Virginia Smith

Much credit is due to those hard working editors, models, and designers in the industry who juggle motherhood along with their demanding fashion car

A little birdie told us there will be some girly outfit coordination going on at this year's Costume Institute Gala, which is less than two weeks away. The Vogue-hosted event will celebrate the opening of "Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations" at the Met and we hear the hostesses--namely, Vogue editors, will be paying a little tribute to one of the exhibition's subjects by following a strict dress code: they all have to wear pink.

A couple of years ago, when I was in business school, my teacher was having a conversation with the class about all of the different areas of business we must take care of in order to be considered “successful”. One of those areas was “politics”. Now, he wasn't talking about politics in the traditional sense of the word, like government or politicians, he was talking about the dynamics of people in a group, area or field. So I am talking here about politics as the relationship between people in fashion and how some people are considered powerful, how some people are not, and why. At one point in our class, someone stood up and said that he hated politics and he stayed as far away from politics as possible (exactly what I was thinking as the other student said it). In return, my teacher said, “If you don’t like politics, then be a dog. Tough luck buddy. Whether you like it or not, politics are there and you have to learn to deal with them if you want to be successful.” So I started thinking about what that meant to me and my job and career as a stylist and what it meant inside of the fashion business.

First it was Virginia Smith. Now, Taylor Tomasi Hill. Someone's been very loose-lipped over at Barneys New York, at least regarding the search for a new fashion director. (Julie Gilhart resigned at the end of last month.) Now, the luxury department store is trying to quell those rumors. "As announced by Barneys New York on November 29, the search for a new fashion director was launched by Daniella Vitale, Chief Merchant and Executive Vice-President, who joined the company on December 1," says a Barneys New York spokesperson to Fashionista via email. "Contrary to recent speculative reports, no employment offer has been made as of this date to any person for the fashion director position."

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.