The New Name to Know

Do you hear that? The keyboard clacking, phone ringing, and the rustle of magazine pages flipping? That’s the sound of editors and buyers trying to figure out who exactly Hannah MacGibbon is and what they can expect from her. Yesterday it was announced that the 38-year old MacGibbon would succeed Paolo Melim Andersson in helming the house of Chloe. Little is known of the designer who has recently been thrust into the style spotlight, save the fact that she assisted Valentino until 2001, when Phoebe Philo plucked her to be part of her Chloe design team. Nary a photo of MacGibbon exists online—nada on Patrick McMullan, zilch on Wireimage, girlfriend isn’t even on Facebook—to try and analyze her personal style.

Or so I thought! Remembering a runway bow that made waves a few seasons back, I scurried over to Style.com early this morning, and voila: a picture, potentially, of Miss MacGibbon. Could an art-school student mix of overly baggy jeans, platform heels, and scruffy socks be back for Chloe’s Spring ’09? Only time will tell, and ‘till then the fashion world will be eager to know more about MacGibbon.

The Chloe team, Fall/Winter 2006

MacGibbon, is that you? 

Snap = Style.com

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This week, the Central Martins students shuffled back to class after skipping out to see the London shows, and news of the Milan festivities slowly started trickling in. As in many previous seasons, the most interesting things happened off the runway–or rather around it. For instance, Cathy Horyn got kicked out of the Armani show, and told the world—in her inscrutable, matter-of-fact way—all about it. Betcha G.A. didn’t foresee that one!

Horyn herself may want to be on watch, as Elle’s Fashion-Know-It-All Anne Slowey has officially entered the blogosphere with her high-octane prose. New York Magazine, Fashionista, and even the Gray Lady herself, all welcomed Slowey (and her ass) with open arms. Judging by their praise, coming across a witty fashion editor is as rare and wondrous experience as stumbling upon a Balenciaga sample sale.

Those not engrossed in Slowey’s derriere had the opportunity to gaze at Lindsay Lohan’s, as New York Magazine played match-maker with both photographer Bert Stern and Lohan’s Marilyn Monroe-philia.

Many scoffed at the comparison, but fashion elite barely took notice. They were too busy gossiping over the fact that in the same publication, Carine Roitfeld compared her US counterpart to a puppet.

Meanwhile Miss Wintour was on hand in Milan to help The Costume Institute’s Harold Koda give journalists a sneek peak at the upcoming Superheroes exhibition. Observers were impressed with the creativity of the curation, but shocked that Wintour would wear the same Prada dress three times.

Speaking of Prada, Muiccia got her lace on which everyone seemed to unanimously–yet again–approve of. Even before getting their hands on the real deal, E-editors got crafty with the lacey little numbers, which is understandable as Photoshop is fun–even more than fashion.

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Too many blogs on your RSS feed? Feel like maybe you missed something this week? Fret not: Find the cliff notes on this week’s style happenings below:

Flighting the post-NYC fashion week flu and general malaise, critics were divided on the divinity level of Marc Jacobs’ fall show. (Brilliant? Or was he bored?) Meanwhile, the designer defended himself by posting—again—on Cathy Horyn’s blog.

Meanwhile, laptop style scribes were equally confounded by the sartorial experiments that took place on the Grammy Awards’ red carpet. (Beyonce: Blonde and a Barbie-blue dress? Really? And who is Natasha Beddingfield again?)

Not to be bothered by the Yankees and their silly music accolade ceremony, the British style aristocracy held not one but two fashion-fueled fetes: The BAFTAS and the Elle Style Awards. The previous showcased the UK’s best and worst, while the latter called into question three things: 1) What exactly does a Style Award look like? 2) Crazy how gold sequins really bring out the Goldie Hawn in Kate Hudson right? 2) Why the great divide between the magazine’s US and UK editions?

Fortunately, there may be something that can bridge the gap: At long last, the cheap’n’cheeky folks at TopShop signed on the dotted line and announced that they’ll open up an outpost in downtown NYC. (Who cares if SoHo is already bursting at the seams? Who else can fill the boho tech void in our collective wardrobes?!!!)

The exciting news came during the climax of London fashion week (prodigy Christopher Kane had the style crowd swooning—again—with his artful tailoring quirks), 7 days worth of festivities in which a few new talents basked in the limelight as did a few casualties: Color-chameleon model Agyness Deyn came down—down the runway that is—with a case of pink-eye. Trend alert: Eye-patches are the new faux-glasses!

Speaking of unlikely trends: As if wearing cowl-neck jersey dresses with Chanel bags and Ugg boots weren’t enough, The Hills’ Heidi Montag followed in the footsteps of frenemy Lauren Conrad by mocking the fashion industry by launching her own label.

In related Hollywood mind-benders, Fendi continued its around-the-world party spree with a Beverly Hills boutique opening which drew the likes of Kate Mara, Rose McGowan, and Lindsay Lohan herself. Should inquiring minds want to know, La Lohan will soon play La Ritana, a prostitute in Dare to Love Me, a film about Argentinean Tango legend Carlos Gardel. (A legend!) And on that note, so ends the first installment of It Happened This Week in Fashion.

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