Posts for September 2009

Paris Fashion Week

Christian Lacroix Sits Out Paris Fashion Week, But May Be Bought by Emirati Sheikh

>> Paris is minus a Christian Lacroix fashion show this time around — according to his team, this is the first time he hasn't even made a collection — but he may get one good thing out of this Fashion Week: a buyer.Previous frontrunner Borletti, who was working with Lacroix on a bid, has dropped out because “the conditions for confirming this takeover were not brought together."

>> Paris is minus a Christian Lacroix fashion show this time around — according to his team, this is the first time he hasn't even made a collection — but he may get one good thing out of this Fashion Week: a buyer.

Previous frontrunner Borletti, who was working with Lacroix on a bid, has dropped out because “the conditions for confirming this takeover were not brought together." Now, all eyes are on Sheikh Al Hassan bin Ali Al-Nuami, a nephew of the ruler of the emirate of Ajman, whose offer was deemed "overall very satisfactory" by Lacroix's administrator — he hopes to inject €70 million ($102 million) into the brand and keep all the company’s employees. Lacroix was involved in the talks with the sheikh; the offer involves keeping both ready-to-wear and couture businesses and will be formalized in the next 48 hours.

Yesterday was the deadline for the administrator to receive offers on the house.

Paris Fashion Week

>> Jessica Stam Sits Out Paris Fashion Week Sick, Tanya Dziahileva To Finally Walk This Season —Toni Garrn made her first catwalk appearance this season today at Gareth Pugh, but we're still missing a number of models usually on the circuit: Catherine McNeil, Raquel Zimmermann, Sigrid Agren, Anna Maria Jagodzinska, and Tanya Dziahileva among them.  Word is it's possible some may be hitting the Paris catwalks, but it looks like a Tanya appearance is most likely out of the bunch.  Don't expect to see Jessica Stam, though, who's been going light this season as is: She's been sick for the past few days and decided to head back to New York.

>> Jessica Stam Sits Out Paris Fashion Week Sick, Tanya Dziahileva To Finally Walk This Season —Toni Garrn made her first catwalk appearance this season today at Gareth Pugh, but we're still missing a number of models usually on the circuit: Catherine McNeil, Raquel Zimmermann, Sigrid Agren, Anna Maria Jagodzinska, and Tanya Dziahileva among them.  Word is it's possible some may be hitting the Paris catwalks, but it looks like a Tanya appearance is most likely out of the bunch.  Don't expect to see Jessica Stam, though, who's been going light this season as is: She's been sick for the past few days and decided to head back to New York. [Fashin, Jess Stam Twitter, Jess Stam Twitter, Jess Stam Twitter]

Paris Fashion Week

Marco Zanini Takes Second Rochas Collection to Runway for Spring 2010

>> Marco Zanini's new, more commercial interpretation at Rochas was so well-received last season, he kicked off Paris Fashion Week this morning, taking his designs to the runway for the first time under the label.  Anna Wintour was front row for the '40s-inspired collection with below-the-knee hemlines: Zanini said he wanted to get away from classic Parisian fashion, and instead imagined "a young woman going to a boarding school in Saigon."

>> Marco Zanini's new, more commercial interpretation at Rochas was so well-received last season, he kicked off Paris Fashion Week this morning, taking his designs to the runway for the first time under the label.  Anna Wintour was front row for the '40s-inspired collection with below-the-knee hemlines: Zanini said he wanted to get away from classic Parisian fashion, and instead imagined "a young woman going to a boarding school in Saigon."

The reception seems to be positive, if a bit unenthused. T's Anne Christensen deemed it "not what I expected but nice"; the AP concluded that Zanini made "a strong case for [Rochas's] resurrection"; Cathy Horyn called it "interesting, unhurried . . . I sensed [Zanini] was doing his version of French sportswear, perhaps inspired by the Rochas legacy"; and WWD noted that the collection had similarities to Dries van Noten's work, but "Zanini seems to have plenty of ideas and enough technical skill to put Rochas somewhere on the map."

Giorgio Armani

>> Giorgio Armani Eases Workload —His hepatitis diagnosis in May and slighter figure in June when he presented his Spring 2010 collection have spurred many questions about the future for Giorgio Armani and his brand.

>> Giorgio Armani Eases Workload —His hepatitis diagnosis in May and slighter figure in June when he presented his Spring 2010 collection have spurred many questions about the future for Giorgio Armani and his brand. Although he avoided questions about naming a successor last week, saying he has no plans to ease up, Armani announced three senior management changes today to help ease his workload. “The illness made me understand that you can’t joke with your life. For years, I ignored myself completely until I received this blow, which happened for a reason. I realized I had to be more careful. All the stress and mental and physical possibilities take their toll." He admitted to working shorter hours, but also noted that, “during my illness, I realized how much I need creative outlets." [WWD, WWD]

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen Teases Spring 2010 Collection as Fall 2009 Campaign Pops Up

>> Less than a week before Alexander McQueen shows for Spring 2010 next Tuesday, his Fall 2009 campaign has appeared, featuring Tara Gill shot by David Burton.  The effect is much different than that amped-up dramatic show, but at this point we're already looking forward to what's coming on Tuesday — the designer has been busy dropping hints on Twitter like: "Dante's Inferno !!!!!," "TRANSMUTATION," "The Creationist?," "MEDUSA," "NEBULA," "HUBBLE PALLET [sic]," "FULL CIRCLE," and posting a picture to do with the origin of species.  Mid-September he Tweeted, "Fashion month has started with banality," so hopefully his collection will help change that.

>> Less than a week before Alexander McQueen shows for Spring 2010 next Tuesday, his Fall 2009 campaign has appeared, featuring Tara Gill shot by David Burton.  The effect is much different than that amped-up dramatic show, but at this point we're already looking forward to what's coming on Tuesday — the designer has been busy dropping hints on Twitter like: "Dante's Inferno !!!!!," "TRANSMUTATION," "The Creationist?," "MEDUSA," "NEBULA," "HUBBLE PALLET [sic]," "FULL CIRCLE," and posting a picture to do with the origin of species.  Mid-September he Tweeted, "Fashion month has started with banality," so hopefully his collection will help change that.

Lindsay Lohan

>> Lindsay Lohan Still In Place at Ungaro, Invites Miley Cyrus to Attend Show Sunday —Lindsay Lohan debuts the first collection she designed with Estrella Archs for Emanuel Ungaro on Sunday during Paris Fashion Week, and despite rumors that she might already be on the outs, she is indeed in Paris and just saw her office earlier today: "It's so pretty!

>> Lindsay Lohan Still In Place at Ungaro, Invites Miley Cyrus to Attend Show Sunday —Lindsay Lohan debuts the first collection she designed with Estrella Archs for Emanuel Ungaro on Sunday during Paris Fashion Week, and despite rumors that she might already be on the outs, she is indeed in Paris and just saw her office earlier today: "It's so pretty! I was shocked&so happy I cried!!! A dream come true!"  The show's front row could turn out to be like Marc Jacobs's of yore: she's been busy at work inviting Miley Cyrus and Sarah Silverman to attend. [Lindsay Lohan Twitter, Lindsay Lohan Twitter, Lindsay Lohan Twitter]

Update: Lohan may be getting her boldface friends to attend the show, but apparently a number of buyers have declined their invitations to Ungaro due to her participation. [StyleWriterNYC Twitter]