FASHION Magazine

Fresh off her Spring 2012 exclusive for Givenchy in Paris, jetsetting New York–based supermodel Heather Marks (a Calgary native) took a few moments to chat with us backstage at Edmonton’s Fashion with Compassion breast cancer fundraiser and fashion show. Despite insider access to fashion for nearly a decade, this 23-year-old beauty with rockstar style still has an appreciation for the simpler things in life.

Where do you shop when you’re back in Alberta?
“I always stop by Aritzia and I like going to Gravitypope on 17th Avenue [in Calgary] for shoes. Holt Renfrew is also a favourite.”

What’s your favourite accessory at the moment?
“I got a new Chanel bag that I’m currently obsessing over. It’s not your classic shape. It’s a little bit more round, a little bit more funky.”

November has not been Marc Jacobs’ month. After the Spring 2012 samples from his own line in London and now Louis Vuitton merchandise stolen in Paris, it’s being reported that he is not going to replace John Galliano at Dior after all those rumours. Earlier this month it was speculated that talks between Jacobs and Dior had come to a halt because of Jacobs and business partner Robert Duffy’s unreasonable demands. Now, a source close to the situation, who has remained anonymous, has confirmed with Fashionista that negotiations had stopped by mid-November due to money issues and due to Jacobs’ wanting to transfer his team and aesthetic over to Dior.

And the plot thickens. WWD is reporting a breakdown in the rumoured talks between Dior and Marc Jacobs. Quelle surprise! Well, not really, if you ask us. Since talks began in late August, there have been reports of exorbitant demands made by Jacobs as well as his business partner Robert Duffy, which lead us to believe that perhaps the designer never wanted to leave Louis Vuitton at all?

Meanwhile, with rumours of Dior approaching everyone under the sun to take the helm, from couture master Riccardo Tisci to street maven (and totally inappropriate for the role in our minds) Alexander Wang, it seems that the designer carousel won’t be stopping anytime soon.

So, what do you think? Who would you most like to see at the helm of the legendary brand?

Vote after the jump! »

Word: Orientalism

Meaning: The falsely glam-ified depiction of Eastern people and culture by Western image makers.

Usage: “Orientalism tend fatally towards the systematic accumulation of human beings and territories.” — Edward Said, author of (ta-da!) Orientalism

Has True Blood fever hit France? In celebration of Carine Roitfeld’s new book, Irreverent, she held a vampire ball in Paris last night where fashion’s biggest stars were expected to dress up and get into character. Naturally, some were more enthusiastic than others. Riccardo Tisci showed up with fake blood dripping from his mouth and Anna Dello Russo wore a Stephen Jones X Giles scarlet swan feather headdress that she described as “aggressive.” Other partygoers like Kanye West and Karl Lagerfeld dressed as per their usual. Perhaps they didn’t get the memo. Perhaps Kanye was still mid-fit.

Is Roitfeld is a Bill or Eric fan? We’re hoping the latter.

Carine Roitfeld, the world’s most inimitably chic fashion editor, is back. She tells Rani Sheen what’s next for her.

When it was announced in December that Carine Roitfeld had stepped down as editor-in-chief of Paris Vogue, the fashion world erupted in speculation about what she’d do next. The answer, in part, lies in the book Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent ($110, Rizzoli New York), a mid-career retrospective of her most arresting shoots, notes from designers, and personal mementos. It’s a satisfying read because there is such a fascination with Roitfeld, the coolest woman in any front row. We asked her what else she’s been up to.

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!

After Monday’s Dior mess, we could only hope to have our faith restored by the rest of the collections at Paris Couture Week. And we got our wish with the stellar back-to-back Givenchy and Chanel shows last night.

In his typical presentation format, Riccardo Tisci showcased, yet again, why his designs could more accurately be described as works of art. Ten painstakingly detailed gowns were adorned with feathers, fringe, plumes, pearls, zippers and beading, and ranged in colour from beige to white (a break from the designer’s usual proclivity for darkness). Accented waistlines, bodice cutouts and sheer skirts exemplified Tisci’s own description of his collection as “pure couture.”

Later in the evening, Karl Lagerfeld’s collection for Chanel was showcased against a sparkling, neon-outlined recreation of Place Vendôme at the Grand Palais. In the centre, a glass statue of a suited Coco Chanel held court. A grand showcase of the enduring Chanel suit (shown in navy, fuchsia, grey and black), the collection effortlessly straddled the classicism of the storied house and the modern strides of its current designer. And did we mention that the heels lit up?

Models Iselin Steiro and Kinga Rajzak get snippy and cat fight for Lanvin’s Spring 2011 campaign video shot by Steven Meisel. Rawr! [Fashionista]

Is it just us, or along with the first purchase of a designer dud (or a say an H&M collaborative one), should a fashion pronunciation guide be handed over? In these times of the great globalization, the once mostly à la Français designer names are coming up Spanish, Indian and beyond and keeping up with the international Joneses is getting harder and harder. In efforts to save our poor ears from ever hearing Shoo-ler, Lan-vine or Give-en-chi again, we provide you with a guide to a few of the most difficult to pronounce designer names. While Tisci might always be a tongue twister (and for the record its Tee-shee), you’ll never get stand corrected on these ones ever again…

The Wall Street Journal turns the tables on Anna Wintour, who is covering the upcoming issue, as snapped by Vogue fave Mario Testino. [Fashion Gone Rogue]

Some of our favourites⎯including Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang, The Row, Lady Gaga and Marc Jacobs⎯are up for CFDA Awards this year! [CFDA]