>> Karl Lagerfeld has put his face on dolls, bags, and even a Diet Coke bottle — there's no doubt about it, he loves the attention. Grace Coddington, recalling how she once saw Lagerfeld mobbed at Grand Central Station in New York (he took a second lap around the place instead of escaping), confirms: “Karl plays the celebrity game. I always make this mistake and think it must be really unpleasant for him, but he actually enjoys it — it’s very rock ’n’ roll.” [More Intelligent Life]

>> Is a fissure in Hermes's family unity against LVMH and Bernard Arnault already emerging? Some thought it would take years, but Nicolas Puech, brother of Bertrand Puech (who is executive chairman of Emile Hermes and represents the family shareholders), told French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche that he doesn't agree with the family's current defense strategy, which involves locking up all of their shares in a holding group to protect from takeover bids by Arnault.

“I told my family that locking up our shares in a holding would have the major drawback of depriving the family shareholders of their individual power to control management,” Nicolas Puech said. He did add, however: “But in a family, you can’t agree on everything. I am very attached to my family and above all I want it to remain united.” His brother Bertrand, who Nicolas says he remains on good terms with, has repeatedly, and publicly, asked Arnault to withdraw from the company.

Hermes CEO Patrick Thomas said at a news conference recently that one family member — who owns roughly 10 percent of the capital — had not brought his shares into the holding group for tax reasons, but added that he was still united with the family. The family member in question is likely Nicolas Puech — who also noted, “I have close relationships with many of my cousins" — a comment which, WWD points out, will "likely to be interpreted as a sign that Arnault could yet win over members of the Hermes clan."

>> Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai debuted their new and improved Vena Cava website today, featuring e-commerce for both the Vena Cava Spring 2011 collection and the secondary Viva Vena! line. The goal was to give the site a "handmade, not-too-slick feel that our collection is known for," according to Mayock, so they also devoted a "Garage Sale" section to selling hand-picked, one-of-a-kind items (like an early '80s portable TV and vintage accessories) and a "Vibes" section to showcasing their friends wearing the collection. [VenaCava.com]

>> After Haider Ackermann's name was thrown into the ring of potential Dior designers on March 1, his phone started ringing non-stop, according to Katou Brandsma, who represents the designer. "When everything went mad, he locked himself in his showroom and turned off his BlackBerry. I believe it's still off now," Brandsma said, almost two weeks after. "It was a very bizarre fashion week, but a very good one for us. Everyone was congratulating us. We had buyers from shops, like Barneys in New York, we've been waiting for 10 years to turn up to our shows. Our designs stood out because everyone else — apart from McQueen — was so boring." [Guardian UK]