Joe Zee

>> Olivier Theyskens Taking Some Time Off? —Olivier Theyskens showed up at the Calvin Klein Collection dinner in Paris last night, and it sounds like he may just be enjoying a break from designing rather than lining up his next big job. Fellow guest Joe Zee wrote of the designer: "Yes, the rumor is true! He had the night off." And Grazia's Paula Reed, who sat next to Theyskens, tweeted: "[He's] enjoying a bit of a fashion gap year. Come back soon Olivier." [Chic Report, Joe Zee Twitter, Grazia Twitter]

>> Joe Zee Is Still at Elle — Apparently rumors were circulating at the end of the week that Elle creative director Joe Zee had left the magazine — which, if true, would have made for a sticky situation since he is supposed to be attending couture for the magazine next week — but rest assured, The Cut confirmed with the magazine that the rumors were just that — rumors. [The Cut Twitter]

>> Dior To Show Twice at Couture, Lacroix's Early Collection Reviews "Glowing"—Despite Vogue only sending a "very small" team and Elle sending two people — creative director Joe Zee and executive accessories editor Kate Davidson Hudson — John Galliano is planning to show his Fall 2009 Dior couture collection twice because he's using a smaller location this year.  Meanwhile, Carlos Souza is inaugurating his return to Valentino with a big bash post-show, and early reports of Christian Lacroix's "fightback" couture collection are "pretty glowing." [FWD]

>> INSIDER WIRE —Despite the failure of the Elle-centric Stylista to catch on, the magazine continues to look for television partnerships now that their Project Runway sponsorship is through — after all, that's what they signed CAA for — and it seems they've set their sights on The City. Creative director Joe Zee, who made an appearance on the first season of The City, was rumored to be expanding his role in the show's upcoming second season with a six-episode arc, and now sources are saying that the show's "villain" Olivia Palermo will be ditching her role at Diane von Furstenberg for a post in Elle's publicity department. [Page Six]

>> Elle hired Los Angeles talent agency CAA earlier this year to help them dig up more film and television partnerships — now that Stylista is over, they no longer sponsor Project Runway, and guest stints on Ugly Betty haven't turned into anything more permanent — and it looks like the agency is working their magic.  Creative director Joe Zee, who made a cameo on The City last season, is rumored to be expanding his role for the upcoming second season with a six-episode run, but an Elle rep wouldn't comment.

Diane von Furstenberg, meanwhile, who did have a decently substantial role in the show, since star Whitney Port was in her employ, looks to have put an end to her flirtation with reality TV: Whitney was passed over for a promotion at DVF, and is said to be filming scenes for the second season in the digs of previous employer People's Revolution.
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>> INSIDER WIRE — Ready to get intimate with Elle creative director Joe Zee's eating habits?  His food diary reads a little differently than fashion news director Anne Slowey's infamous Fashion Week diary.  For instance, he says boldface restaurant Bar Pitti "has been my staple for almost twenty years. I had penne sugo, which is meat sauce, a thing they’ve been making for me off the menu for as long as I’ve been going there. I think it went on the menu about two or three years ago."  And if you ever want a token Zee sighting, "I’m a creature of habit, so I do all my breakfast meetings at Café Cluny, and I do all my lunch meetings at Michael’s." [NYMag]

>> Isabel Toledo may have shelled out for that lemongrass fabric she used to make Michelle Obama's inaugural day dress — it rings in at $500 a yard — but it's Jason Wu who will be reaping the Fashion Week benefits of an Obama nod.

In fact, Wu's show "might be the hottest ticket in town" — right after Marc Jacobs — according to The New York Observer.  Elle is sending seven more staffers than it did to Wu's Spring 2009 show — including editor-in-chief Robbie Myers, creative director Joe Zee, and style director Kate Lanphear.  Bergdorf Goodman is bringing its entire buying team, in addition to fashion director Linda Fargo and senior women's fashion director Roopal Patel, who attended last season.  Anna Wintour is sure to attend again, especially since she was already front row for the Spring 2009 show.

"I feel extreme pressure . . . »

>> Elle has hopped on the sports celebrity intern train: Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Stewart Bradley just started at the magazine Monday and for several months will be working under creative director Joe Zee.  Sounds like Sean Avery at Vogue all over again.

Stewart is said to have worked on a photo shoot his first day and may be attending New York Fashion Week with the magazine later this month.  He was told he could start his day at "9:30 or whenever" and yesterday, he attended a Diane von Furstenberg lunch, where he told Diane he took the internship because he's "always looking at fashion magazines and . . . wanted to do something different this season."

By day two of his job, he was already "help[ing] pick out some clothes and working on the next two issues" — at that rate, he could have a movie deal about his experiences and a burgeoning career in celebrity styling before we know it.
*image: source