Karl Lagerfeld

On August 30 and 31, the new Mumm Grand Cordon champagne was exhibited at Croatia’s Hula Hula Beach Club. For each order of champagne at the Club, a bottle was flown over the sea by a drone. Music accompanied the delivery—those receiving the champagne would get a particularly special experience, emphasizing Mumm’s current ‘celebrate’ theme, and its taste for daring innovation.
   The new bottle was created by Ross Lovegrove and has no front label. The G. H. Mumm signature and emblem are printed directly on to the glass, while the Cordon Rouge sash is actually a real red ribbon indented in the glass. The new design meant changes to the traditional champagne production process.
   Karl Lagerfeld Paris has launched its autumn 2016 advertising campaign, Love from Paris, Karl ××, coinciding with the label’s launch in North America. Lagerfeld himself art-directed and photographed the campaign, which was styled by Charlotte Stockdale, and modelled by Joan Smalls and Hailey Baldwin. It’s a predominantly black-and-white collection with colour splashes, featuring prêt-à-porter clothes and accessories.
   Also on the theme of new and luxury: a new leathergoods label, Anna White, has launched in New Zealand, with a contemporary line consisting of the AW1 tote, Liberty shoulder bag and Protagonist clutch. Right now, Anna White is also offering a limited-edition Classique tote, retailing at NZ$650. The range has simple lines with a quality look. It’s the ideal chance to own stylish bags before others jump on board—Anna White’s off to a good start.—Bhavana Bhim with Lucire staff

Willy Vanderperre

Raf Simons, formerly of Jil Sander and Christian Dior, has been appointed chief creative officer of Calvin Klein, including all its sub-brands.
   Calvin Klein, Inc. said in a release it wished to unify all its brands (Calvin Klein Collection, Calvin Klein Platinum, Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein Jeans, Calvin Klein Underwear and Calvin Klein Home) under a single creative vision.
   Simons’ first collections will appear for the fall 2017 season. He will oversee all aspects of design, global marketing, communications, and what the company calls ‘Visual Creative Services’.
   Pieter Mulier was appointed as creative director, working under Simons. Mulier will execute Simons’ creative and design vision for the ready-to-wear ranges, and manage all men’s and women’s design teams under the Calvin Klein brand.
   The company is targeting US$10,000 million in global retail sales. Bringing Calvin Klein Jeans and Calvin Klein Underwear back under the Calvin Klein, Inc. umbrella in 2013 was part of this strategy.
   â€˜The arrival of Raf Simons as chief creative officer signifies a momentous new chapter for Calvin Klein,’ said Steve Shiffman, CEO of Calvin Klein, Inc. ‘Not since Mr Klein himself was at the company has it been led by one creative visionary, and I am confident that this decision will drive the Calvin Klein brand and have a significant impact on its future. Raf’s exceptional contributions have shaped and modernized fashion as we see it today and, under his direction, Calvin Klein will further solidify its position as a leading global lifestyle brand.’

John Varvatos introduced his newest fragrance, Dark Rebel Rider, during a celebratory concert featuring Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown at his New York City Bowery store.
   The event was held immediately following the John Varvatos spring–summer 2017 fashion show on July 14. The night featured a special performance by Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown, a band specially selected by John Varvatos. There to support the Dark Rebel Rider launch were musicians Machine Gun Kelly and Travis Mills, as well as actor Corey Hawkins and athlete–model Dale Moss.
   â€˜Dark Rebel Rider is an extension of the Dark Rebel fragrance collection, which originally launched in 2015. The fragrance is inspired by the bad-boy biker, who walks to his own beat and has an edge but also doesn’t try too hard,’ said John Varvatos. ‘Just like my clothes, the Dark Rebel Rider fragrance is iconic, timeless and represents a courageous attitude. It is a clear expression of a personality that defies the norm.’
   The alluring scent features bitter orange, saffron with black violet and Somalian frankincense amongst the heart of the fragrance. The fragrance is the result of a long-standing collaboration between Varvatos and Givaudan vice-president of perfumery, Rodrigo Flores-Roux. ‘Dark Rebel Rider captures the heart and soul of rebelliousness and bad boy idols through ultra-sexy leather and ambery notes,’ said Flores-Roux. ‘It is luminous but has incredible gravitas and depth; it is supple and sensual but delivers a punch. It is voluminous but never heavy, it is an extraordinary olfactive chiaroscuro.’
   The fragrance is available now exclusively at Bloomingdale’s, and other retailers beginning August 2016, with an MSRP of US$89 for 4·2 fl oz.—Bhavana Bhim

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Above: A design from Prabal Gurung’s spring 2016 collection. This is the sort of easy design that Lane Bryant fans might expect in the New Year.

Lane Bryant, the iconic label catering for sizes 14–28, has announced the exciting new collaboration with the celebrated American ready-to-wear designer Prabal Gurung. Gurung will be creating a limited-edition line of women’s fashion with his signature style exclusively catering for the 14–28 customer.
   Linda Heasley, CEO of Label Bryant, noted in a release, ‘Prabal is a master at mixing materials, fabrics and textures—he pulls it off in such a way that each piece becomes its own artistic statement. His ingenuity at mixing sporty ease with unabashed glamour has made his label a huge success. We are delighted to welcome him to Lane Bryant and offer his innovative fashions, spirit and unique styles to the Lane Bryant customer.’
   Gurung grew up in Nepal, and worked with Indian designers before moving to New York, interning for Donna Karan while studying at Parsons School of Design. His diverse background and eye for modern luxury and glamour is possibly why he is appealing to a range of clients around the world. Gurung has dressed a range of celebrities and dignitaries such as Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Priyanka Chopra. He brings a modern and unique vision to the collaboration.
   Gurung will be the fifth designer collaborating with Lane Bryant joining the successful Christian Siriano, Lela Rose, Sophie Theallet and Isabel Toledo collections. Gurung’s brand recognizes the importance of domestic production, particularly in respect to the quality of the finished product, and he aims to bring this awareness to an international audience.
   Gurung shared, ‘Designing clothes for the modern woman, one who is fashionable and unafraid of how she feels about herself, has always been my source for inspiration. I truly believe that confidence is the key and I continually strive to create clothing that allows women to look and feel their absolute best. I am thrilled to be working with Lane Bryant on this collaboration and look forward to dressing this bold and fashionable customer.’
   Lane Bryant will document the design process for the first time, making it available to a web-based audience on Lane Bryant social media sites.
   The collection is set to hit stores March 2017, and will be sold under the Prabal Gurung Exclusively for Lane Bryant label.—Bhavana Bhim

Pascal Le Segretain; Gareth Cattermole; Kevin Tachman/AmFAR

The swankiest do during the Festival de Cannes is the AmFAR gala, held at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, and presented by Harry Winston and Bold Films. The event, Cinema Against Aids, raised over US$25 million supporting AmFAR, the Foundation for Aids Research, and its pursuit of a cure for HIV–Aids. Sponsors included the Weinstein Company, Renault, and Moët Hennessy.
   Kevin Spacey MCed the event, with his impressive mimicry, playing Johnny Carson, Bill Clinton, Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, and his Frank Underwood from the US House of Cards remake. Adrien Brody, among others, furnished artwork that was auctioned to raise funds for AmFAR; other items included a Damien Hirst sculpture and a week-long stay at Leonardo DiCaprio’s home in Palm Springs. Swiss art auctioneer Simon de Pury presided over the auction.
   Katy Perry (in Marchesa), the Village People, Sister Sledge and the Bluebell Girls performed live, and Carine Roitfeld curated a fashion collection with a disco theme featuring Karlie Kloss (who arrived in Marchesa), Jourdan Dunn, Bella Hadid, and Doutzen Kroes (who arrived wearing Tom Ford), among others. The collection raised over US$1 million.
   Celebrities attending included Brody and DiCaprio, Harvey Weinstein, Dame Helen Mirren (who, like so many of her L’Oréal Paris spokespeople attending, wore make-up from the brand), Milla Jovovich, Paris Hilton (with jewellery by Avakian), Barron Hilton, Uma Thurman, Sonam Kapoor (in Ralph & Russo), Heidi Klum, Irina Shayk (in Miu Miu), Faye Dunaway, Alessandra Ambrosio (in Redemption, with Jimmy Choo shoes and jewellery by Boucheron), Toni Garrn, Jasmine Tookes, Karolína Kurková (in Armani Privé and Harry Winston jewellery) and Archie Drury, Ana Beatriz Barros (in Ralph & Russo), Petra NÄ›mcová (in Georges Chakra with jewellery by Chopard), Barbara Palvin (in Armani Privé), Hailey Clauson, Sasha Luss, Sharam Diniz, Valery Kaufman, Izabel Goulart, Sophie Taylor, Chanel Iman, Liu Wen, Elle Fanning, Joel Edgerton, Orlando Bloom, Chris Tucker, Kirsten Dunst, Vanessa Paradis, Diego Luna, Mads Mikkelsen, Joel Edgerton, Juliette Binoche, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Eva Herzigova, Chloë Sevigny, Julian Lennon, Lewis Hamilton, Matt Bellamy, Adriana Lima, Nicolas Winding Refn, Nina Agdal, Elif Aksu, Mert Alas, Alina Baikova, Natasha Poly (in Roberto Cavalli), Mischa Barton, Boris Becker, Dean Caten, Dan Caten, Eva Cavalli, Anna Cleveland, Mina Cvetković, Heidi de la Rosa, Lily Donaldson, Isabeli Fontana, Georgia Fowler, Luma Grothe, Jessica Hart, Jacquelyn Jablonski, Xiao Wen Ju, Liya Kebede, Lara Leito, Maryna Linchuk, Angela Lindvall, Sasha Luss, Catrinel Marlon, Angela Martini, Stella Maxwell, Margot Moe, Mia Moretti, Hanne Gaby Odiele, Soo Joo Park, Marcus Piggott, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, Vladimir Roitfeld, Olivier Rousteing, Remo Ruffini, Dragos Savulescu, Lucky Blue Smith, Lara Stone, Daria Strokous, Kasia Struss, Jasmine Tookes, Dasha Zhukova, and AmFAR board chairman Kenneth Cole.

Pascal le Segretain

Emanuel Ungaro celebrated its 50th anniversary on Tuesday, with a party at the Petit Palais in Paris, and launched its La Diva perfume to coincide with the occasion.
   Creative director Fausto Puglisi and president Asim Abdullah played host to 600 guests, who were shown a virtual history of the house in images, choreographed and created by Ali Mahdavi and scored by Monarchy, on the wall of the venue. Salvatore Ferragamo Group CEO Michele Norsa introduced La Diva, with the façade of the Petit Palais showing a projection of the new fragrance’s press image, modelled by Charlotte Free. Ferragamo Parfums has licensed the Emanuel Ungaro brand for the fragrance.
   Guests included Suzy Menkes, Kristina Basan, Elodie Frégé, Frédérique Bel, Leila Ndabirabe, Zahia Dehar, Estelle Lefébure, Catherine Baba, Laurie Cholewa, Karole Rocher, Blanca Li, Jin Weng, Bojana Panić, Alexia Niedzielski, Elizabeth von Guthman, Axelle Lafont, Prince Wenzeslaus of Liechtenstein, Lola le Lann, César Domboy, Richard Orlanski, Frédéric Taddei, Ariel Wizman, Nicolas and Alexandre Lestrat, Kyle Eastwood, Kamel Ouali, Aure Atika, Isabelle Funaro, Amanda Sthers, Fausto Puglisi, Ali Mahdavi, Benjamin Belin, Manu Katché, Frédérique Lopez, and Sofiia Manousha.
   Musical trio LEJ (Lucie, Elisa and Juliette) performed live at the Petit Palais, while Marie-Amélie Seigner took over with her DJ set as guests danced till late into the evening.
   The fragrance goes on sale in March, as eaux de parfum in 30, 50 and 100 ml sizes, priced from €39 to €69. The fragrance has top notes of pear and raspberry, midnotes of pink peppercorn, basenotes of honey and vanilla, with a floral heart, enriched with notes of patchouli. Firmenich’s Marie Salamagne created the scent.

Pascal le Segretain

Victor Boyko

Bertrand Noël/SIPA courtesy Endemol and TF1

Iris Mittenaere, Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais, has been crowned Miss France 2016.
   Mittenaere, 22, is a dental student in her fifth year of studies. 20minutes earlier revealed that she scored the most highly in a general knowledge quiz (17·5 out of 20, above the average of 13·5).
   She succeeds Camille Cerf, who took home the title last year, and who was present to crown her successor.
   Miss Martinique, Morgane Edvige, and Miss Tahiti, Vaimitu Teiefitu, were runner-up and second runner-up respectively.
   The competition was held at the Zénith in Lille, hosted for the 21st time by Jean-Pierre Foucault. Sylvie Tellier, a former Miss France, remains the organizer of the event, which is aired live on France’s TF1 network each year, typically netting 8·5 million viewers and a 40­·5 per cent share of the audience. Thirty-one contestants, who had each won regional pageants, competed for the title this year.
   The top 12 were: Miss Martinique, Morgane Edvige; Miss Provence, Julia Courtes; Miss Tahiti, Vaimitu Teiefitu; Miss Côte d’Azur, Leanna Ferrero; Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Iris Mittenaere; Miss Réunion, Azuima Issa; Miss Bretagne, Léa Bizeul; Miss Aquitaine, Gennifer Demey; Miss Alsace, Laura Muller; Miss Languedoc, Lena Stachurski; Miss Centre–Val de Loire, Margaux Bourdin; and Miss Rhône-Alpes, Nora Bengrine.
   These were then narrowed down to a top five of Miss Martinique, Miss Provence, Miss Tahiti, Miss Nord-Pas-de-Calais, and Miss Réunion. The viewing public accounted for 50 per cent of the vote, the judges the other 50 per cent.
   Miss Martinique, Miss Provence and Miss Tahiti tended to top internet users’ polls in France.
   Jean Paul Gaultier chaired the Miss France jury and was joined by actress Laetitia Milot, The Voice: la plus belle voix winner Kendji Girac, Miss France 2009 Chloé Mortaud, singer Patrick Fiori, singer–songwriter Anggun, and rugby union player Frédéric Michalak.
   Gaultier himself emerged on stage during the early part of the telecast wearing a crown of his own creation and a sash, a notable change in raising the judging panel’s profile.
   A regional costume section complemented themed parades referencing the ‘dreams’ of former Miss France winners, including ones based around pirates, cheerleaders, superheroines, toys, Christmas, confectionery, and eveningwear.

Franziska Krug/Getty Images

Above Jean Paul Gaultier earlier this year at Installations by Designer Jean Paul Gaultier at the Swarovski Kristallwelten Store in Wien.

Miss France 2016, which will be decided Saturday night in Lille with a televised final on TF1, has a very different judging line-up, with fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier chairing the panel this year.
   Gaultier takes over from Patrick Bruel, who had replaced Québecois singer Garou last year. Garou had stepped in to the chair when long-time chair Alain Delon quit the position after his remarks supporting the National Front political party in France.
   Gaultier had revealed that he had a favourite segment from the night—one where contestants came out in folkloric costumes—and may have an early favourite contestant already.
   He gave no clues to her identity, but says, ‘Miss France has an ambassadorial role. She must be a diplomat. It is very important that is able to express her ideas well, and that she has ideas. And image must count, too.’
   He told Non Stop People, meanwhile, ‘I always look for characters who can inspire me. I love to highlight different beauties.’
   Gaultier is joined on the jury by actress Laetitia Milot, The Voice: la plus belle voix winner Kendji Girac, Miss France 2009 Chloé Mortaud, singer Patrick Fiori, singer–songwriter Anggun, and rugby union player Frédéric Michalak.
   Gaultier said that he has kept the terrorist attacks of November 13 in mind, and that the competition is timely as something that the French people know and can enjoy.