THE WEEK IN FASHION: SEPTEMBER 5-12th

Posted by Kasia Hastings and Bethan Holt

So we've just about recovered from four weeks of shows...

REMEMBERING VIDAL SASSOON

Friends and family paid tribute today to one of hairstyling's legendary figures. Vidal Sassoon was described as a "generous and compassionate man" during the service at St Paul's Cathedral this morning. The service was made up of both Jewish and Christian tradition (Sassoon a lifelong anti-Semetic campaigner) and attended by friends such as Zandra Rhodes, Michael Caine and Jeremy Irons, amongst many others who remembered him for his contribution to fashion, culture and human rights.

Rex Features

CHANEL LBJ EXHIBITION
Last night Chanel opened their Little Black Jacket exhibition in London at the Saatchi Gallery following the success of their book, "The Little Black Jacket" this summer and the subsequent exhibition in New York. Naturally, Karl Lagerfeld invited London beauties such as Alice Dellal, Eva Herzigova, Yasmin le Bon and Amanda Harlech to mark the occasion. The exhibition itself consists of more than 100 black and white photos of Karl's favourite muses (some more surprising...Kanye) all sporting the iconic jacket. Sounds like a perfect Sunday afternoon treat to me - The exhibition is on until October 28th and admission is free.

Image: bohomoth.com

WHAT'S NEXT FOR CARINE

Is there no stopping Carine Roitfeld? Just when we all thought she had settled nicely into her CR Fashion Book project she goes and announces yet another string to her bow. And it's a fascinating one at that as Roitfeld is assuming the newly created role of Global Creative Director for Harper's Bazaar, published by Hearst and major rival to her former employers, Vogue owners Conde-Nast. Fans of Roitfeld's work should rejoice as the move will make her work way more accessible; her stories, which look set to include covers, will appear in Harpers editions around the world. She will be working closely with her friend Stephen Gan, Harper's Bazaar creative Director. Hearst's President and Chief Executive, Duncan Edwards said in a statement, “This collaboration marks the first time anything like this has been done, and we’re very excited about what Carine will bring to Bazaar editions around the world.”. Bring on the March editions which will be the first to feature Carine's shoots.

The Roifeld-Restoins en famille at the launch of CR Fashion Book Image: Bazaar.com

THE DUCHESS OF NEWCASTLE

Today it has come to light that the Duchess of Cambridge dressed up as Cheryl Cole and performed her hit "Fight For This Love" on her hen night. In her forthcoming autobiography Cheryl Cole reveals that it was Prince William who personally informed her of Kate's tribute back in June at the Jubilee Concert in which she performed. The Duchess is said to have donned Cheryl's famous split trousers and have been step perfect, now that we'd like to see, so much in fact that we have recreated the look for ourselves...

ALEXA CHUNG'S BOOK IS NOT A STYLE BIBLE
Alex Chung has insisted that her new book is not to be taken as a style bible! The style icon and Vogue contributor told Fashionista.com, "It's basically a compendium of drawings and photographs, and I'm going to write about a bunch of stuff,"- phew, no Victoria Beckham dictatorial then. Alexa's book is expected to be published next September by Penguin Books.

TREND: ENGAGEMENTS:
The bigger the better - Blake Lively and Jennifer Aniston have been flashing their atomic sized rocks this week in the latest round of celeb ring-offs. Blake Lively made her first public appearance since marrying Ryan Reynolds at the Chanel Bijoux De Diamant 80th Anniversary celebration earlier this week.  The Chanel campaign star's ring is reported to have cost $2m, the rose coloured diamond is the stuff of child fantasy and was paired with a similarly sugary Chanel AW12 dress. Meanwhile Brit girl Poppy Delevigne received an extraordinary proposal from her beau James Cook, whom she has been dating since 2007. Poppy's proposal came in the form of a bespoke jewellery box with an inscribed message by British designer, Anya Hinmarch. We hope Poppy knows it's James she's marrying and not Anya.

Delevigne tweeted "Err YES...#happiestdayofmylife" along with a photo of the jewellery box.

THE SAINT LAURENT DEBATE CONTINUES 

The Saint Laurent debate continued this week as Cameron Silver spoke out against Hedi Slimane's debut collect for the Paris fashion house. The L.A. "antique" store owner spoke to British Vogue about the "vintage education" he gave Raf Simmos before the designer embarked on his spring collection,  and of Slimane told them, "If you're going to present yourself as the messiah then you better deliver the 11th commandment". Ouch. Silver's branded Slimane's collection as, "too referential" and confirmed it as the wardrobe of every L.A. girl of the past 5 years. It seems there is still appreciation for Slimane's collection in the form of Francois-Henri Pinault, CEO and chairman of PPR who own Yves Saint Laurent. He spoke to WWD, publicly backing the collection. Finally, Susie Lau of Style Bubble wrote a great piece this week in the light of the Saint Laurent collection about what really constitutes "modern"- is what the average, non- super fashion girl wants to wear now? Or is it what is deemed experimental and entirely new by critics?

Image: ITVE/PA Wire

BRITISHISM IN AMERICA

"Crickey, Britishism are everywhere" wrote Alex Williams in the "Style" section of the New York Times this week. It seems the Downton effect is spreading beyond the Autumn/Winter catwalks and into the vernacular of the average American, or New Yorker anyway.  Brit colloquialism such as "cheers", "brilliant" and "loo" have been adopted by Americans... Whilst Williams suggests it might be Anglocreep and even annoying we're sure a bit of good old British charm won't hurt and with the likes of Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow way ahead of this trend perhaps it's here to stay. Jolly hockey sticks!

BABY FORD

Congratulations to Tom Ford and his long-term partner Richard Buckley who announced the birth of baby, Alexander John Buckley Ford, last Friday. The pair who have been together for 25 years, kept the pregnancy completely hush hush, Ford previously told Time Out, "if I have children, no one will know about it until the child is born. And no one will ever see the child because I certainly wouldn't use it as a press tool'. Looks like we'll be waiting a long time to see little Alexander John in a Ford suit.

vogue.co.uk

MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA FOR H&M

H&M released the first images of their latest designer-high street collaboration this week shot by artist and director Sam Taylor-Johnson. The first glimpses of the eagerly anticipated collection from Maison Martin Margiela suggest we can expect chic separates, statement coats and beautiful silhouettes- just the thing for a winter pick me up. The collection is available online and in store from November 15th.

HUGO BOSS AT THE NATIONAL THEATRE 

This week the first of Hugo Boss and the National Theatre's creative collaboration took to the stage in the opening night of Frank McGuinness' production of Tirso de Molina's Damned Despair. This is the first time the National has joined forces with a designer and with Hugo Boss set to create all the costumes for their forthcoming contemporary productions we are expecting some extra style with our next slice of culture. It's also an interesting development in the wider context of fashion gaining cultural capital and the stage as a commercial space.

Finally, check out the art work for RiRi's new album... Taking graffiti to the next lev

Image: JustJared.com