>> Balmain To Do Sunglasses with Oliver Peoples, Plus a First Look at the Spring 2010 Shoes —Balmain is debuting sunglasses in collaboration with Oliver Peoples on its Spring 2010 runway, according to the latter company's Twitter.  For a clue as to what Christophe Decarnin has in mind for the season, check out the preview of Balmain's Spring 2010 shoes, as posted by Bazaar's Mary Alice Stephenson — gladiators with navajo-style beading. [Oliver Peoples Twitter, Mary Alice Style Twitter]

>> September 2009 Cover Watch: Kate Moss's Third for the Month —Solve Sundsbo photographed Kate Moss for her third major September 2009 cover: this time for Vogue Russia.  Inside, she wears a Balmain dress — the same which she wore to an event back in April and subsequently ripped — wonder if it was a take-home from this shoot? PRODn Blog]

>> Balmain Foraying Into Handbags —For those jonesin' to add a spangled bag to their collection of strong-shouldered jackets and glittery minidresses, Christophe Decarnin hears you. He's added about a half dozen handbags — including black leather messenger bags paved with crystals or studs and a fringed bag with silver hardware — to the pieces offered up to buyers as part of Balmain's Cruise 2010 collection. [WWD]

>> First Look: Anja Rubik for Balmain Fall 2009 —Stylist Emmanuelle Alt has a new go-to girl, and her name is Anja Rubik. Balmain is one of the few major brands who isn't sticking to an ad formula that already works this season, replacing Spring 2009 face Daria Werbowy, posed in front of a country diner, with Balmain stylist Alt's favorite Anja, surrounded by a linear sea of orange and yellow. [Jak & Jil Twitter]

>> Anja Rubik scores Balmain; First Look at Lily Allen for Chanel—It appears that Anja Rubik is increasingly becoming an Emmanuelle Alt favorite — the Vogue Paris fashion director recently styled Anja for her first major Vogue cover, and now Anja is appearing in the new Balmain Fall 2009 ads, as spotted in the brand's Paris boutique (Alt is Balmain's stylist).  Meanwhile, Lily Allen's Fall 2009 Chanel handbag ads — for the launch of the new Chanel Coco Cocoon line — don't come out until October, but Chanel posted a photographic peek from the shoot, with Lily in crown. [Jak & Jil Twitter, Chanel]

>> Just today, Swarovski announced that they were going to clothe Michael Jackson head to toe for his "This Is It" tour kicking off next month — his costumes and sets were to feature over 300,000 crystals, in 53 different shapes, 43 different sizes, and 27 different colors.  In April, The Imagist reported that Balmain stylist Emmanuelle Alt "would weep" if Jackson allowed Balmain to do his tour costumes because she was "100% obsessed" with him — a fact reflected in Balmain's flashy runway pieces.

Jackson had catapulted himself back into fashion's eye in recent months after he was spotted in a number of different Balmain looks — no doubt courtesy of Emmanuelle Alt — and a favorite gold studded Givenchy jacket.  At the news of his death this afternoon, an outpouring of reactions — some incredulous — came from models, editors, and designers alike — those from a few, below.

"This is unbelievable..."

>> INSIDER WIRE —Christophe Decarnin's Balmain creations have earned more than a couple of comparisons to Michael Jackson's style, but when Jackson himself was spotted wearing a Fall 2009 Balmain top recently, it threw the blogging world for a loop.  It might be an idea to get used to, however — apparently Vogue Paris fashion director (and Balmain creative force extraordinaire) Emmanuelle Alt is "100% obsessed" with Jackson . . . that's how he came to wear the top. And she "would weep" if he allowed Balmain to do his comeback tour costumes. [The Imagist]

>> INSIDER WIRE —How about two windows into Teen Vogue editor style in two days: first, accessories editor Sarah Frances Kuhn opens her apartment and closet for all eyes to see, and now, accessories director Taylor Tomasi — who has a cult style following in her own right — is showcasing her top accessory picks for Spring; the Balmain crystal and stud heels did not go unsung. [Teen Vogue]

>> THE MODELIZER —Is Erin Wasson the next model mogul in the making?  The dilettante has styled runway shows for Alexander Wang, produced jewelry line LowLuv, launched a three-year clothing line with RVCA.  More recently, she hit Paris to walk Emmanuelle Alt-styled catwalks Isabel Marant and Balmain and lent her styling abilities to Elle for an editorial in the April 2009 issue.  We'll have to wait for her next endeavor, but in the meantime, she's hitting Austin in the next few days for the SXSW music festival. [Style File, Modelinia]

*image: source