Michael Herz

>> Joanna Sykes Is Aquascutum's New Creative Director —After signing the contract on Friday, Armani alum Joanna Sykes is Aquascutum's new creative director; she replaces Michael Herz and Graeme Fidler, who left for Bally in April. Aquascutum won't return to the runway in September; Sykes first full collection will debut next February at London Fashion Week for the Fall 2011 season. But in the meantime, says Aquascutum CEO Belinda Earl, Sykes's "influence on the brand will begin as of now." Sykes, for her part, notes of her aim for the brand: "I want to focus on clothes that are based around classics, and that aren’t too seasonal . . . Aquascutum’s already a revered name. It has to be covetable, desirable, and accessible, too.” [Vogue UK, Vogue]

>> Not a week after Bally confirmed that creative director Brian Atwood has shown his final collection for the label and longterm designers Michael Herz and Graeme Fidler resigned from Aquascutum, word comes that Herz and Fidler are expected to be take over creative directorship at Bally.

A Bally representative did not respond to requests for comment, but Fashion Week Daily cites sources saying that the decision came from Bally management's desire to focus more on ready-to-wear; Atwood's ready-to-wear allegedly didn't sell as well as accessories for the brand.  Herz and Fidler are finishing up at Aquascutum, but will supposedly present their first Bally collection in Milan for Spring 2011.

Meanwhile: who might be replacing Peter Dundas at Revillon? »

>> After turning in a well-received Fall 2010 collection — Style.com thought the designs "marked a pivotal moment" between Aquascutum's heritage and modern design sensibility — womenswear designer Michael Herz and his menswear counterpart Graeme Fidler have handed in their resignations, Aquascutum confirmed.

The designers, who have been at the company since 2002 and 2000, respectively, have endured a rollercoaster of management changes — most recently, last Fall, when Aquascutum was purchased by BFC and Jaeger chairman Harold Tillman and chief executive Belinda Earl.  WWD reports an industry source saying that both designers are angling to move on to new projects. "They've had a great time at the brand, but they want to move on, and we fully understand that," said Earl. "We wish them well, and the situation is amicable."

As for their replacements . . . »