This week’s New Yorker takes an in-depth look at one of fashion’s most intriguing (not to mention most tight-lipped) personalities: Tomas Maier, the German-born creative director of Bottega Veneta, who’s credited with bringing the label back from the brink of bankruptcy. How’d he do it? By embracing discretion and insider-style luxury when the world was [...]

The Met’s Costume Institute will stage a full-scale exhibition in tribute to Alexander McQueen next year. Curator Andrew Bolton prefers not to call it a “retrospective”: The show will look at the themes underlying the late designer’s work, from his earliest pieces, created at Central Saint Martins, through his tenure at Givenchy, to the heyday [...]

The secret to success for the new European collections? According to the IHT’s Suzy Menkes, boldness. “Who dares, wins,” Menkes pronounces, and accordingly, loves Jil Sander (left) and Marni. [IHT]Topshop is set to open its second U.S. store: The brand will bow in Chicago late next spring. That should help Windy Cityites weather the long, [...]

The Gaga juggernaut rolls on: Word is that the Lady has commissioned Steven Klein to shoot her latest video, “Alejandro,” following the Jonas Akerlund-lensed “Telephone.” [WWD]Suzy Menkes talks to Pierre Cardin in a new video, where she pays tribute to the designer’s 60 years as a fashion visionary. Looking back at six decades of Cardin, [...]

It’s a changing of the guard at DVF: Longtime creative director Nathan Jenden (pictured, with Diane) is stepping down to focus on his own line, and Yves Mispelaere—formerly of Chloé and Gucci—is taking the reins. [WWD]Collab-happy Comme des Garçons is at it again. The brand is working with Moncler in Japan to launch a pop-up [...]

The world is furiously debating the merits of Apple’s new iPad tablet. Let the techies argue the specs. (You can follow the action here.) We’re asking the truly hard-hitting question: Will Suzy Menkes trade in her customary front-row laptop for one?

Photo: Tony Barson / WireImage / Getty Images

Is the It bag’s long, slow death finally over? While also in mourning, Suzy Menkes drives the final nail. Rising from the once highly coveted tote’s fresh grave? The Fantasy Shoe, the Bang-Up Bauble, and even actual clothes.
Model-turned-photog Christina Kruse thinks that all publishing went downhill after the Gutenberg Bible. Oh Christina, you’ve no idea [...]

The description VIP is thrown around quite liberally these days (personally, I think a true VIP needn’t require a stamp or a wrist band, but that’s besides the point). So even though I managed to wrangle myself a VIP pass to the Frieze Art Fair and its haughty preview day, my hopes weren’t that high [...]

The International Herald Tribune’s Suzy Menkes is a witty lady. As she walked past Margherita Missoni and Milla Jovovich outside Givenchy yesterday, she turned to the former and had this to say about her outfit: “It’s all about your Sarah Palin look. Very vice presidential!” (Reminder: The vice presidential debate is tonight. Set your TiVos.) [...]

Fashion Week notes from the Style.com and men.style.com contributing editor. Look out for more animated opinions in the days ahead.