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 [...]

It’s not the gift-giving season quite yet, but photographer Russell James was feeling the holiday spirit yesterday when he shared behind-the-scenes images of Miranda Kerr’s Victoria’s Secret catalog shoot. Looks like she forgot her wrapping paper—Kerr is baring lots of skin, wearing nothing but a giant bow and lace lingerie. [@NomadRJ]Apparently, Tom Ford doesn’t wake [...]

It’s “Cosmic Love” between Gucci’s Frida Giannini and Florence Welch. After meeting the ginger songstress at the Grammys this year, the designer says she was so struck by Welch’s presence that she inspired Gucci’s Fall ‘11 collection. Why? She’s got the “self-assured look that goes hand in hand with the Gucci woman,” Giannini says. [Vogue [...]

Not all the fashion action is happening at Lincoln Center and Milk Studios this week. Yesterday, Gucci’s Frida Giannini was honored at UNICEF’s inaugural Women of Compassion Luncheon in L.A. before a crowd that included Camilla Belle, Mary J. Blige, and lensman Patrick Demarchelier.Jennifer Lopez, now starring in the ads for Gucci’s children’s collection alongside [...]

Milan fashion week is over, and the fashion set has moved on to Paris, where the shows resume tomorrow. At last night’s amfAR Milano gala—a sort of closing ceremony to the week—we asked a few key insiders to name their favorite shows and moments of the Milan week. So, everybody: What’d you like?“Jil Sander for [...]

Gucci’s an old hand at e-commerce—the label’s been selling its wares online since 2002, years before many of its fellow luxury brands dipped a toe in the digital waters. So when it set out to revamp its Web site, it had to raise the already-high stakes. So while the digital flagship, as Frida Giannini and [...]

Once, only the brave wore white after the first weekend in September (and by brave we mean French and/or those in possession of a generous dry-cleaning budget). But that old edict hasn’t really applied for a while, and judging by Fall collections from the likes of Thakoon Panichgul and Gucci’s Frida Giannini, a pair of [...]

There’s construction under way at Gucci’s Fifth Avenue flagship, but it’s not your average renovation. The work currently on view there is that of the artisans of Gucci’s leather empire, putting the finishing touches on the fashion house’s best sellers. The Artisan Corner Tour began in San Francisco, hit Chicago and Beverly Hills, and arrives [...]

Tantalizing rumor of the day: Gucci’s Frida Giannini is working on a couture collection. (It won’t show in Paris, but by private appointment to VIPs.) Setting age-old ateliers to work crafting ultra-luxe rocker and scuba chic? Yes, please. [WWD]Giorgio Armani’s New York watering hole, Armani/Ristorante, has introduced a new, lower-priced bar menu. We still wouldn’t [...]

To appreciate just how far Frida Giannini has come with her latest men’s collection for Gucci—one that managed, on the whole, to be both dull and desirable—you only needed to look at her last one, with its brash, flash, synthetic undertow of extreme sports. There was no playing to the windsurfers and scuba guys this [...]