Storm in a teacup

Oh, the drama. The fashion world is all a-tizzy because the Marc Jacobs show in New York on Monday started late. Because that has never, ever happened before. When a designer is notorious for starting his shows at least an hour late, never mind two (as was the case this season), why, oh why, would anyone show up on time, as fashion writer Lynn Yaeger did? "Only when I got to the front door at 9 [did I find out it was late]," she told Women's Wear Daily. "I am livid." Somewhat wiser fashion editors whiled away the time drinking margaritas at the Dos Caminos restaurant, while Vogue editrix Anna Wintour even had time to pack for her trip to London (saith she - do you really believe she does her own packing?). Meanwhile, a rumor started going around that Jacobs, who this year went to rehab for his ongoing battle against addictions, was sitting in the Mercer Hotel restaurant or bar while his guests were waiting. Both Jacobs and Robert Duffy, president of Marc Jacobs International, strongly dispute this story.

"That is bullshit! That is bullshit!" Jacobs told WWD. "I was at the f---ing office until the last fitting was over. I came back to the hotel — I hadn't been here in three days! I hadn't showered in three days! I slept on the couch in my office for 20 minutes three nights in a row — anyone at my office will tell you that. I got 20 minutes sleep Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday night. The first shower I had was Monday at 8 before the rehearsal of our show. I did not have lunch, I did not have drinks, I did not have tea at the Mercer, I walked through the lobby; I live in this hotel."

Marc Jacobs after his shower on Monday

He then gets into this massive debate about the show schedules and Suzy Menkes's review of the show in the IHT before basically saying that if people have families to go to, they should just not attend the show. I have to say, I agree with him to a point. I once waited one hour and 45 minutes for a Galliano/Dior show. The most infernal thing was listening to the music, which was one of those New Agey soundtracks featuring Gregorian chants against a trip hop beat. I honestly thought I would lose my mind. But, people put up with it because it's fashion. So, Marc: make an effort to be on time next season. And fashion editors: relax, there's another three weeks to get through.

I should Coco

For those keen to catch an early glimpse of Keira Knightley's new advertising campaign for Chanel, log on now to the Coco Mademoiselle website!

Keira Knightley in the new advertising campaign

In addition to a guided tour of Chanel's apartment at the famous 31, rue Cambon headquarters, you will get a preview of the ad. In it, Keira appears wearing nothing but a white men's shirt and a bowler hat, which she flips off to slip into a red silk evening dress. The dress is a bit too large on her and she flashes her chipmunk smile, but on the whole she is credible as a young Chanel muse. I only wish she did not keep telling the world how infrequently she showers. It does creep back to you when you're watching the ad...

Keira does a disappearing act

Good Lord! When I saw the thumbnail of this picture of Keira Knightley at the Venice Film Festiva, I thought the image had been trafficked for one of the pro-ana (pro-anorexic) websites, which artificially make thin models look skeletal because this apparently appeals to their readers.

British actress Keira Knightley looks shockingly thin at the Venice Film festival

So imagine my surprise when I click on the picture and find out that it is an actual shot of Keira, looking very, very thin indeed. She has consistently denied an eating disorder but it's hard to believe this is a girl who stuffs herself with burgers...

Happy feet

Pierre Hardy, the über-trendy French shoe designer, is set to design a capsule collection for The Gap. This is a bit as if Roger Vivier did a collection for Nine West! In other words, definitely to be checked out and snapped up.

A stunning Pierre Hardy foot sculpture (also known as a shoe)

Hardy has a jewel-box boutique in the Palais-Royal that also sells his covetable handbags with contrasting leather trim. He also designs the shoe collections for Balenciaga, including this winter's must-have sneaker stiletto.

Hardy's futuristic shoe for Balenciaga's fall-winter collection

Facchinetti to replace Valentino

Italian designer Alessandra Facchinetti will replace Valentino when he retires early next year, the Valentino Fashion Group has announced. Facchinetti, 35, was briefly head of women's ready-to-wear at Gucci following the departure of Tom Ford.

New Valentino designer Alessandra Facchinetti

Recently, she has revamped skiwear company Moncler, bringing her edgy take on puffa jackets into trendy boutiques like Colette. Though Facchinetti has no experience of designing haute couture, she will be able to count on Valentino's long-term team, which has fitted personalities ranging from Jackie Kennedy to Gwyneth Paltrow.

Valentino retires!

Alas, the rumors were true. Valentino Garavani has just announced he will be hanging up his scissors early next year. In a statement, the Italian designer said he could think of no way to top the celebrations for his 45th anniversary in fashion that took place in Rome this summer.

"It was a moment that will be impossible to repeat. And so, at this time, I have decided that is the perfect moment to say adieu to the world of fashion. As the English say, 'I would like to leave the party when it is still full'," Valentino said in a statement sent out by his press office in Paris.

Valentino takes a bow after his couture show in Rome in July

He will show his farewell ready-to-wear collection in October and his final couture show in January, both in Paris. I have to confess a certain fondness for Valentino, despite the crazy perma-tan. Aside from the fact that we share our birthday, I have always found his shows to be the epitome of glamor and good taste. His label will continue, of course, and hopefully Valentino will continue to inspire from the sidelines. In bocca al lupo, Signore Valentino!

Wanna wanna wanna

The Chanel show is always a highlight of Paris fashion week because a) it's Chanel, b) the set designs are spectacular (think fake skating rinks and snowstorms) and c) they give out the most generous gift bags of any fashion house (though no fashionista would admit they care about such trifling things, it is interesting to note there is always a nervous scuffle to arrive on time at the Chanel show, lest the goodie bags run out). In March, we were handed a Chanel microdermabrasion kit that came in most handy as I frowned over my frown lines on the eve of my 35th birthday. I am secretly (hum hum) hoping this beautiful lip gloss palette will sneak its way into our goodie bags in early October...

Les 4 Camélias de Chanel is a limited edition palette of lip gloss shaped into camelias, Coco Chanel's favorite flower. Snap it up now at a department store near you!

Color me pink

The French ELLE that landed in my mailbox yesterday was roughly ten times the size of last week's, signalling the end to the dreaded summer magazine drought. French ELLE is a weekly that gradually shrinks as the summer months drag on and Paris offices empty out. Astro guides and bogus quizzes abound. But this week, it was all about the hot new winter trends, and one of my favorite is color. Aside from purple, which is turning out to be the hottest shade for winter, they were also touting emerald green, marigold yellow and my absolute favorite, fuchsia pink. To wit, this absolutely stunning Lanvin stiletto heel that is more objet d'art than actual footwear...

The color trend was all over the catwalks last spring, but whenever I see anything so eye-catching, I tend to dismiss it as a gimmick for the cameras. I wonder how many women will be brave enough to don this top-to-toe look?

Dior comes over all chartreuse (left); Stella McCartney pops a fuchsia pink all-in-one

Me? I'm going with colored tights for starters, and then we'll see...