>> Fall 2009 Chanel Couture Inspiration Revealed —Chanel's Fall 2009 couture show isn't until tomorrow, but this evening Karl Lagerfeld hosted a select few editors — including TIME Style & Design's Kate Betts — who reports that the collection is inspired by "floating panels." [Kate Betts Twitter]
UPDATE: Apparently the set involves a huge No. 5 bottle and the theme is '70s nightclub. [Grazia Twitter]
Posts for July 2009
John Galliano Shows a Little Garter for Fall 2009 Christian Dior Couture
>> Instead of the normal tent venue at Jardin de Tuileries in Paris, John Galliano moved his Fall 2009 couture show — which played twice-over for the first time in a number of seasons — to the upstairs salons of Dior flagship in Paris. The models wound their way through the considerably smaller venue — which apparently got a little warm — to a soundtrack of giggling girls, allowing the audience to see the garments closer than usual.
The decision to go with a more intimate venue was not for cost-cutting purposes, according to Dior CEO Sidney Toledano, who said it was just as expensive to show in-house, what with the 4,000 roses decorating the runway; rather, it was to express the spirit of couture. He maintained that Dior's couture sales in London alone are seeing a double-digit increase — perhaps that's why Galliano felt able to send down undergarment-revealing looks — "I call it 'cabine' fever!" — inspired by archive photographs from the '50s of Christian Dior in the midst of backstage mayhem.
Even in these times, there was still a feeling of excess — the final tulle gowns required two ushers to help the models and dresses through the doorway — and the label claimed model exclusives, including Chanel Iman. But there was still an element of practicality — clients will be able to order the jackets with matching skirts, skirts with matching jackets, or request sheer skirts to be lined. Now the question remains: where was Anna Wintour?
Christian Dior Fall 2009 Haute Couture
Berlin Fashion Week: Kai Kühne Spring 2010
One time As Four designer, Kai Kühne, closed Berlin Fashion Week this season with the showing of his Spring 2010 collection. About a year ago Kühne received funding from Markus Hoefels, a German venture capitalist who is known for having backed Proenza Schouler, and the designer has been steadily expanding ever since. It's not clear yet whether Kühne will show a second time in New York--which is where he usually presents his collections. Check out the designer's crisp, geometric spring collection in the gallery below.
Shopping: Delicate Black Lace For Fall

Gone are the days of weighty Prada-esque lace--this fall it's all about the finest renderings. From Stella McCartney's trim details to sheer lace shoes from Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin, it's clear that delicate black lace will be prominent this season. Our favorite example from the runway? The Chantilly-lace bra tops at Balenciaga.
Fashion In 50 Seconds 07/06/09 Couture Week Kicks off & More...
Couture week kicks off in Paris.
Celine closes its only store in London but remains tight-lipped about it.
Daria Werbowy wishes she didn't have to do interviews.
Couture rides the economic storm.
Former PETA model Naomi Campbell stars in fur designer Dennis Basso's Fall ad campaign.
Stills From Vanessa Bruno's Short Film with Lou Doillon
>> Vanessa Bruno screened the four minute mini-movie starring Lou Doillon she recently produced for her label over the weekend. While the movie won't be available for viewing online until September 9 according to her website, the film's director Stephanie Di Giusto posted a number of stills from the project to give us a visual tasting in the meantime.
Daria Werbowy Wishes She Didn't Have to Do Interviews
>> Ever since Daria Werbowy took three months off last summer to sail across the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, she tells the Telegraph UK she's "definitely changed" and is having having "an existential . . . not crisis, but wake-up. I'm asking more questions about life in general. It's like, 'Oh my God, there's a whole world of things to learn about.' So I'm just taking it easy."
She's not a fan of doing interviews — "I always tell Kate [Moss] she's lucky because she doesn't have to do interviews" — and she's considering studying philosophy or psychology. In the meantime, she has been painting and sculpting: "Whether that'll ever evolve into anything I don't know. I'm still trying to search for what will be next."
>> First Look: Anja Rubik for Balmain Fall 2009 —Stylist Emmanuelle Alt has a new go-to girl, and her name is Anja Rubik. Balmain is one of the few major brands who isn't sticking to an ad formula that already works this season, replacing Spring 2009 face Daria Werbowy, posed in front of a country diner, with Balmain stylist Alt's favorite Anja, surrounded by a linear sea of orange and yellow. [Jak & Jil Twitter]

Maison Michel Enlists Karl Lagerfeld and Crew for Fall 2009 Lookbook
>> For Fall 2009, Maison Michel, whose art director Laetitia Crahay doubles as Chanel's accessories designer, asked her other boss Karl Lagerfeld to photograph the milliner's lookbook. The result is a veritable list of Chanel favorites — Karl's muse Lady Amanda Harlech, Chanel face Heidi Mount, Karl's male model favorite of the moment Baptiste Giabiconi — and plenty of other models including Lara Stone, Angela Lindvall, Sasha Pivovarova, Erin Wasson, plus surprise appearances by Olivier Theyskens and Crahay herself, all donning the latest in Maison Michel's headgear.




