Reese Witherspoon donned a black sweater and dark skinnies while running errands in LA. The stylish star paired her classic basics with black suede booties, Ray Ban wayfarers, and simple gold hoops. We are loving her trés chic two-tone Celine bag and tribal necklace. Get Reese's exact shades with other complementing items here.
Miranda Kerr looked adorable strolling the streets of Manhattan with her son Flynn and their puppy Frankie. She styled her cuffed true-blue skinnies and tweed jacket with suede booties and an animal-print scarf. Her cat-eye Dior sunglasses and burgundy Celine bag were the perfect finishing touches for her day of errands. Get Miranda's exact bag in a darker hue here.
In Fall plaid and cool black contrasts, Nicky Hilton bundled up as stylishly as possible. She took lumberjack plaid to a much chicer level with her cozy, Torn coat, complete with a shearling-lined collar and added in black basics. We might have all the staples to outfit a similarly street-chic look — the Ray-Bans, lace-up boots, and leggings — but a great statement coat ties it all together seamlessly. Of course, a luxe carry-all like Nicky's Celine tote only furthers the glamour of this easy, pulled-together style. Just shop our editors' picks to get Nicky's look.
>>At the end of last month, Sidney Toledano, president and CEO of Dior, said he expected to have news on Dior's new designer "in the next few weeks." Not a day later came reports that talks between Dior and the front runner for the position, Marc Jacobs, had been tough and at a standstill.
Now, however, WWD reports: "Negotiations with Marc Jacobs . . . to become Dior’s next couturier have been progressing, sources said this week. It is understood . . . Phoebe Philo remains the preferred candidate to succeed Jacobs at Vuitton, should the American designer conclude a deal with Dior."
Dior, which has now been without a creative director since March, reported that its revenues were up 17.6 percent in the third quarter — suggesting that the brand is more potent than the famous designer behind it.
>> Even the critically-infallible designers are taking a jab or two this season. First Tom Ford, and now Phoebe Philo. Cathy Horyn writes of the Spring 2012 Celine show: "Phoebe Philo knows how to put a statement on the Celine runway. Everyone knows that by now. But the collection she offered on Sunday was a club sandwich of cleverly reworked ideas, with some others that didn’t have a particular urgency. My main problem was that her military-style jackets with wide belts and matching skirts were derivative of old-school Yohji Yamamoto, as were cropped, wide-leg trousers with oversized black leather jackets. Also, if you recall, Miuccia Prada opened her fall 2011 show with rounded jackets; she, too, had wide belts dropped on the hips. It was only a year ago that Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons showed black fake-leather dresses with extra-wide belts. Maybe fashion goes by so quickly today that everything becomes an unrecognizable blur, and maybe a new generation of shoppers is indifferent to this kind of debate, but Ms. Philo’s reputation is based on being her own person, so you expect more from her." [On the Runway]
Phoebe Philo played with proportions, and little else, for her Spring 2012 collection. There were cocoon sleeve jackets, cinched with extra-wide belts, trousers dressed up with sculpted peplum details that looked like they had been influenced by a Frank Gehry building, and peplum. The minimalist mood remained strong, and while some of the oversized proportions seem hard to wear in real life, there were slimmer silhouettes that would work for every day: slim blouses tucked into low-waisted pleated skirts, crisp shirtdresses, and a definite must-have, ankle-strap platform heel. We'll have the full collection — and review — to present soon, but for now, check out some highlights.
>> Last month, Marc Jacobs was said to be frontrunner for the currently-vacant Christian Dior creative directorship. That still seems to be the case, according to WWD sources, but there have been a few sticking points.
One such hitch in the talks? It's believed that Jacobs and his long-time business partner Robert Duffy are seeking a substantial increase on their current salary and benefit packages from LVMH, which already place them among the highest-paid designers and fashion executives in the world.
Dior is a more demanding job than Jacobs's current position at Louis Vuitton, with two couture collections in addition to two ready-to-wear shows and pre-collections. And Jacobs would be required to spend more time in Paris working with the atelier, given the intense craftsmanship involved with forming a couture collection.
If Jacobs does make the move to Dior, Phoebe Philo has been reported to be first in line to succeed him at Louis Vuitton. But according to WWD's sources, as of last week, she had yet to commit to the project or enter negotiations.
>> A couple of weeks after rumors popped up suggesting that Marc Jacobs was at the top of the pack to take over as Dior's new designer, reports corroborate that the rumors just might be true.
According to WWD, Bernard Arnault is in talks with Jacobs about moving from Louis Vuitton to Dior, and meetings have reportedly been scheduled in Paris this week between Dior officials and legal representatives for Jacobs. Jacobs, who signed on as Vuitton's artistic director in 1997, has been in the midst of renewing his employment contract at Vuitton, but those discussions are said to have been put on hold, pending the outcome of Jacobs's discussions with Dior.
One source cautioned WWD that deal with Jacobs is not done, but both the designer and Dior management are so far "excited" about the prospect. If the deal goes through, Jacobs will get his first opportunity as a couturier, and his business partner Robert Duffy would come with him. Dior declined to comment on the reports, and Jacobs could not be reached for comment.
As for who would replace Jacobs at Vuitton, it sounds like Phoebe Philo could be first in line. LVMH has already reportedly held preliminary discussions with Philo, who is said to be "intrigued" by the project. If the shuffling plays out, it's reportedly likely she would design Vuitton in addition to Celine.
WWD reports that a number of potential candidates have been approached to succeed John Galliano, who exited Dior in March, including Alber Elbaz, Nicolas Ghesquière, Sarah Burton, Haider Ackermann and Hedi Slimane. Elbaz and Ghesquiere, who both have equity stakes in and strong commitments to the houses they design for, have withdrawn themselves from the running, and Burton is said to have rebuffed overtures. Talks with Ackermann and Slimane, meanwhile, did not end in an agreement. As for Riccardo Tisci, he is still considered a dark-horse candidate, and has been championed by Delphine Arnault, Dior deputy managing director and Bernard Arnault's daughter.
The popularity of minimal bags is on the rise as WWD reported today that retailers — like Saks Fifth Avenue, Lane Crawford, Isetan, and Neiman Marcus — have listed Celine bags as a top performer in their stores. The French brand's chic, simplistic handbags have been spotted on a bevy of stylish beauties, ranging from celebs like Leighton Meester, Mary-Kate Olsen, Nicky Hilton, and Nicole Richie to fashion insiders Taylor Tomasi Hill and Amanda Brooks. “The design is on trend: minimal and classic,” said Kosuke Ushio, handbag buyer for Isetan. “It’s selling all over the world. A lot of celebrities are using it as well, and it’s gotten a lot of exposure in magazines." However, Celine's price tag of $1,600 would max out our Fall shopping budget, so we found some similar options that evoke the same minimal style — without the maxed-out budget. Click the slideshow to shop our picks now.
Photo courtesy of Phil Oh
