Irina Lazareanu said that after Sonia Rykiel's show, she is officially retired. [Style.com via Fashionista]

On an upcoming episode of Gossip Girl, Taylor Momsen's character, Jenny Humphrey, will put on her own fashion show and Nine West is providing the grunge-style shoes that will go on sale on the company's Web site the same night the episode airs. [Fashionista]

Karl Lagerfeld didn't concern himself with silly things like the credit crunch as he put together his Chanel show this year. [Vogue UK]  read more »

H&M lost profits in the third quarter because the company had to slash prices on their already inexpensive fashions in order to survive in a punishing retail economy. [WWD]

Valentino's designer, Alessandra Facchinetti, might depart from the fashion house only a year after taking it over from the retired designer, and Giambattista Valli is rumored to be next in line. [FWD]

The Hills star Whitney Port's new clothing line is available on Kitson's Web site. [The Cut]

Salma Hayek experienced culture shock when she arrived at the Balenciaga show in Paris on Tuesday; the actress was coming from Sierra Leone, where she was distributing vaccines. [WWD]

In the tradition of sample sales, many high-end Web sites are now featuring invitation-only designer sales. [NY Sun]

In the heyday of New York society, a guy could appear out of nowhere with no income and no trust fund and in no time know all the right people and be invited to all the right parties.

It was a tricky Rubik’s Cube to solve—you had to be very attractive, well mannered, sexy, extremely fun, and have at least have one connection to get you going. Then you made your own luck. 

Carlos de Souza was born in the 1950s in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the son of a lawyer and wonderful housewife. 

“I used to do some modeling stuff in Brazil for local newspapers, advertising and things like that,” said Mr.  read more »

Suddenly last spring, that all changed.  read more »

There I was, skipping along the beach in Florida when I suddenly noticed that my right big toenail looked radically different. It bore a blotch the color of scrambled egg.]]> http://www.observer.com/2008/style/you-try-cruising-velvet-mafia-toe-fungus#comments Style PedEgg Tom Ford Valentino Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:19:44 -0400 Simon Doonan 72491 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/2008/will-oscars-2008-be-valentino-s-valedictory

Here’s my prediction for this coming Superfrock Sunday: Valentino! Valentino! Valentino!

I’m betting that the retiring couturier will dominate the Oscar red carpet (red is, after all, Val’s signature color!) with creations from his archives and from his final couture and ready-to-wear collections. Sunday, Feb. 24, will be Val’s day. There, I’ve said it.

Now let’s talk about this so-called “retirement.”  read more »

Valentino, considered one of the most influential designers of the late 20th century, waved good bye to the fashion industry for good yesterday. "The world of fashion has now been ruined," he told Rome's Il Messaggero newspaper this week. "I became rather bored of continuing in a world which doesn't say anything to me. There is little creativity and too much business." At the Rodin Museum in Paris, Uma Thurman, European royalty and New York socialites all turned out for his farewell bash and runway show. Valentino, whose couture house was bought by private equity firm Permira last year, is ranked alongside Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld as the last of the great designers from an era before fashion became a global, highly commercial industry.  read more »