Gucci plans to keep McQueen alive

“We believe in the future of the brand,” Robert Polet, president and chief executive officer of Gucci Group, said at PPR SA’s annual results presentation which opened with a stirring video tribute to the late designer’s runway legacy .

Polet said he had a conversation with the designer “a couple of weeks ago” about progress at the London-based fashion house, and “he was very proud of what has been built. He said, ‘That means that will be my legacy. That’s something I will always leave behind.’”

And although “Lee is irreplaceable,” Gucci Group decided a continuation of the business would be the best testimony to his talent, Polet said.

He declined to comment on any succession plan, but said a fall McQueen collection would be presented during Paris Fashion Week. It will be shown by invitation in a “private salon” format on March 9 and 10 at an undisclosed location.

“Lee was very proud of the people working in the company, and so am I,” Polet added.

According to sources, the design studio includes Sarah Burton, who was McQueen’s right hand on women’s wear for more than a dozen years, and the fall collection was well under way before the designer hung himself in the wardrobe of his London apartment on Feb. 11.

Gucci Group swept in 10 years ago and bought a 51 percent stake in McQueen’s company, bringing an end to the designer’s rocky stint as Givenchy’s couturier at rival luxury group LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

David Beckham's VDay gift to Posh falls flat

Posh steps down off her high horse and discovers a brand new world - and contrary to popular belief, it's flat!

“David bought me a pair of Lanvin flats for Valentine's Day. I have discovered I can walk very quickly when I’m not wearing silly shoes,” she said.

Social Media: The new front row in fashion

Excuse me Anna Wintour, but I think you're in my seat....

There is an increasing outreach by fashion houses to the blogging world. This group of critics that designers once barred from their shows are now not only embraced, but in some cases put in the front row.

“Bloggers are increasingly important to us and we invite a select group of 35 to 40 to the show,” said Eric Delph, vice president of public relations and marketing at Nicole Miller, which showed Friday. “Moving more bloggers into seats and putting some as far up as the first and second row was a priority.” About 10 percent of the press attendees at Miller’s show were bloggers.

Tory Burch’s guest list for her Wednesday morning presentation will consist of nearly 15 percent bloggers. “Bloggers are key influencers. They fuel the immediacy of information during fashion week,” said Burch.

“A-list bloggers with large audiences were seated in rows one and two, alongside newspaper editors,” said Tony Alcindor, vice president of marketing and public relations for Ports 1961. Their guest list boasted nearly 35 percent bloggers.

Maybe he's not crazy after all: Marc Jacobs RTW Fall 2010

“Sometimes beautiful is enough.” That was Marc Jacobs’ observation after his fall fashion show on Monday night. A lovely thought, but Jacobs got it wrong. The event he had just staged was much more than beautiful. If a fashion show can be moving – especially one sprung from such mundane standards as sturdy wrap coats and sensible camels and greys – this moved.

Worn-out sophistication backstage at Marc Jacobs

It’s a very easy look, not grungy, but sophisticated.

Tightie Whities: out of darkness into white

The designers have spoken, and the usual black opaque hosiery has been all but banished. The new trend for Fall 2010 seems to be the polar opposite: white. The Rodarte girls, Thakoon, Max Azria, and Erin WassonxRVCA have all shown stark white legs for fall on the runway. This crisp new hosiery choice looked fresh and chic on the models' long, lean legs; I can't help but wonder if this will translate onto the sidewalk.

Rodarte

Thakoon

BCBG Max Azria

Erin WassonxRVCA

Madonna turns on the water works for D&G

For spring, Madonna tries on a new role: The face of Dolce & Gabanna

Betsey's gone to the birds!!

Taxidermy never looked so good!

Johnson's inspiration this season was, modestly, 45 years' worth of her own archives. "I'm working on my stuff, being very true-blue Betsey," she said. Her signature gun prints were there in spades, accessorized with candy-bright plastic pistols; there were striped bodysuits and tutus. The models sashayed along in groups with monikers like Banditos, Madames, and Brothelettes, usually with one among their number clad in a sweater so long it required a union suit-clad male escort to carry it.

Long live the King, long live McQueen

While the fashion world is mourning the loss of one of its greatest, Alexander McQueen, we are comforted in knowing that his creative legacy will forever live on.

The youngest son of a taxi driver, McQueen grew up to push the boundaries of design, art and showmanship like few others.

From his first controversy-laden collection at Central Saint Martins -- which his future muse and champion Isabella Blow would buy in full -- to the Spring/Summer 1999 show which concluded with Shalom Harlow being pelted by paint-wielding robots, the designer was a style innovator and entertainer.

His countless fans will never forget the projection of an ethereal Kate Moss hologram at the Fall 2006 presentation, nor his last show, Spring/Summer 2010, in which he sent dozens of futuristic models in pod-like mini-dresses and insect-inspired shoes down the runway.

McQueen's silent rebellion against the norms of the fashion industry was cut far too short. His unapologetic offerings reminded us all that a liberated imagination gave way to the blank canvas and his creations were merely the paints.

Choice - to love or to hate - was the empowerment and was never to be eclipsed by the design. Made with conviction, bought with conviction, worn with conviction.

His vision will be greatly missed.

Long live the King.
Long live McQueen.

Spring time always needs a bit of Paris

We loved the Sonia Rykiel for H&M lingerie collection, and now in the second act of the collaboration, she has designed some tres chic, tres Sonia knitwear pieces. Fashionistas of all budgets can now be covered in head-to-toe Sonia Rykiel, inside and out.

Lucky bitches!!

The collection will be in stores on the 20th of February.