Daniella Vitale

>> There's been plenty of speculation on who might replace Julie Gilhart as Barneys's new fashion director — Virginia Smith and Sarah Rutson's names were both mentioned, and most recently, Taylor Tomasi Hill was fingered as a possibility.

Although the first two have said they're not taking the job — Tomasi Hill has not commented thus far — Barneys has not addressed any of the rumors, until this evening, when the retailer released the following statement: "As announced by Barneys New York on November 29th, the search for a new fashion director was launched by Daniella Vitale, chief merchant and executive vice president, who joined the company on December 1st. Contrary to recent speculative reports, no employment offer has been made as of this date to any person for the fashion director position."

>> Another Gucci alum is joining Barneys — Charlotte Blechman, who was VP of public relations at Gucci from 2004 through 2009, has been named SVP of marketing and communications at the retailer. She joins Barneys CEO Mark Lee, a former Gucci CEO, and former Gucci North America president Daniella Vitale, who was named Barneys chief merchant and EVP on Monday, right after Barneys veterans Julie Gilhart and Judy Collinson were dismissed without warning, Cathy Horyn reports.

Barneys is expected to go more mainstream under its new management — whereas Collinson and Gilhart were "not afraid to go against the grain," according to Maria Borromeo, a one-time Barneys buying assistant who is now CEO of Thakoon, Cathy Horyn points out: "Increasing Barneys’ profitability was a prime objective in hiring [Lee]. The recession forced retailers to become leaner and more competitive, in particular with online sales, and that urgency will be critical to Barneys’ cool."

>> Mark Lee, who joined Barneys as CEO in September, has implemented his first management change — he's named Daniella Vitale, who he worked with at Gucci, as chief merchant and EVP overseeing all of women's and Barneys.com.

Vitale, who was president of the Americas at Gucci, succeeds Barneys veteran Judy Collinson, who was EVP and general merchandise manager of women’s at Barneys. The retailer said that Collinson, as well as SVP and women's fashion director Julie Gilhart, have both left the company to pursue other opportunities.