>> Olivier Theyskens has been unemployed for the past year, and aside from his book coming out Feb. 11, he told the Wall Street Journal he hasn't kept up with fashion magazines or parties. "Actually, I was thinking, oh, you should see on the Net what was going on. But I didn't. It makes me think that normal people — 99 percent of the people — don't run to the Net to see what's happening [on the runways]."

Theyskens, or "fashion's version of My So-Called Life — the TV show that was simultaneously applauded and canceled," as the Wall Street Journal put it, had critics enthralled when he was designing at both Rochas and then Nina Ricci, but retailers, not so much — they found it hard to stomach his $2,000 silk blouses.

Karen Daskas, owner of the Tender Birmingham boutique near Detroit, attests: "He cut for somebody that was tall and very thin. It didn't fit women who could afford clothes of that caliber." She now has Theyskens's final Nina Ricci collection marked down to 60 percent off. "I can't give it away. And we try it on everybody."

What does Theyskens say to that? »

>> Balmain Clarifies Lower-Priced Label Talk, Launches Sunglasses —Last week, WWD reported that Balmain was planning to “test” Blue Label, an apparel collection for fall licensed to Balness, a French producer, and priced about 40 to 50 percent less than the runway collection. Today, a spokesperson for the label addresses the reports: "There is no Balmain lower priced line. What I think you might be referring to is a capsule collection that was prepared for some Parisian retailers. Christophe Decarnin wasn't involved in that project. The brand has decided to not repeat the experience, preferring to concentrate all its efforts on the mainline."  The label is, however, launching a sunglasses collaboration with Oliver Peoples, available starting in March. [Vogue UK, Style File]

GQ editor-in-chief Jim Nelson and creative director Jim Moore, along with the magazine's fashion editors, have announced six finalists in their annual Best New Menswear Designers in America competition (this year held in association with Levis, Bloomingdale's, Calvin Klein and the CFDA).

The 2010 finalists are:  Burkman Bros designers Doug and Ben Burkman, Richard Chai, Caulfield Preparatory designer Vincent Flumiani, J.Crew menswear designer Frank Muytjens, Billy Reid, and Unis designer Eunice Lee.

“This year’s class of finalists represents the innovative spirit of American design,” said Steven Kolb, CFDA executive director. “There has never been a time when the menswear market has offered such diversity and creativity, thanks in large part to these talented designers.”

During a special event held in New York on February 11, each designer will showcase a series of looks from their fall 2010 collections. The winning designer will receive a $50,000 cash prize and the opportunity to design a limited-edition collection for Levis, which will be sold at Bloomingdale's. Each designer will also be featured in the March issue of GQ.

Source: Getty