FASHION Magazine

Looks like you can’t have it all. Or that’s the message that’s coming across with the recent staff shift over at Marc Jacobs. Jacobs, who for the past 13 years has been acting as creative and design director for Marc Jacobs, Marc by Marc Jacobs and as artistic director at Louis Vuitton, is finally lightening his load. The designer is handing over the torch for his Marc by Marc Jacobs label to Luella Bartley and Katie Hillier.

Bartley, whose own label Luella folded four years ago after a major investor pulled out unexpectedly, has been greatly missed on the fashion circuit. The designer, who was once thought to be on her way to becoming the next big thing in British fashion, is ready for a come back and what better place to start. The situation is win-win for both Bartley and Marc Jacobs International, who’s own CEO Robert Duffy has recently commented on the increasing staleness of the diffusion line. Bartley’s old label was a favourite to hip-young-things like Alexa Chung, Sienna Miller and Chloë Sevigny. As a designer she’s been praised for her fun and quirky aesthetic, and is sure to breath some je ne sais quoi back into the Marc by Marc Jacobs brand.

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! »

Post intern Twitter-rant, Marc Jacobs‘ business partner Robert Duffy is now being faced with a whole slew of very naughty allegations from the company’s ex-COO. [NY Daily News]

Thanks to Robert Duffy guest appearance on the Marc Jacobs Twitter feed, we’re learning that plus size clothing is “in the talks” at Marc Jacobs. [Fashionista]

Coco Rocha blogged about her honeymoon in Corsica, where she found herself wrapped up in a love affair with olives. “I don’t know what it was about those olives, but they were amazing and when we came back to New York and tried an olive here, it just wasn’t the same.” [Huffington Post]

Just announced: Calvin Klein is bending their own conventions by selecting a single face to represent all three of his brands–Calvin Klein Collection, ck Calvin Klein, and Calvin Klein Jeans. Then again, the new CK girl Lara Stone is just a convention-bending kinda girl. [The Cut]

Details have been released about the swimsuit collection Lorenzo Martone collaborated on with jewellery designer Jules Kim. Dubbed Nycked, it’s got bows, it’s got lace and it’s got sequins. As the line is set to launch this July for Miami Swim Week, we imagine this line is perfect for, erm, not swimming. [WWD]

Peter Nygård is under fire for using a Jordanian factory that allegedly partakes in human trafficking. According to a National Labor Committee report, the International British Garments factory–which sews Nygård’s Alia, Tan Jay and Investments labels–is said to have taken 1,200 workers’ passports, and “has held them as indentured servants.” Nygård International claims they had no knowledge of the allegations and are launching their own investigation. [WWD]

Nars Cosmetics has a new face to front their new Pro Prime line–Marcel. Haven’t heard of him? Well he’s François Nars’ dog! [Stylelist]

Wedding bells are ringing once again at Marc Jacobs HQ, this time for the designer’s longtime business partner Robert Duffy, who is set to wed partner Alex Cespedes at Duffy’s home next Tuesday in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where gay marriage is legal. [Fashionologie]

Ralph Lauren is getting an earful for putting his iconic polo logo on the U.S. Olympic athletes’ uniforms—instead of the American Flag. [NYP]

It turns out that it wasn’t designers who were up in arms over Anna Wintour missing their shows at Milan fashion week, but Wintour herself. The fashion legend reportedly asked that the fashion week be shortened to three days so that she could attend all the shows, causing a stir in the Italian fashion world. The city’s mayor made a statement, saying: “Nobody, not even if her name is Anna Wintour, can take the liberty to do and undo our fashion calendar.” [WWD]

Remember when Marc Jacobs and Lorenzo Martone got married in St. Barths? But then they said they didn’t? That it was just an engagement party? Well, guess what? It really was a wedding. Sort of. There’s still paperwork. Martone told Butt magazine:

In the end, we just had an intimate ceremony at a friend’s house with people who were already on the island. Although the official wedding documents won’t be signed till later this year, so legally we’re not married yet.

But we bet you’re wondering, What does Robert Duffy have to say about all this? Duffy took to Twitter to answer what must have been a deluge of questions as to Jacobs’ marital status.

Put on your earphones and listen to the biographical ballads of Yves Saint Laurent. French singer and composer Alain Chamfort has recorded an album, Une Vie Saint Laurent with songs about the designer’s life. [W]

Editors shouldn’t get too disgruntled over people who aren’t them sitting in the front row at Fashion Week. Apparently it doesn’t mean much anymore anyway. [The Cut]

The CFDA Health Initiative panel met yesterday to discuss “The Beauty of Health: Resizing the Sample Size,” touching upon the premature age of models and health issues that continue to go hand-in-hand with the fashion industry. [Vogue UK]