alber elbaz

>> Yesterday, Riccardo Tisci addressed the rumors of his designing for Dior, and now another rumored contender — Haider Ackermann, who apparently has received overtures from LVMH — has spoken on the possibility: "Yeah, there are places that I would like to go [design for], but it's just a question of . . . it's like a love affair, you just have to meet the right person, look together in the same direction. But, you know, you have a repertoire of your own, and sometimes, [you're] thinking you would like something else to express, and the code of another house might help. I don't know . . . we'll see, we'll see."

Alber Elbaz is also said to be under consideration, but WWD points out: "Elbaz remains under contract to Lanvin. He’s believed to have equity, and is said to be, for the moment, at least, not interested in leaving."

>> In the aftermath of John Galliano's dismissal, it is understood that Christian Dior plans to go ahead with its runway show on Friday. The Fall 2011 collection to be shown will be Galliano's last for Dior. Will the usual suspects be in attendance in light of the scandal? Time will tell.

And WSJ's Christina Binkley predicts via Twitter: "Don't expect the Galliano thing to end easily. French gov't will likely require a process, and there's the Galliano line to contend with." She's referring to the fate of Galliano's eponymous label — which, like Dior, is owned by LVMH. It also is expected to show as usual, but as for guest attendance, it sounds like even the label's own PR is unsure — they apparently sent out an email today asking attendees to confirm their presence. And will Kate Moss continue to have Galliano design her wedding dress?

For the conspiracy theorists, Fashionista reports: "We’re hearing rumors that the video was from October and released this week because Dior has wanted Galliano out for some time. It’s true, the timing of all this does seem suspect – the quickness with which Dior put Galliano on suspension, and the subsequent allegation that followed, capped by the release of video, the final nail in Galliano’s coffin. Word is Galliano’s alcoholism (he was often reported to be seen drunk at La Perle) and bigotry had been problems for some time." And Fashion Television's Jeanne Beker tweets: "I've seen Galliano rant and rave before. He really does need help. I love the guy (or thought I did) but am sickened by what's gone on."

So who will succeed Galliano? T's Horacio Silva tweets: "So John Galliano has been fired. Who's going to get the call — Riccardo Tisci or Alber Elbaz?" And the International Herald Tribune's Jessica Michault responds: "The safe bet is Riccardo Tisci." Other names that have been thrown around on Twitter are Olivier Theyskens, Hedi Slimane, and Haider Ackermann.

At Fab, we believe in strategic spending: each season we invest in a few good pieces that we believe will withstand the test of time and changing styles, and then we fill in the holes with affordable goodies from brands like Zara, H&M, and Target collaborations. So, each week we'll bring you an item from our Covet List.

The Piece: Lanvin Peep-Toe Wedge

The Investment: $1,120

Why We Covet: Alber Elbaz is one of fashion's most beloved designers, partly because he seems sincerely to care about making women look and feel beautiful. These wedges are no exception: the sky-high platform ensures we will look supermodel tall, and the sexy python print is countered with a feminine nude grosgrain ribbon. Finally, the peep-toe ensures we can show off our pedicure — we think gray would look amazing.

>> Alber Elbaz, in presenting the Lanvin Pre-Fall 2011 collection yesterday, explained to the audience: “I see Internets every morning — I don’t have an email address and, you know, I don’t do Internet, but every morning my boyfriend, Alex, makes me coffee and we watch these images. And more and more I see these stylish women wearing all these evening dresses for day, and I thought, how beautiful. So it’s not just about the nice gray sweater and the nice, I don’t know, that nice straight skirt, but it’s becoming a little bit more elaborated during the day.” [The Cut]

• Rachel Zoe confirms she is having a baby boy — PopSugar
• "Visionary" Lady Gaga unveils her new Polaroid collection — People
• Alber Elbaz doesn't have email, but his Pre-Fall collection for Lanvin was born from the Internet — The Cut
• Dennis Freedman named Barneys creative director, Simon Doonan bumped to "creative ambassador-at-large" — Stylelist
• Behold: the Viktor & Rolf "It" bag — Nylon Blog
• Happy 1.11.11! Designers share their favorite numbers — Vogue Daily
• Fab looks from the Stella McCartney Autumn collection — FabSugar UK
• Vogue.com celebrates its 15th anniversary — Vogue UK
• Watch Karl Lagerfeld's latest Chanel short film, "Window World" — Fashionologie
• Alexander McQueen 3D Leaves Knuckle box clutch — Bag Snob
• Outfits under $100: stylish and comfy travel clothes — College Fashion

>> Editors — including Katie Grand — were regularly spotted exiting the Lanvin for H&M preshopping event on Thursday with three or four bags, and Meredith Melling Burke wore the collection's red tulle dress to Vogue writer Stephanie LaCava's black tie wedding over the weekend, so it's no surprise that when made available to the masses on Saturday, consumers reacted similarly, often spending, as The Cut points out, as much as they might on a piece from the Lanvin runway collection.

WWD tracked shoppers in New York and LA shelling out $1,700 or $1,800 in one fell swoop — the former shopper noting it was "the most I've ever spent in my life" — and one man who spent $3,000 buying up basically everything in the women's collection for his wife, who "is pregnant and can't be here, so I am doing a run."

Alber Elbaz, originally said he planned to head home from New York on Saturday — "You could have a baby in the time it took us to work on this. I'm going to be in bed, watching TV, and ordering Chinese food." But it seems he had a change of heart. He arrived a bit before 8 a.m. in a black Town Car across from the Manhattan H&M flagship to marvel at the line. "We stayed in New York one more night so we could see this," Elbaz told WWD. "I don’t dare go in. I can't believe it. I was sure there would be no one. I was a bit panicked. This is a once in a lifetime experience." But he must have gotten the courage to exit the vehicle, because he was snapped outside taking it all in.