azzedine alaia

• Azzedine Alaïa is designing costumes for the LA Philharmonic — Style.com
• Coach is set to open its 9th store in Tokyo — WWD
• Shazam will launch an app for fashion IDs — The Guardian
• Panos Yiapanis is Love magazine's new fashion director at large — BoF
• Issa London's exclusive collection for TheOutnet.com — Vogue UK
• Will Kate Middleton launch a clothing line? — The Daily Beast
• 23 years later, the Pretty Woman dress is making a comeback — Fashionista
• The Hill-Side's animated Spring lookbook — Cool Hunting
• H&M's new collection is inspired by model-off-duty style — Harper's Bazaar

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

• Vanessa Paradis is the new face of H&M's environmentally friendly clothing line Conscious. [NY Daily News]
  

• Loewe and Junya Watanabe are collaborating as part of a joint initiative meant to strengthen relations between Spain and Japan. The first pieces from the collaboration will be unveiled during Watanabe's upcoming Paris Fashion Week show. [Vogue UK]
  

• Dita Von Teese will wear custom Alexis Mabille at the debut of her new burlesque show in Los Angeles next month. [The Belfast Telegraph]
  

• Barneys Chelsea Co-Op may be closing, but rumor has it the retailer is searching for a prime spot in downtown Manhattan for their next flagship. [The Shophound]
  

• Giorgio Armani has opened a new women's-only retail concept in Paris to showcase the designer's couture accessories. [WWD]
  

• Azzedine Alaïa has signed a fragrance and makeup deal with Beauté Prestige International. [Telegraph]
  

• After last season's break, Steven Alan will return to the New York Fashion Week schedule — and this time he's presenting at Lincoln Center. [Fashionologie Inbox]
  

• Betsey Johnson, however, has decided to cancel her usual Fashion Week show. [The Cut]

Photos Courtesy of H&M.

Rihanna worked a black lace-panel Dolce & Gabbana pencil skirt ($1,545) with a sleeveless sweater top by The Row ($450) and sheer Alaia ankle boots ($1,230) while being crowned queen of the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval. The trendsetter's black-on-black ensemble could not have been more appropriate for her newly bestowed honor, while her gold anklet, dazzling hand bracelet, and bevy of eclectic rings injected the perfect amount of bling. The intricate detailing of Rihanna's gorgeous pencil skirt will instantly add polish to any ensemble, so work her exact top, skirt, and booties for an edgy night out or swap her sleeveless topper for this sheer red Do & Be blouse ($50) to take you from the office party to cocktails with the girls.

Stacy Keibler knocked it out of the park with this one — and quite frankly, she left us shaking our heads in LBD reverence. In true Azzedine Alaia style, her vintage black silk dress cut close to the body, showing off her toned form, lots of skin, and a clear mastery of the red-carpet sizzle effect. Between the open-back detail and side cutouts, you wouldn't think there would be any room left for more sex appeal. Wrong. The blond beauty accented her look with a black studded Valentino clutch and embellished Giuseppe Zanotti sandals, proving that the right statement pieces can tie it all together without stealing the spotlight. We may not share Stacy's enviable silhouette, but that certainly doesn't mean we can't evoke the same brand of skin-baring sexiness. With a slick styling approach in place and the perfect black dresses to follow suit, there's no time like the present to emulate her Argo LA premiere ensemble. See our editors' tips and shopping picks below.

• You don't have to take on quite so many cutouts or daring reveals as Stacy did to ooze equal amounts of sex appeal. Instead, focus on one skin-baring detail. Whether it be a side cutout, a low-cut back, a reverse keyhole accent, or a dominatrix-inspired lattice back, accentuate your features in line with what's most comfortable for you. After all, the key to any sexy ensemble is a confident attitude.
• Like Stacy, strike a balance between "less is more" and "more is more," because in this case, both scenarios work harmoniously. We love the way she offset the sizzle factor of her jaw-dropping dress with chic (but totally statement-worthy) pieces and then combined the look with barely there makeup. The studded Valentino clutch and strappy Giuseppe Zanotti sandals certainly added to the sultry feel but didn't infringe on the stunning effect of her perfectly fitted dress. On the flip side, her skin-baring indulgence didn't prove over the top because she juxtaposed it with a longer ankle-length hemline.
• Since we're headed into cooler climates, opt for a long-sleeved black dress. You can complement the modesty on top with a shorter hemline or a more dramatic back cutout. It's up to you, but do remember to dress seasonably and reasonably.

Alessandra Ambrosio modeled leather-trim Rag & Bone shorts ($325) and a metallic top after enjoying a delicious dinner at Mr Chow in LA. Her sparkling off-the-shoulder top and dainty accessories injected the perfect amount of shimmer, while her studded gray Azzedine Alaïa sandals and black Lanvin calf-hair clutch lent a touch of texture. Pair Alessandra's exact shorts with a metallic top and embellished gray sandals to mimic her date-night look, or style her shorts with this knit Rag & Bone sweater ($275), black tights, and matching booties when the temperatures start to cool.

"There was a time when designers hated other designers," Alber Elbaz said in a recent interview with WSJ. Magazine. "But today there is actually major respect between many of us. We understand each other. We are all going through the same stressful process. Before shows we send each other little cards with congratulations; we send each other flowers. We're kind of a crazy family, but still a family. There are many designers I really respect and love. I love Azzedine (Alaïa). I like Narciso (Rodriguez) and Marc (Jacobs) and Nicolas (Ghesquiére) from Balenciaga. The first collection Raf Simons did for Dior was gorgeous. I'm not jealous of people — I'm only jealous of people who can eat and not gain weight. I respect talent. When I see talent and when I see a good person who comes with the talent, I melt."