Dana Thomas details in Newsweek how Versace became a bit of a mess after the death of Gianni. It used to rake in over $1 billion in sales, but now makes less than half of that. Run by the family since its inception, Donatella and Santo were reportedly resistant to changes that might have helped them adapt to new times and new economies. Thomas reiterates previous reports about ex-CEO Giancarlo Di Risio leaving the label abruptly earlier this year (after a five-year reign) over disputes with Donatella about cutting back her lavish lifestyle. (He apparently began trying to meddle in the creative side of things, which ultimately was the last straw for Donatella.)

Even when the family was slammed with an inheritance-tax bill that required them to take out a five-year, $100 million bond, the Versaces couldn't let go of their material things.

"There was zero expense control in the company, and the lifestyle was absolutely, positively insane," says the Versace source. "When the earnings went down, the lifestyle didn't."

But with the label bleeding money and readying to lay off 350 workers, the family has made concessions. Last year they sold their Lake Como estate, which is said to have devastated Donatella.

In an updated rehashing of portions of his Anna Wintour biography, Front Row, Jerry Oppenheimer writes in the Post today that Anna Wintour is worried about losing her eyesight since her father went blind at a "relatively young age." But apparently she won't fret too much about losing money for Vogue amid cutbacks at Condé Nast. Polly Mellen, who worked at Vogue for three decades, spoke to Oppenheimer:

"Moving on in a tough economy is something Anna can easily cope with," Mellen says.

"She's a very modern woman, and she understands what [dire] situations are. She'll go along with whatever Si needs done, but Anna is no patsy. She has her own point of view. Regarding cuts, she'll ask to see where and how. She would say yes to this and no to that, and Si would absolutely respect her judgment."

Christina Ricci wore look No. 7 from Marios Schwab's fall 2009 collection to the after-party for After Life on Saturday night in Santa Monica, California, and accented her look with a set of blunt bangs.

Do you like her hair-and-dress combination?

Rodarte's Target collection launches next month, so images are rolling out in December magazines. Finally, we can see the collection clearly instead of relying only on the fuzzy camera-phone snaps that leaked from the preview Target held a few months ago. Marie Claire has a decent look at a few pieces, which look more appetizing when not styled with high-waisted lace bow panties and bra tops.

Rodarte for Target [Marie Claire] [Nitro:licious]
Related: Rodarte’s Target Line Includes High-Waisted Lace Tights (With a Bow!) and Bra Tops

Perhaps the reason Madonna won't appear in the spring campaign for Louis Vuitton is because she's the spring 2010 face of Dolce & Gabbana! In fact, Steven Klein shot the ads Friday in New York. One minute she's married to Guy Ritchie, the next she's globe-trotting with a hot young Brazilian thing. One minute she's slapping on fishnets and bunny ears for Marc Jacobs, the next she's frolicking in lingerie for Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. From Dolce & Gabbana's online magazine Swide:

As Dolce & Gabbana's spring/summer 2010 collection returned to the Italian roots of the brand, evoking its strong heritage and revisiting iconic pieces such as the corset (the designer's finale was composed solely of corsets) it seemed only fitting that Madonna, who embodies both the strong sensuality of the brand and who shares an Italian heritage with the designers should be the one to showcase the Sicilian inspired collection.

How else is the woman to get in touch with her Italian roots? She can't even eat a normal slice of pizza.

Madonna shoots Dolce & Gabbana's campaign [Swide via WWD]

In the December issue of British Vogue, Lara Stone reveals she went to rehab for alcoholism earlier this year. Drugs were never a problem because she's Dutch, experimented enough in her homeland, and "never wanted to be that model on drugs, the sort who gives head for a line of coke." Good for her, but her vice lies in the bottle. She told the magazine, according to Fashionologie:

"I am a complete alcoholic. It used to be so easy to say to someone, 'Get me a bottle of vodka,' and they'd run and get it. Going to rehab was the best decision I ever made. The last six months have been the best of my life." A week after she left rehab, she was back in the game, attending the Costume Institute Gala in early May with Alexander Wang. "I sat there all night in complete shock. I didn't say a word."

We wouldn't know what to do with ourselves, either, facing the awkwardness of so many fancy, pretty people without a drop of alcohol. There's something so human about that — a model who doesn't just air kiss her way through life.

Gemma Ward's agent has announced that the Australian beauty has no plans to return to her modeling career. Largely absent from the fashion scene following the death of Heath Ledger, to whom she was romantically tied, Ward has come under fire for gaining weight. God forbid she indulge in more than a celery stick. Last week blogger Bryanboy posted photos of Ward walking around New York looking healthy rather than thin and sickly. He lamented her retirement, adding, "She's a very beautiful woman and I think she could make a name for herself in the plus-size niche." Which is kind of screwy given that she looks normal, and the fashion industry considers that "plus-size." Commenters had both supportive and horribly mean things to say. But no matter what she does, who cares if she's not a size nothing anymore? Why does she have to take heat for being normal? Besides, if she doesn't want to model, reality television is where it's at these days. As long as she doesn't go on HSN and try to sell a ladybug-inspired jewelry line. Too many models do that sort of thing.

Gemma Ward quits modelling [News.com.au]
Two Words: Gemma Ward [BryanBoy]