Victoria Beckham Branches Out, Facchinetti’s Back In Fashion, Adventures In Uncool Clubbing, And More…

Ladies looking to add more Posh to their wardrobe will be happy to know that Victoria Beckham is launching a diffusion line, Victoria by Victoria. The singer-turned-designer’s newest dress collection, launching Spring 2012 at a starting price point of $550, is softer and less structured than she’s done in the past. [WWD]

Rumors that she’d join Tom Ford have followed Alessandra Facchinetti since she left Valentino in 2008, but today brings news of a different venture. The Italian designer is teaming up with Pietro Negra, the co-founder of Pinko, for a new line called Uniqueness. [WWD]

Legendary art dealer Larry Gagosian’s massive collection of priceless artwork nearly went up in flames the other night when a fire started in his kitchen. Miraculously, the 50 firefighters that put out the fire in Gagosian’s mansion in the Hamptons managed to save all of the artwork from water or fire damage—and one very large flat-screen television. [Page Six]

And is “cool” over? The Times charts the rise of club culture in non-club spaces, like Madame Wong’s and China Chalet (both, by day, middling Chinese restaurants). Why now? “I’m so tired of places that are cool,” The Journal’s Michael Nevin told the paper. Is it once again hip to be square? [NYT]

Photo: Nick Harvey/Getty Images

Tags: Adventures, fashion, flat screen television, larry gagosian, michael nevin, WWD

Duchess Kate Begins Her Fabulous Fashion Tour In Canada

They’re here! Well, by here, we mean Canada but we’re at least on the same continent! Duchess Kate and her husband Prince William (or The Duke of Cambridge) landed yesterday to begin their tour of the country. While everyone’s super excited about their visit, what everyone’s really psyched about is what Kate will wear! And just like Michelle Obama, Kate has her own website that chronicles all her outfits called What Kate Wore. They’re really going to have to be on it, because our lovely Duchess has already had three wardrobe changes in one day.

First up — as you can see from the picture on the left — Kate wore a Manon dress by Roland Mouret for their flight to Canada. She paired it off with a navy jacket by Smythe, Manolo Blahnik Calogera heels and a Mulberry Polly Push Lock bag. Gorgeous! For the official welcoming ceremony to Canda, Kate emerged from the plane wearing the Cecile dress by Canadian designer Erdem Moralioglu. It’s the lovely lace overlay in the middle. That’s quite a smart diplomatic move! Then for a barbecue honoring youth volunteers, which you can see on the right, Kate wore a bird print dress by Issa. It’s the same one Kate wore the night before she married William! So far, it’s a big win because we love all three dresses. What you’re favorite look of the three?

[Photos: Getty Images]

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Lunching With Lulu

“I was in a romantic mood this time around,” Lulu Kennedy reported at the star-studded lunch to celebrate the Fall collection from her supergroup-style label, Lulu & Co., at the very swank Harry’s Bar, a venue that’s light-years away from her gritty home turf in East London. Kennedy (pictured, right) is the founder of Fashion East, the legendary talent incubator that’s spawned the likes of Gareth Pugh, Jonathan Saunders, Richard Nicoll, and Roksanda Ilincic, and for her namesake label, she collaborates with her protegés and other young guns of interest. Her mood this year led her to include a few couples as collaborators, including artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster, besties Bella Freud (center) and Susie Bick, and photographer and art director Patrick Waugh and Alistair McLellan.

Kennedy and business partner Tania Fares (left) created Lulu & Co. last year to celebrate a decade of Fashion East, and it proved so popular they did it again. As last season, there’s a retrospective shine over the whole. “This year, it’s a mix of Fashion East past and present,” Kennedy said. “We have the couples who are new, but also the old—the journeymen of Fashion East like Jonny Saunders and Richard Nicoll. We worked hard at making the clothes more affordable and wearable.” (There’s a word not always top of mind for Kennedy’s kindred on their own runways.)

Charlotte Dellal, Mary McCartney (Stella’s photographer sister), Camilla Al Fayed, Sara Parker Bowles, Liberty Ross, and a clutch of designers including Roland Mouret, Erdem Moralioglu (below left), Roksanda Ilincic, Nicholas Kirkwood (below right), and Marios Schwab all stopped by to toast to the new. (Though Harry’s did make for a bit of culture clash—Henry Holland tweeted that he needed to get special dispensation to enter wearing his shorts.)

Of course, as more and more interest is directed at London’s new garde, there’ll be plenty more meet-ups of the gritty and the glamorous. England has just gotten a stylish new royal client of particularly high profile, and one wonders if she’ll be as receptive to young U.K. designers as her counterpart of sorts, Michelle Obama, has been to young Americans. “I think her McQueen wedding dress was beautiful, but I think now she should turn her eye to some other U.K. designers,” Kennedy said. “We are working on Resort now with Roksanda, and there is this gorgeous black and white draped number and I thought, wow, this dress needs an occasion and certainly [the Duchess of Cambridge] will have plenty of those. We will send her the lookbook, so fingers crossed. I mean, Mrs. Obama chose Roksanda, so here’s hoping that the Duchess will, too.”

Riya Sen Walks the Ramp at CPAA Fashion Show

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A Birthday Fashion Retrospective with Prince William, Duke of Cambridge

Prince William is one Oxford loafer closer to death’s door today. That’s right, it’s the Duke of Cambridge’s 29th birthday and while he may be celebrating by being boring — real stretch, Will — FashionIndie will celebrate with a stroll down memory’s sartorial lane. It’ll be a short stroll since the Duke is no Duchess of Cambridge, but it was either this or drinking ale at the local pub and if I’m going to pass out a bar I’d rather it be from possible alcohol poisoning rather than poisonous ennui.

You’d think with a style icon like Princess Di that the fashionable apple wouldn’t fall that far from the tree.  Well, some fruit’s just rotten. However, I think we all know who was responsible for Will and Harry‘s adorable contrasting tie and pocket square combo.

Will apparently modeled for the Pauper Prince catalog — I’m pretty sure I made that up — thus explainig these awful vests.

If there’s anything men should wear more of it’s a riding boot.

Remember when Wiill was the cute one and Harry was the rough one? Well, those tables quickly turned, but while Harry may look all kinds of rough right here, he gets bonus points for his lesbian-mom-on-the-town jean/white shirt combo over Will’s frumpy, lesbian-mom-running-errands corduroy/sweater look.

Here Prince William is serving me Dapper English Gentleman, complete with bowler hat and snide facial expression.

When Will started dating Kate Middleton, not much changed in his wardrobe but Kate — realizing the huge diamond tiara she’d be slipping into — learned a thing or two.

While all eyes were on Kate — and the stray leer on Pippa‘s backside — on their wedding day, Will looked dashing in his traditional royal regalia.

Give me a tux and a bowtie. Even with that glaringly thinning hair, Will looks every inch the luxe lad and he’s got the best accessory at his side…Harry’s weed pipe.

Happy Birthday Prince William!

British Council of Fashion Designers Play a Love Game at Wimbledon

The 125th annual Wimbledon tournament began yesterday with much hoorah from the fashion world. Just the other night, the women of the Women’s Tennis Association gathered for a pre-competition gala at The Roof Gardens in Kensington and the British Council of Fashion Designers rallied around of the tennis stars. These ladies may look smokin’ in tiny pleated skirts and poly/elastane tanks, but they clean up nice when powered by a council of designers. At least most of them do… See which one aced it, and which ones baselined. 

ACE: Caroline Wozniacki – Stella McCartney

The #1 high power fashion-cum-athletic designer Stella McCartney has fittingly taken the #1 player in the WTA as her own; Caroline Wozniacki is the face of Adidas by Stella McCartney. She’s flashing Stella off and on the court and crushing bitches on the grass court.

SIDESPIN: Serena Williams - Burberry

One half of the dominating twins, this side paneled sidespin hugs every solid muscle curve.

LOVE: Ana Ivanovic – Matthew Williamson

Playfully textured, the slight fringe reminds us of the grass courts on which the tournament takes place. Mini-skirts and fast balls…

WILDCARD: Jelena Jankovic – Vivienne Westwood

This dress is a shirred thing. Will a win be in the bag?

FAULT: Heather Watson – Mulberry

How one makes an superbly trim athlete look frumpy is beyond me, but unfortunately Mulberry has done that for Watson. And the shoes look like ace bandages, not a good look for a competing tennis pro.

FLATLINER: Laura Robson – Temperley

She hits it low and steady. None too exciting, except for the shoulders.

LET: Andrea Petkovic – Richard Nicoll

The tennis imagery works in the iridescence, but the fit? The ref is consulting the umpire for a final decision.

BYE: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova – David Koma

Its tennis themed pleat cuts her off all wrong, and ends up making her look wide. Too much, yet too little.

LOVE LOVE: Maria Sharpova – Alexander McQueen

Stuns, absolutely radiant.

MATCH POINT: Bethanie Mattek-Sands - Alex Noble

Designer to Lady Gaga, Alex Noble created the bodice of this dress out of, you guessed it, tennis balls. Tis possible that only an entity like Mother Monster could pull off such a thing, but don’t get us wrong Bethanie, we admire your balls.

Good little ball boy he is, Nicholas Kirkwood heeled the whole WTA for this night.

Designers gave the gala a big serve, but who won the game point in your book?