>> So far this season, the most eye-catching show package came courtesy of One Management, who had their stable of models mimic an iconic '60s Harper's Bazaar cover by Richard Avedon, but a couple of Paris agencies are running a close second, and curiously, they are both feeling the comic book look. Women Paris altered portfolio pictures of the likes of Iris Strubegger and Iselin Steiro into with a little high contrast look and a splat of yellow, and WM emulated Sin City for their gaggle of fresh faces.
Posts for September 23rd 2009
Shopping: Jeweled Neckpieces

Oversized and bejeweled, fall's new neckpieces are distinct, statement-making accessories we must own now. They add a touch of unexpected glamour to a simple white tee shirt and will instantly refresh last season's favorite cocktail dress. Our picks for best of the bunch? Tory Burch's Egyptian-inspired collar, Ranjana Khan's beaded bibs, Yves Saint Laurent's jet crystals, and Lizzie Fortunato's asymmetrical breastplate.
>> Carine Roitfeld Still Loves Tom Ford's Womenswear From 2003 —Tom Ford and his muse when he was designing Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, Carine Roitfeld, must still think along the same lines: just as it's hinted that he's preparing to make a return into womenswear, she's pulled a skirt out he designed for Yves Saint Laurent's Fall 2003 collection — leaving much of her flank exposed through side lace panels — and worn it during both New York and London Fashion Weeks. [Fashin]
Teen Vogue Said to Be Making 25 Percent Budget Cuts, Some Editors Already Moving On
>> McKinsey is in its second-to-last week of its three-month examination of the workings of Conde Nast, and the New York Observer reports that in the last few days, Conde executives, under the direction of McKinsey, asked a number of magazines — of which Teen Vogue is believed to be among — to cut their budget next year by roughly 25 percent. It's unclear if Vogue or W will be similarly instructed.
According to sources, top brass is not being specific about how the cuts should be made, but potential options could be diminishing expenses, doing away with freelance, reducing magazine frequency, or layoffs. Conde CEO Chuck Townsend told the Observer a few weeks ago: “I can boil what I say to editors and publishers down to the simplest statement in the world and that is: You, not me, you have a responsibility to run this business in a responsible way. It’s your responsibility. I want to see your proposal of how you’re going to do it.”
>> Mario Grauso Moves from Nina Ricci and Carolina Herrera to Vera Wang —Mario Grauso, former president of Puig Fashion Group overseeing Nina Ricci, Paco Rabanne, and Carolina Herrera, where he was credited for forging the Renee Zellweger-Herrera red carpet relationship, has moved on to Vera Wang. He appeared at Wang's show last week, and will allow the designer to focus more on the creative side of her business while he reexamines her contemporary Lavender label, which is currently on hiatus, develops the label's shoe and jewelry businesses, and works to dress more celebrities on the red carpet. As Grauso put it, "Now there are two crazy control freaks making sure that everything is perfect." [WWD]
Fashion in 50 Seconds 09/23/09 Justin Timberlake's LA Store Opening

Justin Timberlake will open his first William Rast retail location in Los Angeles this fall.
The top ten cult fashion flicks from "Blow Up" to "Zoolander".
Video recap of London Fashion Week featuring Jonathan Saunders' vampire girls and Chrisopher Bailey on his new collection for Burberry.
Julie Henderson's dear diary: A day-in-the-life of a swimsuit model turned Sports Illustrated intern.
BBC tracks the cyclical life of fashion trends.
Source: Getty
Tom Ford Supposedly Seeking Funding for Womenswear: Is Alessandra Facchinetti Involved?
>> It's just been a matter of time. The first murmurs of Tom Ford expanding into womenswear came way back in February, and today come reports that in the wake of his directorial debut A Single Man being picked up last week by The Weinstein Company (who will likely put it into play for the Oscars with a limited December release), Ford is seeking funding for a foray into a women's line.
The amount sought is to the tune of $50 million or more, according to a report from two unnamed sources by private equity site peHUB, and the search just began in the last two weeks. The original rumor from February had Alessandra Facchinetti, who was top womenswear designer under Ford at Gucci, heading up the new line for Ford; she still hasn't publicly popped up anywhere else, so it's still a possibility . . .


