>> Anna Wintour has had a camera crew running around after her all throughout Fashion Month for a video profile on 60 Minutes, but during Milan Fashion Week, she also got some unsolicited camera time. 

Italian fashion website Fashion Times approached her at least three separate times throughout the course of the shows, asking permission to interview with the camera already on.  Each time, they were denied — despite her recent uptick in smiling for the camera. You'd think they'd have learned from the last time someone tried to interview Anna for YouTube — 2006's infamous debacle at Costello Tagliapietra — and the responses, though cordial on Anna's part, became increasingly less patient, starting with a "Can we do it another time, do you mind?" and by the third try, ending with an "I'm actually just talking to my colleague right now," as she pointed to Hamish Bowles.

Videos: The three ill-fated tries »

>> INSIDER WIRE — Raf Simons unsurprisingly finished with one of the top — if not the top — Milan collections for Fall 2009, and Suzy Menkes scored a rare video interview to chat with him about his newest Jil Sander collection.  She points out that until he came to Jil Sander, he was solely a menswear designer, and he comes off as one would expect — very real and down-to-earth; when Suzy asks him, "Do you feel yourself as an artist?" He quickly replies: "No, I'm a fashion designer." [The Moment]

>> Milan is infamous for being one of the hardest markets to break open for models of color, and unfortunately, that still seems to be the case, based on tallying by The Cut.  The worst offenders? Burberry, Giorgio Armani, Missoni, Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo, who all only used one model of color, while Gianfranco Ferre, Jil Sander, and Prada didn't use any.

Meanwhile, buyers have spoken on their Milanese favorites: Jil Sander, Prada, Marni, Bottega Veneta, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Pucci, Roberto Cavalli, and Gianfranco Ferré — surprisingly, Missoni was not in the mix.

A number of critics and retailers have Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi on their lists as Milan's most promising up-and-coming talent, but their situation at Gianfranco Ferre is currently tenuous — the front row Friday included three government-appointed special administrators, a reminder that owner IT Holding faces bankruptcy proceedings, and could take Ferre, Just Cavalli, John Galliano, and Malo down with it.  Regardless, hopes are high — as Linda Fargo, fashion director of Bergdorf Goodman, put it, "Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi continue to show the promise of world-class design for the future — both in their own line and at Gianfranco Ferré. We hope the dust settles favorably on Ferre as the two designers are hitting the right notes."  

Other highlights on the to-watch list: Christopher Kane at Versus and, for next season, Vionnet, under the care of Prada alum Rodolfo Paglialunga.
*image: source

>> THE MODELIZER —Mystery solved; an anticlimactic end to the why Auguste Tomasuite (aka Auguste Abeliunaite) was crying at Jil Sander question.  Her agent confirmed that the tearing was due to the harsh runway lights, and it was indeed Tomasuite who commented two days ago, "There wasnt any small shoes or my emocional [sic] problems!!!! The lights was very strong and cameras was flashing all the time. My eyes are very sensitive thats why i was crying."  Apparently, two other unnamed models were crying at the show as well.  As for Auguste, she's done for the season, even though she snagged Jil Sander and Prada spots — she can't go to Paris because she's too young. [Heard on the Runway]
*image: source

>> Frida Giannini's runway-clothes-as-merchandise concept for Gucci may be selling well, but it's still not sitting well with critics.  Last season, her collection was likened to Zara, and this season her Fall 2009 collection earned another mall-brand comparison: Bebe.

Cathy Horyn and Suzy Menkes, neither of whom are afraid to be blunt, seemed indifferent to criticizing the collection — both just focused on Frida's decision to channel sex.  But Christina Binkley of The Wall Street Journal got more pointed, going so far to ask "Who is the Gucci woman?": "[Frida] seems to develop a startling new personality each season, leaving last season’s clothes lost in relation to the new collection. Last season, she was globetrotting with flower children. This season, she’s shaking it in sequined leggings and a sparkling tunic at Studio 54."

"Gucci continues to look like Bebe with a bigger budget" »

>> THE MODELIZER —The mystery of why Auguste Tomasuite (aka Auguste Abeliunaite) was crying through both of her passes on the Jil Sander runway continues, and even though there is photographic evidence, the brand's US publicist denies it happened: “No model was crying on the runway!  No idea what you are talking about, sorry.” When shown the pictures: “I did not see it, can’t see it in the video and no one has asked about it to anyone in the press offices.” [Heard on the Runway]
*image: source