Update: Givenchy has denied speculation that it will collaborate with H&M. According to Vogue UK, the house says rumors about the partnership are "false." And while H&M never commented on the Givenchy rumor, its creative adviser Margareta van den Bosch told The Telegraph it will "not have any [collaborations] for Spring. We decided to skip it, as we have had so many this year. So it'll be something for next November."

The Internet has been aflutter with rumors that H&M's next designer collaboration will be with Givenchy, and so far, both parties are keeping mum on the topic.

On Monday, a Givenchy representative told Fashionologie that the house does "not have a comment"; a spokeswoman at H&M said the retailer "does not comment on rumors."

But radio silence from both brands hasn't stopped fervent speculation, which was sparked by a Nov. 19 post on the Tumblr Fashion Industry Confessions. The author of the post claimed, "Rumors straight from the Givenchy headquarters have it that they will collaborate with H&M next year." The claim has since been bolstered and questioned by blogs and Twitter accounts far and wide, but confirmed by no one.

The last time H&M kept quiet about a rumor, it was when rumors ran rampent about the company's plans to start a higher-priced label. We all know how that turned out: & Other Stories is set to launch in Spring 2013.

If this latest rumor pans out, then it would make Givenchy and Riccardo Tisci the first LVMH house and designer to partner with H&M. But whether there's a deal between the two brands or not, the time for H&M to announce its next designer collaboration is drawing nearer. The retailer unveiled plans for its Spring 2012 partnership with Marni on Nov. 29, 2011.

Speculation abounds about what Nicolas Ghesquière's life will look like after he leaves Balenciaga, but there are some in the industry who aren't confident he'll be able to start a signature label.

"I don't see private equity or hedge funds backing (a Ghesquière) brand, because of time horizon and fashion risk," said Pierre Mallevays of the London investment bank Savigny Partners in an interview with WWD. "Only a strong group with a confident vision and the means to boot would seriously contemplate that. The temptation for any such potential backer will be to try to apply Ghesquière's talent to an established brand with operating leverage, not just to a start-up, however prestigious."

Mallevays is one of a number of financiers and other business experts who said starting a brand from scratch — even a brand built on a talent like Ghesquière's — is a risky proposition. Their commentary comes on the heels of Karl Lagerfeld saying it wouldn't be "a bad idea" for Ghesquière to start his own line, as well as rumors that Bernard Arnault and LVMH have already offered him the ability to do so.

Sources claiming to be close to Ghesquière say he'll take a break from designing but has been "seriously considering" starting his own brand and is open to working for another house.

Photo: Nicolas Ghesquière in the March 2010 issue of Numéro.

Your daily news roundup.

• In celebration of Cyber Monday, Ferragamo has not only relaunched and redesigned its website, but it has also issued a special line of Gancio bags to shop. [Fashionologie Inbox]
• Christopher Bailey cites Apple as a source of inspiration for tech-minded brand Burberry. "They're incredibly consistent," he said. "I love the fact that it is a world that you enter where you get immersed in their point of view." [The Telegraph]
• Runway to Win, Anna Wintour's fashion-based presidential fundraiser, brought in $40 million for the Obama campaign. [Business Week]
• Jaeger has appointed a new head of womenswear design. [Vogue UK]
• Mick Jagger's costumes for The Rolling Stones' 50 & Counting tour were made by none other than his longtime partner, L'Wren Scott. [WWD]
• Leandra Medine says she would like her upcoming book to be titled Don't Worry I'm Wearing Overalls. [Guest of a Guest]
  

• Instagram's influence on fashion may be expanding past trend forecasting. [NY Times]
• Grace Coddington sat down with Sarah Mower to discuss her just-released book, Grace: A Memoir. [Vogue UK]
  

• It turns out Paul Solomons is not heading to Cosmopolitan after all. After initially accepting Joanna Coles's offer, Solomons has ultimately decided to stay at British GQ. [WWD]

The latest designer partnership to make the news isn't a mass market effort. Instead, Rei Kawakubo has channeled what she calls an "immense respect for Hermès' tradition and artisanal know-how" into two capsule collections of carrés, the French company's iconic silk scarves.

"During this joint project, rather than being guided by the idea of the scarf as it is worn, I became interested instead in the beautiful 'artworks' that the designs on Hermès carrés represent, and I sought to change them by adding elements," Kawakubo said. "By combining them with abstract images, we have transformed the carré and created a unique object."

Both collections, one featuring black and white designs and one with colorful geometric patterns, will be available in February. The five black and white scarves will retail for €380 (or $493 at current exchange) at the Comme des Garcons stores in the Aoyama neighborhood of Tokyo, and in New York and Paris. Six color scarves will range from €380 to €1,600 (about $2,076) at the Dover Street Markets in London and Tokyo.

Kawakubo is noted for a number of high-profile collaborations with brands like H&M and Louis Vuitton, but an Hermès product partnership is harder to come by. Perhaps that's changing, though: news also broke today that Hermès is lending one of its scarf designs to the French postal service's annual Valentine's Day stamp collection.

Related: A Look Back at Rei Kawakubo's Comme des Garcons
Photo courtesy of Comme des Garcons

While not all of our favorite retailers have announced promotions for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, many have already rolled out the deals large and small. Below, the ultimate alphabetized guide to help you decipher which fashion retailers and brands are offering discounts, free shipping — and more. Happy hunting!

AG Adriano Goldschmied
Men's and women's jeans will be 50 percent off on Black Friday.

Alice and Olivia
Take 20 percent off the entire site between Nov. 21 and Nov. 26.

AllSaints
Select merchandise, like biker boots and holiday dresses, will come with a 20 percent discount on Black Friday.

BaubleBar
On Black Friday, you get 15 percent off for buying two items, 25 percent off for buying three items, and 35 percent off for buying four or more items. On Cyber Monday, for every $40 you spend, you get to choose a free gift from over 200 items. There's no limit to how many free gifts you can get.

Bare Necessities
On Thanksgiving Day the entire site will offer a 25 percent discount, but on Black Friday the discounts will range up to 40 percent off.

Bird
Everything at Bird's various locations will be 15 percent off on Black Friday.

Brooklyn Fox
The lingerie store will offer 25 percent off everything on its site from Friday to Sunday with the code BKFOX25. Its store on Brooklyn's North 5th Street will offer the same discount, but only on Black Friday.

BRULEE Lingerie
The site has been offering 40 percent off everything on its website since Nov. 12. The discount is available through Nov. 25.

The Corner
From Wednesday through Cyber Monday, take 30 percent off Fall collections using the code THANKYOU.

Creatures of Comfort
From Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, all of the store's Fall 2012 items will be discounted 30 percent.

C. Wonder
Select C. Wonder locations will open at midnight on Black Friday to offer 50 percent off sale items. Online, there's a 25 percent discount on Black Friday, and 25 percent off purchases over $100 from Nov. 24 to Nov. 26.

Diesel
The brand will offer discounts up to 30 percent off on Black Friday.

DKNY
On Black Friday, take an additional 30 percent off sale items that are already marked down 40 percent. Five percent of the in-store and online sales from Black Friday will be donated to the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City for the Hurricane Sandy relief effort.

Diane von Furstenberg
From Wednesday through Cyber Monday, take 30 percent off sale items when you enter the code HOLIDAYSALE.

Earnest Sewn
Denim is 25 percent off from Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

Fjallraven
On Cyber Monday and Black Friday, take 30 percent off outerwear.

Forever21
The retailer will offer specific deals on select merchandise, including select women's jeans for $10, select handbags for $2, and nail polish for $1 on Black Friday.

French Connection
Take 30 percent off orders of $150 or more, and get free shipping between Wednesday and Cyber Monday.

GANT
This Friday, GANT Rugger’s Bouquet Garni Jacket, a GQ editor pick, will be priced at $275, down from $390.

Georg Jensen
For Cyber Monday, the site will offer 10 percent off jewelry and 20 percent off of home goods with free ground shipping.

Goldyn
From Black Friday through Cyber Monday, the entire site will offer up to 25 percent off sitewide with the code GIVEANDGET25.

Guess
Guess, Marciano, G by Guess, Guess Accessories and Guess Factory stores will be 30 percent off the whole store — except for gift cards and watches) and 50 percent off select merchandise on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday. Guess.com and GuessKids.com will offer similar discounts on Cyber Monday.

H&M
The first 100 people in line at H&M stores will get scratch-off tickets, valued up to $300, on Black Friday. Some items have been marked down as low as $5.

Hudson
All items online will be 20 percent off on Thanksgiving Day and 30 percent off on Cyber Monday.

J.Crew Factory
From Wednesday through Monday, take 40 percent off the entire site.

Josie Natori
Take 20 percent off orders of $250 or more on Cyber Monday.

Karmaloop
The site is offering 20 percent off on orders more than $75 from from Cyber Monday through the end of the year when you enter the code POPSUGAR.

Lacoste
Merchandise in stores and online will be 20 percent off from Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

Les Nouvelles
If you're a fan of the retailer on Facebook, you can already take 40 to 50 percent off the entire site. Otherwise, the sale will launch Thursday afternoon and go through Cyber Monday. Take an additional 20 percent off your purchases with the code MAYFLOWER.

Liebeskind
On Black Friday, the site will offer an early bird special. Take 60 percent off select merchandise between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Macy's
You can shop Macy's stores starting at 1 p.m. on Black Friday for 25 to 50 percent off women's sportswear, over 50 percent off on women's coats and 40 percent off handbags. Online discounts start on Thanksgiving and go through Saturday, Nov. 24.

Monika Chiang
Take 40 percent off select ready to wear, handbags and shoes at the brands stores in Los Angeles and New York. Stores open at 10 a.m., and customers will be offered mimosas.

My Wardrobe
Select Fall 2012 merchandise will come with a 20 percent discount and free shipping with the code BLACKFRIDAY20. The offer is valid from Friday through midnight on Sunday, Nov. 25.

Nordstrom
The department store will offer pre-sales of the latest collections from Prada, Alexander McQueen, and Michael Kors, as well as select discounts.

Opening Ceremony
The store is offering 30 to 40 percent off merchandise from Opening Ceremony, Band of Outsiders, Juun J, Mary Katranzou, Carven, Jeremy Scott x Adidas, PushBUTTON, Goen J, and Jean Paul Gaultier on Black Friday.

Perry Ellis
On Black Friday take 40 percent off online orders with free shipping. On Cyber Monday, the discount increases to 50 percent off.

Rafaella
Take 50 percent off the entire site on Cyber Monday. Orders over $100 receive a free mini glitter clutch.

Ramy Brook
On Cyber Monday, select styles will go for 40 percent off.

The Real Real
On Black Friday, use the code BLACKFRIDAY40 for 40 percent off select items. On Cyber Monday, use the code CYBER20 for 20 percent off.

Rebecca Taylor
From Thanksgiving to Sunday, Nov. 25, take an extra 25 percent off sale items with the code RTEXTRA2512.

Saks Fifth Avenue
Cold weather clothing for men and women is discounted 40 to 50 percent on Black Friday, and sale items get an additional 50 percent discount. Shoppers will get a $25 gift card with a purchase of $100 or more in cosmetics or fragrances. After 12 p.m., there's an additional 10 percent discount for shoppers using their Saks credit card.

Scoop NYC
On Black Friday, take 25 percent off your entire purchase in store, with select exclusions. On Cyber Monday, Scoop's site will offer at least 25 percent off and free shipping.

Sephora
The cosmetics store will offer $10 One Day Wonders, which include cosmetic packs from brands like Stila, Tarte, Lorac, and Buxom.

Shopbop
The more you spend, the greater discount you get. A $250 purchase earns a 20 percent discount; spending $500 gets 25 percent off; spending $1,000 gets 30 percent off; and spending $1,500 gets 35 percent off. The discounts are available from Wednesday through Cyber Monday.

Stylebop
Free shipping starts on Black Friday and goes through Sunday, Nov. 25. On Cyber Monday take a 30 percent discount on Fall 2012 merchandise.

Target
The store is offering special discounts on all of its merchandise with an additional 5 percent off for REDcard holders.

Tateossian
Customers in the United States will get 10 percent off all orders on Monday using the code CYBERMONDAY.

Ted Baker London
All three of the brand's New York stores will offer 30 percent off from Black Friday through Monday, Nov. 26.

Tommy Hlfiger
Take 40 percent off the entire store, plus 25 percent off a purchase of $200 or more before 10 a.m. on Black Friday. Online, take 30 percent off purchases with the code BLKFRIDAY30.

Tracy Reese
Get an extra 20 percent off all sale merchandise in stores and online from Thanksgiving through Sunday, Nov. 25, plus an additional 25 percent off all merchandise on Cyber Monday.

True Religion
Take up to 30 percent off on Black Friday and 30 percent off limited editions on Cyber Monday.

Victoria's Secret
Customers who spend at least $65 in stores on Black Friday will get a limited-edition tote bag filled with beauty items.

Wren
Take 40 percent off full-priced items with the code CYBER40 on Cyber Monday.

Swarovski
Between Black Friday and Sunday, Nov. 25, the store will offer 30 percent off select designer collections including pieces by Dannijo, Philippe Ferrandis, Martine Wester, Ben Amun, and Ian Flaherty.

Yoox
From Wednesday through Cyber Monday, take up to 40 percent off selected Fall merchandise, and an additional 15 off with the code YOOXTHANKS.

Zimmermann
The Australian brand is offering 25 percent off Fall 2012 pieces in stores and online from Black Friday through Sunday, Nov. 25.

Photo via Tommy Hilfiger.

Grace Coddington, Hamish Bowles, and Andre Leon Talley have all penned a book or two — but their boss, Anna Wintour, says she never will.

Much to our chagrin, the Vogue editor in chief says she won't follow the footsteps of flame-haired Coddington, who's just released her own memoirs. Wintour doesn't keep a diary, "Nor will I ever write a book," she told The Telegraph.

"It's a big thing," Wintour said of Coddington's book. "She's given so much to this magazine — she's one of the great unsung heroines of our business."

But she says while Coddington deserves the recognition, Wintour's not interested in celebrity for herself as much as she is in "trying to show a world to my readers that they will be as excited about as we are." Read on for more of Wintour's thoughts on Vogue and the future of fashion.

On her hiring practices: "I look for strong people. I don't like people who'll say yes to everything I might bring up. I want people who can argue, and disagree, and have a point of view that's reflected in the magazine. My dad believed in the cult of personality. He brought great writers and columnists to the Standard. I try to do that here, too."

On who should helm Balenciaga and Schiaparelli: "It is important always to have really original talent. There are lots of good designers that make attractive clothes and make women look beautiful. But at the same time one doesn't want to lose the idea that there is someone out there who can change the way you look at fashion. The way, going back, that Armani did, that Galliano did, that Alexander [McQueen] did."

On how Michelle Obama has also impacted fashion: "Look back at the history of first ladies and you'll see they wore a good suit or a ball gown. Now we have someone who wears J.Crew or Thakoon or Azzedine Alaïa: a gamut of different designers. She has changed the way American women see fashion."