UnCultured

Peter Dundas Appointed Creative Director of Roberto Cavalli

It’s official: Peter Dundas has been appointed the creative director of Roberto Cavalli, WWD reported this morning. Dundas had been at the helm of Emilio Pucci since 2008, and after presenting a very personal collection this season, he brought out his entire team for one last bow. Dundas will show his first ready-to-wear collection for Cavalli in Milan this September.

This is a return home for the Norwegian designer, who worked as the chief designer for Cavalli from 2002 to 2005. We’ll see if he brings the same rock-and-roll attitude back to Cavalli that he brought to Pucci. Stay tuned for more.

Jean Touitou On The Yeezus Tour, The Worst Fashion Trends Today And A.P.C.’s New Bond Street Store

At this point, does Jean Touitou really need an introduction? Since founding A.P.C. in 1987, he has not only cultivated a devout following of customers, but a well-defined and polarizing worldview that is as much a part of his brand as his trademark minimal designs. On some level, he is his own brand's best marketing tool. His nonchalant, yet vocal proclamations of atheism and disdain of modern day street style combined with his uncanny ability to craft a truly amazing quote (see: "Kanye's kingdom of dopeness") all make the product he sells seem that much more authentic. In fact, that stuff justifies the $250 price tag for a basic cotton sweater better than any explanation of fabrics and manufacturing ever could. As customers, we know that when we buy A.P.C. we are buying a product that stands for something, whether we agree with it or not, in a world where so few labels stand for anything.

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Vuitton Confirms Nicolas Ghesquière Hire

Louis Vuitton has named Nicolas Ghesquière — the designer who catapulted Balenciaga to become one of the hottest tickets in Paris — its new artistic director of women’s collections, effective immediately.

“Louis Vuitton has always incarnated for me the symbol of ultimate luxury, innovation and exploration,” Ghesquière said. “I am very honored of the mission that I am entrusted with, and proud to join the history of this great maison. We share common values and a vision.” He succeeds Marc Jacobs, the American designer who stepped down from Vuitton last month after a stellar 16-year tenure to focus on developing his signature brand and ready his namesake company for an initial public offering.

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Sky Ferreira for Saint Laurent Paris, Pre-Fall 2013

Grace Coddington Talks About Her Memoir

When we were offered the rare opportunity to interview Grace Coddington, the longtime creative director of Vogue (and the breakout star of "The September Issue"), we were thrilled. Even more so once we read her recently published memoir Grace. Witty and full of funny anecdotes about her journey from the small town of Anglesey, Wales to the front row of every major fashion show, the book was like gossiping with a colleague about the ins and outs of our industry. In the book, Coddington describes her adventures in modeling in London, her love of cats and, of course, her long tenure at Vogue, working side-by-side with Anna Wintour.

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Edie Campbell & Maria Bradley by Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent Collection Diary Spring/Summer 2013

Givenchy Pre-Fall 2013 Men’s Accessories

Givenchy shares a look at their Pre-Fall 2013 men’s accessories collection. Continuing to blend his iconic aesthetic with the history of the French fashion house, Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci delivers more of the hard-hitting prints that have brought the brand off the runways of Paris and into the streets of America.

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Alexander Wang's Black Christmas

Alexander Wang once again is offering a special gift section in his online shop and black is a reoccuring color theme this year, which, given the context for some of the items (beachball, yoga matt) actually gives the items a humorous appeal rather than a dark one. On this page we feature items displayed in the “Dominatrix” section of the gift store, thus making it a two-for–the item itself plus the experience of participating in some stylishly dominant good times.

Alexander Wang Confirmed As Balenciaga’s New Creative Director

Renowned as a contemporary designer in his own right, New-York based Alexander Wang was recently the topic of discussions regarding the vacant role as creative director of Balenciaga. Confirmed to succeed the outgoing Nicolas Ghesquière, there has been little word from both parties. As one of the brightest within the current crop of American high-fashion designers, it is certain that Wang brings high energy and potential to the Spanish design house, which has been on the receiving end of considerable acclaim during the 15-year period before Ghesquière made his exit. Stay posted for further details as they develop.

Slideshow: Saint Laurent’s Spring 2013 Menswear

In Paris, Hedi Slimane showed his take on the girls of spring/summer — a stream of models clad in billowy skirts, knotted blouses, fitted outerwear, and floppy hats, marking his first womenswear offering. Now Hedi's released his spring 2013 men's look book full of leather jackets, skinny ties, a few high waists, and an overall British Teddy Boy feel. Click here to see the clothes, as photographed by Hedi, of course.

Why Balenciaga’s Designer Was So Influential

The news of Nicolas Ghesquière's departure from Balenciaga  wasn’t just bad news for devotees of his skinny silhouette and philosophic design sensibility, but also for any civilian or celebrity who wore his bags. And even more so, for those who feasted on the details at his  Paris runway show every year, where the clothes were obviously out there, but also an inspiring assemblage of absurdly strong shoulders, metallic bodysuits, and head-to-toe floral separates. Since 1997, he's established himself as a mathematical constant within the fashion world: If other collections disappointed, Balenciaga delighted, even if you didn't get the vibe of the collection right away; even if you weren't quite sure who was wearing these clothes. Until, months later, you would recognize them on some impeccable stranger having a fabulous lunch.

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Nicola Formichetti’s Mugler S/S 2013 Boys

Nicolas Ghesquière to Leave Balenciaga

WWD writes: "The designer and the fashion house are citing a 'joint decision to end their working relationship' effective Nov. 30."After assisting Jean Paul Gaultier, and working on knitwear at Pôles, Ghesquière originally joined Balenciaga, at age 23, to create, "among other things, funeral clothes for the Japanese licensing market," according to the Times. He was named creative director of the brand two years later, in 1997.

Speaking about his rocky start at Balenciaga, Ghesquière recently told the Sunday Times: "Yes, we did have a size issue. We started very skinny, it's true. Strangely, we didn't have fit models at all to ... begin with — just to give you an idea of the size of the company. So we did fittings on the girls at the studio and they were often quite petite. I had a tendency to think good cut and small size, but it should be a good cut in big sizes, too."

As WWD points out, "The news of the separation comes only a month after Ghesquière staged one of the most acclaimed shows of the spring 2013 fashion season." And just as Kristen Stewart found her footing as the ambassador of the brand's Florabotanica scent.