Balmain Goes 3D, Honoring Siriano, and Tiffany’s New Ambassador

PUT A RING ON IT: The writing was on the wall — or rather on the Opéra Garnier — for Tiffany & Co.’s latest ambassador Camille Cottin.

The American jeweler revealed the French actress’ new role on Wednesday, weeks after the “Stillwater” and “Call My Agent” star was recently seen nabbing a Tiffany & Co.’s Sixteen Stones ring right off the monumental tarpaulin of the Parisian landmark.

Cottin’s plucky move “embodies today’s self-sufficient approach to jewelry,” stated the jeweler, lauding her “exceptional acting talent, exquisite taste and innate wit.” 

Although no campaigns are yet set for the French actress, she joins a coterie of ambassadors that includes fellow actress Florence Pugh; singer Roseanne Park, best known as Rosé of Blackpink; BTS’ Jimin, and Nancy Ajram.

According to the house, Cottin’s appointment is also meant as a reaffirmation of its long-standing connection to France that included French know-how but also the culture brought by Jean Schlumberger, who served as creative director from 1956 to his retirement in the late 1970s.

For the actress, who first wore Tifffany & Co. Flame earclips from the Schlumberger collection for the 2022 Met Gala, the house is “synonymous with exceptional, visionary designs, and is timeless thanks to its constant drive to innovate and embrace modernity.” She said she equally enjoyed its “delicate and light” day pieces, more extravagant designs that foreshadowed “an enchanted evening,” and items imbued with sentimental meaning.

While Cottin became a household comedy name in France thanks to her starring role as a capricious Parisian in the candid camera TV and feature films franchise “Connasse,” (or “B—h,” in English), it’s her role as agent Andréa Martel that catapulted her on the international stage thanks to the series’ presence on Netflix.

She then starred alongside Matt Damon in 2021 crime drama “Stillwater,” and played Paola Franchi, the second wife of Maurizio Gucci, in “House of Gucci” with Lady Gaga and Adam Driver. Most recently, she was part of the ensemble cast of Kenneth Branagh’s “A Haunting in Venice,” a third mystery film centering on fictional detective Hercule Poirot.

Equally at ease with comedic scripts as with headier material, she’ll be next on screen in “L’Empire,” a wacky retelling of “Star Wars” in the French countryside, and is currently filming “Ni chaînes Ni Maîtres,” a historical drama set in 1759 that will broach the subject of colonial practices. — LILY TEMPLETON

CHRISTIAN’S BIG NIGHT: The importance of legacy resounded Friday at the Night of Stars gala presented by the Dallas chapter of Fashion Group International, and not only because 81-year-old diversity activist Bethann Hardison was honored with a new Lifetime Legacy award. Celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Dallas organization at the black-tie fundraiser, organizers claimed that it produces the only annual fashion awards event outside of New York City.

The highlight of the evening, which raised funds for fashion and merchandising scholarships, was a glamorous runway retrospective of gowns by Christian Siriano culled from his 15 years in business.

“It’s so wonderful to be here among people I love,” Siriano told 270 guests seated in the Ritz-Carlton’s ballroom as he accepted the trophy for Achievement in Fashion. “I think my first trunk show was here in 2009. And then maybe Neiman’s and oh, they threw me out. But it’s fine. Neiman’s never paid their bill. Are they here? If they are, let me know.”

The crowd hooted, though there didn’t appear to be any Neiman’s executives in attendance.

Siriano, who sells directly to clients and through only one store, The Conservatory, said, “I have always said that having the clothes on people, on bodies in the real world is the most important thing to any designer. You will never be everything to everyone, but if you can be something to someone in their life on their special day, then that is all that really matters….If I can be someone for people like Michelle Obama or the vice president, for J.Lo, for Janet [Jackson], then you know what? That’s OK with me.”

Hardison was celebrated as one of the first Black models to walk runways beginning in the 1960s, for establishing her namesake agency that launched Ralph Lauren model Tyson Beckford and represented Iman, Veronica Webb and others, and for leaving her home in San Miguel de Allende for New York in 2013 to advocate for diversity on runways and in advertising.

Calling himself one of her achievements, Beckford introduced his mentor. “I learned so much from this woman,” he said. “It was like walking into another world when I walked into [her] office….Anytime someone says, ‘Would you like to come and honor Bethann?’ Hell yeah, because we need to learn to give people flowers while they’re here.”

“I find myself going to help the person who seems to be oppressed,” Hardison said. “The people who really needed help were the whites who were not understanding….I believed that they needed to recognize they were making a grave error.”

Author and former CFDA executive director Fern Mallis presented the Excellence in Media award to Elle editor in chief Nina Garcia, the first Latina to helm a major fashion magazine.

“I’m very moved but first I have to say one thing: I love Dallas,” Garcia said. “The women, the glamour, I love you.…To create a more beautiful world is my mission.”

Dallas Cowboys co-owner and executive vice president Charlotte Jones Anderson introduced pop artist Ashley Longshore. Honored for Exuberance in Art, Longshore has collaborated with a number of fashion and beauty brands and was the first female artist to have a solo show at Bergdorf Goodman.

“She is a cheerleader for her art. She is a cheerleader for passion. She is a cheerleader for life,” said Anderson, crowning her accolades by declaring Longshore “an official honorary Dallas Cowboys cheerleader,” and handing her a pair of white leather cowboy boots embroidered with a star as well as metallic silver pom-poms. — HOLLY HABER

3D VIEW: Going forward, fitting the perfect fit at Balmain will be virtually a breeze thanks to a new 3D fit function making its debut on Wednesday.  

The French luxury label revealed it had teamed with Los Angeles-based fashion tech firm Bods to embed its 3D digital styling and try-on experience on the Balmain website.

Clients will be able to create 3D avatars matching their measurements and virtually slip into a selection of photorealistic Balmain designs capturing the brand’s textiles, tones and embellishments in addition to the cuts.

For the launch, seven historic ready-to-wear designs will be available in the tool, as well as two handbag models and a boot design that have been recreated digitally. The function is accessible through a “3D Fitting” button that will be available worldwide.

Over time the range replicated by Bods will include a fuller selection of Balmain iconic pieces as well as the latest designs offered on the runway by creative director Olivier Rousteing.

Lauding the faithfulness of their virtual counterparts to the originals, Balmain chief digital officer Simon Cottigny said the functionality “will improve our conversion rate and, ultimately, lower return rates” by helping consumers make “more confident decisions.”

The virtual fittings are expected to cut down the number of returns, which can be attributed to improper fit in 70 percent of cases, said the fashion company.

And this is a right fit for the sustainability goals the brand has set for itself, according to Balmain chief executive officer Jean-Jacques Guével, who said that reducing the label’s carbon footprint while enhancing the consumer experience “clearly [was] a win-win.”

The fashion tech company’s CEO Christine Marzano said it was Bods’ mission to “honor [the] distinct attributes while integrating our technology to create an elevated experience” congruent with its luxury brand partners.

Created in 2021 by Marzano, Bods closed a seed round spearheaded by Stellation Capital for a total amount of $5.6 million in 2022.

Balmain is no stranger to high-tech endeavors, having previously launched an app that included augmented reality content and livestreaming of its fashion shows, as part of Rousteing’s drive to democratize fashion.

The French brand also opened a digital flagship in partnership with Yoox Net-a-porter Group in 2018, later experimenting with virtual reality through headsets and VR elements in its latest Milan flagship that year. — L.T.

CELEBRATING THE SEASONS: Burberry is doubling its royal credentials.

The British luxury brand is celebrating King Charles III’s gardens in Highgrove, the private residence of the monarch, with four illustrated scarves named after the four seasons.

The delicately illustrated scarves are made from organic silk and finished with hand-rolled edges using drawings from Royal Drawing School graduate, Sammi Lynch.

The British artist specializes in painting and printmaking by way of landscapes with a focus on space, texture and light. He’s been awarded an artist’s residency at The King’s Foundation at Dumfries House, in Scotland and Italy.

The scarves are available to purchase from Burberry’s website and global stores, as well as Highgrove Gardens’ website and stores.

Burberry has held a warrant from Queen Elizabeth for trenches and weatherproof clothing since the 1950s. It holds another warrant from King Charles for clothing.

The brand said it “shares the commitment of The King’s Foundation” and to support the “arts, passing the legacy of craft and artistry to the next generation.”

Ahead of the king’s coronation earlier this year, Burberry partnered with Highgrove Gardens on a limited-edition scarf made from organic silk featuring the architecture of the garden with silver birch and magnolia trees, as well as birds and dragonflies, wildflowers such as delphinium, yellow rattle, snowdrop, ox-eye daisy, early purple orchids and fritillary.

The collaboration is a token of shared values between Burberry and Highgrove Gardens with an emphasis on the environment, nature and craftsmanship — all of which the king has supported with his charity The Prince’s Trust. — HIKMAT MOHAMMED

RED AND WHITE: The Londoner Hotel holds a special place in Chinese-born designer Huishan Zhang’s orbit.

It’s become his go-to venue to present his ready-to-wear collections and now, he’s designed the hotel’s Christmas tree.

“I am such a proud Londoner so the hotel for me over the years has come to symbolize London, from its amazing location in the heart of the city on Leicester Square,” said Zhang in an interview.

The tree, which sits in the hotel lobby, takes cues from the designer’s design vocabulary with the use of the black and white roses which he used in his resort 2024 collection, which was inspired by Eileen Chang’s 1944 novella “Red Rose, White Rose.”

Even though roses are not traditionally Christmas flowers, for Zhang they “symbolize love and joy, which is at the heart of Christmas.”

“Christmas to me is about family reunions. Christmas isn’t traditionally celebrated in China but people do love to take this moment to be with family; over time it has become an important holiday to me as I cherish getting to spend time with my parents and loved ones,” explained the designer.

To celebrate the Christmas tree at The Londoner, Pippa Vosper and Susan Bender Whitfield co-hosted a party inviting the likes of Pippa Bennett-Warner, Anna Maxwell-Martin, Eunice Olumide and Karimah Hassan.

Hale Zero provided a DJ set with flowing Casamigos tequila margaritas and Ciroc vodka lychee rose martinis — all within the theme of the roses. — H.M.

ENNINFUL’S LATEST AWARD: Edward Enninful, who is stepping aside as editor in chief of British Vogue next year to become global creative and cultural adviser of Vogue, has been named recipient of the Trailblazer Award at this year’s Fashion Awards, the British Fashion Council said Tuesday as it continues to drumroll for the annual fundraising extravaganza, which is due to take place Dec. 4 at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Caroline Rush, chief executive officer of the BFC and organizer of the Fashion Awards, as well as London Fashion Week, called Enninful “a highly influential figure, with his groundbreaking work and collaborations transcending fashion and profoundly impacting wider culture.”

“A fierce campaigner for diversity and inclusion in everything he does, Enninful has shaped a new vision for fashion media through his tenure as editor in chief at British Vogue, not only in the U.K. but globally,” she added.

The Trailblazer Award was created in 2018 to celebrate leading innovators and creatives in fashion, whose work in the past year has significantly shaped the industry. Kim Jones, artistic director of Dior menswear and artistic director of haute couture, ready-to-wear and fur collections for women at Fendi, took home the honor that year.

Former Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele and former Alexander McQueen creative director Sarah Burton were awarded the recognition in 2021 and 2019, respectively.

Earlier this month Jonathan Anderson, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, Daniel Lee at Burberry, Matthieu Blazy of Bottega Veneta, and Burton were revealed to be the nominees for the Designer of the Year award at the Fashion Awards.

This year the event will team with the Copenhagen-based jeweler Pandora to present awards to winners in different categories, as well as recognize leading industry figures such as Valentino Garavani with the Outstanding Achievement Award, Charlotte Tilbury with the Special Recognition Award, and the late Joe Casely-Hayford with a new scholarship and a posthumous special recognition award.

The March 2024 issue of British Vogue will be Enninful’s final one as editor in chief. Enninful took over the role in August 2017 and in December 2020 was promoted to European editorial director of Vogue.

In his new Vogue and Condé roles, Enninful will continue to report to Anna Wintour, who is the global chief content officer for Condé Nast, and editor in chief of American Vogue.

In September, Chioma Nnadi was named British Vogue’s head of editorial content, taking over responsibilities from Enninful. Nnadi will look after the day-to-day running of the magazine, mirroring the situation at all of Condé Nast’s titles which no longer have editor in chiefs. — TIANWEI ZHANG

ALL ABOUT THE GAME: Sotheby’s is cementing its position in the sports world with a new partnership.

The auction house is embarking on a multiyear partnership with the National Basketball Association to be its official source for game-worn items. The partnership comes after Sotheby’s has hosted many successful auctions with game-worn items from NBA players like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain and others. 

“The NBA is one of the most iconic and beloved sports leagues globally, and its game-worn memorabilia have captured the hearts of fans and collectors worldwide,” said Brahm Wachter, head of modern collectibles at Sotheby’s. “Our journey in the sports memorabilia world aligns with our broader mission of expanding access to and ownership of extraordinary objects with exceptional provenance. We look forward to providing a platform that enables fans and collectors to own a piece of NBA history with unparalleled level of trust and assurance.” 

Sotheby’s is kicking off the partnership with its Tip-off Auction, which offers more than 60 game-worn NBA jerseys from players like Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokić, Kyrie Irving and others. The jerseys will also be on display at Sotheby’s New York headquarters starting Tuesday through Nov. 21. 

Through the partnership, Sotheby’s will be hosting digital and physical auctions throughout the current NBA season to sell coveted items such as game-worn jerseys, apparel and other sports memorabilia. The items will be from major events throughout the season, such as the NBA All-Star Game and the NBA Finals. 

“Our partnership with Sotheby’s provides NBA fans around the world the opportunity to own special pieces of NBA history from the very moments that celebrate their fandom,” said Matt Holt, head of consumer products at the NBA. “We look forward to leveraging Sotheby’s expertise in art and luxury as we offer collectors and fans a seamless experience to access the best of NBA memorabilia through our marketplace.” 

Over the years, Sotheby’s has been increasing its presence in the sports memorabilia category with many auctions across basketball, hockey, soccer and other sports.

Within the NBA, Sotheby’s has auctioned many coveted game-worn jerseys and sneakers. The auction house has sold several items from Jordan, such as his 1992 Summer Olympics “Dream Team” Reebok jacket, his 1998 NBA Finals Game 2 Air Jordan 13s sneakers and others. 

Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals sneakers broke auction records when it was sold this April. The sneakers sold for $2.2 million at auction, making them the highest publicly recorded price for a pair of sneakers. — LAYLA ILCHI