JACKET JOCKEYS: Black Balmain jackets were de rigueur among the VIPs at the Paris brand’s show Sunday. Actress and model Milla Jovovich wore a black horsehair blazer, while Emmanuelle Seigner, the French actress and wife of filmmaker Roman Polanski, sported a black studded number. Jovovich, in town for a slew of shows with fiancé Paul Anderson, joked that she was looking forward to “Chanel, YSL, anything ending in L.” Seigner, meanwhile, has just finished designing a line of boots for Celine. Adding a touch of royalty to proceedings was Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, designer and daughter of the crown prince of Thailand, who presented her second eponymous collection Saturday night “to great success,” she said.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, FASHION: Filmmaker and writer Sofia Coppola confirmed she has directed the latest advert for Parfums Christian Dior’s Miss Dior Chérie fragrance. The ad, scheduled to bow worldwide early next year, stars Byelorussian model Maryna Linchuk. “It’s about a young woman in Paris,” Coppola said at the Nina Ricci show Sunday, adding that she’s writing a new film, but that “it’s too early to say any more.” Róisin Murphy, meanwhile, feeling all partied out from Milan Fashion Week, said she was ready to hit the sack. The singer said Rolling Stone photographed her last week decked out in Moschino.
PAPER ROUTE: Though discreetly dressed at Kris Van Assche’s show on Saturday, Paper magazine’s girl in Paris, Julia Frakes, who caused a stir when she wore an $8,000 Balenciaga dress to Christian Lacroix’s July couture show, said she has a few attention-grabbing designer numbers in hand for the coming week. The 18-year-old, who’s enrolled in art history and journalism at The New School, has also turned her hand to styling. French actress and singer Julie Gayet, meanwhile, has just wrapped up filming “8xDebout” by up-and-coming Basque director Xabi Molin. Gayet, who put her album on hold for the filming, also sings a couple of songs in the movie. Beauté Prestige International’s president Remy Gomez made a surprising front-row appearance, but insisted eau de Kris isn’t in the cards.
CASABLANCA BOUND: Galeries Lafayette, the French department store chain, is planning to open a franchise in Casablanca, Morocco. A spokeswoman said the deal would be unveiled in mid-November, but declined to identify its partner. Galeries has been exploring international expansion possibilities and has a deal to open in Dubai and is also eyeing a store in China.
FIRST SERVE: German label Talbot Runhof may count Angelina Jolie and Darryl Hannah among its fans, but the guest expected to attend their show next Saturday is a whole different breed of smasher. Word has it veteran tennis star Boris Becker will take a front row seat, accompanied by his fiancée Alessandra Meyer-Wolden.
CURIOUS CREATURES: There’s no taming Lou Doillon’s creative energies. At the Anne Valérie Hash show Sunday, the Parisian “It” girl disclosed she’s designing a G-Shock watch for the Japanese department store Isetan.
“I want it to look like a curiosity cabinet, but I’m learning a lot about production limitations,” said Doillon, who has also been commissioned to design a siphon for Glenmorangie, the LVMH-owned whisky brand.
Sitting next to her, the Misshapes’ Leigh Lezark said she would be spinning at the Sophia Kokosalaki show and Jeremy Scott’s after party. Meanwhile, Hash is to be the next guest designer at the French catalogue giant 3 Suisses. Hash’s line, that will include a bolero tuxedo jacket, accessories and a black crepe jumpsuit, will feature in the catalogue’s spring edition.
BAPTISTA BAGS: Felipe Oliveira Baptista is branching out into bags. Ladylike chain handbags and clutches figure among the line, that is being presented to buyers in Paris this week, rendered in playful hues such as candy-floss pink and mint green. Prices range from 250 to 450 euros wholesale, or around $360 to $650 at current exchange.
HEADING WAY UPTOWN: Macy’s is eyeing Harlem to open its first uptown store, although no deal has been signed. “We are always looking for opportunities but we never say where we are looking or where we may not be looking,” said Jim Sluzewski, Macy’s Inc. spokesman. One possibility is a 31,000-square-foot vacant lot on the southwest corner of Lenox Avenue and 125th Street, which stretches the entire block from 124th to 125th Streets. Macy’s reportedly checked it out but had no luck securing some adjacent buildings, which would have provided a bigger footprint for a store. Macy’s is said to be continuing to search the area, however. There is also a smaller empty lot next to the Apollo Theater and a vacant lot on Park Avenue and 125th Street where there is less pedestrian traffic. The 125th Street corridor is filled with small, moderately priced independent shops, discounters and street vendors. But in the past few years there has been an influx of chains, notably H&M, Body Shop, MAC, Old Navy and Aerosoles, and big boxes will sweep in next year with the opening of East River Plaza, under construction off the FDR Drive between 116th and 119th streets. Best Buy, Target, Home Depot and Marshalls have signed on.