André Leon Talley‘s long tenure at American Vogue seems to be drawing to a close. Talley, who was demoted from editor-at-large to contributor to the magazine in 2010, recently took a job as editor-at-large for the new Russian Numéro. (He did that, he says, for the money: “I took the job because I love Russia and the salary was something fabulous.” Get it, André!) Although at the time Vogue denied rumors that Talley would be leaving the magazine, it now says that Talley’s long-running “Life With André” column will end. Talley will still write for the magazine’s Web site. Talley has worked at Vogue since 1983. Previously, he worked for Diana Vreeland at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Interview, Women’s Wear Daily, W, and Ebony. His Vogue column ran for 16 years. [P6]
Vogue Italia‘s new cover spread is dedicated to all things black, white, and mod. [Vogue Italia]
- Shiseido is the first major cosmetics company to announce how it intends to comply with a new law that bans animal testing of any cosmetic product or ingredient for goods sold within the European Union. The new law goes into effect on March 11. Shiseido says it will no longer engage in animal testing, except in “exceptionally rare” cases where the safety of an ingredient has been seriously questioned. But the company will continue to test products destined for the Chinese market on animals, because animal testing of beauty products is mandatory in that country. [WWD]
- J.C. Penney C.E.O. Ron Johnson got testy on the stand at the Macy’s/J.C. Penney/Martha Stewart trial. Especially when Macy’s lawyer asked him to testify about some emails:
- In a well-publicized e-mail to Penney’s then-president Michael Francis, Johnson wrote of the deal with MSLO and its subsequent rollout on Jan. 24: “Terry [Lundgren, Macy’s C.E.O.] might have a headache tonight..wait until 1/24 he will have a full on migraine :).”
- “Is that a smiley face?” Grossman asked, gesticulating, as reporters and lawyers let out gasps and laughter.
- When Johnson mumbled that he couldn’t tell, Grossman magnified the e-mail on the projector.
- “Yes,” Johnson replied.
- We also learned during Johnson’s testimony that Mickey Drexler of J. Crew sends emails like a Valley Girl. “Love the move!!!” he wrote Johnson after the announcement of J.C. Penney’s deal to sell Martha Stewart’s homewares line. Ongoing. [WWD]
- Is fast fashion economically sustainable? With rising labor prices (and high inflation in general) in China, it may not be for much longer. Like those feel-good bank ads say, in the future there will be no markets left to emerge. [BoF]
- Condé Nast International has made a $20 million investment in the e-commerce venture Farfetch.com. [WWD]
- Swimsuit model/actress Brooklyn Decker has signed on to a CBS sitcom in development with James Van Der Beek. [Soletron]
- And Carol Alt is getting a weekend show about health and beauty on Fox News. [THR]
- Nicolas Ghesquière is the subject of a profile and photo spread in the next issue 032c. Apparently, it’s over 30 pages long, and the reporting was underway before Ghesquière left the house of Balenciaga. [WWD]
- Apparently the owner of the Spanish retail chain Desigual is a reclusive Swiss billionaire named Thomas Meyer:
- The Swiss-born Meyer founded the company in Ibiza, Spain, at age 21, having spent previous summers selling T-shirts on the Mediterranean island known for its nightlife. One of his first popular products was a denim jacket made from discarded jeans, which led him to open his first store in 1986. […]
- According to a 2008 account in the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, Meyer prefers to remain in the background, declining interviews and avoiding Desigual store openings. Those who know him say he is more open in private, the article said, citing people who asked not to be identified.
- “In money matters he is Swiss,” the newspaper quoted an acquaintance as saying. “Otherwise he is very Spanish.”
- Desigual had sales of $903 million last year. [Bloomberg]
- During the last nine months, Christian Dior‘s sales increased year-on-year by 19%, to $1.31 billion. At parent company Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, total sales during the same period rose by 14%, to $22.81 billion. [WWD]
- YSL‘s atelier is moving from a temporary headquarters in Paris to a new atelier in the 7th Arrondissement. The design studio will remain in Los Angeles, where Hedi Slimane lives. [WWD]
- Gucci creative director Frida Giannini and husband Patrizio di Marco, the company president and C.E.O., have welcomed their first child. They named their baby daughter Greta. [WWD]
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