>> When Diane von Furstenberg was re-elected for her third term as CFDA president a couple of weeks ago, she said she was looking forward to continuing her work, specifically: "We’d like to pass the law against counterfeits and copying."

Over the weekend, it seems the she got a little closer to that goal: Capitol Hill's Committee on House Administration approved the formation of the fashion industry’s first caucus, named the “Congressional Apparel Manufacturing and Fashion Business Caucus."

Among the causes on the docket »

>> Marion Cotillard Back for Third Round as Lady Dior —Marion Cotillard has embodied Lady Noir on the Eiffel Tower and Lady Rouge on the Brooklyn Bridge for Christian Dior, and now she's back as Lady Blue in Shanghai, with the Oriental Pearl Tower prominently placed in the background of the new Steven Klein-lensed ads. The third edition of the four-chapter series features a 12-minute film directed by David Lynch that was shot in Shanghai last December and will debut on Ladydior.com May 15, the same day John Galliano shows Dior’s Cruise 2011 collection in Shanghai. “In the David Lynch film, Marion is reciting a poem that he wrote, and was inspired by the Pearl Tower itself,” Galliano explained. “The words and building fuse in the picture he paints on-screen. Shanghai is such a vibrant and inspiring city.” [WWD]

>> Christian Louboutin's business grew by the double digits last year, he tells Vanity Fair in a profile from the magazine's May 2010 issue. He sells more than 340,000 pairs of shoes annually, ranging from $495 up to an amount he won't reveal (but a custom-made pair of Louboutins, like one with sole made entirely of rubies, can be priced into the high five figures). In fact, at a dinner soon after the financial crisis, he recalled his reaction to be, "What's 'credit crunch'? Is that a new gym?"

The designer doesn't believe in advertising or marketing and he claims to have never "pushed" celebrities into wearing his shoes on the red carpet. "My goal has never been to make money." Some celebrities receive a discount at his boutiques, but he rarely gives shoes away.

He hates dirty shoes »

In the May issue of Vanity Fair, Christian Louboutin claims his business grew by double digits in 2009 despite his opposition to advertising and marketing. He rarely gives away shoes for free, and only a handful of celebrities receive discounts when shopping in his boutiques.

We're guessing Danielle Steel is one of those lucky customers. Louboutin tells the magazine, "She comes to Paris, and she literally buys everything. Then she flies back to New York, says, ‘I’m a little disappointed — there’s nothing in the store,’ and walks out with 80 pairs. She is super.”

Super, indeed, as Steel reportedly owns over 6,000 paris of red-soled Louboutins.

Left: Danielle Steel with Victoria and Vanessa Traina at the Chanel fall 2010 runway show.

Source: Getty

>> Agyness Deyn, Too, Acts in Clash of the Titans —Last week, a video of Natalia Vodianova in role as villainess Medusa in the new Clash of the Titans movie — in theaters April 2 — came out, and now word comes that another model will be making an appearance in the film.  Agyness Deyn, who's made no qualms about aspiring to be an actress, plays Aphrodite — although no photos or video of her in the role are currently readily available. [IMDB]

Madonna reveals to the Associated Press in an interview released this morning that her daughter Lourdes (known as Lola) is doing the majority of the work behind her Material Girl junior's line for Macy's. Answering questions on behalf of Lola, Madonna says she is hesitant to thrust her daughter into the spotlight since she needs to focus on her studies at a performing arts high school:

"I don't want her to be distracted. She will eventually be able to talk about it. I am going to be happy when she does because she can speak much more clearly and in a more informed way than I can about a line she is ultimately designing. I just stand in the background and go, 'That's cool. That's not cool.'"

Madonna goes on to say she respects her daughter's taste in fashion and rarely disagrees with Lola's points of view, offering that close friend Stella McCartney first got Lola interested in designing a collection: 

"She started giving Lola fabrics and inviting her into her showroom and asking her opinion on things, giving her sketch books and stuff like that. Stella always pushed her."

Lourdes's other high-profile fashion mentors include Madonna's close friends Jean Paul Gaultier and Dolce & Gabbana's Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. As for experience beyond hanging out backstage and around campaign photo shoots, the 13-year-old has been busy working in her mother's wardrobe department. "On this last tour she dressed all of the dancers," said Madonna.

Source: Getty

Fashion's younger designers are increasing their use of fur on the runway, while the older guard like Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren have gone fur free. Even Karl Lagerfeld's fall 2010 show for Chanel used 100% faux fur.

The end of American Apparel could be near.

"Whether you're thin, fat, small, dark, blond, redhead, you wanna be something else. I wanted a fairy godmother to make me look like Marilyn Monroe. I had no boobs, no hips, and I wanted it desperately."—Twiggy on dreaming of having curves in '60s London.

Cindy Crawford's secret to looking young is having the right hair color.

British brand Aquascutum has tapped Beatrix Ong to design accessories and footwear. The womenswear and menswear replacement has yet to be announced.

Shu Uemura exits the U.S. market.

Above: Brian Reyes fall 2010

The print campaign images for John Galliano's latest installment of his Lady Dior saga are out. In the third of a four-part series, Marion Cotillard stars in the Steven Klein-lensed photographs with Shanghai's futuristic skyscrapers in the distance. Titled "Lady Blue," the still images will be followed by a David Lynch-directed film to be released online on May 15.

The short film will depict Cotillard in a mysterious entanglement with secret agents, highlighting Shanghai's Oriental Pearl Tower in the background, much like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Eiffel Tower were used in the first two episodes. Galliano said of the 12-minute film: “Marion is reciting a poem that [David Lynch] wrote, and was inspired by the Pearl Tower itself. The words and building fuse in the picture he paints on-screen. Shanghai is such a vibrant and inspiring city.” Also on May 15, Galliano will present his cruise collection for Christian Dior in Shanghai.