HAPPY HOUR: Leave it to Miuccia Prada to mix up something unexpected. Rumor has it the designer is in talks with Belgian artist Carsten Höller to codesign a bar in London. Höller, whose winding aluminum slides were the talk of the Tate Modern earlier this year, already has his foot in the door at the Italian fashion house: One of his slides runs from Miuccia Prada’s Milan office directly into the courtyard.
PILLOW CASE: Industry veteran Alexander Vreeland, who joined D. Porthault last year as chief executive officer, has exited the luxury linens firm, according to a Paris source. Vreeland could not be reached for comment and his next move could not be learned. A spokeswoman for D. Porthault declined all comment Monday. However, it is understood owners Joan and Bernard Carl will assume management of the firm. Vreeland is perhaps best known for his long career at Giorgio Armani Corp. Before joining D. Porthault, he was a partner in the manufacturer G.A.V.
COCO NUTS: Expect an eclectic mix of VIPs at Chanel’s show today. Among those expected in the front row are the singers Fergie, Ayo and Vanessa Paradis; the artists Jake and Dinos Chapman, and director David Lynch, along with actresses Charlotte Gainsbourg and Virginie Ledoyen, plus, just for kicks, Japanese footballer Nakata.
MONKEY BUSINESS: Today marks the opening of Comme des Garçons’ 27th guerrilla store, this time in Beirut, Lebanon. The store, which is being run by two local jewelry designers, Dalila Barkache and Selim Mouzannar, is situated in a three-story, early-20th-century villa in the city center. The ground floor will house vintage Comme des Garçons stock, and there is a fashion and art space for local artists on the second floor.
CHANGE OF PLANS: Due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict, Bottega Veneta is bowing out of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin, July 12 to 15. Bottega Veneta had been tapped to stage the grand finale July 15 during the German capital’s debut fashion week. However, an event honoring Gianni Versace on the 10th anniversary of his murder has been scheduled in Milan for the same night. A spokeswoman for the Italian fashion brand and its creative director, Tomas Maier, said, “Out of respect for Versace, we will not be showing. There is not another time available during that week, so Bottega Veneta will have to pass on 2007 Berlin Fashion Week altogether.”
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Massimo Redaelli, senior vice president of IMG Fashion Europe, organizer of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin, said IMG was in talks with another international designer to close the Berlin shows. An announcement is expected later this week.
CATCH A TIGER: Roberto Cavalli is swinging into Paris this week, but for fast, not high, fashion. On Wednesday, in the middle of couture week, he will lift a veil on the collection he did for H&M — for editors of long-lead publications, at least. He and H&M’s Margareta van den Bosch are cohosting the breakfast event to show off the collection, which will be launched Nov. 8 in about 200 H&M locations around the world.
HEATHER’S FIXES: It’s hard to imagine Heather Graham, with her blonde bombshell beauty, fighting some demons, but everyone, it seems, can have a bad day. Graham, who was in Chicago last Tuesday promoting her indie film “Broken” at the first GenArt Chicago Film Festival, said her role as a diner waitress trying to bounce back from drug addiction and a dangerous relationship struck home.
“I related to the self-destruction,” she said. “In my own ways, I’ve done that, but not with heroin.”
Graham, who was clad in a teal minidress with English lace detailing from L.A. designer Michelle Jonas and tall Versace camel boots, said she lifts herself out of any difficult times with help. “I go to therapy; I do yoga,” she said. “And it’s deciding to have good self-esteem.”
The actress is also taking work matters into her own hands, venturing into producing to create more films about determined women. “I don’t find a lot of movies I can relate to,” she said. “There is too much from the male perspective. I want to create more material for myself that’s inspiring.”
MUM’S THE WORD: Berliners packed the trendy Clemens Tissi gallery last week for the opening of an exhibition of Hedi Slimane‘s “F System” furniture — and to catch a glimpse of the former Dior Homme designer himself. When asked about his future plans, Slimane’s comments were about as minimal as his furniture. “I’d rather not talk about it,” he said, surrounded by cameras. A fan and former resident of Berlin, Slimane popped up again over the weekend to launch a group art show called “Sweet Bird of Youth,” featuring his own art, at Arndt & Partner. “I feel at home in Berlin,” he said. “It’s a very creative city and very inspirational. You see so many different types of people on the street.” On Sunday, Slimane was slated to record a conversation with graphic designer Peter Saville and artist Thomas Demand, which will be assembled into a book.
WEDDING BELLE: Eva Longoria has chosen Chanel couture for the civil ceremony of her upcoming nuptials to French dribbler Tony Parker in Paris on July 7, according to a source, but an American designer will dress her for the church. Odds are that the dress, which is said to be valued at $75,000 and to feature a “unique embroidery” made by a team of 20 seamstresses, is by Vera Wang. The American designer declined to comment. Parker, meanwhile, is likely to go with the off-the-radar French men’s brand he represents in ads: De Fursac. Guests expected to the event include Victoria Beckham, Jessica Simpson, the “Desperate Housewives” gang and Jessica Alba, who has flown into town early for couture.