>> After Dana Thomas's best-selling book Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster came out in August 2007, she wasn't invited to Louis Vuitton's show the following October — Vuitton chief executive Yves Carcelle was unhappy with how she had portrayed LVMH head Bernard Arnault.  Given the article she just wrote for Newsweek, "The Tragic Decline of the House of Versace," she may be uninvited from Versace's show next.

Just last week, Donatella expressed that she expected Versace to weather the economy, despite having to lay off a quarter of its workforce. Thomas doesn't seem as convinced, suggesting that perhaps it's time for Versace to move past its family-centric setup:

"Many in the fashion industry believe it's time for the brand to continue without Versace family involvement — and some suggest that the family is starting to accept this idea too. Last year, Santo [Versace, Donatella's brother and former CEO of the company] was elected to the Italian Parliament. Allegra [Beck Versace, Donatella's daughter and 50 percent company heir] has been attending Brown University and has said her dream is to become an actress. And will Donatella remain at the helm? 'Maybe,' says [an anonymous] former Versace executive. 'Then again, maybe not.' Which, after a decade of turmoil, may be the best thing for the company after all."

Gianni Versace wanted the brand out of the family hands »

>> Bruno Frisoni Donated Shoes to Lacroix's Show; LVMH President Speaks on Lacroix Purchase Rumors —If the shoes at Christian Lacroix's Fall 2009 couture show seemed familiar, it's because Bruno Frisoni of Roger Vivier and Vivier owner Diego Della Valle donated them, according to the former: "I called Mr. Della Valle and told him what was happening and he said, ‘Yes, of course, we’re with [Lacroix].”  As for the rumors of LVMH repurchasing Lacroix, LVMH President Yves Carcelle said after the show: “Oh, this I don’t know! I’m here as a friend and not as a member of LVMH.”  For his part, Frisoni thought Lacroix "has to continue" — "the best thing is to keep the name and do it in a very simple way, like Azzedine Alaia does." Lacroix apparently agrees, envisioning "a move to a different house in a different location and a customer approach that mirrors that established by Azzedine Alaia in his own studio-emporium-salon," according to Hamish Bowles.[On the Runway, Vogue Daily]