Alice and Olivia

Business

The Proenza Schouler/Andrew Rosen Deal Might Finally Go Through

Looks like Proenza Schouler and Andrew Rosen are finally teaming up. It's been over a year since we first learned that Theory ceo Rosen was interested in buying Proenza Schouler. The label is part-owned by Permira Group, a London investment firm that also owns Valentino. Permira put its 45% stake in Proenza on the block in February of 2010. At the beginning of 2011, we heard that the deal had been penned for months but that Permira wasn't happy with the terms, resulting in severe delays. Then Mark Holgate pretty much confirmed on the pages of Vogue that it was all happening! Now WWD reports that it is indeed happening, probably by the end of this month. The partnership will be structured similarly to the agreements Rosen has with Rag & Bone and Alice and Olivia, which are also personal investments. Rosen runs Theory and Helmut Lang, but they're owned by Uniqlo.

Business

Last Night's Parties: a+o For M.A.C. Doles Out Manis, Prada Throws One Swingin' Party

There was no denying that Prada's launch party for their new Swing sunglasses collection at Joe's Pub was the main event last night. But to get warmed up, we hit up the alice + olivia M.A.C. cosmetics collection launch at Beauty Bar first. Though it seems strange to get a manicure in the middle of a party when there's a significant risk of getting whacked in the head by an overstuffed bag or having a cocktail spilled on you, girls were lined up to get pampered. The party was chock full of models in tiny dresses, and as we made our exit, an over-tanned ex-model in the tiniest dress breezed past us smelling like Bath and Body Works. Why hello Kelly Killoren Bensimon! You are so tall! On to the next. Stepping into Prada's party at Joe's Pub was like stepping into the most fashionable jazz club. The lights were low, a jazz singer crooned, Angela Lindvall, the star of Prada's fall print campaign and brand new Stephen Meisel directed video, sat pretty in a corner by the bar, and models decked in Prada Swing sunnies and cone-head-like bouffant hair posed like beautiful aliens throughout.