Fashion News Alerts: Jill Kargman’s “Influenced,” LVMH May Sell Some of its Brands, and Christian Cowan and Sam Smith’s Engagement

May 6, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of comingsoon.net

On May 6 Jill Kargman’s film “Influenced” premiered in New York City on the Upper Eastside. The film centers on a social media influence who projects a perfect life, but whose real life is out of whack. Hmm, sound familiar?

The dailyfrontrow.com spoke to Kargman about the inspiration for “Influenced,” revealing that this film is a lampoon of the influencer culture. Cast includes Christine Taylor, Justin Bartha, Laura Bell Bundy, David Krumholtz, and Nathan Lee Graham with cameo appearances by Drew Barrymore, Gwenyth Paltrow, and Matt Damone.

Kargman revealed that she enjoyed making fun of the obnoxious influencers, many who live on the Upper East Side; however, she has encountered many down-to-earth, sincere souls in the influencer culture.

Image courtesy of quatr.com

LVMH downsizes

If wagging fashion tongues are accurate, it looks as though fashion giant LVMH is looking to sell some of its fashion brands. About a year ago, it was rumored that LVMH was about to sell Marc Jacobs, and 50% percent of its share in Fenty Beauty, but that hasn’t happened yet.

LVMH has in its umbrella over 70 luxury brands but has already begun divesting in some of those brands. LVMH only holds 49% percent of its shares of Stella McCarthy. LVMH no longer owns the late Virgil Abloh’s brand. Additionally, LVMH plans to sell off the whole DFS business, the retail group specializing in selling luxury products to international travelers.

Still, LVMH is always in the pursuit of new acquisitions. Recently, LVMH acquired Tiffany’s. And has acquired a 22% stake in Remo Ruffini’s Double R company, thereby indirectly taking a stake in Moncler. So. whether LVMH is divesting in some of its luxury brands or acquiring new brands, it is still the larger hold of fashion and beauty brands globally.

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Wedding Bells for Christopher and Sam

Page Six recently announced that Christian Cowan and British pop singer Sam Smith are engaged. After dating for three years the couple was heard discussing their upcoming nuptials at the Mark Hotel in New York City as the couple prepared to walk the Met Gala red carpet.

“From what I understand, it was a private engagement,” the hotel lobby spy told Page Six after allegedly overhearing the couple discussing their betrothal. “They are over the moon, and from what I hear, so in love!”

Both Brits have been seen together since 2022 when Smith sang at the White House to mark then-President Biden signing the Respect for Marriage Act guaranteeing federal protection for same-sex and interracial marriages. According to Yahoo News, Smith and Cowan announced that they were a couple at the 2024 Met Gala.

For their appearance at the Met Gala red carpet both Cowan and Smith wore garments that evoked the 1920s. Christopher Cowan wore black suit and tie flecked with beads, Smith pulled out the stops, wearing a black Cowan-designed gown that weighed about 52 pounds.

—William S. Gooch

 

Breaking Fashion News: Some Celebrities Boycott the 2026 Met Gala

May 4, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of people.com

The 2026 Met Gala takes place on May 4. And among the celebrity glitz, glam, and posturizing, several celebrity mainstays are opting out of this year’s Met Gala.

Mainstay celebrities Meryl Streep, Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lady Gaga, Timothée Chalamet, Bella Hadid, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and several others are sitting this Met Gala out. The real question about this mass abandon is why?

Some Met Gala regulars are staying away from this year’s festivities due to other engagements. And in Timothée Chalamet case for the second season, the New York Knicks’ game at Madison Square Garden is his reason. Still, a lot of celebs have decided not to attend the 2026 Met Gala for other reasons, and some of the reasons have to do with Jeff Bezos chairing the Met Gala due to his $10 million donation.

Jeffrey Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez were named lead sponsors of the 2026 Met Gala in November of 2025, made possible by the Bezos’ funding. The backlash started in early 2026 with many fashion insiders accusing the Bezos’ trying to buy themselves into rarefied fashion spaces. This intense backlash caused Anna Wintour in defense of the decision, specifically saying that Lauren is “going to be a wonderful asset to the museum and to the event,” as reported in buzzfeed.com.

Image courtesy of pagesix.com

In March 2026 the Bezos’ were quietly named honorary co-chairs of the Met Gala causing more uproar from folks inside and outside of the fashion industry. Taraji Henson, who has attended the Met Gala three times commented on social media “I am so confused by some ppl that are going. I am just like WTF ARE WE DOING!?!?!?!”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani broke with tradition and is not attending the 2026 Met Gala. Mamdani said he wouldn’t attend the prestigious red-carpet event in order to focus on “affordability and making the most expensive city in the United States affordable.”

Politicians have also jumped on the disapproval train with Senator Elizabeth Warren stating on X, “If Jeff Bezos can drop $10 million to sponsor the Met Gala, he can afford to pay his fair share in taxes.” Is this the beginning of the end? Hmm, only time will tell!!

—William S. Gooch

 

 

 

 

Fashion News Alert: “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” Jimmy Choo’s New Bon Bon Bag, and Teyana Taylor’s New Gig

April 22, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of pagesix.com

“The Devil Wears Prada 2” examines the changing fashion landscape. In the second iteration of “The Devil Wears Prada,” Miranda Priestly, portrayed again by Meryl Streep, grapples with the demise of fashion publishing and the rise of social media. Andrea Sacks, played once again by Anne Hathaway, reunites with Miranda Priestly after getting laid off from her investigative journalism job.

“It sort of underwrites all the flash and fun and music and the uncertainty of this current moment,” said Streep on the red carpet at the premiere of “The Devil Wears Prada 2” at the London premiere. “The media landscape, but ‌in every form ​of business, life, music, art, movies, pick a thing, we’re all being undermined. That’s where the ‌movie kind of starts and ⁠it goes from there to see what these characters do with that new landscape.”

“Everybody’s facing challenges, economic challenges. And so, it felt like thematically, it’d be something that would interest people,” said McKenna. The writing came with huge pressure,” screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna said, as reported in fashionnetwork.com.

Stanley Tucci returns as Miranda Priestly right-hand man, and Emily Blunt also reprises her character who has moved on to become a powerful player in the fashion industry. Lucy Liu, Kenneth Branagh, and Simone Ashley join the cast with Lady Gaga and Donatella Versace making cameo appearances.

“The Devil Wears Prada 2” opens in select theaters worldwide on April 29.

Image courtesy of thatgrapejuice.com

Another hit for Teyana

2026 has been an incredible year for Teyana Taylor. Taylor won the Golden Globe Award for her performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another.” She was also nominated for an Academy Award for the same performance.

Recently, Teyana Taylor the face of Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick. Taylor’s campaign with Revlon will spotlight both heritage shades and newer innovations like the Super Lustrous Ultra Lipstick, which combines vibrant, high‑impact color with the nourishing care of a lip balm.

“Whether commanding the stage, directing behind the camera, or shaping style conversations, Taylor has become synonymous with authenticity and fearless creativity,” said Erika Woods, SVP of mass marketing in a fashionnetwork.com post. “Our partnership reflects the brand’s ongoing commitment to celebrating women who lead with substance just as much as style.”

“Revlon has always championed women who define their own path, so stepping into this next chapter of ‘Revlon Be Unforgettable’ is an honor,” said Taylor. “Super Lustrous is all about that finishing touch—the kind of beauty that elevates your whole vibe without taking away from who you are. It’s about walking into every room with intention, confidence, and a sense of self. To me, unforgettable isn’t about being perfect—it’s about presence, depth, and owning your individuality.”

Image courtesy of yahoonewssingapore.com

Bon Bon is back

Jimmy Choo’s Bon Bon bag is back. The original Bon Bon bag launched over seven years ago.

The new Bon Bon bag is inspired by a bespoke artwork by paper artist Helen Musselwhite and reflects the four seasons. Consumers will find the four seasons coming to life through the use of cut and layered leather to create a set of bags that blur the line between fine handbags and haute jewelry.

From the Atelier is an opportunity for us to explore design in its purest sense,” said Choi via a press release. “Allowing us to experiment, to push craftsmanship further, and to celebrate the beauty of making. Nature has always been a powerful reference point in my world, its resilient and evolving beauty something I keep returning to. With this collection, I wanted to capture the emotion of the seasons, translating those moments into pieces that feel precious and enduring. I was so drawn to Helen’s work and how she transforms paper into such animated designs full of feeling. There is such precision and poetry in her process, and I love that it is entirely analogue, built slowly and thoughtfully by hand. That sense of materiality and care felt deeply aligned with our own approach to craftsmanship at Jimmy Choo.”

—William S. Gooch

 

 

Fashion News Alert: Alysa Lui’s New Gig, Nicola di Felice Leaves Courreges, and Anne Hathaway’s Harper’s Bazaar Cover

March 25, 2026 by Leave a Comment

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Anne Hathaway is in full promotion made around her five movies that come out his year, including the much awaited “The Devil Wears Prada2.” This whirlwind of promotions includes interviews and magazine covers. And one magazine is of interest to fashionistas. That magazine cover of note is Hathaway’s cover for the Harper’s Bazaar April issue.

In this Harper’s Bazaar issue Hathaway talks about motherhood and having stopped drinking a few years back. “I just decided that it wasn’t fair for me to move through my life as a stressed person,” she says. “I don’t want my kids to be around it, I don’t want my friends to be around it, I don’t want strangers to be around it, I don’t want people I work with to be around it. So, I’ve done a lot of work to figure out how to metabolize differently, so that way I don’t feel overwhelmed by all that’s coming at me and that I’m participating in, but I [feel] really excited by it,” explains Hathaway in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar’s Lean Chernikoff.

When speaking of the upcoming “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” Hathaway noted that while filming runway scenes at Milan Fashion Week she noticed that the models were extremely and that there was no size diversity on runways. Hathaway secured from the producers of “Devil” that models used in the film would look healthy and not reflect the current look of thin models.

Image courtesy of Nike

 

Alysa and Nike

The 2026 Winter Olympics may be over; however, the memory lingers, especially, for women’s figure-skating gold medalist Alysa Lui. Lui has been particularly in the mind of Nike since her Olympic win, with Nike placing Lui as one of the most intriguing athletes of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

That said, Lui recently signed with Nike and will collaborate with Nike on her own Olympic-themed apparel with the brand. The campaign includes T-shirts and hoodies that represent Liu’s figure skating career. The tee shirts start at $45, while the hoodies are priced at $70. Liu’s collection is scheduled to release on April 30.

Image courtesy of mixtemagazine.com

Courrèges exit

Nicolas di Fenice is leaving the legendary French luxury house Courrèges. And there is much discussion about who will replace Nicolas di Fenice.

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the group and especially to François Pinault and François-Henri Pinault for their trust,” said Di Felice in dailyfrontrow.com. “I also want to truly thank all the teams and my friends, whose talent and dedication made this human and creative journey so meaningful.”

“Under his direction, the house experienced a true renaissance, acclaimed by the critics, and established itself as a distinctive voice in the contemporary fashion landscape,” said the brand in a statement, as reported in dailyfrontrow.com. “Nicolas reinterpreted its iconic codes and created a true dialogue with a new generation … Courrèges is grateful for his unique contribution and extends its best wishes for his future projects.”

William S. Gooch

 

Fashion News Alert: Dan Sablon’s New Job at Zadig & Voltaire, Kelly Cutrone Slams Jay Manual, and Missoni Family Bows Out

March 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Images courtesy of fashionweekdaily.com

Kelly Cutrone has never been known to have a filter. For those not familiar with Kelly Cutrone, Cutrone was the founder of People’s Revolution and OutLaw PR firms. Cutrone also had her own reality show “Kell on Earth” and served as a judge of “America’s Next Top Model” cycles 18 to 22 from 2012 to 2015, replacing Andre Leon Tally on the panel.

Recently, Cutrone commented on Instagram in lieu of the heightened buzz around Netflix’s highly rated documentary “Reality Check: Inside of America’s Next Top Model,” that Jay Manuel, one of the creative directors of the editorial shoots on “America’s Next Top Model” (ANTM), was never a real part of the fashion industry until he became and editorial creative director on ANTM.  Cutrone claims that before ANTM Manuel worked behind a makeup counter in Toronto. She asserts that Manuel is seeking to restore his reputation by criticizing his former boss, Tyra Banks, in the Netflix documentary. “Maybe he will get a deal as a spokesperson for spray tanning or filler,” Cutrone wrote, as reported in dailyfrontrow.com.

In truth, Jay Manuel was Tyra Banks makeup artist before he appeared on ANTM. Still, Cutrone stirs the gossip tea so well because unlike celebs that are so media trained that they seem fake and artificial, Cutrone always tells it like it ‘T-I-S.’ Kelly Cutrone does not appear in “Reality Check: Inside of America’s Next Top Model.”

Images courtesy of models.com

 Exciting changes at Zadig & Voltaire

If you have followed the fashion industry for any significant time you know that departures and new appointments happen often. Dan Sablon was recently announced as the new creative director of Zadig & Voltaire.

Sablon was a former fashion director of Lui magazine and contributing editor at i-D Magazine. He is also culture director-at-large at Vogue France and has worked alongside Marc Jacobs and collaborated with Carhartt and Fenty x Puma.

“Zadig & Voltaire has always stood for freedom of spirit, instinct, and a distinct Parisian rock attitude,” said Thierry Gillier, founder and owner of Zadig & Voltaire, in a statement, as reported in dailyfrontrow.com. “Dan’s modern vision and creative intelligence, combined with his deep understanding of our codes, make him the right choice to lead the creative direction of the maison today. This appointment marks an important step in the evolution of Zadig & Voltaire, and I look forward to opening this new chapter together.”

“Building on the vision set by Thierry Gillier, Dan will work closely with our teams to strengthen the creative identity of the Maison and further support its international development,” added the company’s CEO, Arnaud Gillier. “Zadig & Voltaire has always stood for freedom of spirit, instinct, and a distinct Parisian rock attitude,” said Thierry Gillier, founder and owner of Zadig & Voltaire, in a statement.

“To join Zadig & Voltaire at this moment in its evolution is an honor,” said Sablon, who will work closely with Gillier in his new role. “It has always embodied a distinct Paris attitude, effortless but intentional. My ambition is to refine that energy and to build a wardrobe with clarity and edge, grounded in strong archetypes and informed by culture today.”

Image courtesy of theguardian.com

Ciao Missoni family

The Missoni family has departed from its namesake brand. There had been rumors that the Missoni brand would turn over to American hands; however, that has been an incorrect assumption.

As one of jewels of Made in Italy, known for its zigzag patterns, the Missoni brand will stay in Italian hands.  According to fashionnetwork.com, the FSI Group will increase its share capital from 41% to 75%, while Katjes Quiet Luxury, the holding company of the Fassin and Bachmueller families, will acquire around 25% of Missoni.

These new developments will not shake up heads that much at Missoni, the current CEO, Livio Proli, remains at the helm. Barnaba Ravanne, co-founder of FSI, has been confirmed as chairman.

William S. Gooch

 

 

 

 

Fashion News Alert: Versace Has a New Creative Director, Nike’s Alleged Discrimination Against White Workers, and The Anti-Ice Pin

February 4, 2026 by Leave a Comment

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You must be living under a rock if you are not aware of the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids in the US, particularly the current ICE-influenced deaths in the US. And the unfortunate ICE deaths in Minneapolis have caused protest throughout the world.

One form of protest is the ‘ICE Out’ pin. Recently worn at the 2026 Grammy Awards. The ‘ICE Out’ pin is form of fashion protest on red carpet. The ‘ICE Out’ pin was proceeded by the ‘Be Good’ pin in honor of Renee Good who was killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis on January 7.  Natasha Lyonne and Mark Ruffalo rocked the “Be Good’ pins at the 2026 Golden Globes.

Both protest pins are part of a campaign backed by organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union. In an interview, Nelini Stamp, one of the organizers, said: “We need every part of civil society to speak up. We need our artists. We need our entertainers. We need the folks who reflect society.”

Image courtesy of dailyfrontrow.xom

New boss at Versace

Versace has a new chief creative director. Pieter Mulier has been named to this position by Prada Group, and he will begin his new job on July 1, 2026.

Pieter Mulier began his studies in architecture and design at Institut Saint-Luc in Brussels where he earned a master’s degree. After his studies, Mulier started his fashion career at Jil Sander. Later, Mulier moved on to Calvin Klein where he was the global creative director to Raf Simons’ chief creative officer job. 

Before his appointment at Versace, Mulier was creative director of Maison Alaïa since 2021. Mulier comes to Versace after the firing of Dario Vitale after only season at Versace. Versace’ holding company Capri Holdings sold Versace to the Prada Group in December 2025.

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Nike and DEI

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is investigating Nike over allegations that the company’s DEI (Diversity Equity and Inclusion) program discriminated against white workers. This investigation came out earlier this week in a Missouri federal court, though the EEOC said Nike hadn’t provided adequate information for the agency to conduct its investigation, which began in 2024.

“This feels like a surprising and unusual escalation,” a Nike spokesperson said in a statement emailed to Bloomberg. “We have had extensive, good-faith participation in an EEOC inquiry into our personnel practices, programs, and decisions and have had ongoing efforts to provide information and engage constructively with the agency.”

“Nike may have violated Title VII by engaging in a pattern or practice of disparate treatment against White employees, applicants and training program participants in hiring, promotion, demotion or separation decisions (including selection for layoffs); internship programs; and mentoring, leadership development and other career-development programs,” the EEOC said in a filing with the US District Court in Missouri’s Eastern Division.

This investigation comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s allegations that many DEI programs are illegal. The EEOC contends that Nike a subpoena in the case and it asked the court to force Nike “to produce all information sought in the subpoena.” Nike said it has “shared thousands of pages of information and detailed written responses to the EEOC’s inquiry” and is “in the process of providing additional information.”

According to Bloomberg, between 2020 and 2021 Nike has the most noticeable increase in hiring non-white workers among large companies. Perhaps, this shift in racial demographics prompted the EEOC to investigate Nike.

—William S. Gooch

 

Fashion News Alert: Daily Front Row Acquired, Off Season Collabs with US Olympic Team, and Drew Starkey’s New Gig

January 21, 2026 by Leave a Comment

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With the 2026 Winter Olympics on the horizon, Fashion Reverie looks to acknowledge brands and partnerships that collaborate to bring some of the best fashion during this Winter Olympics. Off Season is one such brand.

Off Season is a luxury sports-fashion brand founded by designer Kristin Juszczyk and entrepreneur Emma Grede. Off Season’s collaboration with Team USA launched on January 20. The limited capsule collection includes puffers, snowsuits, sweaters, sherpas, and cold-weather accessories that merge performance-driven functionality with a bold, modern American aesthetic. Prices range from $45 to $625.

“As momentum builds towards Milano-Cortina and LA28, Team USA is focused on collaborations with innovative brands like Off Season that allow us to further connect with fans in new and exciting ways,” says Peter Zeytoonjian, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Properties, as reported in fashionweekdaily.com. “This collection captures the energy of American sport and contemporary style.”

“We set out to create premium pieces that feel like the modern American uniform – confident, functional and unmistakably Off Season,” says Off Season designer and co-founder Kristin Juszczyk. “Every detail nods to Team USA while staying true to our design DNA: mixing bold textures, playful patterns, and unexpected materials.”

Image courtesy of fashionweekdaily.com

The Daily Front Row has new owners

The Daily Front Row has been acquired by The Only Agency, a global leader in creative talent representation. Known for its strong and decisive editorial voice across fashion, beauty, and entertainment platforms. The Daily Front Row is another media platform that follows in the footsteps of so many fashion and beauty publications that are struggling to maintain their audience and influence in the digital age.

Founded in 2002, The Daily Front Row quickly became a fashion and beauty platform whose portfolio included the widely recognized Fashion Media Awards, the Fashion Los Angeles Awards, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this April, and The Daily Summer, a seasonal Hamptons print publication. The Daily Front Row will continue its unique voice and perspective and with additional funds injected by this acquisition The Daily Front Row will expand its audience and reach, unlocking new opportunities for editorial evolution, brand partnerships, and live experiences.

“This is the best news for all of our Daily Front Row readers, viewers, clients, sponsors, followers, award honorees, and fashion insiders everywhere,” said Brandusa Niro, Founder of The Daily Front Row. “I created The Daily Front Row, and it has been by far the greatest joy of my professional life. Today, I am thrilled to hand it over to a perfect strategic owner, The Only Agency, who will open new opportunities for it both in the US and internationally. What makes me doubly happy is that our entire team will continue in their roles, under the leadership of Daily Front Row veteran, Eddie Roche, one of the most beloved industry insiders.”

Image courtesy of tvinsider.com

Dior and Drew

Dior has a new brand ambassador. Drew Starkey will be the new face of Jonathan Anderson’s collection for the house of Dior.

“Dior is delighted to welcome Drew Starkey as the new ambassador for Jonathan Anderson’s collections,” the Paris-based house said in a release, reported in fashionnetwork.com. “The actor stands out for his risk-taking, charisma and integrity, echoing the values of the house of Dior and its creative director,” added Dior about Starkey.

The British actor previously collaborated with Anderson when Anderson was the creative director of Loewe for the Spanish fashion house’s Spring 2025 campaign. Starkey is known for his performances in the British hit series “Outer Banks” and Luca Guadagnino’s film “Queer.”

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Saks Global Poised to File for Bankruptcy, Kevin Hart Branches into Fashion and CFDA’s Preliminary NYFW Calendar

January 14, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of cnbc.com

It appears that Saks Global, which holds Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus, is looking to reorganize its debt and operations with Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Sak Global’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy will happen only if Saks Global can finalize $1.75 billion in financing with their creditors.

Most of the financing is rumored to be coming from Pentwater Capital Management in Naples, Florida, and Bracebridge Capital, based in Boston. Neither company is known as experts in luxury fashion. This financing will assist Saks in meeting their employee payroll demands, pay vendors, and restock dwindling inventory while they attempt to restructure the business.

Saks Global financial woes began with the acquisition of Neiman Marcus in 2024. Richard Baker, who was elevated as Saks Global’s CEO, following the sudden resignation of Marc Metrick on January 2, is rumored to be leaving his role as CEO as Chapter 11 bankruptcy approaches.

Image courtesy of eventcartel.com

NYFW preliminary calendar

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has released the preliminary fashion calendar for the fall 2026 season. The fall 2026 fashion season promises to be a very important season with the return of familiar names to the fashion calendar with a bevy of new names to New York Fashion Week (NYFW).

Returning fashion brands/designers include, but Altuzarra, Area, Calvin Klein Collection, Carolina Herrera, Coach, Khaite, LaQuan Smith, Michael Kors, Prabal Gurung, Sandy Liang, Sergio Hudson, Tory Burch, Ulla Johnson, and others. Proenza Schouler returns to the fashion calendar under the creative directorship of Rachel Scott.

Public School returns to the calendar with Maxwell Osborne and Dao-Yi Chow at the helm. The Derek Lam Collection returns to the fashion calendar now under the direction of Robert Rodriquez. Rodriquez dissolved his namesake brand in 2020. For his debut collection for the Derek Lam Collection, Rodriquez is inspired by New York City, “and the women who move through it with quiet confidence,” as well as the “cast-iron facades, worn stone streets, and the procession of utilitarian objects throughout the city.”

Fashion brands/designers showing at NYFW for the first time include but are not limited to 7 For All Mankind by creative director Nicola Brognano, Alix of Bohemia, Andrew Curwen, Caroline Zimbalist, Contessa Mills, Cult Gaia, Hilá, J. Press, Jasper, Mel Usine, Menyelek, Ossou, Pipenco, and Veejay Floresca. Ralph Lauren is presenting his collection of February 10. And again, Marc Jacobs is presenting his fall 2026 later during the season.

Image courtesy of medium.com

Fashionable Kevin

Kevin Hart is now branching into fashion. Hart has inked a wide-ranging deal with Authentic Brands Group (ABG), giving the IP licensing company rights to his name. Currently, Kevin Hart is a shareholder in the Authentic Brands Group. Hart and ABG have partnered to produce clothing brands, consumer products and digital platforms, and live performances.

“This partnership is about acceleration, growth and diversification. I’ve spent years building businesses and creating opportunities, and joining Authentic gives me the platform and global infrastructure to take my brand to the next level,” Hart said in a statement, presented in a dailyfrontrow.com article. “Becoming a shareholder allows me to co-own some of the most recognizable IP of all time while building my own brand legacy. I want the Hart name to live on for generations to come and be something that my grandkids and their grandkids will be able to be proud of.”

William S. Gooch

 

 

 

Fashion News Alert: The Met Gala 2026 Theme, Prada’s Acquisition Is Complete, and Ralph Lauren Collaborates with Topa

December 2, 2025 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of styleup.com

As we head into the holiday season, several fashion brands are looking to ramp up holiday sales with collaborations. Ralph Lauren is no exception.

For its fall/holiday 2025 collection, Ralph Lauren recently revealed the brand’s collaboration with Indigenous-led clothing label Tópa. Founded by husband-and-wife team, Jocy and Trae Little Sky of Tópa are award-winning performers and designers. Jocy is Dakota and from the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nations, and Trae is Oglala Lakota and Stoney Nakoda. Their work is infused with traditional indigenous craftsmanship and design.

“We’ve long admired Ralph Lauren and how the brand brings worlds to life through its designs and storytelling,” said Jocy in a recent fashionnetwork.com article. “This collaboration with Polo Ralph Lauren honors our community, culture and way of life, and we hope it inspires people to be proud of who they are, where they come from and to follow their dreams.”

The Polo Ralph Lauren x Tópa collaboration is offered within the Ralph Lauren fall/holiday 2025 collection. The collaboration centers on modern silhouettes with Native design motifs in an assortment of men’s, women’s and accessories products. 

The Polo Ralph Lauren x Tópa collaboration is the fourth collaboration in Artist in Residence initiative. This initiative collaborates with artisans preserving heritage craft, offering a platform for mutually creative partnerships while amplifying historically underrepresented voices.

Image courtesy of wallpapermagazine.com

The Met’s Next Exhibit

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute next exhibit was recently announced. “Costume Art” will examine the concept of the body dressed as a fashion retrospective through the ages. This exhibit concept will be carried over the iconic Met Gala in May of 2026.

This new exhibit will examine the juxtaposition of body and clothing over 5,000 years with a focus on Western art. According to dailyfrontrow.com, the new exhibit will be organized into a series of thematic body types including the “Naked Body,” “Classical Body,” “Pregnant Body,” “Aging Body,” “Anatomical Body” and the “Mortal Body.” Almost 200 works will be displayed with 200 garments and accessories.

“Costume Art” will be the first exhibit in the new 12,00-foot galleries. The new Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is named after the founder of the legendary publishing house, Condé Montrose Nast.

Image courtesy of apnews.com

Prada acquires Versace

If you have had your ear to the fashion grindstone, you are very aware of Prada Group acquiring Versace from Capri Holdings. Well, the acquisition is now complete.

Capri Holdings acquired Versace in 2018 for 1.8 billion euros. And now Prada Group has acquired Versace for 1.25 billion euros which makes this acquisition the largest acquisition for the Prada Group in its 112-year history.

Prada Group currently owns Prada, Miu Miu, Church’s, Car Shoe, Versace, Marchesi 1824, and Luna Rossa. Prada is available in more than 70 countries through a network of 620 company-owned stores, its direct e-commerce channel, as well as selected e-tailers and department stores worldwide.

William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Balmain’s New Creative Director, Sofia Vergara’s New Gig, and Pull Back on Black Friday Deals

November 12, 2025 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of wwd.com

Balmain has a new creative director. With Olivier Rousteing leaving the French luxury house, there remains an empty post at Balmain.

That post has been quickly filled.  Antonin Tron has been appointed the new creative director of Balmain. Tron comes to this position after having founded Atlein with which he won ANDAM’s First Collections Prize in 2018.

Tron attended the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. Tron began his career designing menswear at Louis Vuitton, before moving on to Givenchy and Balenciaga.

“I am deeply honored to join Balmain and grateful to Mr. Rachid and Matteo for entrusting me with this extraordinary Maison. I would like to express my gratitude to Olivier Rousteing for making Balmain the global brand it is today,” said Tron, as detailed in a fashionetwork.com article. “Balmain has a truly inspiring history. At its heart, the Maison embodies savoir-faire, culture, sensuality and elegance: fashion that is radiant, precise and bold. This touches me deeply, and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to carry forward this incredible heritage.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Antonin to the Maison Balmain. Antonin’s approach to design, rooted in the art of draping and the physicality of fabric, marks a continuation of Pierre Balmain’s fundamental belief that ‘tailoring is the architecture of movement.’ Like Balmain, Antonin sees fashion as a spatial art that develops around the human form with precision and emotion,” said Matteo Sgarbossa, Balmain’s CEO. “Antonin will build on the Maison’s heritage of creativity, craftsmanship, elegance and deep human values. We look forward to his first runway show for Balmain in Paris in March.”

Antonin Tron will present his first collection for Balmain in March 2026 for the fall 2026 season.

Image courtesy of klarna.com

A milquetoast Black Friday

Donald Trump’s tariffs are hurting various segments of the fashion industry; the latest culprit is Black Friday deals. Fewer companies are offering a reduction in price points for the traditional Black Friday sales after Thanksgiving in the US due to Trump’s tariffs.

“It just doesn’t make financial sense for us to offer discounts because our costs of goods are so high because of the tariffs,” explained Dan Peskorse, owner of the parent company that sells the products, Upstream Brands, as reported in fashionnetwork.com. “Our concern is that the general public is just a little cash strapped and is pulling back in general. It’s a bit of a perfect storm.” 

Established brands from Coach to wellness brands Therabody are pulling back on Black Friday promotions due to Trump’s tariffs and inflation. “This is a very strange year for holiday,” said Sonia Lapinsky, leader of fashion retail at AlixPartners, as reported in fashionnetwork.com, citing “a lot of challenge on the retail front.” While many companies absorbed the first wave of tariffs, now they “just don’t have the room” to offer the same discounts as past years, she added. 

Brands have already increased their price points 5% to 7% due to inflation and tariffs. Therefore, reducing prices for Black Friday can be a bit of a stretch for some brands. To add to that, some luxury brands want to make their product so desirable that consumers will pay full price. “While promotional activity continues in parts of the market, we’ve deliberately moved away from deep discounting over the past several years,” Coach CEO Todd Kahn told Bloomberg News. 

That said, many shoppers will still hunt down holiday deals, and there will still be some reasonable discounts on Black Friday as well as discounts throughout the holiday season.

Image courtesy of sgbmedia.com

Skechers injects some diversity

Sofia Vergara has a new job. She is a new brand ambassador for Skechers. She is the first Colombian artist to be a brand ambassador for the footwear brand.

“I don’t do anything if I don’t believe in it … and I really believe in Skechers,” said Vergara. “I’ve been wearing Skechers for over a year now, and they’ve completely changed the way I think about trainers. Not only are they comfortable, they’re sleek, stylish, and pair easily with everything in my wardrobe. That’s why this collaboration felt so natural.”

Vergara became acquainted with Skechers while looking for stylish, comfortable shoes after her knee surgery. Vergara brought several pairs without realizing that her team was already in talks with Skechers.

“Sofía embodies everything Skechers stands for: boldness, confidence and uncompromising comfort,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers. “She brings a fresh energy to the brand, and her passion for design will be reflected in everything we do together.”

Vergara will front a global campaign that celebrates style, versatility and comfort—core values of the brand. This global campaign will feature the brand’s Hands-Free Slip-ins and Glide-Step silhouettes.

William Gooch

 

 

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