Arnault’s Big Donation, Going Crazy for Lisa, Victoria’s Secret’s New Tour

ARNAULT’S BIG GIFT: The Arnault family is stepping up to the plate to support the French food bank charity Restos du Coeur with a donation of 10 million euros.

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton chairman Bernard Arnault pledged the sum Monday. LVMH’s head of communication, image and environment Antoine Arnault and Tag Heuer chief executive officer Frédéric Arnault formalized the donation during a visit to the charity’s Paris headquarters Tuesday alongside French Minister for Solidarity Aurore Bergé.

The donation follows an appeal by organization president Patrice Douret for funding to help the non-profit fill its financial gap of 35 million euros.

Antoine Arnault took to the stage to speak on behalf of the family.

“Frédéric and I are very touched on behalf of the rest of my family, and Bernard Arnault in particular,” he said, noting that it was a “spontaneous gesture” by the family following Douret’s appeal.

“It seemed like our responsibility on Sunday to answer that call,” he said. “It was…a moving call for a magnificent association which is part of our lives, which holds a very dear place in the hearts of the French. I’m a little over 45 years old so I remember the birth of Restos du Coeur and of course everything that this magnificent association does.”

The charity, which distributes food packages and hot meals to those in need, was founded in 1985 by French comedian and actor Coluche, who died in a motorbike accident shortly afterwards.

Arnault was eager to emphasize LVMH’s charitable efforts outside of its luxury business.

He mentioned the conglomerate’s quick-step change at its fragrance factories during the early days of the pandemic to switch from making perfume to creating hand sanitizer, and the group and family’s pledge of funds towards the reconstruction of Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral following a catastrophic fire in 2019. He added the family and the group also participate in many other charitable donations.

“The LVMH group and our family, through the family company, may seem distant from the concerns of the beneficiaries, volunteers, and employees of Restos du Coeur,” he said. “Well, that’s not true. We are a responsible group, we are a united group, and I think it is important to say that too. We try to be as responsible as possible. And when there is a crisis situation like this, we respond.”

Bergé thanked the Arnault family and called on other companies to contribute.

During an interview on French TV channel TF1 on Sept. 3, Douret said the organization, which provides roughly 35 percent of the country’s food aid, is facing financial difficulties because of an increase in operating costs due to inflation and a “very significant increase” in need. He warned that 150,000 people could be turned away from aid this winter.

Following the announcement, the French government promised 15 million euros in funding for the Restos du Coeur. French supermarket chain Carrefour and Mousquetaires, parent company of supermarkets Intermarché and Netto, have also pledged to contribute.

Bernard Arnault, who regularly tops the world’s rich list, is estimated to be worth upwards of 215 billion euros. — RHONDA RICHFORD

CRAZY FOR YOU: Blackpink’s Lisa Manobal will apply her dancing prowess — and global star power — to Paris institution Crazy Horse, becoming a “Crazy Girl” herself.

The popular cabaret on Avenue George V announced on Tuesday that the K-pop star would headline five performances on Sept. 28, 29 and 30.

According to the Crazy Horse, Manobal has long been a fan of its unique style and will perform several solo scenes and appear with the troupe, reprising original numbers from the cabaret’s repertoire. These are to include such popular musical numbers as “But I Am a Good Girl” and “Crisis? What Crisis?”

Manobal is to wear the usual costumes for the show, “while giving them a personal touch.”

Crazy Horse has a long history of inviting guest stars to appear on its compact stage, including the likes of Arielle Dombasle, Conchita Wurst, Pamela Anderson and Dita Von Teese, who helped the cabaret mark its 65th anniversary in 2015.

The cabaret is prized for its artistic approach, occasionally conscripting guest artistic directors such as shoe guru Christian Louboutin and lingerie designer Chantal Thomass to design costumes and sets.

Manobal, known simply as Lisa to Blackpink’s legion of fans, is an ambassador for fashion house Celine, Roman jeweler Bulgari, MAC Cosmetics and others.

The Thai music sensation, prized for her singing, rapping and dancing, has also become a fashion icon. In 2021, she served on the jury of the prestigious French fashion prize ANDAM.

Tickets for the performances are sold only on the Crazy Horse website, which was inaccessible due to a long queue on Tuesday evening. — MILES SOCHA

A SECRET TOUR: Victoria’s Secret is giving customers an inside look at its upcoming fashion show.

The retailer is debuting an immersive “The Tour Experience” on the top floor of its New York City flagship later this month in conjunction with its Victoria’s Secret World Tour fashion show, which will debut on Prime Video on Sept. 26. 

The in-store experience was created as an extension of the Victoria’s Secret World Tour, which is a reimagination of the retailer’s long-running fashion show. 

“It’s fashion, it’s art and it’s entertainment,” said Albert Gilkey, senior vice president of store design and construction at Victoria’s Secret. “This space is an extension of that reimagination. We’ve also never done this and it’s an exciting time for us to reimagine the experience for the customer and for the brand.” 

The in-store experience will feature all looks presented during the Victoria’s Secret World Tour show, which are created by four designers from Lagos; Tokyo; Bogotà, Colombia; and London. The designers also looked to the Victoria’s Secret archives to reimagine some of the best-known Angel wings that have been presented at past fashion shows. These creations will be on display at the brand’s flagship.

“The Tour Experience” will include a Champagne bar with signature cocktails and mocktails that were inspired by Victoria’s Secret fragrances. Victoria’s Secret enlisted chef Sumaiya Bangee to create custom desserts for the Champagne bar, which also take inspiration from Victoria’s Secret well-known motifs and colors. 

“It’s a sensorial experience that we’re excited to just share with the customer,” Gilkey said. “It’s a pleasure to be able to do that for the brand and just for the customer. We’re a new Victoria’s Secret and that’s what we’re celebrating. The Tour is the ultimate expression of our brand transformation.” — LAYLA ILCHI

SPOTLIGHT ON ROLAND: Pamella Roland has penned a coffee-table book titled “Pamella Roland: Dressing for the Spotlight.” Published by Rizzoli, the book features 20 years of glamorous cocktail dresses, red carpet-ready frocks, and evening gowns from Roland’s collection.

Vanessa Williams, the actress and producer, wrote the book’s foreword.

The book contains 150 photographs, and reveals Roland’s design process, gives a peek into the creation of the collections, as well as some of her favorite memories throughout the brand’s history. There are original sketches, collection inspirations and snapshots of memorable runway and red-carpet moments. Also highlighted are many of Roland’s friends and clients such as Gigi Hadid, Paris Hilton, Chrissy Teigen, Eva Longoria and Kim Cattrall, among others.

“Over 20 years in the world of New York fashion have been thrilling, fun, magical and so rewarding,” said Roland. “I hope the readers of this beautiful book see all our experiences come to life. Working with Rizzoli was an incredible trip down memory lane for me and our team to relive the roller coaster of emotions from so many collections, runway shows, advertising campaigns, team members, celebrity red carpet moments and all the other experiences Pamella Roland has gone through since we launched the brand in 2002. We hope our readers enjoy this book as much as we have enjoyed bringing it to life.”

The book, which comes out Sept. 19 and retails for $85, will be celebrated at an invitation-only cocktail party Thursday night at Times Square Edition.

Roland’s collection is available at such retailers as Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as other domestic and international specialty stores. Her clothes have been worn by such celebrities as Angelina Jolie, Taylor Swift, Karlie Kloss, Jennifer Hudson, Emmy Rossum, Lily Collins, Hilary Rhoda and Madonna, among others.

In 2013, Kendall College of Art and Design revealed the Fashion Studies program called “The Pamella Roland DeVos School of Fashion.” Roland was inducted into the CFDA in 2010, and she recently received the “Top Woman-Owned Business” award in Michigan. — LISA LOCKWOOD

PAINT THE TOWN RED: “Fasten your seatbelt and prepare to make a bold entrance,” wrote Délphine Viguier-Hovasse, global brand president of L’Oréal Paris, in a LinkedIn post by way of introduction to the brand’s latest campaign on Instagram, for its Infaillible Matte Resistance liquid lipstick.

The spot features a vintage Citroën — in lipstick red — and matching XXXXL tube attached to its back. As the car drives up Paris’ Avenue de l’Opéra, it paints a trail of red liquid lipstick from a massive wand and goes past letters spelling out “matte resistance” on the cobbled street. In the distance, the Palais Garnier is draped with a huge banner that reads “L’Oréal Paris.”

As artificial intelligence seeps into the realm of beauty, the fine line between dream and reality blurs.

The lipstick spot is going viral. Just two days after going live on L’Oréal Paris’ Instagram feed, it has garnered 3.5 million views, 122,000 likes and more than a thousand comments.

“Have you seen our lipstick car all around Paris? Dream or reality…?”

Of Infaillible Matte Resistance, Viguier-Hovasse wrote: “With its 16-hour resistance, lasting power meets unstoppable allure.” — JENNIFER WEIL

LONDON CALLING: Selfridges has launched the Yellow Pages, a program that encompasses the best of the luxury retailer’s services, from shopping and design to culture.

The guide takes after the telephone directories of businesses with the same name that was founded in 1886, with the final issue printed in 2019.

The Selfridges version of the Yellow Pages is a 72-page zine that takes into account the cultural happenings around London and Manchester, the retailer’s two destinations, including Danny Boyle’s production of “Free Your Mind” at the Factory International; the 40th anniversary and re-release of “Stop Making Sense,” the documentary about rock band Talking Heads, and artist Gray Wielebinski taking over the windows on Orchard Street to coincide with his exhibition “The Red Sun Is High, the Blue Low” at the ICA.

“We’re positioning ourselves at the epicenter of new season and cultural conversation, helping customers to navigate straight to the ‘good stuff’,” said Laura Weir, executive creative director at Selfridges.

The windows at Selfridges are turning yellow, too, with the department store’s first audio windows.

Trams in Manchester will be taken over by Selfridges, adding their signature shade, as well as Chiltern Street’s Shreeji Newsagents.

The zine will be a guide to activities happening in September and October around Selfridges, such as Versace at The Corner Shop; the Jil Sander Kiosk that will sell coffee and tea, limited edition books, magazines, and stationery; Harris Reed’s debut collection for Nina Ricci, and a Martine Rose pop-up in the Men’s Designer Street Room. — HIKMAT MOHAMMED

SPORT TIME: Iceberg now has a golf line.

The line is a licensed collection and part of a five-year partnership with its Korean partner Amcr and includes men’s and women’s golf apparel and accessories.

It will officially launch with the spring 2024 collection and will be available for sale in selected flagships and department stores only in Korea and worldwide on the brand’s official website. 

Paolo Gerani, Gilmar’s chief executive officer and Iceberg director, said, “The brand has always been close to the world of sports and we have teamed up with a renowned partner like AmazingCre to jump at the opportunity to debut in a field where millions of athletes practice.”

Amcr CEO Paul Bae stated that “Iceberg Golf will show a new charm by combining the expertise and fashion which are essential for premium golfwear.” 

AmazingCre, Amcr’s brand of high-end golf clothing, was launched in 2015 in the U.S. and it featured golf equipment with a technical design based on hydrodynamics. The brand, which guarantees the best performance with high flexibility and keen sense of Italian fabric, was also the title sponsor of AmazingCre Portland Classic, the longest running non-major championship on the LPGA Tour, in 2022. 

Iceberg is controlled by Gilmar Group. James Long was first named Iceberg’s menswear designer, succeeding Federico Curradi, at the end of 2015 and six months later, the company also handed him the creative direction of Iceberg’s womenswear line, which was previously designed by Arthur Arbesser. Along with managing its house brands, Iceberg and Ice Play, Gilmar Group produces and distributes the collections of Paolo Pecora. In addition, the company acquired a minority stake in 2112 Srl, the company operating the No. 21 label, in 2015. — ANDREA ONATE

TAKING A DETOUR: Moleskine’s traveling exhibition, “Detour,” has finally arrived in London at the Saatchi Gallery, including a special installation and custom edition notebook designed by multidisciplinary artist Hannah Marshall.

The exhibition has previously toured Shanghai, Paris and New York, showcasing a selection of works from the Moleskine Foundation Collection, which is home to more than 1,500 artworks created on Moleskine notebooks by a variety creatives, from film director Spike Jonze and conceptual architect Toyo Ito to artist William Kentridge. 

“We have this dream that creativity can change the world, and we’ve tried to bring it to life there with our work, which is focused on supporting underserved communities,” Daniela Riccardi, chief executive officer of Moleskine, told WWD. 

In celebration of its London leg, Moleskine partnered with Marshall to create a new work which encapsulates the artist’s minimalist ethos.

“The Voice Box,” sits in a blacked-out room, where a reconstructed Moleskine notebook lays under a clear box, filled with a thick sheet of glass in place of paper. Over it, a microphone hangs, while the room is filled with the sounds of the artist speaking.

“A notebook is a sacred space — a container to empty ourselves, where our deepest thoughts can be unearthed. It should feel safe and protected,” the artist explained.

“Glass is an amorphous material somewhere between two states of matter. It contains a physical and emotional quality that symbolizes the human body: simultaneously strong yet fragile, transparent but impenetrable,” she added.

Such dualities are at the core of the lengthy résumé of Marshall, who, in addition to previously working as an art and creative director, received a New Gen award from the British Fashion Council in 2008 for her eponymous womenswear label. 

“As a conceptual artist, I am fixated by the tensions that sits in-between two opposing forces. I continually explore the dichotomous relationship between permanence and impermanence, silence and sound — so this is the heartbeat of the installation at the Saatchi Gallery,” Marshall said.

In addition to Marshall’s notebook being sold at the gallery’s gift shop, the notebook is also available to be purchased at Harrods, where a smaller version of the exhibition is on display, including pieces by Joel Chu, Rodrigo Mabunda and Julian Semiao. — VIOLET GOLDSTONE

KHLOÉ’S TOUCH: Fabletics has a new face for its latest campaign: Khloé Kardashian.

The TV personality and entrepreneur, a fitness enthusiast, has selected an edit of activewear items for the brand. Showcasing a desert-inspired theme, the first of two drops is out on Friday.

“Fabletics has been making beautiful, high-quality activewear for everyone from its conception,” Kardashian told WWD in an exclusive statement. Headquartered in El Segundo, California, Fabletics was founded in 2013. “I am thrilled to partner with the brand on this edit as they celebrate the 10th anniversary. Merging my passion for fashion and working out was so natural. The goal was to create stylish looks that exude confidence and beauty. From the details of the sculpted sets to the warm, desert color palette that reminds me of California, I am so proud of how each piece turned out. Every look is versatile and meant for all activities, in or out of the gym. For me, this partnership was not just about creating activewear product. It was an opportunity to align with Fabletics in our joint effort to encourage more people to look and feel their best.”

Made with Fabletics’ “Motion365+” and “Seamless” fabrics, the line includes sports bras, leggings, onesies, a cargo jacket and cropped hoodie. It ranges in size from XXS to 4X in colors like St. Tropez Coral, Palm Leaf and Terracotta. The collection is priced between $34.95 and $109.95 for the brand’s VIP members and $44.95 to $139.95 for nonmembers, available at fabletics.com/khloe. (The company has a VIP program that offers looks at discounted prices.)

“Khloé is an icon,” said Ginger Ressler, cofounder of Fabletics. “She’s an inspiring, resilient woman who’s known for her candor and strength. We’re excited to provide our members access to this special Khloé-inspired collection, each piece made with our most premium performance fabrics and detailed designs. As women who live and value an active lifestyle, it was imperative for every piece to be tested by Khloé in her daily life as a fitness enthusiast, mother of two and highly successful entrepreneur.” — RYMA CHIKHOUNE

IN THE FOREST: Lulu Guinness, best known for her 1993 black satin flower basket, part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s permanent collection, has collaborated with artist Bell Hutley to create a collection inspired by the forest where Slavic folklore figure Baba Yaga resides. 

Velvet-soft capped, spotted mushrooms dot the tops of black baskets embellished with silver diamanté mycelium roots while fungi bag charms are formed from knotted and studded leather.

While veering into darker territory compared to Guinness’ Living Rose Basket, which was released this past May at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show, the witch-inspired collection points to themes of honoring nature and an abstract form of feminism.

After all, while Baba Yaga may be a child-eating crone who lives in a house that walks through the forest on chicken legs, she also represents women living on their own terms in harmony with the forest, according to Guinness.

Both artists have an appreciation for folklore, fairy tales and mystical creatures and characters from such tales, but they fell on Baba Yaga because her home is usually presented in the beautiful yet dangerous ancient woods.

Hutley, known for her whimsical and romantic hand-drawn designs which she prints onto tableware, said the duo’s aligned aesthetics drew her to fables.

“I love how misleading yet enticing Baba Yaga’s forest can be and mushrooms soon became the defining motif of our collaboration. Designing and co-creating this collection, we wanted the characterful, playfulness of fungi and the forest floor to shine through, with elements of darker, romantic tones seeping in,” she explained.

This is the second launch from the brand after filing for bankruptcy protection in 2020 amidst the pandemic. 

Founded in 1989, the designer’s original rose basket is a permanent part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s “The Cutting Edge: 50 Years of British Fashion 1947-1997.” Guinness was appointed an OBE for services to fashion in 2006 by Queen Elizabeth II. — VIOLET GOLDSTONE

TOP THAT: Elie Saab is adding a glamorous final touch to his fall wardrobe thanks to a hookup with Italian hat specialist Borsalino.

Seen on the designer’s fall runway last March, the Borsalino x Elie Saab Nila felt hat will be available from the e-commerce platforms of both brands and in a selection of retailers worldwide from Wednesday.

It comes in black, white and blush pink felt, with a bejeweled Elie Saab monogram and Borsalino’s golden signature.

The Lebanese designer told WWD in an email that “working with exquisite craftsmanship and prowess to execute such material artistry is simply a creative pleasure,” and he called the collaboration a “wonderful experience.”

The houses shared a common vision of “passion, commitment and dedication toward craftsmanship, in addition to the flash of creative inspiration,” said Borsalino general manager Mauro Baglietto, noting that this capsule collection slotted into the Italian hatmaker’s “strategy of experimentation and innovation.”

Creativity aside, the collaboration was a “a simple broadening of our accessories collection to meet our clientele’s growing wants and desires,” said Elie Saab Jr., the fashion house’s chief executive officer.

Since his 2019 appointment, the executive has been looking to add more accessible products. To wit: Sunglasses, footwear and leather goods are becoming markedly more present on the runway and at retail.

While Saab took cues from the art of the 15th century for the collection’s soft colors and big blooms, the silhouettes shown in March ran from reliable red carpet-ready hits to chic quotidian fare of puffer jackets, blazers and sharp daywear accessorized with a wide range of accessories. — LILY TEMPLETON

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