Before striking out on her own, Bouchra Jarrar was behind the scenes for the rise of Balenciaga’s ready-to-wear as well as the twilight of Christian Lacroix’s couture. When she launched her own label in 2009, she opted to show her collections during Paris’ Haute Couture week, in testament to the couture-style approach she favors. But [...]

Christian Lacroix has famously stepped away from the catwalk, and to hear the master couturier tell it, he feels far away from the world of fashion—”a stranger in a strange land,” as he says. But that doesn’t mean he’s been sitting idle. Au contraire, the designer is busier than ever. This week, the fruits of [...]

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 [...]

The fellas over at Gilt Man chat with former Cloak designer Alexandre Plokhov about his namesake collection, prepped to launch in Paris this week. Plokhov hinted that the collection is “the spiritual progeny of Cloak, with Italian craftsmanship and a slightly more open worldview.” Sign us up. [Gilt Man]
Bonjour, Christian! After leaving his namesake label, [...]

At long last, Lanvin is opening its own Manhattan flagship. As usual, there’s no putting it better than Alber Elbaz: “It’s about time,” he said. Hear, hear. The new store bows on Madison and 68th Street in September. [WWD]Perhaps not as eagerly anticipated: Betty White’s clothing line. Can’t blame a (Golden) girl for riding the [...]

Are soap operas the new side project? Following James Franco’s star turn on General Hospital—part of an elaborate art piece we still don’t entirely understand—designer Jeremy Scott is making his daytime debut today on The Young and the Restless (pictured). He plays (no great stretch) a designer. [Hint Mag]Christian Lacroix’s new gig: artistic adviser to [...]

OK, so this isn’t the most groundbreaking look from Jennifer Aniston, an actress not noted for groundbreaking looks. But we’re ready to salute her Fall ‘09 Valentino couture frock at the premiere of The Bounty Hunter in Germany, just because it’s light-years ahead of the bright red Lacroix gown she opted for yesterday. Risks reward [...]

Hermès and luxury yacht-maker (is there any other kind?) Wally have dissolved their partnership, so no more Hermès yachts. To the two people on earth this actually affects, our condolences. [WWD]Items from Christian Lacroix’s last collection for Jean Patou (Spring 1987) went on the auction block in Paris and raised a total of about $226,000, [...]

Jess Stam (pictured) has already got her muse credentials down—she inspired Marc Jacobs’ best-selling Stam bag—but now she’s adding designer to her list of titles. The model revealed (via Twitter, of course) that she’s hard at work on a capsule collection for Rachel Rachel Roy. [Vogue U.K.]The latest from Lacroix: Four new licenses have already [...]

His label may be in liquidation, but Christian Lacroix is keeping busy. The couturier is exploring new opportunities for his talents, the latest of which—the Berlin State Opera’s production of the Handel opera Agrippina, with costumes by Lacroix—opens tonight. The over-the-top story is, as he describes it, is “very Dallas and Dynasty, a bitchy soap [...]