Image courtesy of coveteur.com
Jenna Lyons has a new venture. For those fashionistas who know Lyons from her tenure at J.Crew to her appearances of “Real Housewives of New York” and “Stylish with Jenna Lyons” on HBO Max, Lyons has been involved in several business ventures behind the cameras. From co-founding LoveSeen, a direct-to-consumer beauty brand offering natural-looking false eyelashes to being a partner at FundamentalCo, a value creation agency spun out of Blackstone, which has transformed household names like The New York Times, Clear, Delta, and Spanx, Lyons joins The Cashmere Fund as a strategic partner and investor.
The Cashmere Fund is a next-generation venture fund making startup investing more accessible. As a strategic partner Lyons will advise startups on branding, consumer positioning and creative strategy. She will also help the fund source new investment opportunities aligned with emerging cultural trends.
“Jenna’s brand-building and value creation expertise are exactly what we look for—not only in our partners, but in the companies we invest in,” said Elia Infascelli, CEO of Cashmere, in a fashionnetwork.com article. “Her creative vision and entrepreneurial spirit will be invaluable as we continue to identify and support the next generation of consumer brands.”
“As a founder, I know how powerful the right support, at the right time, can be. And as a brand builder, I know what it takes to enter a market and catalyze opportunity,” said Lyons. “I’m excited to back founders who are reimagining what’s possible, and to help more people be part of their stories.”
Image courtesy of purseblog.com
Pierpaolo Piccioli re-emerges
If you wondered what happened to PierPaolo Piccioli after leaving Valentino in March of this well? Well, he has popped up at Balenciaga. He is Balenciaga’s new creative director.
According to Kering, the holding company for Balenciaga, Piccioli will debut his first collection for Balenciaga in October 2025 after starting his post on July 10. Piccioli was c0-creative director of Valentino with Maria Grazia Chiuri until 2016 until he became the sole creative director, leaving the post in March of this year.
“Balenciaga is what it is today thanks to all the people who have paved the way,” Piccioli said in a statement, as reported in dailyfrontrow.com. “In all its phases, while constantly evolving and changing, it has never lost track of the House’s aesthetic values. What I am receiving is a brand full of possibilities that is incredibly fascinating. I must first and foremost thank Demna; I’ve always admired his talent and vision. I couldn’t ask for a better passing of the torch. This gives me the chance to shape a new version of the Maison, adding another chapter with a new story. I am grateful for the trust that François-Henri, Francesca and Gianfranco are giving me. We were effortlessly on the same page from the start, and that is the best way to begin something new.”
Image courtesy of Karl Lagerfeld
Karl, Disney, and Donald
Though Karl Lagerfeld departed this life over five years ago, that does not mean that his namesake brand is not going strong. Disney and Karl Lagerfeld have debuted their current collaboration.
The latest collaboration with Disney continues Karl Lagerfeld’s with Donald Duck. “The upcoming capsule brings Karl’s unique, ‘Karlified’ sketch of Donald Duck to life across a collectible range of pieces,” underlined the house of Lagerfeld in a communiqué, as reported in fashionnetwork.com.
Ready-to-wear highlights include relaxed denim, black-and-white sweaters, a neutral-toned bomber, and a casual blazer, blending playful nostalgia with contemporary style. The accessories lineup features backpacks, tote bags, handbags, and sneakers, alongside lifestyle pieces such as umbrellas, scarves, and sunglasses.
The new Disney x Karl Lagerfeld collection launched on May 22 and is available in Karl Lagerfeld stores, select Disney stores, and online at Karl.com and DisneyStore.co.uk.
—William S. Gooch
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