OLIVIER TWIST: Olivier Theyskens, who recently exited Nina Ricci, has a book in the works. In January, Assouline will publish “Olivier Theyskens: The Other Side of the Picture,” a 186-page tome based on a collaboration between the Belgian designer and photographer Julien Claessens, who documented the backstage scene for over a decade.
JEFFREY’S BREAK: With summer winding down and New York Fashion Week approaching, Jeffrey Kalinsky is following a different beat. Nordstrom’s executive vice president of designer merchandising since May 2007 starts a sabbatical this week with the expiration today of his contract. As of Friday, he hadn’t renewed. “He has no intention of leaving,” Nordstrom’s vice president of corporate communications Brooke White told WWD. “He’s taking a well-deserved rest.” She said Kalinsky would be on sabbatical for a few months. “The relationship remains unchanged at this point in time.” Kalinsky couldn’t be reached for comment Friday. In August 2005, Nordstrom bought 90 percent of the shares of the Jeffrey retail operation from Kalinsky and his father for $30.8 million, and not too long after hired Kalinsky, providing him with an earn-out provision of $7 million, and in the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, salary, bonus and other compensation amounting to $935,000, according to Nordstrom documents.
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CALVIN’S CLAN: Designers across Manhattan have been working for weeks to secure talent and resources for Fashion’s Night Out. Champagne’s being ordered, celebrities are being booked and gifts-with-purchase are being produced. Calvin Klein has nailed down its plans: a performance by CK One model Jamie Burke and his band, burke; a silent auction featuring works by Ross Bleckner, Steven Klein and Kenny Scharf, and appearances by Michelle Monaghan and Olympic fencer Jason Rogers. Creative directors Francisco Costa and Italo Zucchelli also will be on hand to sign Fashion’s Night Out T-shirts. Should all this fanfare motivate shoppers to spend over $1,000, they will receive a $250 Calvin Klein Collection gift card.
SHOP GIRL: Maria Sharapova continued a whirlwind week Thursday by unveiling her latest collection and print advertisement for Cole Haan. The event took place in the middle of Rockefeller Center (not Columbus Circle, as was previously stated), where dozens of children from various citywide tennis programs gathered around a stage waiting for the pro to appear. “It’s great to have such a youthful energy — they are all really excited,” said Cole Haan chief executive officer Jim Seuss.
Once on stage, Sharapova answered audience-submitted questions, such as what she enjoys doing off court. “I’d probably have to say shopping and eating,” Sharapova said. “I mean, I am a girl after all, and there’s no better place than New York to shop.” Sharapova then proceeded to do just that inside the Cole Haan store.
MS. SOFTEE: The seductive scales of the ice-cream truck jingle are part of every New Yorker’s summer soundtrack — but this fall, that sound will be coming to the tents. Designer Michelle Williams (no relation to the actress), who is a year-round ice cream consumer, hit upon the idea of showing her Quail label’s spring looks alongside some frosty treats. She’s arranged with Brooklyn’s Van Leeuwen Artisan ice cream to have a truck make stops outside Bryant Park and Milk Studios on Sept. 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. Models in Williams’ Fifties pinup-inspired looks (sweetheart dresses, bustiers and motorcycle jackets) will be taking orders for cups and cones. As a smaller label that is not doing a show or presentation, Williams explained, the truck is “a great way for us to be where the action is.” (In other words, lure them with ice cream.) And she added, “I guess I am hoping for hot weather. That would be ideal.”
NEW ARRIVAL: Cerruti expects to disclose in the next month the name of its new women’s wear designer to succeed Jean Paul Knott, who left the Italian fashion house in June after an 18-month stint. Knott’s first assistant, Jesper Borjesson, has already taken the helm of the men’s wear collection.
TOPSHOP’S DANCE OFF: After revealing the launch of a makeup line, Topshop continues to expand its repertoire beyond ready-towear. The retailer’s latest collaboration is with Freddy, the Italian dance and fitness wear label, to produce a collection of fitness wear, which includes slouchy batwing tops, cowl-neck sweaters and hoodies. The jersey and chenille pieces come in a palette of slate, mauve and fuchsia. The seven-piece collection, called Freddy for Topshop, will hit seven of Topshop’s London stores and its New York store on Sept. 1. Prices start at 35 pounds, or $57, for an oversize fuchsia top with batwing sleeves, to 45 pounds, or $73, for a slouchy double-breasted fuchsia jacket.
ON COURT:On Wednesday night, tennis stars Anna Kournikova and Vera Zvonareva joined activewear brand K-Swiss to celebrate next week’s U.S. Open and to present the label’s spring collections at Manhattan’s Skyline Gallery. K-Swiss is well-known for footwear, but in recent seasons has committed to larger apparel offerings. The runway show — which featured a tennis specific collection, a performance fitness collection and a lifestyle line — showcased Kournikova and Zvonareva alongside triathlete and model Jenny Fletcher and pro skateboarder Greg Lutzka wearing the brand’s iconic sneakers as well as an array of T-shirts, pullovers and accessories. “We all had a great time up there,” Zvonareva said, “but I’m really excited to get out on the courts next week.”
YOUNG AT HEART: Pierre Cardin’s fashion empire continues to expand with Weekend, a new collection unveiled on the runway Friday during Istanbul’s Fashion Days. Featuring colorful jackets, chinos, jeans and loose-fitting T-shirts, Pierre Cardin Weekend is a casualwear line intended to appeal “to three generations, from age 15 and up,” said Meltem Turgan, spokeswoman for Aydinli, Cardin’s Turkish licensee. “It is a lot younger than the more classic forms you associate with Pierre Cardin.” The line is targeted for export to 60 countries along with the traditional Pierre Cardin collections.
SURF AND STYLE: British artist and designer Zakee Shariff wears her art on her sleeve. Last week, Shariff launched a line for Roxy Heart, the lifestyle range from surf brand Roxy, all adorned with her nature-inspired prints. “The collection represents my love of nature and doing right in the world,” said Shariff of the line, which features T-shirts embroidered with hand-drawn eagles, mountains and seascapes. In a palette of red, yellow, electric blue and fuchsia, the collection also includes Forties-inspired dresses, leather jackets and chunky woolen cardigans. The Roxy Heart line is sold exclusively in Europe, and prices run from 40 pounds, or $65, for a T-shirt, to £290, or $473, for a red leather jacket. Each season the label teams with a different artist to design the collection. This season, the collection will be sold at The Shop at Bluebird in London, Colette in Paris and Gloss in Switzerland. And to mark the collection’s launch, Beyond the Valley, an independent boutique nearby to London’s Carnaby Street, is hosting a Roxy Heart pop-up store for a month.
COMMON TOUCH: Diesel, Macy’s and L’Oréal hosted a mini-concert by Grammy winner Common at New York’s Capitale for a promotional celebration on Wednesday. The hip-hop artist is the face of Diesel’s Only The Brave men’s fragrance, which launched in stores in April. Five hundred Macy’s customers who bought the scent, which is distributed by licensee L’Oréal, during the month of August were awarded tickets to the event. Also on hand for the hourlong set by Common were Michelle Trachtenberg of “Gossip Girl” and Olivia Palermo of “The City.”