FASHION Magazine

Last week it seemed that Marc Jacobs’ replacement of John Galliano at Dior would be announced any day. Now, it’s being rumoured that, wait for it, Alexander Wang is the newest frontrunner to take Galliano’s job. A source close to Louis Vuitton told Vogue UK that Vuitton wants Jacobs to stay put and Haider Ackermann and Riccardo Tisci, who were also being considered, are out because Ackermann is “too edgy” and Tisci is just not interested.

If Ackermann is too edgy for Dior, what does that make Wang? He’s surely been successful with his own collections, but his downtown wears are certainly not anything close to the frothy couture gowns that are Dior’s signature.  While the news about Wang is most likely just a rumour, one thing is for sure: we’re tired of all the hearsay and just want some factual details released!

Following the recent conviction of John Galliano, the buzz around Marc Jacobs replacing him at Dior intensifies. The latest rumour is that Jacobs and business partner Robert Duffy are in negotiations and asking for a salary package of $10 million.

If Jacobs cashes in on the deal, he’ll be one of the highest-paid designers in the world. The new position of creative director also means more work for Jacobs, adding Dior’s two couture shows on top of his existing workload.

Now that it’s looking more and more likely that Jacobs will say goodbye to Louis Vuitton, the people at Vuitton seem to be scrambling to find a replacement. Apparently they’ve approached many of fashion’s heavyweights including Alber Elbaz, the Proenza Schouler boys, Nicolas Ghesquiere, Sarah Burton, and Hedi Slimane. So far, Elbaz, Ghesquiere and Burton have declined.

John Galliano was convicted on racism charges earlier today, months after making racist and anti-Semitic remarks to patrons of a Paris café. Galliano was given a guilty sentence but will serve no jail time, a clear relief to him after facing a maximum sentence of six months incarcerated. The maximum fines he faced were €22,500 but the fines being reported are still all over the map—WWD reporting them at the highest of €17,500. Confirmed is the €1 to each of the two plaintiffs in the case, a symbolic compensation, alongside an apology.

An important factor in the case was the admission by Galliano of a serious substance-abuse problem—stemming from the stress caused by over-working—and the failure to even remember making such discriminating remarks. After his arrest, Galliano underwent treatment for his drinking and drug problem, and spoke out several times of his embarrassment and regret in making his prejudiced outbursts.

The sentence, along with the trial itself, has polarized the fashion world, who anxiously wait to hear what will happen to the future prospects of one of the most famous designers in the world.

By Louise Coleman

Recently, we talked about the rumours speculating Marc Jacobs’ move from Louis Vuitton to Dior; but today the issue has gained further momentum. Dun dun dun!

Sources claim that Bernard Arnault has officially named Jacobs as Galliano’s replacement at Dior, and an announcement is forthcoming. Moving down the fashion industry ladder, our next question inevitably is: Who will be replacing Jacobs at Vuitton?

Surprisingly, or not, all fingers point to Phoebe Philo, the woman credited for turning around the now-coveted Céline. Don’t fret, Céline lovers—it appears that Philo will simultaneously act as Céline’s creative director, meanwhile taking on Jacobs’ job at Vuitton. Pressure much?

Rumours surrounding who would take charge at Dior began almost immediately following John Galliano’s dismissal back in February. While former Galliano aid Bill Gaytten had stepped into the role of creative director during Paris Couture Week back in April, we’d assume a megawatter is what LVMH is seeking for the permanent position (especially after Gaytten’s poorly received collection). To date, Ricardo Tisci, Alber Elbaz, and Haider Ackermann have been named as a few of the possible contenders, and now the latest rumours circulating are that LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault wants Marc Jacobs for the job.

By Sarah Casselman and Susie Sheffman

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Yesterday marked the start of Fall 2011’s Paris Couture Week. Though couture is often luxe and intricate, one house stands apart from the rest in boldness and charisma: Christian Dior. But as the cloud of former Dior designer John Galliano’s ongoing trial still looms over the industry, critics suspected the collection would be different due to his absence of direction. To our surprise, “different” turned to out mean shocking, and frankly disappointing.

The collection was what can only be described as an overzealous attempt to rework what is known as Dior. It seems to be of widespread opinion that from the patterns to the cuts, the ensembles simply did not belong in a couture collection. Overall, there was a vast lack of direction and vision, with colours and materials clashing all over the runway.

At the end of the show, creative director Bill Gaytten took a bow, accompanied by his first studio assistant, Susanna Venegas. He seemed elated to be at the head of the runway, but that’s probably because he didn’t see the giant elephant in the room with the “It Wasn’t Galliano” sign around its neck. Gaytten is already set to take over Galliano’s self-titled label, and though there were suspicions that he’d be taking over for the estranged designer at Dior, those can probably be put to rest. Is Gaytten going straight to the guillotine?

John Galliano’s court date draws closer. The ex-Dior designer will be going on trial this Wednesday. [Vogue UK]

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During one of our first interviews with runway makeup artist Pat McGrath, we asked her was what book she was reading for pleasure. “Nothing at the moment,” she quickly responded, “I don’t have time.” We believe it: aside from her duties as CoverGirl’s Global Creative Director, everyone wants a piece of Pat, including all the top designers who enlist her season after season to create looks that complement their collections. And, because McGrath is the mastermind backstage at countless shows, almost every beauty trend can be traced back to her. Here are some of our favourite McGrath-made looks and the trends they inspired for Spring 2011.

See our favourite Pat McGrath creations »

WWD is reporting that John Galliano has been fired from his namesake label, a month after he was ousted from his title at Christian Dior and days after he left the Meadows rehab facility in Arizona (and was heckled while leaving the country at LAX).

By Gillian Pryor and Renee Reardin

Bieber fever has now spread into the fashion world infecting Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. [Telegraph]