Gilt Groupe

Gilt. Hewlett-Packard. Michael Bastian. Design dream team?

And competitor Gilt Groupe may be interested in buying it.

The founder of the Brooklyn-based fragrance studio Joya tells us how he got into the perfume business.

Gilt Groupe CEO Michelle Peluso spells out her plans for expanding the site's reach abroad. But about those IPO rumors? Still no comment.

And it looks like the flash sale site has chosen Goldman Sachs to manage its public offering.

Erin Heatherton is breaking up with her agency. The model (and former Leo DiCaprio flame) is leaving Marilyn for IMG. {WWD} If ever there were a high fashion comic book, it would probably look a lot like Tom Ford's F/W 2013 ads. {Style.com} Miranda Kerr is topless and wearing granny panties on the cover of Vogue Korea's July 2013 issue. So, it's actually one of her more-covered up shoots. {Fashion Gone Rogue}

Gilt Groupe was a rapidly-growing pioneer in exclusive online luxury retail when it launched in 2007. But now, in 2012, with so many new, promising players in the e-commerce game, the site is likely under more pressure to compete. Despite rumors that they're struggling, however, the company has been working to expand, expects to turn a profit next year, and is hoping for an IPO--a goal that Gilt Groupe's board must have felt CEO and co-founder Kevin Ryan wouldn't be able to reach.

Court docs show that Diana Wang's class action lawsuit against Harper's Bazaar may not actually be so strong after all. Oops! {BuzzFeed} Are you (C) Wondering what happened at the grand opening of C. Wonder's new Time Warner locale? Kelly Rutherford pogo-sticked, Karina Smirnoff sat on a giant teddy bear, and a fab time was had by all! {Fashionista Inbox} Is this the end of adventures in copyright? A new design piracy bill could protect designers against knock-offs for up to three years. {WWD} Model Maggie Rizer's golden retriever Bea died on a United Airlines flight and Maggie is really, really mad. And sad. So are we. That's just so, so sad. RIP, Bea. {E!}

Last year saw a major influx of new fashion-focused tech startups. With the early success of pioneers like Gilt Groupe and Ideeli, an industry that has typically been slow to embrace new technology has spawned a burgeoning community of game-changing ecommerce sites, mobile apps and social networking and discovery platforms. And with no shortage of new ideas or interest from financial backers, this influx shows no signs of slowing down in 2012--and we think that's very exciting. With new start-ups popping up almost daily, we set out to discover which ones are doing it right, how they’re all being funded, and what 2012 holds for the fashion tech biz.

Azzadine Alaia Was Called To Take Over For Galliano: He was flattered but declined (he is in his 70s, after all). However, as the Financial Times observes, given Alaia's rejection of the industry's hyper-speed and the accompanying pressures, this may indicate that Dior is looking to change its ways. {Financial Times} CreatetheGroup Aquires Morpheus Media: The digital media companies, which develop strategy, creative content and marketing on new media platforms, will now operate under the same umbrella. Clients include Burberry and Marc Jacobs (considered fashion's digital pioneers), Net-a-porter, Louis Vuitton and others. {WWD} A Woman Went A Month Without Looking In A Mirror: The Daily Mail's Marrianne Power decided to test studies that show women are their own harshest critics by going a full month without using or looking in a mirror. Turns out, she looked more relaxed, got more compliments and felt loads better about herself . {Daily Mail}

Gilt Groupe just announced what will quite possibly be its biggest sale ever: a Lady Gaga extravaganza. On Friday at noon, you'll be able to log on to Gilt as well as Gilt City and scoop up seven different Lady Gaga-themed offerings: pre-orders on her new album Born This Way, two fashion sales formulated by her fashion director, Nicola Formichetti, a one-of-a-kind Mugler dress worn by Gaga, and VIP access to special events and "experiences" connected to the world of Gaga. (These include everything from classes at Broadway Dance Theater to Gaga listening parties in New York, Miami, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.) If you're kind of freaking out, you might want to watch this video with Formichetti. Not only is he charming and so sweet about his partnership with Gaga, he also reveals that he has his eye on designing his own collection. (Remember, he's the creative director at Mugler--women's designer Sebastian Peigne is actually coming up with the clothes.)

Maybe you've never heard of Vente-Privee, but if you've ever visited Gilt Groupe, HauteLook, Rue La La, etc., you know what they do. The French company launched a designer flash sales site back in 2001 (that's six years before Gilt Groupe and HauteLook) and inspired the launch of Gilt. The firm is a huge player in Europe--they currently boast 13 million users and about $1 billion in yearly sales--but they've steered clear of the US. Until now. This morning, American Express announced a joint partnership with Vente-Privee to launch an American site later on this year. (Each company owns 50% of the venture. And this is VP's first foray into a non-European market.)

Karl Lagerfeld Is a Busy Man: The Chanel designer just finished his cruise collection and has been hawking Magnum Ice Cream and now, Lagerfeld has made plans to release Nietzsche's writings in their entirety. Only 3,000 copies will be published and it will only be available in German. He also directed a short film, The Tale of a Fairy starring Chanel's usual suspects (Freja, Babtiste, etc.,) as a companion to the cruise collection. The short launches on Chanel.com today. {ELLE and Chanel.com} Fashion Mags Take Home Honors at the National Magazine Awards: Many of Condé Nast's titles were among last night's big winners. GQ won the Ellie award for design while W took one for photography. {WWD, subscription required} Listen to Abbey Lee Kershaw Sing: The model's band, Our Mountain, has debuted their first single, "Wooden Hearts." In addition to vocals, Kershaw also lends her talents to the tambourine. {Modelinia}

Gilt Groupe is looking for a Spring Intern to start immediately! This is a PAID internship to work directly with the styling team on daily photo shoots for a luxury online fashion company based in NYC. College credit is not required. This is a great opportunity to get hands-on photo shoot styling experience with top models, photographers, and stylists.

Innovations in retail are few and far between. In 2007, I remember hearing about Gilt Groupe and thinking, "this is going to change the way people shop." Over the last four years, the flash sales site has certainly altered our idea of a discount. But I'd argue that Moda Operandi--a new platform that allows users to buy pieces right off the runway--is equally as innovative, if not more so.

One of the main things that separates Gilt Groupe from its competitors is its awesome editorial content. From the blogs to the runway reviews, more and more fashion obsessives are going to Gilt not only to shop, but to be entertained. The flash sales site is taking that idea one step further with Gilt TV, which launches today. The video series, produced in-house, features reports explaining how to wear the trends through the site's current sales. What's more, there's a "shop the video" feature, which we've seen from companies like Michael Kors. It's brilliant marketing--you can literally click on the video and buy what you like. Watch today's inaugural episode here, featuring Marni, Doo.Ri, and more.

Even if you're not stuck in that blizzard, who wants to go outside unless they absolutely have to? I know I don't. That's why I've put together a list of online sales I'll be snooping around this week.

Conan in Majeggings: Last night's Conan was amazing. First of all, he wore some ridic-looking majeggings for the entire show and he had on all three Kardashian sisters as guests. If you missed the awesomeness, check out the videos online. {TBS} Petey Does Jewelry: Pete Doherty somehow managed to collaborate with Hannah Martin on a unisex jewelry collection, which includes some pretty awesome-looking art deco-ish cuffs. {Style.com} Chanel's French, Snowy Wonderland: Ines de la Fressange's upcoming Chanel campaign was shot in, where else, Saint-Tropez. She described the shoot as a "miracle." {WWD}

Kate Moss and Topshop Break Up: Kate Moss's 14th collection for Topshop this October will be her last. Since it was recently announced that Sir Phillip Green's 19-year-old daughter Chloe has started training with the company, rumors have started swirling that she'll replace Moss as the face of Topshop. There are also reports that was not an amicable one. {Daily Mail} Target Craze Catches Gilt Off-Guard: Some shoppers weren't able to get their Target from Gilt. It's unclear at this point whether Gilt oversold the Target merch (which included Mulberry, Tucker and John Derian for Target), but they're offering shoppers who were unable to get their goods a $25 credit. {Racked} Tomas Maier for H&M?: Bottega Veneta creative director Tomas Maier is rumored to be the next designer to collaborate with H&M. The brand has released two ambiguous videos to build hype around their next two collaborations. The grand reveal is on September 9th. Thoughts on the mysterious lady designer? Carolina? Vivian Westwood? Who could it be? {fashionologie}

So, we know you're excited for Mulberry's Target collection, which is debuting on Gilt tomorrow. In fact, you're so excited that we're betting Gilt Groupe is going to be full-on bombarded at noon EST by eager shoppers. We got our hands on images of five pieces, all priced under $50. Enjoy, and good luck tomorrow!

Angel Love: Alessandra Ambrosio looks very un-angel-like on the cover of LOVE's fourth issue and this is a very good thing. {Alessandra Ambriosio Facebook} Gilt Perks: As if you needed another reason to shop on Gilt Groupe, the flash sale sight will offer shoppers the chance to get their hands on three upcoming Target designer collabs, including the highly anticipated Mulberry for Target line, this Friday, August 20th. Gilt members will be able to shop select pieces for Mulberry for Target as well as John Derian for Target and Tucker by Gaby Basora for Target for 36 hours. {Mama's A Rolling Stone} Because Hospital Gowns Wrap Too: DVF has designed colorful print hospital gowns for the Cleveland Clinic. The clinic is hoping DVF's designs will make patients feel more comfortable. "We are very proud of our hospital gowns for the Cleveland Clinic," DVF tweeted. "We worked hard at it and we hope it will make patients happier!" {Newsweek}

I spent last night at Adam Lippes' fabulous penthouse apartment in Greenwich Village. The occasion? We (and when I say we, I mean myself plus a very smart-looking crowd, including Meredith Melling Burke, lovely in an pleated pumpkin-colored maxi dress) were invited to celebrate Lippes' t-shirt collaboration with four young artists selected by the Whitney--Matthew Brannon, EV Day, Ellen Harvey and Phoebe Washburn. The tees, $48-$68, will go on sale this Thursday at noon on Gilt.com.