• Tomorrow Alessandra Fachinetti presents her first collection as the creative director of Valentino after the man himself retired earlier this year, making her "potentially, one of the most powerful women in the industry." She invited Valentino to her show and calls her collection "Valentino … with a twist," which she hopes will attract younger customers. [Telegraph]

• Balenciaga only became profitable in the past three years, but head designer Nicolas Ghesquiere's collection presented in Paris yesterday continued to prove he thinks further into the future than most designers, making his "the label that other labels copy." [Guardian]

• Robin Givhan doesn't like Christian Dior, calls Yohji Yamamoto a "magician," and deems Jun Takahashi of Undercover "tantalizing." [WP]

• Cathy Horyn thought "nothing made sense" at Martin Margiela's show but liked some of the raw-edged leather pieces in Yohji Yamamoto's show, for which the designer himself sang on the soundtrack. [NYT}

• Carla Bruni-Sarkozy eschews Fashion Week in Paris for official First Lady duties. Le sacrifice! [WWD]

• John Galliano's accessories line debuts today. It includes bags, belts, and luggage, and wholesale prices range from $117 to $292. [WWD]

• Karl Lagerfeld shot Claudia Schiffer for the new Dom Pérignon campaign. She poses as a maid, secretary, and, according to her, a man. [British Vogue]

• Heiresses can work! Keith Richard's daughter Theodora has been appointed vice-president of creative direction of 4 Stroke Jeans, a rock-and-roll-inspired denim line. [NYP]