Biz Buzz: Weekly Round-Up

Biz Buzz keeps its fabulously accessorized ear to the ground to provide breaking fashion news coverage.

After Christophe Decarnin’s bizarre absence from his Autumn/Winter 2011 show for Balmain fueled rumors of a drug addiction and a stint in a mental hospital, Balmain announced in a press release on Wednesday that he has left the label, according to the New York Times. A Fashionista article speculates that he will probably be replaced by Melanie Ward, who worked for Helmut Lang and replaced Emmanuel Alt at Balmain three weeks before the Autumn/Winter 2011 show.

Christophe Decarnin, courtesy of Interview Magazine via The Blay Report

Carine Roitfeld is adding another freelancing job to her list: styling the Chanel fall campaign. She styled model, Freja Beha Erichsen, for a shoot photographed by Karl Lagerfeld, according to Women’s Wear Daily.

Carine Roitfeld, courtesy of New York Magazine

American Apparel is in deep trouble. Aside from the numerous allegations of sexual abuse surrounding company CEO Dov Charney, it also seems as though the company is having financial problems. According to the New York Post, the company lost $86 million last year and might have to file for bankruptcy, according to PE Hub. But Charney told the Post, “This is going to be a year of renewal for American Apparel.”

Dov Charney, courtest of Getty Images via New York Magazine

Dani Stahl, style director at Nylon is stepping down from this role for an at-large position at the magazine so she can have time to work on some of her other projects, which include working as a stylist and designing for jewelry line, Lia Sophia, according to the New York Post.

Dani Stahl, courtesy of WireImage

In magazine news of the week, Style.com, which is owned by Condé Nast, is set to launch a print magazine to accompany its website. The first magazine will be released sometime in October, according to Fashionista.

Style.com screenshot, courtesy of Styleite

If you have an extra $3,300 laying around, why not invest it in Jane Birkin’s very own used Hermès Birkin bag? The bag is currently being offered on eBay, and proceeds from the auction will benefit Red Cross relief efforts in Japan.

Jane Birkin’s namesake bag, courtesy of eBay

-Julie Kosin

Biz Buzz: Weekly Round-Up

Biz Buzz keeps its fabulously accessorized ear to the ground to provide breaking fashion news coverage.

Scott Schuman, famous for his mega-popular blog The Sartorialist, incited a hailstorm of fury Wednesday after posting pictures of fashion blogger Angelica Ardasheva and calling her “bigger” and “sturdy.” The post had 1,426 comments at the time this ‘Cuse Clothes Line post was written. Many of the commentators were unhappy that this girl was considered heavier or plus sized. Schuman updated the post by saying, “I love a post like this. It creates a real and important conversation. A number of the commenters are upset by the word ‘curvy.’ They feel I should have used the word ‘normal.’ However, normal is relative. There is a young lady on my team who is 5'0", and another who is 5'9". Which would be ‘normal’?” Ardasheva responded to the controversy on her blog by saying that she thought she has a “normal body” but “did not mind [Schuman’s comments] at all.”

The photos of Ardasheva that appeared on The Sartorialist, courtesy of Jezebel

Knockoff versions of designer bags are not a new trend, but designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler are not happy that Target is making knockoffs of their PS1 bag under their Mossimo line. “The attitude, the slouch of the bag — they got the weight really right,” Hernandez told the New York Times. This is especially an issue because Proenza Schouler has collaborated with Target on their Go International Collection. “So our product is in Target right now, and then this bag comes out. It’s just disappointing, especially from someone we worked with,” said Shirley Cook, Proenza Schouler’s chief executive.

The Proenza Schouler PS1, courtesy of The New York Times

The Mossimo for Target PS1 knockoff, courtesy of Fashionista.com

Carine Roitfeld, the former editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris, is now working as a guest editor and stylist for Barneys New York. She’ll work on its fall ad campaign, catalogue and window displays, according to Women’s Wear Daily.

Carine Roitfeld, courtesy of style.com

Super stylist Rachel Zoe and husband Roger Berman welcomed their first child, Skyler Morrison Berman on Thursday, March 24. “Thank you all so much for your love! @rbermanus and I couldn't be happier with little Skyler Morrison in our arms...he is everything,” Zoe tweeted Thursday. She posted a photo of the family on Twitter the following Wednesday.

Roger Berman and Rachel Zoe with their son Skyler Morrison Berman, courtesy of rachelzoe.com

Other news in Zoe-land has Rachel’s former assistant, Brad Goreski, launching his own series on Bravo, the channel that made him famous with The Rachel Zoe Project. “I'm so excited about my show on @bravotv!! Can't wait to start filming ‘Its a Brad Brad World!!’ Dream come true!!” Goreski tweeted Wednesday.

Brad Goreski, courtesy of style.com

-Julie Kosin