THE LEGENDARY JEAN PAUL GAULTIER TO LEAVE THE LEGENDARY HERMES?

Hermes won't confirm it, but rumours have leaked that Creative Director, Jean Paul Gaultier is resigning this year. True or false?

paris - sidebar: have you lot noticed that my use of the word legendary is well...legendary? but i digress....the web is whispering that iconic designer, jean paul gaultier is resigning from hermes. in fact, the spring 2010 show in paris this october is meant to be his last. gaultier is currently creative director of the luxury house, while simultaneously designing his own eponymous ready to wear and couture line. he's headed hermes for the past six - very successful years. under his direction, sales have skyrocketed, despite the rocky retail climate. to make matters messier, hermes actually owns a 35% stake in gaultier's brand. so even if he leaves, they will remain connected by the financial ties that bind. (how i wish i had a sponsor to buy and bind me financially. but i digress...) and yet...i almost don't believe this. a part of me almost believes that this could be a negotiating tactic. whats going on behind those crocodile berkin doors? is gaultier trying to angle for more money? in a few days, or weeks, we'll know.

[image via fashion magazine.com]

HOW ICONIC ARE THESE IMAGES FROM THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE PREMIER LAST NIGHT?

Last night, fashion icons came out - like groupies at an NFL draft party - to celebrate the New York City premier of the September issue.

new york - we will discuss exactly why my invitation never arrived in my mailbox later - for now, let's focus on the positive. the positive here is mr. steve eichner and socialites for years. no wonder then that . of course, you don't know him. (truth be told, neither do i.) a quick google search (how did humans function before this) reveals him to be a well established photographer who has shot singers, actors, fashionistaswomen's wear daily hired him to shoot the festivities last night at the premier of the september issue. good move. looking at these photos - even on-line - is akin to scanning the pages of a lux coffee book. the star studded images, are visually lush and give us a clear view into what was clearly a legendary night amongst peers. eichner's talent is obvious in that every shot - be it diddy hobnobbing with zac posen, or reneezellwegger climbing the stares - tells a total story. kudos to him for a job well done, kudos to wwd.com for posting these pics, and kudos to me (while i'm handing them out) for being a good sport despite the lack of invitation to such a spectacular evening.

WE LUST THIS: DOLLS BY LANVIN

Alber Elbaz makes a master move with the debut of these dolls!

paris - it's absurd! i know! these little lux figurines cost between $210 and $375. but listen, they are by lanvin, so doesn't that make it all right?

RODARTE AND COLLETE: LUX COUTURE OVERLOAD

The hip, lux designer label and hip, lux designer boutique link up to create a pop-up store.





paris - in an interview with womens wear daily, kate mulleavy, co-designer of rodarte said "[the collaboration with collette is an opportunity] to let people inside of our minds. it's almost as if you are in our studio." she wasn't lying. the "gallery and retail space", which will be housed for a month within colette, is something of a diary. beginning during paris fashion week, shoppers will be able to pick up kate and laura's favorite cd's, limited edition jewelry crafted by their mother and hand knit accessories created by the duo. as innovative as this concept is, am i the only one that finds it a little too personal? i'll be opting for plain old 'designed by' items from their fall/winter 2009-10 collection, which will also be available.

[image via vogue.com]

LOVE OR LOATHE? TOM FORD EYEWEAR CAMPAIGN, FALL 2009

Tom Ford unveils his Fall 2009 Ads for his eyewear collection starring Anna Maria Jagodzinska and Jon Kortajarena.

usa - how long did it take you to try and pronounce those names? but i digress....mr. tom ford himself snapped this dynamic duo for his latest campaign. nudity is clearly a key part of the tom ford aesthetic. but mercifully, it has yet to wear thin. it works perfectly in this here campaign by drawing the eyes to, well, the eyes. (after you have gazed at everything else of course....).

SCARJO GETS A NEW GIG

Multi-national "Fashion Brand", Mango, taps the actress to star in their Fall 2009 Campaign.

los angeles - although mango is one of the largest worldwide purveyors of fast fashion, there's a good chance that you do not know about them. i myself only recently got exposed to them after studying in london - where they have a huge presence - and moving back to new york city, where they recently opened their first store (good job factory pr!!!!). i have to be honest and say that i am somewhat ambivalent about their "fashions." i consider it one of a laundry list of retail stores who charge too much for too little (i.e. creativity, innovation, or plain old quality fabric.) that said, i do adore their ad campaigns. cue - scarlett johansson. the blond bombshell was photographed for he adds earlier this year in los angeles. famed photog mario sorrenti snapped her and damian sanchez, mango's creative director styled her in looks from this season. in a nod to her hollywood background, the spirit of the shoot and silhouette of the clothes evoke hardcore movie glamor. no? johansson follows penelope cruz who also previously served as spokes model for the brand.

A TOTALLY GRATUITOUS AMBER ROSE POST

Model? Groupie? Stripper? When it comes to Rose and The Blay Report, the only relevant title is: fashion icon. (Please don't roll your eyes).

new york - are you over me being into amber? i usually reserve such unbridled enthusiasm for my blayjavon team (you girls know who you are), 33 inch weaves and the roast chicken and yuca at tipico in washington heights, new york. but alas....amber rose gives all these elements a run for their money. the recently signed ford model was snapped by paps on the streets of new york yesterday. watch and enjoy as amber elevates a simple task: the fag (as in ciggarete) break, into a a photoshoot. i live and die and do it all over again.

Sessilee Lopez Does Harper's Bazaar "From Seventh Avenue to Sesame Street"

One of our favorite models dons this seasons hautest looks, accompanied by fashion legends like Wang, de la Renta, Lim, Herrera and...Elmo?

usa - gotta be honest, since i'm a slight stan for sessilee lopez at the moment, i saw absolutely nothing wrong with the photo shoot below. then i spoke with my younger sister, zeba blay. this astute young photographer was kind enough to point out how absolutely simple this shoot was - and i don't mean the good kind. i love the styling and the pairing of a young model with established designers, but at what point during the editorial meeting did it become clever, brilliant - or at the very least, okay - to incorporate the cast of Sesame Street into the mix. Where is the connection? I can almost understand what the creative powers at Harper's might have been going for: a light hearted combination of couture and cartoons. but like oil and water, some things just don't mix.