FASHION Magazine

First Phoebe Philo, now Ralph Rucci. Luxury line Chado Ralph Rucci announced today that it is cancelling its upcoming Fall 2012 runway show, and opting for more intimate showroom appointments instead.

The designer (who you may remember from his diva-esque cameo on Kell on Earth) was set to show on February 12, during the same time slot as Tommy Hilfiger (an undeniable NYFW staple). Of course, this has people questioning whether the Rucci camp moved the show to avoid press and buyer competition with Hilfiger.

Of course Rucci’s sister, Rosina Rucci, shot down all those rumours, telling WWD, “Tommy’s audience is decidedly not ours.”

Others are speculating that this is all about finances, citing Ungaro’s recent decision to cancel its Pre-Fall and Fall shows. But given that Ungaro also sent models with heart-shaped nipple pasties down the runway at the behest of Lindsay Lohan, we find it hard to compare the two.

We hope this isn’t a sign of difficulties (monetary or otherwise) in the Rucci camp. Whatever the reason may be, we just hope we can see snaps of the collection online. We love us some American couture.

British fashion photographer Corinne Day died Saturday at the age of 45. Day, whose photos of Kate Moss for The Face launched the model’s career, lost her battle with a brain tumor. [Fashionista]

H&M released a video dubbed “Designer Collaborations 2010” that stars a mystery male designer, who an eagle-eyed viewer spotted as Bottega Veneta designer Tomas Maier, sparking rumours of a collaboration. Just when we swear we’ll never line up for one of these things again…. [Fashionologie]

American designer Ralph Rucci has cancelled his runway show for the this year’s New York Fashion Week. Rucci’s president Vivan Natta will be taking an extended medical leave and Rucci has decided to hold individual appointments at his Soho showroom instead, a move he says will save the company US$500,000. [WWD]