After creating, with stylist Emmanuelle Alt, the phenomenon of Balmainia, former creative director Christophe Decarnin abruptly departed from the house he’d brought back to relevance, citing only medical concerns. As the press buzzed about the escalating pressures of the industry (in the wake not only of Decarnin’s departure but of Galliano’s anti-Semitic outburst and [...]

Fabergé opened its first boutique in 96 years in London today. The shop will be selling its famous jeweled eggs along with a new collection of high-end jewelry and watches. [
">Telegraph]Apparently, getting your Angel wings and modeling Victoria’s Secret’s most expensive bra doesn’t mean you get free lingerie from the brand. Miranda Kerr was [...]

Of the Faith Connexion lexicon, brand ambassador Maria Buccellati says, “Chic, glamorous girls with a strong sense of rock ‘n’ roll.’” That’s a fitting description of the brand’s loyal shoppers, a group that includes Jennifer Lopez, Géraldine Saglio, and Karolina Kurkova. The “Left Bank cool” line from Paris brings Balmain to mind, with its glam-rock [...]

Kirna Zabête is one of New York City’s premier retail destinations, carrying a coveted mix of Givenchy, Balenciaga, Alaïa, and Proenza Schouler. You can count on finding covetable designer labels there. But until now, there’s one thing you couldn’t get there: jeans. That changes with the first denim addition to the store’s designer roster: Mother, [...]

Affordable Balmain—a contradiction in terms? There’s no evidence to suggest that the label’s four-figure tattered tees are going anywhere, but for the slightly more cash-strapped, the company is introducing Pierre Balmain, a lower-priced, younger-skewing collection for men and women, made in partnership with Ittierre. Set to launch in the spring in 700 stores worldwide, the [...]

There’s a new addition to the Labelux family—and it’s a boy! (Well, sort of.) The privately held Austrian luxury goods conglomerate has acquired Jimmy Choo, reportedly for the sum of $800 million. Choo joins Derek Lam and Bally in the Labelux clan. [Dealbook]Will Snoop Dogg play the Moss/Hince nuptials? MTV U.K. cites an intriguing report—from [...]

One designer vacancy, at least, has been filled. Balmain announced today that Olivier Rousteing, who has been in charge of the womenswear design studio at the label, has been named its new designer. Rousteing, a relative unknown outside of fashion circles, has worked at Balmain since 2009; prior to that, he spent five years at [...]

There’s another seat open at the designer fashion table. News broke today that Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi (above), creative directors of Gianfranco Ferré, are out at the Italian house (no word on their namesake collection, which presumably will continue for the present). Reports blame dwindling sales for the duo’s departure. But they’re only the [...]

Eyebrows raised last month when Balmain designer Christophe Decarnin was a no-show at the label’s Fall ‘11 presentation—and higher still when rumors began to circulate that his absence was due to a stay at a psychiatric hospital. (The official story had it that he had been treated for psychiatric issues and was under doctor’s orders [...]

The word of the day is: signed. That, at least, is what Hint Mag claims Riccardo Tisci has done on Dior’s dotted line. This has been a week full of rumors, and as far as we’re concerned, it ain’t over till Bernard Arnault sings. But that’s never stopped rumors from flying before… [Hint]Is Paris starting [...]