As a House Ambassador for Louis Vuitton since June 2023, the Jose Alcaraz historic grand-slam victory is closely tied to the prominent global luxury brand and its increasingly famous tag line: Victory Travels in Louis Vuitton.
Aisle 9 Celine Cleanup: Hedi Slimane Did Not Take 4-5 Years to Deliver His Vision
In a recent discussion about why Jonathan Anderson should be given the same 4-5 years to deliver results at Dior, that Hedi Slimane took at Celine, AOC just sighed as we got out the mop and bucket and headed for Aisle 9. “No way,” Anne mumbled as she gave the bucket a good kick in exasperation.
“Hedi Slimane brought almost immediate results to the Celine brand. Why doesn’t Suzie Q check her facts the way we do. We pay $180 a year to read her nonsense. She should stick to recommending lip gloss.”
Committed to facts and knowing that we all make mistakes — including AOC — Anne ran SQ’s “it took a long time at Celine” assertion through AI to confirm our position.
WWD has confirmed with Maison Alaïa that its Belgian creative director and designer Pieter Mulier has resigned his post at Alaīa Paris. Alaïa said Mulier would conclude his tenure as creative director after Alaïa’s summer-fall 2026 show during Paris Fashion Week in March.
While his next position remains unconfirmed, it’s widely expected that the designer will join Versace, now owned by Prada group. WWD posits a potential announcement from Prada Group next week.
Parent company Compagnie Financière Richemont expressed gratitude to Mulier, adding an important compliment to this breaking news. Their statement praised the designer for his contributions to a corporate culture “that values creative exploration, transcending any one individual, and lives through the hands, eyes, and sensibilities of the maison’s teams.”
Suzie Q’s use of the word ‘mess’ to describe Jonathan Anderson’s challenges at Dior, created by former creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri, ran counter to everything I knew about her tenure at the #2 brand at LVMH.
AOC has been really confused by the persistent statements that it could take 4-5 years for Anderson’s Dior vision to codify — including by the designer himself.
Today, we stay focused on that topic. Also Anne clarifies what might be a misunderstanding of what these writers are actually saying, and what she is hearing.
We have our first Aisle 9 Cleanups in the queue [1] Hedi Slimane’s timeline creating success at Celine and [2] why it might take as long as five years to “get Dior back on track”.
AI never comes close to writing Anne’s posts. But I do run my core thinking through AI in case it responds “that’s bullpucky”.
Rereading Suzie Q’s posts. I stopped to read a third commentary on the Saks bankruptcy and whether an international VIP should step in to score big for his own stockholders.
Honestly, Suzie Q needs to stay away from financial topics completely. She’s in way over her head.
And her assertion on the MGC mess she left at Dior not only got an AI bullpucky. It came out in all caps. [Okay, I made up the part about the caps.] But it shredded Suzie Q’s assertion with a meat cleaver gone mad. You’ll see.
After further sleuthing, we learned that Alo has been in the market for capital with a $10 B valuation since 2023, which sounds way high. The concept is impressive and very sound before the arrival of Petruzzo, who will be a big help in raising capital and instituting sound financial management systems and international marketing rules.
As much as AOC LOVES this concept, there are flags on the field in China.
Jing Daily reports that Alo will probably face challenges in the China market, as it prepares to open stores in Shanghai and Beijing. JD writes that “years of rampant counterfeiting” have already shaped how Chinese customers view the brand. Those perceptions will impact what customers are willing to pay for product.
There are tariff-related risks, as well. With most of its manufacturing done in China, major risks introduced by President Trump’s deeply personal and punishing approach to tariffs adds extra volatility to Alo’s expansion plans.
Birthday-girl Irina Shayk celebrated her 40th birthday on January 6, several months after being the lead-off cover girl for the Winter 2025 issue of The Face [IG]. Irina puts on her best sexy woman face, styled by Danielle Emerson in lingerie-inspired images lensed by Drew Vickers [IG]./ Hair by Olivier Schawalder; makeup by Yadim
Two divinely-talented, beautiful and sexy women — that would be Hailey Bieber and Maty Fall — launch a Victoria’s Secret Valentine’s Day [IG] campaign for love: self-love and the family, friends and lover[s] who feel your glow. Photographer Adrienne Raquel [IG] captures the retro mood and music, with Hailey and Maty styled by Gabriella Karefa-Johnson. Executive creative direction by Adam Selman./ Hair by Bryce Scarlett; makeup by Mary Philipps
Fashion, beauty and bridal veteran Amandine Ohayon becomes CEO of Givenchy, effective Friday, January 9th, in a sequence of executive moves at LVMH. Ohayon succeeds Alessandro Valenti, who becomes deputy managing director in charge of commercial activities at Christian Dior Couture, effective Monday, the 11th.
The former CEO of Stella McCartney, before the designer separated her brand from LVMH, Ohayon reports to Pietro Beccari, who assumed the title of CEO of LVMH Fashion Group on January 1st. Beccari retains his title of chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton. LVMH Fashion Group brands include Fendi, Celine, Loewe, Kenzo, Marc Jacobs, Pucci and Patou in addition to Givenchy.
The Mombasa, a bag created by Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent in 2002, is reintroduced by today’s Saint Laurent [IG] creative director Anthony Vaccarello with a new campaign headlined by Bella Hadid.
Photographer /director Glen Luchford [IG] captures details of the bag, including the leather handle, which was made of deer horn in the original Mombasa. Hand-carved, no two handles were alike.
Top model Awar Odhiang received a lovely honor today as the Models.com Industry’s Vote for Model of the Year: Women.
She’s had many high moments in her five-years career, but Odhiang’s October 2025 closing of Mathieu Blazy’s debut as Creative Director of Chanel sent most of us soaring into its spontaneous joy and beauty. Read AOC’s response.
I promised recently to share a tribute about Awar that appeared on photographer Rafael Pavaroti’sIG. Raf included Awar in a Chanel exclusive story for Vogue’s December issue. His words about the moment affected me deeply and expressed exactly what was going through my own mind in that moment when Awar Odhiang broke formation like she was running in the home stretch of the Kentucky Derby.
Watching her make that runway her own — note, Odhiang and Blazy are very tight — you knew that Awar Odhiang is a thoroughbred filly who is destined to live in the winner’s circle.
Gisele Bundchen quietly married her life partner Joaquim Valente in early December. The couple was first romantically linked in November 2022, following the supermodel’s divorce from NFL quarterback Tom Brady, after 13 years of marriage.
In February 2025, Gisele gave birth to her third biological child, a baby boy, and her first with Valente.
This image of Gisele is from Vogue Brasil’sDecember 2025 cover story, shot by Lufre. The photo shoot was timed to close out Vogue Brasil’s 50th anniversary year, while simultaneously opening celebrations of Bundchen’s 30 year career as a supermodel.
Dear G. Is it fair and reasonable to say that Trump is the most hateful President ever in America?
Dear A. Whether it is "fair and reasonable" to label Donald Trump the "most hateful" U.S. President is a subject of significant debate among historians, scholars, and the public, often depending on whether the focus is on rhetoric or historical policy.
Read the Arguments for the Claim (Focus on Rhetoric and Division) and Google AI’s arguments against the Claim.
Players is a 2025 project by Carine Roitfeld and her son Vladimir Roitfeld, focusing on the intersection of sports and style. The premium, large-format magazine features athletes and fashion icons in curated editorial content.
AOC noticed this morning the “First Annual Players of the Year” where the Players IG highlights “the best dressed talent across sports, fashion, and entertainment” with one pick in a category.
Players wrote about Best Designer Debut and Best Dressed Man:
A$AP Rocky just became Chanel’s new house ambassador, right as Matthieu Blazy’s debut turns the industry on its head.
There’s a new Maison Hennessy era opening on the high seas with the transatlantic maiden crossing of the wind-powered cargo ship Neoliner Origin.
The sustainability-conscious queen of the seas is now headed for Baltimore, arriving on October 29, 2025. For thousands of years ships have been essential in bringing the world together in the name of commerce.
Powered by wind energy, Neoliner Origin reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 80 to 90% compared with a conventional ship of comparable size.
tt was expected among fashion insiders that when Dakota Johnson’s contract with Gucci was up for renewal, that the actor would rejoin her close friend at Valentino.
From the perspective of Valentino, this partnership as an extension of its engagement with figures embodying artistry and cultural significance
Johnson has a book club called the TeaTime Book Club, launched in 2024 through her production company, TeaTime Pictures, making her a perfect fit.
Fendi’s new Chairman and CEO Ramon Ros concisely summarized the expanding role of the LVMH Creative Directors at select maisons:
I’m thrilled to welcome Maria Grazia into the team. The role of a creative director is no longer to simply design beautiful clothes but to curate a culture and hold a mirror to the world we live in. Her talent and vision will be instrumental in fortifying Fendi’s heritage, shaping the future talent in the house and deepening our commitment to Italian craftsmanship.”
The Chiuri appointment means more to many of us than LVMH understands. Losing her would have been a low blow, and I am grateful for their continued confidence in her talents as a perfect fit for Fendi.
Examining the 3rd quarter results, few media reports note that the 2025 comps are up against the Paris 2024 Olympics. The projected 4% decrease, not the 2% decrease reported today by LVMH, affirms the reality that flying into strong headwinds, the fashion and leather sector delivered news to applaud, not critique as an extension of a “long-running decline” now entering its 4th quarter.
The “Long-running Decline” Label Belongs to Gucci
For the full year 2024, Gucci revenue fell 23% on a comparable basis. In the first half of 2025, revenue was down 25% on a comparable basis.
There is great confidence in the business leadership and financial acumen being shown by new Kering CEO Luca de Meo leading the parent company Kering and the Gucci turnaround, in particular.
AOC’s issue all year is that the business reporting on LVMH has bordered on reckless and just plain wrong at times. As a result the LVMH stock price has taken needless hits in valuation that could put a smaller, less-well run business in deep financial distress.
The woman of the hour the day after Matthieu Blazy blew the doors off the House of Chanel with his monumental October 6, 2025 Chanel Spring 2026 debut is Awar Odhiang.
Not only did Odhiang become the third Black model in history to close a Chanel show. Blazy’s goodwill closer circled the catwalk like she owned the place and wanted a uniquely-memorable sendoff for the top dog of Paris Fashion Week.
The ancestors were rockin’ and yes — Coco had Arthur ‘Boy’ Capel by her side and even Karl Lagerfeld had a front row seat in the divine universe and was god-blessing Blazy over and over and over again. Lagerfeld always championed exceptional talent.
The Beverly Hills Planning Commission unanimously approved the proposed Louis Vuitton flagship store and exhibition space at its September 25th meeting. In a LVMH saga AOC has followed for several years, the commission approved a Development Plan Review, a Conditional Use Permit and Rooftop Dining Permit. designed by architect Frank Gehry.
Designed by architect Frank Gehry, and located on Rodeo Drive, the Louis Vuitton cutting-edge, experiential design complex will span the block of South Santa Monica Boulevard between Rodeo and Beverly Drive.
Gehry’s sculptural design imprint for three-story windowless building includes two buildings with pedestrian bridges and an inner courtyard. Peter Marino is in charge of interior design.
