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Lacroix Submits Joint Offer, Meets With French Ministers.

Christian Lacroix at his show in Couture Week in Paris last earlier this month

Christian Laroix has had some very emotional ups and downs in the search to find an investor to same his namesake label. After a series of disappointing bids, he recently received a promising proposition from Italy's Italy’s Borletti Group, which has stakes in both La Rinascente and Printemps department stores. The Borletti group, according to Lacroix administrator Regis Valliot, had made a "serious" offer as of Monday for Christian Lacroix SNC and if successful, the proposal would keep the couture and the licensing business, but also would further develop Lacroix's dreams of a luxury ready-to-wear line and a new fragrance, to follow the now defunct C’est la Vie. “The brand doesn’t yet have the perfume it deserves,” he said.

Lacroix himself,who filed for protection against creditors for the company in May, plans to become a shareholder in the company and was confident enough in the Borletti proposal that he submitted a joint offer with the Italian investing group. Before submitting the offer on Monday, Lacroix visited with French culture minister Frédéric Mitterrandand then met with Industry Minister Christian Estrosi Tuesday afternoon. The meetings were seemingly set up to discuss the fate of the couture label and the French government's involvement. According to WWD, Estrosi noted that the government is closely following the process and wanted to show its appreciation and support to Lacroix, whose label is regarded as a symbol of France. Along with the government's blessings, Lacroix said he also felt "enlivened" in these new developments knowing he had the support of "the people in the street."

Article and Photo Source: WWD
-Alia Rajput

Bidders Deemed "Insufficient" to Acquire Lacroix, Company Still Hopeful

Christian Lacroix has not found a satisfactory bidder yet

In the ongoing struggle to rescue French luxury house Christian Lacroix, several bids have been offered and then withdrawn from the table. The latest promising candidate was French turnaround firm Bernard Krief consultants who was seemingly in talks last week about acquiring the label. But alas, the Krief bid was deemed "insufficient" and two others written off as "inconsistent," according to a spokewoman for administrator Regis Valliot. Now a new bidder has joined the ranks with the Lacroix camp keeping their fingers crossed that this will be the real deal. Italy's Borletti Group, known for being linked to department stores La Rinascente and Printemps, has reportedly submitted a "serious" proposal to acquire the Lacroix company. No word yet on whether the bid or not the has been officially approved.

Article Source: WWD
Photo Source: frillr
-Alia Rajput

Haute Couture News. Christian Lacroix Finds Potential Investor.

Christian Lacroix Couture Spring 2009

Has the stormy state of Christian Lacroix finally found its silver lining? though Lacroix reps declined to comment to WWD yesterday, rumors are spreading that Bernard Krief Consultants are planning to bid for the luxury fashion house. Krief has already publicly declared its admiration for Lacroix, hailing the house as part of France's cultural heritage. Though details for the bid are still unclear, Krief did say that it was the only contender and that its offer would become official on July 27th. The Lacroix company was planning to look for a buyer until the end of July; if one was not found by then they planned to launch a restructuring plan that would cut the company's workforce dramatically. Worse case scenario for the Lacroix label would be the 22 year old fashion house diminished to a licensing operation. So the fashion world now crosses their fingers as the bidding for the troubled label begins. Recent activity by Krief include buying the struggling textile firm DMC out of administration, and being among the bidders for the bankrupt chain Morgan.

Article and Photo Source: WWD
-Alia Rajput

Couture Designers Stay Afloat with the Help of Foreign Markets, Celebrities

Madonna in Givenchy couture

With the kickoff of the couture shows in Paris yesterday, many in the fashion media have voiced opinions on the relevance of the occasion, as well as wondering how its possible that struggling couture labels can even afford to participate. The answer is simple, though unfortunate for those of us on this side of the pond. Recently the American holding in the ranks of couture clientele has pretty much bottomed out. Too many of us average Joes have become overly conscious of our spending in the past year and have withdrawn our seat at the luxury table, at least for the time being. Luckily for high end labels like Valentino, Chanel, and Givenchy, they have found other sources to keep them afloat—two in fact, that have been particularly helpful.

President of Dior, Sidney Toledano cited the recent surge of millionaires in China as a cause to the French house's amount of orders, noting there are currently more millionaires in China than there are in France. Other areas on the map that have seen an outpour of luxury business include Russia, Eastern Europe, and of course the Middle East. The other demographic that couture designers have recently tapped is the celebrity. Jennifer Aniston created "immense coverage worldwide" for Valentino after donning his design at the Oscars earlier this year. French labels Dior and Louis Vuitton have both recruited celebrities to appear in some of their latest campaigns, the former using French actress and style icon Marion Cotillard while LV created a memorable slew of ads using legendary fashion chameleon Madonna. And speaking of Madge, she's been causing hype for another label since appearing in brand new Givenchy couture on her Sticky and Sweet tour in London last week.

Article Sources: WWD, newyorkmag

Photo Source: newyorkmag

-Alia Rajput

Paris Couture Fall '09. Christian Dior: Underpinnings Galore!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ah, John Galliano can always be counted on for a good show, that much is certain. Good thing we don't expect couture to be practical, because it isn't. His 40's inspired over-the-top lingerie as outerwear collection for the House of Christian Dior is sure to be a hit with Madonna. The colors, textures, structure, tailoring, corsets and wedding cake ball skirts were at times breathtaking.

 “In this economic climate, I want to focus on the established codes of Dior: the Bar jacket, the panther, the lily of the valley,” Galliano told WWD of his approach for Christian Dior this fall.

“It all begins with the corset,” Galliano said. He thus sent out models wearing dresses worked in various transparencies, or seemingly caught in states of undress — jacket sans skirt, enormous ball skirt sans bodice. It was, he quipped, as if the girls weren’t ready, and someone said, “Just go!”

The show was therefore a profusion of undies...corsets, garters, girdles, tap shorts and of course...bras inspired by the iconic photos of the late Christian Dior himself. With colors like fuchsia, yellow, purple, orange the show of underpinnings was the prefect tribute.

- Lauren Dimet Waters

Photos: WWD

Christian Lacroix Faces Serious Company Cuts, Future of the Label Unsure

A couture gown from Chritian Lacroix's January 2009 shows

French luxury house Christian Lacroix may be in a serious financial bind. WWD reported that employees of the 22 year old couture label were informed last Friday of a restructuring plan that could potentially cut the label's production staff from 124 to only 12.This dramatic change on the company's workforce would reduce the fashion house from an independent label to a licensing operation. The only way to sustain the man power at Lacroix is if a buyer comes through to rescue the company, which obtained court protection from its creditors in May. The luxe label has been one of the hardest hit by the economic crisis and has experienced a sharp decline in orders over the past several seasons.

Article and Photo Source: WWD

-Alia Rajput

Lanvin Pays Tribute to Founder in Upcoming Anniversary Collection

A figurine from Lanvin's 120th anniversary collection

Head designer of Lanvin, Alber Elbaz, reportedly had the final say on the plans for the French house's upcoming 120th anniversary. The theme that was in the works and which has just been confirmed centers around that special bond between a mother and daughter. The theme for the celebration was designed as an homage to founder Jeanne Lanvin who was originally made famous for her innovative mother and daughter ensembles. The anniversary collection will include the third in an annual installment of hand-painted porcelain figurines, each one showcasing an affectionate mother and daughter duo painted in Lanvin designs. The other limited edition products will hit retail locations closer to the anniversary at the end of November and will include music boxes, paperweights, notebooks and embroidered T-shirts — all splattered with brightly colored hearts and anniversary wishes. Some of products more in step with Lanvin's luxury image will be a repackaged version of the brand's signature Arpege scent, and a honeymoon-themed suitcase which comes packed with a Lanvin sarong, beach sandals, and a white towel embroidered simply with the word, "love."

Article and Photo Source: WWD

-Alia Rajput

Madonna Becomes "Very Graphic, More Edgy" in Vuitton's Fall 2009 Campaign

Madonna in the Fall 2009 Louis Vuitton ad campaign

After the immense success that Louis Vuitton enjoyed following its Madonna-centered Spring 2009 ad campaign, head designer Marc Jacobs decided to use the fashion icon again for its Fall campaign, yet with a different stylistic slant. Images of the new campaign, due out in August, started to leak out to the press last week, to very mixed reviews. Shot by Stephen Meisel, the images are all drenched in a watercolored, psychedelic hue thanks to a technique of overexposure called solarization. The singer/model/icon is featured in each shot looking alarmingly youthful, and draped across a leather chair, wearing various LV runway looks and clutching a different Fall 09 logo-embossed bag. Some of the stylized looks appear strangely familiar due to their resemblance to Madonna's ensemble from the Met Costume Institute Gala that inspired flagrantly mixed reviews. But the overall look—specifically the rich wash of color—is a first for an LV campaign. “It gives something very graphic, more edgy” noted Antoine Arnault, Vuitton’s communication director.




Images from the Fall 2009 Louis Vuitton ad campaign featuring Madonna

When asked about the impact of the first Madonna campaign where she was featured as a vampish, French coquette in a Parisian bistro, Arnault said, snapping his fingers for emphasis, “Everything she was wearing in the first campaign was sold within a few months. People came into the store saying, ‘I want the Madonna bag, the Madonna shoes.” Jacobs and the LV team predict a similar, if not bigger reaction for the upcoming campaign. Forget the jumpsuits though—after viewing the images, people will be clamoring to know what the LV brand is selling to make Madonna look thirty years younger, solarization or not!

Article and Photo Sources: WWD, newyorkmag
-Alia Rajput

Dolce & Gabbana Premiere Online Store, Fall 2009 Campaigns

A look from the Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2009 ad campaign

Today marks the debut of the new D&G online store and with this new venture, the designers are only gaining momentum, having launched their Fall 2009 ad campaigns for both Dolce & Gabbana and D&G this past weekend. The campaign for the more luxe line of the two was shot by Steven Klein, features MariacarlaBoscono, Edita Vilkeviciute, and Heidi Mount, at one point all of which are featured in bright pink, furry couture at a casino and channeling some serious Martin Margiela, wig-like elelements. Could this be where the elusive head designer of Maison Martin Margiela has slipped off to?

A look from the Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2009 ad campaign

The campaign for D&G, shot by Mario Testino, features a younger group: Katie Fogarty, Sara Blomqvist, Stephanie Rad, Hanna Rundolf, and Ragnhild Jevne. The models are decked in a Marie Antoinette-style parlor, each wearing a mish mosh of hipster and retro chic in tulle, denim, and jacquard. Both campaigns feature Dolce & Gabbana's signature use of juxtaposing light and shadow, and combining delicate pieces with ones more edgy and raw.

A look from the D&G Fall 2009 ad campaign

Article and Photo Source: Fashionologie

-Alia Rajput

Haute Couture News. Stefano Sassi Staying On Valentino Label

Stafano Sassi

Rumors have been circulating more and more on the possibility that Stefano Sassi is stepping down as the chief executive of Valentino Fashion Group, but Sassi himself says there's no truth in the buzz whatsoever.“I’m staying where I am." The design patriarch said recently, as he watched from the sidelines of the Proenza Schouler pre-collection event in Florence. In addition to heading up the Valentino Fashion Group, Sassi also holds a stake with the Proenza Schouler label and serves as a mentor to the young designers of the line. Sassi described the role that VGF plays to Porenza Schouler as "supportive, productive, and industrial", and went on to say that head designers Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough are, "full of ideas and there’s a lot of potential.”

As for the Valentino label in which he was reportedly about to leave, Sassi noted that the couture house is more exciting to be a part of now more than ever. "The Valentino line is getting a lot of positive feedback. It’s more modern and it’s on an interesting path.” The CEO made sure to add, “I’m keen on seeing future results.” We all are too.

Looks from Valentino's Fall/Winter 2009 Collection

Article Source: WWD
Photo Source: poshbot

-Alia Rajput