him what was happening and he said, ‘Yes, of course, we’re with [Lacroix].”  As for the rumors of LVMH repurchasing Lacroix, LVMH President Yves Carcelle said after the show: “Oh, this I don’t know! I’m here as a friend and not as a member of LVMH.”  For his part, Frisoni thought Lacroix "has to continue" — "the best thing is to keep the name and do it in a very simple way, like Azzedine Alaia does." Lacroix apparently agrees, envisioning "a move to a different house in a different location and a customer approach that mirrors that established by Azzedine Alaia in his own studio-emporium-salon," according to Hamish Bowles.[On the Runway, Vogue Daily]

Karl Lagerfeld's Fall 2009 Chanel Couture: All High/Low Skirts and Perfume Bottles
Chanel

Karl Lagerfeld's Fall 2009 Chanel Couture: All High/Low Skirts and Perfume Bottles

>> Although he skipped the oversized set at the Grand Palais last season, Karl Lagerfeld brought Fall 2009 couture back to the usual with a set of four white oversized Chanel No.
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>> Although he skipped the oversized set at the Grand Palais last season, Karl Lagerfeld brought Fall 2009 couture back to the usual with a set of four white oversized Chanel No. 5 perfume bottles forming a square in the center of the Palais' catwalk. With guests on plush sofas, models wove through displaying a predominantly high/low skirt silhouette — because long, according to Lagerfeld, looks old.  For the finale, one of the perfume bottles opened up to reveal Lara Stone as couture bride on Baptiste Giabiconi's arm as groom — Style.com's Derek Blasberg reports of the duo: "They kissed when they went back in the bottle. And started necking when it closed back up!"

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Valentino

>> Valentino Fall 2009 Couture Said to Be "Radical" —Valentino has made some major personnel changes recently in hopes of reinvigorating the brand under the direction of Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, and the designer's third effort — their Fall 2009 couture show tomorrow — is to be "shrouded in black," according to TIME Style & Design's Kate Betts.
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>> Valentino Fall 2009 Couture Said to Be "Radical" —Valentino has made some major personnel changes recently in hopes of reinvigorating the brand under the direction of Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, and the designer's third effort — their Fall 2009 couture show tomorrow — is to be "shrouded in black," according to TIME Style & Design's Kate Betts. Meanwhile, a Times UK editor who attended a collection preview says it's "incredible. It's Valentino meets gothic. Radical." [Kate Betts Twitter, Times UK Twitter] 

Giorgio Armani Brings Out Shine, Star Power for Fall 2009 Couture
Cate Blanchett

Giorgio Armani Brings Out Shine, Star Power for Fall 2009 Couture

>> Giorgio Armani loves his star power, and this morning's dose involved Megan Fox and Cate Blanchett sitting together front row with five bodyguards safeguarding their seats.
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>> Giorgio Armani loves his star power, and this morning's dose involved Megan Fox and Cate Blanchett sitting together front row with five bodyguards safeguarding their seats.  The models stalked the runway in identical cropped black wigs — similar to the cut of Armani's underwear face Victoria Beckham — and it only took nine looks worth of sharp-shouldered suits and sparkly dresses before the crowd started applauding.

“It’s not the glamour of today,” the designer said of his Fall 2009 couture collection. “Forties film noir, but not Joan Crawford, more Katherine Hepburn.” Armani, who recently suffered a bout of hepatitis, was said to be looking tan as ever, but "unusually thin."

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