Chatter: Alber Elbaz

"Fashion is very important, today maybe more than ever...We [designers] have the duty to bring beauty to the world."

-- Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz speaking at the WWD/DNR CEO Summit on the critical role of leadership and vision in the current economic climate.

Quickies: David Gandy for Ikon, Rafael Nadal for Lanvin, Bruno does Paris, and more

Photo: Getty Images

Zirh's new fragrance, Ikon, is now available -- and super-hottie David Gandy (pictured) is the face of their campaign. If you want to ogle this Adonis in person, and you happen to be in the NYC area, he will be making a special appearance at the 59th street Bloomingdale's on Saturday, October 4. He will meet and greet gays -- er, guests -- all afternoon. [ZIRH]

Rafael Nadal has just signed on as the new face for Lanvin's men's frangrace, Lanvin L'Homme Sport. If we've learned anything from David Beckham, it's that sexy, greased-up-body shots of hot athletes will pretty much sell anything. [WWD]

First he stunned the runways of Milan, and now Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno is wreaking havoc in Paris. While at the Stella McCartney shows, and "with his red thong clearly visible," the commedian "sucked Tampax, clapped along to the music and generally disgruntled the front row by continually pushing aside those sitting in front of him for a better look at the models." What we would pay to see a showdown, Bruno v. Anna. [British Vogue]

Yesterday we pulled a chatter-ific quote from Time's interview with Tom Ford and Karl Lagerfeld. Now you can go ahead and read the whole thing -- just try to keep your head from exploding from fashion genius overload. [The Cut] via [Time]

The New York Times talked to André Benjamin about his style and his new clothing line, Benjamin Bixby. As compared to other celebrity lines, Eric Wilson says of Benjamins: "His collection is so unexpectedly nostalgic as to seem designed for another era." [NYT]

Open for Business: The new DDC Lab store in Manhattan.

-- SETH PLATTNER

Handpicked: Project Runway alum Rami Kashou's ode to LA shopping

Photo: Joshua Scott

We asked Project Runway finalist Rami Kashou -- who has his own storefront in Los Angeles -- to take us shopping. Here's his report:

Maxfield (8825 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (310) 274-8800) is my favorite specialty and high-end designer boutique in LA -- a veritable one-stop shop for a fashionable life. I can find anything from a unique belt, candle, or accessory to the most elegant, show-stopping suit guaranteed to fit me like a glove. I especially love their selection of shoes and brands that I have not seen elsewhere in Los Angeles. The merchandising of the boutique is meticulous; I love when I walk into a store to shop and everything is visible. I tend to raid through every single piece before I decide what I will buy. Last but not least, Maxfield is my favorite place to shop simply because it is a place for the artist in me. It is the kind of place I want to go to and admire the work on the racks as though I were in an art exhibit.

As pictured: 1. Rose classic button-down shirt by Lanvin, $400  2. Charcoal one-button blazer by Lanvin, $2,49 3.Charcoal cotton peaked-lapel vest by Kooks, $620 4. Green long-sleeved shirt by Volga Volga, $580 5. Gray five-pocket jeans by Dior Homme, $600

Quickies: Alber Elbaz's school supplies, Margiela maybe moving out of the Maison, and more

Lanvin's Alber Elbaz loved the colored pencils he used to sketch his collections so much that he's putting his name on a limited edition set. It's not guarantee you'll be showing at the tents if you get your own set, but look how pretty! [WWD]

The big rumor out of Paris is that Martin Margiela is ready to move out of the Maison. He's been hinting to colleagues for the past year that he is set to retire his sewing kit, but no one can get any confirmation.  Margiela is as elusive for interviews as Palin is for press talks. [NYT]

Men's Vogue is hoping that its new slogan will improve readership. "Style is how you live" is catchy, but it will never be as clever as those two looming letters: GQ. [The Cut] via [WWD]

Smell This: Ikon by mens skincare line, Zihr.  With notes of lemon, cardamom, cedar and amber.  Generic, yes, but you have to ease some men into male grooming. [Now Smell This]

-- SETH PLATTNER

Coach to Buy Burberry? Inside Prada's HQ! Agyness Deyn Sings! Lanvin and Acne Collabo! Superhero Fashion Tips! Nina to Harpers?

Photo: Getty Images

Is Coach planning to purchase iconic British fashion brand Burberry? Wall Street is aflutter with speculation. [Bloomberg]

Take a peek inside Prada HQ. They even have a gigantic slide by German artist Carsten Höller in the courtyard Local lore says that Miuccia Prada herself likes to slide down the installation when inspiration strikes. How can you not love her? [FT]

The face of Burberry and model of the moment Agyness Deyn is trying her hand at being a rock star. She lent her vocal stylings to a track by Five O'Clock Heroes. The model/rockstar crossovers haven't gone well in years past and lucky for us, NY Mag has a roundup of model singers past. [The Cut]

Lanvin's Alber Elbaz is designing a line of jeans for Acne. But don't expect them to be in Acne's usual price range—they will sell at the same price points as Lanvin's ready to wear items. I hope they make some jeans for guys this time! [FWD]

What would you wear if you were a superhero? Don't wear royal blue if you're blonde, says Michael Kors. [NYDN]

Is Nina Garcia in talks with Harpers Bazaar? She was spotted leaving the Hearst building yesterday and the rumors are flying like Naomi Campbell's cell phone. [FWD]

Abercrombie Resurrects Queerotic Magalog; Timberlake Fronts Givenchy; Project Runway's Final Three; Lacoste Bites Dentist; Jude Law is Not Playing Halston; Nutty for Neti Pots

Photo: Getty Images

Abercrombie & Fitch will resume production on A&F Quarterly, the soft-core porn magalog that you secretly cherished more than your International Male mailer. Well, it will only be distributed in London. The company doesn't plan to distribute it in the U.S. at this time because the right wingers protested its booze, babes and homoerotic photos. Conservatives spoil all the fun! [Fashion Week Daily]

Is Justin Timberlake the new face of a new Givenchy fragrance? Who'd he sleep with to get that gig? Maybe Timbaland will save his ass on that project, too. [FWD Chic Report]

Fashionista is spreading dirt that Project Runway's finale will only feature 3 designers on the Fashion Week runways in February. Last season, four designers showed in Bryant Park. What does that say for this season's talent? [Fashionista]

Lacoste lost a copyright infringement case against a dentist in the U.K. who used a crocodile logo for his practice. The courts ruled that pearly whites are unlikely to get confused for pique polos. Come on, Lacoste, Britons have come a long way in dentistry in the recent years, don't mess with progress in oral health. [British Vogue]

No, Jude Law is NOT playing Halston in an upcoming film...yet. Law's handlers poo-pooed any ideas that the Sexiest Man Alive snagged the role. [WWD]

Going Nutty for Neti Pots? The NY Times enlightens the country with the latest sinus-clearing craze: the nasal enema. It might just save your winter! [NY Times]

More Nakedness at Marc Jacobs; Lanvin's Talk; Fergie is Fergalicious fo M.A.C; Patricia Field Barbie

Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs

Naked men at the Marc by Marc Jacobs store on Saturday! In Round 2 of Marc Jacobs' fundraising for skin cancer research, the men's store on Bleecker Street in Manhattan will release the newest batch of t-shirts featuring men baring all with the slogan "Protect Your Largest Organ." But this time, some of the people on the shirts actually work at the Bleecker Street store and, this Saturday, those brave staff members will appear naked at the store and sign t-shirts for hungry fans. [WWD]

Lanvin's superstar designer Alber Elbaz spilled his guts to a crowd during an intimate evening and discussion hosted by T Style. And we're more in love with Alber than ever. [Fashion Week Daily]

Fergie Ferg was tapped to be the next of M.A.C Viva Glam spokeswoman. Viva Glam supports the M.A.C AIDS Fund, and has raised more than $95 million dollars since 1994. I've always said that a little lipstick could change the world. [WWD]

Patricia Field, Sex and the City Stylist and downtown drag queen den mother, will design a line of clothes for Barbie. Young closetted gay men everywhere are cheering! Finally they can turn Barbie into the drag queen they always though she was and get her some appropriate clothing. Come on, with Barbie's measurements, she's more closely related to Amanda Lepore. [WWD]