>> Puig, the parent company of Carolina Herrera, Nina Ricci, and Paco Rabanne, may soon be adding Jean Paul Gaultier to its portfolio. It has reportedly entered into exclusive negotiations for Hermes International's 45 percent stake in Gaultier and is also said to be purchasing some shares from Gaultier himself, which would give it majority ownership of the French brand. Last year, after a seven year design partnership, Gaultier departed Hermes to focus on his own line, a move reportedly expedited by the 2010 death of former Hermes CEO Jean-Louis Dumas, who had championed the designer. [WWD]

>> According to Ted Southern, who makes angel wings for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, Gisele Bundchen wasn't the easiest to work with: "She's really tough. She's always screaming, 'What the f*ck is this?'" Heidi Klum, meanwhile, was "by far the best and easiest model to work with." Southern has also helped Klum with her famously over-the-top Halloween costumes. "She's so animated and fun to be around," Southern says of Klum. "She's friendly to everyone." [NY Post]

>> Carine Roitfeld isn't totally letting go of her French roots, despite teaming up with Barneys stateside for a multifaceted Fall 2010 initiative; she also styled Chanel's Fall 2011 campaign, which Karl Lagerfeld just shot in Paris. Featured is perennial Chanel face Freja Beha Erichsen — Fall 2011 marks her fifth consecutive campaign for the house but her first solo. “The mix with Freja was genius,” Lagerfeld promises.

Lagerfeld is also repeating a face at Fendi— he's shooting Anja Rubik for her fourth straight campaign next week (“I like to work with the same girls and boys all the time,” he quips.). As is Michael Kors, who tapped Karmen Pedaru for the second time in a row, posting a picture from the Fall 2011 campaign shoot yesterday on his official Facebook. Over at Yves Saint Laurent, meanwhile, the supporting team is the same — Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin behind the lens and Joe McKenna styling — but Raquel Zimmerman is reportedly the Fall 2011 subject, replacing Spring 2011's Arizona Muse.

But back to Lagerfeld: in preparation of the upcoming Chanel Cruise 2012 fashion show in Antibes on May 9, he's gathering Erichsen, Lady Amanda Harlech, Anna Mouglalis, and Kristen McMenamy to star in his annual Chanel Cruise short film. This one, he's shooting in Monaco and the South of France.

>> Kate Moss reportedly told guests at a Topshop dinner (prescandal) that she was wearing a John Galliano-designed dress to her July 2 festivities, but her fiance Jamie Hince says it's not so, describing the reports as "unfounded entirely." He adds of the Galliano ordeal: "I haven't seen the video, and I don't even know John that well, but I feel like people have got to see reason here. John has a problem with alcohol, and the reality is that when we're in trouble, and that's all of us, we say the most violent, cursed things. You can judge them on the stupid words they said — which I think were stupid, I hope that goes without saying — or you can dig a bit deeper and you can try and find out what the problem is. And I think it's obvious that it's alcohol. People are trying to say those are his politics. 'I love Hitler' — that's not political, that's somebody in trouble." [Vogue UK]

>> Imitation's Tara Subkoff has flirted with film over the years, racking up bit parts in movies like American Pie and As Good As It Gets, but now she's taking the relationship to the next level — literally. Subkoff attended the 2011 Oscars  — and the Vanity Fair Oscars party — at the end of February with King's Speech director Tom Hooper (who won best director), and they've reportedly been together ever since. [AVENUEinsider]

>> Aerin Lauder, granddaughter of Estee Lauder and the SVP, creative director, and third largest shareholder in the cosmetics brand, is reportedly prepping the launch of a fashion and lifestyle brand. "Aerin wants to be the next Tory Burch," a source told Page Six.

The forthcoming collection launch, on which Anna Wintour is reportedly advising and former president and CEO of NBC Universal Jeff Zucker is consulting, is said to include accessories, housewares, china, and jewelry. Some of the latter will reportedly be based on pieces from Lauder's grandmother's private collection.

Word is Lauder has already acquired office space in the same building as Tom Ford and hired White House deputy social secretary Ebs Burnough, who left his post on Friday, telling friends his next position was in New York.

A Estee Lauder spokeswoman seems to confirm that Lauder is working on something: "Aerin Lauder is a vital part of the Estee Lauder Companies and the Estee Lauder brand. She will continue to have a senior creative role with the brand and will continue as a member of the board of directors of the company. An announcement is forthcoming about her future business plans."