Posts for March 3rd 2011

Christophe Decarnin Was Absent from the Balmain Show on Doctor's Orders, Has Since Been Spotted Out
Paris Fashion Week

Christophe Decarnin Was Absent from the Balmain Show on Doctor's Orders, Has Since Been Spotted Out

>> An update on Christophe Decarnin's absence from today's Balmain show — although it was rumored earlier today that the designer was in a "mental hospital" and had no say in the Fall 2011 collection, WWD reports: "The designer was absent under doctor’s orders, after having recently been released from the hospital, where he was said to have been treated for depression.
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>> An update on Christophe Decarnin's absence from today's Balmain show — although it was rumored earlier today that the designer was in a "mental hospital" and had no say in the Fall 2011 collection, WWD reports: "The designer was absent under doctor’s orders, after having recently been released from the hospital, where he was said to have been treated for depression. A Balmain spokesman said Decarnin was involved in the design." [WWD]

UPDATE: Decarnin was also spotted out and about this evening; one Twitterer dispatched: "Sitting at a table next to Christophe Decarnin." [@MinnieMuse]

Fall 2011 Paris Fashion Week Backstage Photos from Dries van Noten, Gareth Pugh, and Rochas
Models

The Best Backstage Snaps from Dries Van Noten, Gareth Pugh, and Rochas!

>> Paris Fashion Week has started off with a big bang thanks to designers like Dries Van Noten, Gareth Pugh, and Rochas.
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Fall 2011 Paris Fashion Week Backstage Photos from Dries van Noten, Gareth Pugh, and Rochas

>> Paris Fashion Week has started off with a big bang thanks to designers like Dries Van Noten, Gareth Pugh, and Rochas. But what you didn't see — until now — was the backstage action that went on between getting ready and hitting the runway. Check out detailed shots of Gareth Pugh's golden creations; a growling Jourdan Dunn; close-ups of Dries Van Noten's decadent velvet-trimmed handbags; and more cool backstage snaps in the slideshow.

Photos courtesy of Greg Kessler

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Christophe Decarnin Has Reportedly Been in a Mental Hospital Since January
Paris Fashion Week

Christophe Decarnin Has Reportedly Been in a Mental Hospital Since January

>> Christophe Decarnin was a no-show at Balmain today, explained a label spokesman, because: "He's tired after working on the collection.
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>> Christophe Decarnin was a no-show at Balmain today, explained a label spokesman, because: "He's tired after working on the collection. He's not here. He's resting." However, Hint reports that Decarnin has been in a "mental hospital" since January, according to a source, because of a nervous breakdown. He apparently disappeared one day in mid-January — a "total nightmare" — and it was then announced that he would not be coming back.

Decarnin reportedly wasn't involved in the Fall 2011 collection at all, and Melanie Ward, who was previously confirmed to be collaborating with Decarnin on the collection, actually designed it all with Balmain's in-house team. Ward definitely has design experience — among other stints, she spent 13 years as creative director of Helmut Lang, when the designer was still at his namesake label.

John Galliano Runway Show Said to Be Canceled As Label's Future Is in Question (Updated)
Paris Fashion Week

John Galliano Runway Show Said to Be Canceled As Label's Future Is in Question (Updated)

>> Earlier in the week, a spokesman for John Galliano's namesake label confirmed that their Sunday show would go on as usual, but now it sounds like there has been a change of plans, after all.
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>> Earlier in the week, a spokesman for John Galliano's namesake label confirmed that their Sunday show would go on as usual, but now it sounds like there has been a change of plans, after all. A couple of reports have popped up on Twitter that the Galliano show has been canceled, while a spokesperson for the brand told FashionEtc. that the show will go on as scheduled March 6, but "the format has yet to be determined," which makes it sound like the planned runway show has been canceled and will instead be a presentation or showroom visits by appointment.

As Suzy Menkes writes, "The future of the John Galliano brand, which is underwritten by Dior, relies on licenses and barely breaks even financially, is complex. Executives will have to see whether those external partners still want to be associated with a designer whose name has been globally smirched." And the Wall Street Journal adds: "Mr. Galliano's smaller line that carries his own name has remained a small business that depends largely on licenses for such products as perfumes and sunglasses for its sales."

UPDATE: There will be an informal presentation for the Galliano brand on Sunday, consisting of 30 looks that were already completed. “We just felt it wasn’t appropriate to do a classic fashion show,” says Galliano’s spokesman, Alexandre Malgouyres. “But we’re doing John’s collection, for John, so that he returns quickly.” [WSJ]