FASHION Magazine

We’re barely halfway into 2011 and the fashion world has already seen our fair share of industry shake-ups: the Galliano scandal, Carine Roitfeld’s exit at Vogue Paris, Christophe Decarnin’s mysterious mental illness/ousting at Balmain, and now Patrick Robinson has been booted from the Gap.

While most of the recent switch ups seem to make sense⎯Galliano’s anti-Semitic outburst couldn’t very well go un-reprehended and Decarnin’s health issues were clearly in need of medical attention⎯we found ourselves puzzled upon hearing the news that Robinson had been presented with a pink slip due to lackluster sales in the first quarter of this year. We’ve seen many a powerhouse figure reinstate retail dinosaurs (Bonnie Brooks at The Bay , Jenna Lyons at J.Crew), so why not Robinson at the Gap?

By Gillian Pryor

After making an unofficial statement on Friday, Balmain has just officially announced that Olivier Rousteing will take over from Christophe Decarnin. Here’s to guessing what the new era of Balmania will look like! [Nymag]

In a case of one of the only Gaga covers to not leak prior to hitting newstands, the Lady dishes on plastic surgery, and Alexander McQueen writing song for her from beyond the grave. What did you expect? [Harper’s Bazaar]

It has been announced that after five years with the Parisian fashion house, Decarnin is leaving his post at Balmain, with a successor being announced later today.

Where to begin. Last night, I took in a presentation by the lovely Canadian expat Calla Haynes, who loves to play with watery abstract prints in soft shapes. The models lined up before a row of potted flowers, then Haynes bashfully stepped in among them to take her bow.

Another troubled designer in Paris? Balmain’s Christophe Decarnin has reported to have been in a mental institution since January. [HintMag]

Stefano Pilati, Karl Lagerfeld, Christophe Decarnin, Hedi Slimane, Alber Elbaz and Raf Simons have all been caught up in the rumour mill–again. According to a number of unnamed sources, Pilati is set to be replaced at YSL with either Slimane, Simons or Decarnin. The Kaiser is rumoured to retire from Chanel in 2012 (on his 30th anniversary with the brand) and will be replaced with Elbaz of Lanvin. And if the gossip is true Theyskens will be replacing Elbaz at Lanvin. [The Cut]

Kelly Cutrone‘s wildly popular reality TV show Kell on Earth is finally coming to Canada. The show will premiere on CosmoTV on Monday October 11.  [CosmoTV]

It was high day for belles of the Bals: Balenciaga and Balmain, competing bold shoulder-to-shoulder for the minds and hearts of international editrixes… and Rihanna, who cast her vote of attendance for the latter. More importantly, as Suzy Menkes reported, Christophe Decarnin won the thumb war: tweets about Balmain outnumbered those about Balenciaga, 75 to 41. I’m loathe to be a lemming here, but maybe I agree (and no, I’m not just bitter about not getting the golden ticket to Ghesquière’s show. I still love). Sure, Decarnin is de trop, but the Mad Maxines storming down his runway are indeed a force to be reckoned with.