selfridges

Those stories and more in our daily news roundup.

• The company that owns Valentino is selling the Italian fashion house, and the royal family of Qatar is rumored to be the frontrunner in the bidding war. Not true, says Valentino CEO Stefano Sassi. "As previously stated, Valentino has seen increasing interest from a number of potential buyers." [Elle UK]
  

• Sophie Theallet won the US division of the International Woolmark Prize, which honors emerging talent in fashion design. The prize money totals $100,000, and Theallet could win another $100,000 when she competes with other regional winners from around the world in February. [The Cut]
  

• Chloe Moretz has been named the newest brand ambassador for Aéropostale. [Styleite]
  

• Paper editorial director Mickey Boardman says that if he were a rapper, then his name would be Chunky D. [Fashionista]
  

• Lulu Kennedy may have helped start the careers of Gareth Pugh, Roksanda Ilincic, and Jonathan Saunders through her Fashion East initiative, but she would like to clarify that she's not a genie. "I can't grant them wishes," she says of the designers she works with. "They make things happen. They've got to put the work in." [The Guardian]
  

• Karl Lagerfeld's masstige line Karl will be available at Selfridges by the end of the month. [Vogue UK]
  

• The Museum at FIT has relaunched its online platform, the Museum at FIT Online Collections, which allows users to digitally view some 600 pieces in the museum's possession. [UnBeige]

If you're lucky enough to be heading to London for the Summer Olympics, we suggest you head to popular fashion chain Selfridges to snag a piece of Karl Lagerfeld's Olympic-themed capsule collection. The "Team Karl" collection will include limited-edition tees and accessories featuring Karl (decked out in his signature suit) in Olympic-like poses — who knew he could fling a discus? The collection coincides with the launch of the designer's new premium men's line, Karl Lagerfeld Paris Man, and the Kaiser himself will make an appearance at Selfridges to celebrate the launch on July 24.

>> Rachel Zoe has "no idea" what annual sales might be for her new eponymous collection, which hits a long list of stores in July: Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Intermix, Selfridges, Kirna Zabete, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Shopbop.com. But she says she went numb when she heard who had bought the line: “It was this dream that I never thought would be reality because I was petrified — I was. I feel so complete now becoming a designer and having my son. I’m that happiest that I’ve ever been in my life.”

Neiman Marcus, for one, is launching Zoe's sportswear, handbags, and shoes at all 41 of its doors, plus online and at Bergdorf Goodman; "The rollout across the entire Neiman Marcus Group is a rare endorsement of a fledgling brand," WWD notes. Why the decision? "She is a real talent,” Ken Downing, SVP and fashion director of Neiman Marcus, notes of Zoe. “She understands the customer and she’s brought an effortless chic to the collection. The clothes are going to appeal to women of many ages. And, she’s got an amazing name.”

Next up for Zoe? The fourth season of The Rachel Zoe Project, which will begin airing on Bravo in July; and jewelry for Fall 2012. “I wish it were for spring,” Zoe says. “I am dying to do jewelry. I’m gagging.”

Tavi Gevinson's first ever styling gig in Blackbook September 2010.

The LBD gets official.

Elle's offices have bedbugs too.

Miranda Kerr admits she's four months pregnant.

Selfridges vs. Dolce & Gabbana.

Currently available only in the UK but soon to roll out into the US, London cult department store Selfridges enters the e-commerce world with a multimillion-pound investment into a brand-new, flash-filled website. The site will carry more than 500 brands throughout the fashion, accessories, beauty, food, and home categories and feature social networking sections like The Wish Room (in which users can build outfits on mannequins and share looks) and Show Scrapbooks straight from the international runways. All very exciting for our British friends . . .

The magazine industry suffered greatly this week with major layoffs at Conde Nast and Time Inc and significant restructuring within those companies. Mens Vogue, for instance, will be 'absorbed' into it's parent magazine, Vogue. The men's magazine retained only its Editor and Chief, Jay Fielden. 

Zaha Hadid, architect du jour thanks to the Chanel Mobile Art Exhibit in Central Park, has opened an installation exhibit at two venues in Manhattan. The installations show Hadid's interest and talent in large-scale, organic shapes--not to mention, business sense. 

Photos of Charlotte Ronson's collection for JC Penney have surfaced, calling a lot of attention to the somewhat celebrity designer and her ability to strike while the iron is hot. Her collection for JC Penney, called I [Heart] Ronson, will retail between $15 to $65. Pictured above.

If you're a window person, you'll be happy to hear that holiday concepts for Selfridges (the Macy's of London when it comes to tourist-attracting windows) have been released. There will be a window designed by Alexander McQueen and an overarching theme of Santa as urbanite.