Happy Valentine’s Day! In honor of this oft-dreaded, always-candy-filled day, we’ve rounded up the coolest—and most powerful—couples working in fashion. Click through to read all about them, and let us know: who’s your favorite fashion couple?
To survive in this business, you’ve got to have more than talent. You’ve got to be shrewd, savvy, determined—and a crazy-hard worker.
So here’s our list of the 50 most influential people working in New York fashion right now. To compile the list, we used our own knowledge of the industry combined with advice from inside sources.
Let us know what you think: You’ll find the entire Fashionista 50 list below. Click on the person’s name to read a full bio. And if you really want to click through the whole slideshow, you can do so here.
The Fashionista 50 slideshow. Click through for a bio of each of our picks.
While critics were not exactly over the moon about Hedi Slimane’s YSL debut, buyers apparently were. And isn’t that ultimately more important?
We love Alber Elbaz–the Lanvin designer is one of the rare fashion people who somehow seems to stay grounded and maintain a healthy perspective on everything. In an industry with a lot of big egos, he’s humble and self-deprecating–maybe to a fault, as a new Times profile by Eric Wilson reveals.
Wilson at least makes it clear that Elbaz, whose “tendency to put himself beneath others can be to a fault,” is uncomfortable in the spotlight and with the shifting focuses of the fashion industry:
File this under news we did not see coming. Amanda Brooks, who was named Barneys’ fashion director in January 2011, has resigned, WWD is reporting.
Just yesterday we attended an event at Barneys in which Brooks hosted a talk with the creative directors of Maiyet, introducing Barneys’ newest label to a group of online editors. She looked immaculate as always, and asked thoughtful, well-researched, questions. She also just wrapped a busy fashion month–a fixture in the front row and a favorite of street style photographers.
Brooks is leaving for England to pursue other opportunities.
Forget about fashion directors and window dressers. The biggest news coming out of Barneys since CEO Mark Lee came aboard is that the luxury retailer is dropping Prada handbags and women’s ready-to-wear from its stores. Update: We’ve heard from a source within Barneys that the real reason for the break up is not because of Barneys being unhappy with Prada, but because of a disagreement about leasing. (Prada wanted to lease its space in the store like it does at other department stores; Barneys doesn’t do that.) And that the decision was made before Lee even got to Barneys.
The Prada handbags section will be replaced by Valextra, a handbag line that’s exclusive to Barneys. (We’re sure you’ve heard of it–they’ve been shilling it like crazy for the past couple of years.) The store will still carry Prada men’s ready-to-wear and Prada shoes for both sexes.
Barneys CEO Mark Lee‘ continues to shake things up.
Last month Barneys fashion director Julie Gilhart and Judy Collinson, executive vice president and general merchandise manager of womenswear, were ousted.
Today, Barneys sent out a press release announcing that Dennis Freedman, formerly the creative director at W, would succeed Simon Doonan as creative director. But lest you were worried that meant Doonan, the face of Barneys, was out, fret not: he’s been “promoted” as the specialty retailer’s new “Creative Ambassador-at-Large.”
It’s a pretty funny title and sounds kind of made up, but then again fashion houses love to have brand “ambassadors” so it follows that a retailer could have one too. So what does it mean? And more importantly, will Doonan still do the windows?
There has been much speculation about who would fill Julie Gilhart‘s shoes as the next fashion director of Barneys New York. Lane Crawford’s Sarah Rutson and Vogue‘s Virginia Smith were both rumored to be up for the job, but chose not to leave their respective places of employment.
The newest name at the top of the short list? According to WWD, it’s Marie Claire accessories editor Taylor Tomasi Hill.
It’s an interesting choice on the part of newish Barneys New York CEO Mark Lee.
Barneys New York CEO Mark Lee wants a fashion director after all.
Following Monday’s news that store veteran Julie Gilhart would be leaving the company, WWD reports that Lee is said to be searching for a fashion director. His two top candidates? Lane Crawford’s Sarah Rutson and Vogue‘s Virginia Smith.
Both choices makes sense, Rutson more so. But the woman who transformed Lane Crawford into a serious fashion player has been living in Hong Kong for the 15 years. Will she want to transplant herself to New York?
Smith, who is the fashion market/accessories director at Vogue, might not have a retail background, but she certainly has the eye Lee is looking for. While Barneys needs to maintain its edge, it also needs to offer a broader range of product. Remember, Barneys’ main problem–from an investor’s standpoint–is that it’s not selling enough clothes.
If Simon Doonan is the face of Barneys New York, then Julie Gilhart has been its voice. But that’s all about to change, as Gilhart is leaving the company, along with Judy Collinson, executive vice president and general merchandise manager of womenswear, WWD reports.
Collinson will be replaced by Daniella Vitale, a Gucci vet and former colleague of newish Barneys CEO Mark Lee. Vitale will serve as chief merchant and executive vice president, overseeing all of women’s and Barneys.com operations.
It might be sad, but it’s not exactly a surprise the Collinson and Gilhart are out.
Today, Dubai investment firm Istithmar World officially announced that former Gucci head Mark Lee would assume the role of CEO at Barneys New York.
Former Barneys CEO Howard Socol left the company in 2008 after rumored frustrations with the store’s new owners. Istithmar acquired Barneys from Jones Apparel Group in 2007 for about $900 million.
The recession worsened Barneys’ already shaky financial situation, and soon enough analysts began talking possible bankruptcy. Barneys previously filed for bankruptcy in the mid-’90s after a period of over-expansion.
