Move over, Madonna. Louis Vuitton’s new face for Spring is Lara Stone, who’s been shot by Steven Meisel rolling around in the dirt. Vuitton exec Antoine Arnault described the campaign as “fresh and summery,” hopefully to coincide with brighter times—because nothing says “financial rebound” like mud-caked finery. [WWD]
Meanwhile, Akris has a new face for Spring, [...]

When Kerry Taylor previewed her Audrey Hepburn auction in Paris, 2,000 people showed up, including Hubert de Givenchy, who’d designed most of the dresses on display. Taylor introduced a little crowd control for Monday’s London preview—you had to buy a £10 catalog before you got in the door—but if the turnout was substantially smaller, it [...]

At this time of year, with a trip home on the horizon and long airport lines to contend with, I’m ready to leave behind my work shoes—super-high platforms, of course—and slip my feet into something a little more comfortable. (Not to mention something that slides off easily for airport security.) That’s why I love Yosi [...]

Just don’t call it a retrospective. That was the message at the Prada store in Soho today, as a new book documenting the world of Prada was unveiled to members of the press. Formally launched at an event earlier this week at the Prada store in Milan, PRADA was conceived and edited by Miuccia Prada [...]

It’s approximately two weeks until Black Friday. Take a breath. There’s still time to consider the thoughtful gift, like a beautiful piece of vintage costume jewelry. Needless to say, that venture involves more effort than others, but according to jewelry collector and historian Deanna Farneti Cera, it’s entirely worth it. “It’s not something you can [...]

1. Frumpy HandbagWhen was the last time you bought a new handbag? If it wasn’t this year or last year, your handbag might need an update. Time and time again, women pay little attention to their handbags. They seldom update them or they update their …

At the VPL show almost two weeks ago, many of the models came down the runway with abstract, hand-crocheted accessories by the young designer Aran Baik. Based on anatomical drawings, the accessories served to outline and extend the skeletal lines of the models’ bodies—ribcage, hip bone, shoulder blade. The pieces spoke to the collection’s theme, [...]

In concert with the influx of fashion-loving foreigners, September is Milan’s happening retail season. The biggest store news comes from the new D&G revamp in Corso Venezia 7 (pictured above), and Trussardi 1911’s new “concept” lifestyle store at Piazza della Scala 5, where comfortable chairs and reading material are part of the shopping experience. There’s [...]

You can learn a lot about how designers see their collections by the music they choose. In Future Classics designer Julie Wilkins’ case, it was “Sing Swan Song” by Can and “Strange Overtones” from the recent Brian Eno/David Byrne album. Those particular songs don’t tell you much the way, for instance, “Girls & Boys” by [...]

Justin—er, William Rast—fans, rejoice. Timberlake and partner Trace Ayala are setting up shop in L.A.’s Westfield Century City shopping center this November, adding William Rast’s debut outpost to a list of retail hot spots including Louis Vuitton, Juicy Couture, and Zara. And, good news for East Coasters: This is just one of 40 planned William [...]