Gucciaga is Here, the Met Gala Returns and more of the news you missed

Gucci x Balenciaga Mashed Up
Alessandro Michele’s latest offering for Gucci, now slimmed down to only two shows a year, included a much speculated and finally revealed ‘hacking’ of Kering co-worker, Demna Gvasalia’s style codes for Balenciaga. The show that had an extensive list of exclusive debuts this season provided a transfigured collection with the dialed-up Gucci signatures of logomania, equestrian design, and hints to both Tom Ford and Frida Giannini eras mashed with the over-the-top, tailored proportions perfected from Balenciaga. As the brand gears up for its centennial, the new collection that is comprised of both cruise and the F/W ready-to-wear collections will be rolled out in retailers throughout the year.

Portrait Photographer June Newton Dies At 97
June Newton, the Australian portrait photographer, passed away in her Monte Carlo home on April 9th. The renowned photographer was also known under her pseudonym, Alice Springs, and was married to the late Helmut Newton. Over the years, Newton shot for Vogue, Marie Claire, and Interview Magazine, but focused more on portraits in recent years. She captured Audrey Hepburn, Grace Jones, and Donatella Versace, to name a few, and her work was known for revealing a personal, soft approach to her subjects. [Vanity Fair]

Model Gerren Taylor Passes
Gerren Taylor, model-turned-reality-tv-star, has passed away. The former Model of the Week who caused waves back in the 00s when she signed to LA Models at the age of 12 was born Ashley Gerren Taylor and was once a regular booking for the likes of Tommy Hilfiger and Jeremy Scott. She then went on to star in the BET reality series Baldwin Hills, as a regular for three seasons. The cause of her death has yet to be confirmed, but it is believed the 30-year-old passed away in her sleep after her battle with lupus. She leaves behind a daughter, aged 7 and our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to her family. [Teen Vogue]

The Met Gala is Back With Two Parts
The Met Gala is back, but not on the first Monday in May. The Gala will be split up into two parts, with the theme being American Fashion the first exhibit: “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” will open in September to close off fashion week, and the second exhibit: “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” is set for May 2022. Andrew Bolton, the curator of the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, said “We very consciously wanted this to be a celebration of the American fashion community, which suffered so much during the pandemic.” [NYT]

Nina Ricci Closes Flagship Store
In addition to their recent decision to reposition themselves in the market, Nina Ricci has revealed that the doors to their flagship Paris store are closed. Instead, Nina Ricci will be taking a digital-first approach to the business, with the Avenue Montaigne boutique, originally opened in 1979, to be taken over by fellow-Puig-owned brand Paco Rabanne. While the full strategy for Nina Ricci going forward has yet to be revealed, the label’s creative directors Lisi Herrebrugh and Rushemy Botter have cut the number of looks in the fall 2021 collection by 30 percent, and the prices have been lowered to make it more accessible. [WWD]

CFDA Launches Regional Support Network
The Council of Fashion Designers of America has announced the launch of their new support network initiative, CFDA Connects. The program aims to help provide resources to the American fashion industry in more regional areas such as Hawaii, Missouri, Georgia and Texas. Local fashion weeks and organizations will gain access to e-commerce and presentation platform RUNWAY360, as well as support for supply chain networks and sustainability initiatives. [BoF]

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