Posted: 09 May 2011 06:43 AM PDT

After receiving lukewarm reviews for her snakeskin print-heavy Fall 2011 collection, rumors swirled last March that Chloé designer Hannah MacGibbon would be ousted from the label. Word then came that Chloé had extended MacGibbon's contract for one more season. In hindsight, the label's statement at the time was somewhat cryptic. The higher-ups at Chloé told WWD, "Hannah is still with us, that's all I can say." Not an entirely convincing vote of confidence.

News broke this morning that effective June 1, Pringle of Scotland's former creative director Clare Waight Keller would be taking the helm at Chloé. Hannah MacGibbon will "pursue new projects."

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The World’s Ten Most Powerful Luxury Brands: 2011 Edition

Posted: 09 May 2011 06:26 AM PDT

If the financial gains that luxury brands experienced in the last year are any indication, we may finally be digging our way out of this recession. After a dismal 2009 with modest gains and quite a few brands experiencing losses, this year's top ten luxury brand list should have companies brimming with optimism for the future.

Millward Brown Optimor released its annual list of the World's Most Powerful Brands this morning. (A little background: Millward Brown is part of WPP, a massive company that's made up of a bunch of advertising firms, including Grey and Ogilvy & Mather. Optimor does brand analysis for many of these firms.)

We talked to Millward Brown vice president, Pierre Dupreelle, and his colleague Daniella Segal, who is a senior consultant at the firm, to get their take on the state of the luxury market. This year the category is up 19% as a whole, almost back to pre-recession levels.

There was some shifting of rank order in the latter half of this year's list compared to last year, but with the exception of two companies, all made pretty stellar gains. The three big reasons for this?

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My Latest Obsession: Blush Tones

Posted: 09 May 2011 06:15 AM PDT

Maybe it’s my love for all things ballet that burned Chloe’s spring 2011 collection into my brain. My favorite looks? Those gorgeous dusty rose and blush-toned gauzy pleated skirts with tight bandage tops or leotard-tight long sleeved tops in creams and nudes. All paired with ballet flats that are dead wringers for the Capezios I wore to ballet class when I was little, minus the elastic strap.

Ever since Chloe spring 2011 I’ve been drawn to all things delicate and flimsy and blush toned. Beiges nudes and blush tones instantly class-up an outfit. Like this classic Equipment blouse in nude ($208, Shopbop). It’s the sort of staple that makes you look and feel expensive whether you’re pairing it with white Celine pants or skinny jeans or a pencil skirt at the office.

I’m also loving this simple, clean button down dress from Cacherel ($640, ShopZoe). But here’s the thing about this dress, and the Chloe dresses and the Equipment blouse: blush tones are really hard colors to wear! Only folks with the right coloring can wear them without getting completely washed out, and I’m one of those people who gets washed out. It is not a good look. So this is purely a fantasy obsession for me. It doesn’t stop me from gravitating toward every blush toned piece in every store I shop, but luckily a good friend is always nearby to say “No!” Except of course, when it comes to shoes.

If you, like me, can’t pull of blush tones as clothes, shoes are the magic loophole. Who can deny that nude Louboutins are the best things to ever happen to your legs? They add inches to your gams and elevate any look. If only they didn’t cost half my rent…(the 100MM simple pump, $595, Christian Louboutin).

While there’s no substitute for nude Louboutin pumps, I think I found a creative way to get part of Chloe’s spring look without shelling out thousands. Those perfect Chloe ballet flats that I likened to Capezios? Why not just get the Capezios and put a sole on them? They look exactly like Chloe’s flats but cost $24 instead of $375.

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Rosemount Australian Fashion Week: Dion Lee Lives Up To the Hype

Posted: 08 May 2011 08:34 AM PDT

SYDNEY–After wowing the fashion world at his RAFW show last year, Dion Lee had a lot to live up to with his spring 2012 show Thursday morning in Sydney.

The collection was entitled “Composure” and was just that: composed and self-contained, proving that Lee didn't crack under the palpable pressure.

His modern, architectural aesthetic was evident from the first look out–a perfectly structured three-dimensional gray mini-dress, and stayed present throughout. However there was also a softer element this year. Structured tailoring was contrasted with softly draped dresses, pleating and relaxed shapes. The sex appeal was quietly confident with short hems, high slits and sheerness playing against austere silhouettes.

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