Nicola Formichetti

Designer Thierry Mugler has returned to the house that bears his name as a creative adviser following the departure of creative director Nicola Formichetti.

Mugler will work with the brand's director general, Joel Palix, who is "setting the stage for a fully integrated Mugler brand vision as the French house nears its 40th anniversary in fashion," according to a statement from the company, which means uniting the lucrative Mugler fragrance business and its fashion line under the same creative management. Vogue UK reports that Mugler won't help the brand make any decisions but will only offer his advice.

It's also unclear whether Mugler will be designing anything. The statement confirmed that Formichetti's head designers Sébastien Peigné and Romain Kremer have also left the brand and that the search is still on for someone to fill the creative director's chair. Formichetti, meanwhile, is settling into the post of artistic director at Diesel.

Still, that Mugler is coming back to the house in such a major way is significant, and Palix made sure to acknowledge that.

"It is not an understatement to say that Mr. Thierry Mugler is both a legend of fashion and fragrance," he said. "His body of work has influenced many designers and perfumers worldwide. He has brought extraordinary sensory experiences to millions of women and men across the world."

Turns out those rumors about Nicola Formichetti working with Diesel were true. On Thursday morning, the brand confirmed that the former Mugler creative director has been named Diesel's artistic director.

More on Formichetti's new job, here.

Just over two years after his debut collection as creative director of Mugler, Nicola Formichetti is leaving the brand.

All the bits fit to print here, in our daily news roundup.


• Stella McCartney makes funny chic with her Red Nose Day t-shirt collection to benefit Comic Relief. [Harper's Bazaar UK]
  

• Carine Roitfeld's first feature as the global fashion director of Harper's Bazaar has been revealed. [Harper's Bazaar]
  

• Chris Burch has sold a 10 percent stake in C. Wonder to Fidelity for $35 million. [WWD]
  

• Bryan Boy will collaborate with Adrienne Landau on a collection of unisex fur accessories for Fall 2013. [Racked]
  

• Alessandra Ambrosio is set to launch her own fashion brand, Alé by Alessandra, for Spring 2014. [Vogue UK]
  

• Pippa Middleton is the namesake for Kate Spade's latest bag, the Catherine Street Pippa. [InStyle]
  

• Allison Williams has inked a deal to be the new face of Simple Skincare. [Belfast Telegraph]
  

• The signature style of Tokyo's Harajuku Girls inspired Agyness Deyn's Spring 2013 collection for Dr. Martens, which hits stores on Feb. 22. [Vogue UK]
  

• Reed Krakoff is partnering with Ladurée. [Fashionologie Inbox]
  

• Nicola Formichetti designed an exclusive limited-edition bag for Shopbop; it sports bright pink graffiti against navy leather. [The Cut]
  
  

Those stories and more in our daily news roundup.

• Giedre Kiaulenaite is the next model to watch. She made her debut last Paris Fashion Week — and was booked exclusively for Balenciaga. [WMagazine]
• Details commissioned 10 CFDA members to create a limited-edition collection of pocket squares for charity. The pocket squares will retail for $100 and hit Bonobos.com on Dec. 4. [LA Times]
• Mulberry has been honored with the prestigious Walpole luxury award in London. [Elle UK]
• Kristen Stewart's stylist Tara Swennen hasn't given up on Balenciaga. "I still love the brand, I will continue to pull it, and she'll continue to wear it," she says. [The Cut]
• H&M has released a video teaser featuring pieces from its soon-to-launch higher-end label & Other Stories. [Vogue UK]
• Canadian brand Joe Fresh may have found the secret to fast-fashion success. "We like to take trends and interpret them," founder Joe Mimran said. "Put our spin on them, and have our voice to it, which is a different branding idea." [Racked]
• A total of 73 people were arrested in China when 37 factories that manufactured counterfeit luxury handbags were shut down. [WWD]
• Marchesa's new Iris clutch owes its shape to an olfactory source of inspiration. [Elle]
• Nicola Formichetti threw a wild "panda party" in London in honor of Dazed's December issue. [DazedDigital]

Those stories and more in our daily news roundup.

• M.I.A. spilled the beans that she's working with Versace during a talk at New York's MoMA PS1, but she didn't specify exactly how she's working with the brand. [Fashionista]
  

• Narciso Rodriguez's hotly anticipated collection for Kohl's DesignNation concept is shoppable a whole day early. Customers were told to expect the line on Nov. 7. [SheFinds]
  

• Nicola Formichetti has announced that Vogue's international men's editions will all be rebranded as GQ Style — meaning the Fall 2012 issue of Vogue Hommes Japan is the last. [Nicola Formichetti]
  

• Say it ain't so: new restrictions the European Union has proposed on a list of 100 allergens commonly found in perfumes could alter some of the world's most iconic fragrances, including Chanel No. 5, Miss Dior, Guerlain's Shalimar, and Thierry Mugler's Angel. "It would be the end of beautiful perfumes if we could not use these ingredients," said Chanel chairwoman Francoise Montenay. [The Daily Telegraph]
  

• A number of people who walked past the line for the Alexander Wang sample sale in New York this morning asked shoppers if they were waiting to vote. A reporter in the line called the experience "kind of embarrassing." [Racked]
  

• Ralph Lauren has pledged $2 million to the Hurricane Sandy relief effort. "We want to support the selfless work of so many agencies, professionals and volunteers and hope that these donations will make it easier for our cities to rebuild and recover," Lauren said. [Vogue UK]

Lady Gaga, Azealia Banks, Leigh Lezark: just a few of the notable names who may be involved with Nicola Formichetti's Spring 2013 runway show and afterparty for Mugler Wednesday night.

Formichetti said Tuesday that while this season's show wouldn't be live streamed, he would release a video on Wednesday "with new show music by Lady Gaga." Just last week, he tweeted at the singer, saying he was "so excited to see my lady." (A Gaga devotee from Azerbaijan later declared that the performer would reprise her role as music director for Mugler.)

Banks tweeted at Formichetti that she was in Paris this morning. The two collaborated on the music video for Banks's song "Liquorice," and the 21-year-old may well be the "special live guest" mentioned on the invitation to the Mugler afterparty. A list of DJs on the invite includes The Misshapes, Tommy Saleh, Christopher Kutlesa, Franco V, Mademoiselle Stephanie, and Nicopanda — Formichetti's nickname.

Kim Kardashian also exchanged missives with Formichetti last week, saying she couldn't wait — although what she couldn't wait for was unspecified. Perhaps she was referring to being one of the first recipients of Mugler's new handbag line, which will be unveiled at tonight's show. Formichetti sent bags from the debut collection — which includes a model shaped like Lady Gaga's backside — to Kardashian, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Gwen Stefani. Whether Kardashian will thank Formichetti for the bag in person tonight remains to be seen.

Photo: Lady Gaga and Nicola Formichetti bow after the Fall 2011 show for Mugler.