Bad Bunny & Kendall Jenner for Gucci, Phoebe Philo Sets a Date

TRAVEL COMPANIONS: That’s one way to make your relationship official: Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny, who have yet to publicly confirm they are dating, are the new faces of the Gucci Valigeria travel line.

The model and singer, who recently attended Sabato De Sarno’s debut show as creative director of Gucci during Milan Fashion Week, appear close in the images, which were shot by Anthony Seklaoui in an airport.

In one photo, Jenner laughs as she leans back on a pile of Gucci GG logo suitcases on a luggage trolley as Bad Bunny locks her in an embrace. In another shot, which mimicks a paparazzi photo, they step off an escalator toting a weekend bag and cabin suitcase from the Gucci Savoy collection.  

“The house’s latest campaign embraces the spirit of ‘Gucci Ancora’ as a celebration of the love that lies at the center of Gucci’s community,” the house said in a statement on Saturday.

De Sarno recently unveiled his first campaign for the brand, featuring a topless Daria Werbowy wearing items from the Marina Chain jewelry collection in an L.A. swimming pool.

Other recent campaign faces include Dakota Johnson, who appeared in candid images for the Jackie 1961 that showed her buying flowers or heading to a yoga class, and Ryan Gosling, who appeared in Gucci Valigeria ads last year pushing a mountain of luggage down a beach.

Jenner and Bad Bunny have appeared on a number of high-profile dates at events including a Drake concert in Los Angeles in August and a Lakers game in May, but they have never officially discussed their relationship status.

Jenner closed the Schiaparelli show during Paris Fashion Week on Thursday and has been joined in the French capital by family members including sister Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian, as well as mother Kris Jenner.   

Bad Bunny appeared in a campaign for French brand Jacquemus last year that showed him showing off his biceps in a pink minidress with baby blue slide heels; rollerblading in pink-and-white gingham Bermuda shorts, and riding a jet ski wearing nothing but a pink life jacket. — JOELLE DIDERICH

COMING SOON: Phoebe Philo‘s long-awaited new signature collection is to go on sale on Oct. 30, when her website will finally open for business.

The British designer sent out a teaser via email with the date only, and a strobe-light flash of imagery showing faces, plants, fingers and what looks like headlights.

No other information has been disclosed. At the end of July, Philo invited people to register on Phoebephilo.com for “news and further updates.”

The official Instagram of Phoebe still has no posts at the moment, but has accumulated 265,000 followers, indicative of her rabid following.

Philo confirmed in July 2021 that she would be returning to fashion after a four-year break with an independent, namesake house — and with LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton as a minority investor.

At the time the British designer said she would create clothing and accessories “rooted in exceptional quality and design,” adding: “To be independent, to govern and experiment on my own terms is hugely significant to me.”

As reported in WWD last June, the new collection is expected to span ready-to-wear, leather goods, jewelry, eyewear and footwear. At the time, sources told WWD that more than 150 styles would be available at a dedicated online store initially shipping to the U.K., Europe and the U.S.

Given her cult following, instincts and antennae keenly attuned to the zeitgeist, Philo’s return to fashion will no doubt elicit cheers from consumers, editors and retailers — and perhaps some nail-biting and angst among her designer peers.

Philo is best known for engineering a brand rejuvenation during a 10-year tenure at Celine, one of about 75 brands controlled by LVMH. Season after season she minted womanly, modernist clothing and distinctive handbags, accruing an intensely loyal fan base.

A graduate of London’s Central Saint Martins fashion school, Philo has also designed for Stella McCartney and Chloé. — MILES SOCHA

PICASSO & PEARLS: Holland may have Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl With a Pearl Earring,” but “Paris and fashion can lay claim to another treasure, the man with the pearl necklace.”

That’s how Vogue’s Anna Wintour described Giambattista Valli on Friday night as she decorated the couturier as a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, to thunderous applause, hoots and hollers from his nearest and dearest, who had gathered at the Picasso Museum for the ceremony.

Diana Widmaier Picasso went a step further, and compared Valli to her famous grandfather, Pablo Picasso.

“Both have the same impressive ability to capture the essence of life and modernity. For this particular reason, I’m sure that my grandfather would have appreciated Giambattista’s way of disrupting the codes of fashion,” she said, prompting a chorus of “awws” and “wows” from the crowd.

Picasso said she first met the Rome-born designer when he was designing ready-to-wear at Emanuel Ungaro. “He was able to ingeniously renew the brand and to give his creations a singular femininity that characterizes his collections today.”

Picasso noted that she had the opportunity to work with many great ceramicists that collaborated with her grandfather, and she quoted one of them: Roger Capron. “He did not believe in genius or inspiration. According to him, it was the repetition of a gesture that brought excellence. I think that this notion of work and effort, Giambattista and Anna know it well.”

She described Valli as “fiercely Italian, but France adopted him because he redefines the excellence, elegance and glamour of the Parisian woman.”

Wintour noted that Valli’s talents go far beyond fashion.

“His friends know better than anyone how tuned into the world Giamba is and how brilliantly he navigates it — the queen of Positano, people call him,” she said to a round of laughs, explaining that he “absolutely rules that city in the summer. The best restaurants, private gardens, beaches and nightclubs are all open to him and anyone in his orbit. Simply say your friends of Giamba in Positano and watch every door suddenly open.”

After the ceremony, guests could visit the current Picasso exhibition — “La Collection. Œuvres Choisies.” — M.S.

SUPPER CLUB: “It was fantastic,” Christian Louboutin enthused about the Usher concert he had just attended, part of a residency at La Seine Musicale that runs through Oct. 5.

Since the music star’s dates coincided with Paris Fashion Week, he invited Louboutin, Burberry designer Daniel Lee, model Coco Rocha and other fashion friends for a family-style dinner at Le Relais Plaza, the swanky brasserie at the Plaza Athénée hotel with the Art Deco decor.

Lee is in Paris for Burberry’s spring 2024 showroom, and wore the oversized shirt that had stalked the London runway recently. (It was look No. 33, in case you’re curious.)

Holding a glass of Veuve Clicquot and an unlit Montecristo cigar, Usher roamed the crowded restaurant, taking off his sunglasses when conversations got intense.

Wearing a black Balmain jacket with big diamante buttons, the Grammy winner told WWD he commissioned looks from Valentino, Balenciaga, Bluemarble, Marni and Diesel for his “Rendez-Vous À Paris” performances, which he described as an extension of his sold-out Las Vegas residency.

Pharrell Williams came dressed more casually, sporting yellow aviator sunglasses, a baseball cap declaring “Curry Up,” Louis Vuitton Damier-check jeans and a green Cactus Plant Flea Market sweatshirt bearing the phrase “Ye Must Be Born Again.”

Other notable guests at the Creed-sponsored event included Venus Williams, Erykah Badu, Evan Mock, Ester Expósito, Ellen von Unwerth, Jeremy Pope, Jenna Lyons and Letitia Wright.

Rocha and Louboutin compared notes on their pets, the shoe designer flashing photos of his two Portuguese podengos, and explaining that the bandage on his right hand was concealing a dog bite from when one of his pooches got into a scuffle he tried to break up. Rocha is awaiting delivery of a Swiss mountain dog that she’s hoping gets along with her two Bengal cats.

In between performances, Usher has been taking in a few spring 2024 fashion shows, causing a sensation by showing up in a red polka-dot suit at Marni. Word has it he planned to attend Valentino on Sunday. — M.S.

FASHIONABLY LATE: Kim Kardashian kept the guests waiting at the Victoria Beckham show Friday evening, sweeping into the venue in a sheer pink satin number 45 minutes after the official start time, alongside mom Kris Jenner and their entourage.

Among those sitting patiently in the front row, a fresh-faced Pamela Anderson cut a more understated figure, sporting the makeup-free look that has garnered much attention this Paris Fashion Week.

“It’s about self-acceptance,” said Anderson. “It’s a chapter of my life when I just want to be me. I’m not advocating anything, except being me, to myself. I feel great!”

An added bonus, she has discovered, is that “It’s so much easier, you don’t have to deal with other people, so I get more time to myself.”

The Canadian-American actress has been enjoying walking through the gardens and museums of Paris during her stay so far. “It’s such good weather. I’ve been in Paris so many times, but I feel like I’m looking at it with fresh eyes,” she said.

She’s loving the French capital so much she’s thinking of getting a place in the city. “I’m looking at women of all ages and just thinking, this is a really good place, I might have to move here. I need an apartment in Paris.”

Elsewhere on the front row, David Sims posed for pictures with fellow photographer Mert Alas, while Eva Longoria mingled with the likes of Peggy Gou before the Beckham clan took their seats. Perhaps they were sharing musical inspiration — Longoria, who is supporting the actors’ strike and as such would not be drawn on professional topics, said music was a big thing for her at the moment. “A lot of Shakira, Karol G…I’m really inspired by that,” she said.

Berlin-based DJ and record producer Gou — real name Kim Min-ji — is finding ’90s music a big inspiration, she said. She has two Paris gigs coming up over the weekend. Word on the street has it there’s something big planned, but she was cryptic about the details. “I’m don’t want to say anything about it, I want people who come there to find out,” she said. — ALEX WYNNE

STEPPING UP: Lauren Picciano has been named head of global communications at Vestiaire Collective, the global luxury resale platform, a new post.

She reports to Marie-Christin Oebel, global chief marketing officer, who joined last February.

In her new role, which is based in New York, Picciano will oversee a global team strategizing brand communications and bringing awareness to Vestiaire Collective through corporate communications, consumer PR, influencer and celebrity relations.

“We are thrilled to have Lauren Picciano join Vestiaire Collective, bringing her expansive knowledge and experience in the luxury fashion market to our leadership team. Picciano’s appointment is critical in expanding Vestiaire Collective’s brand awareness and impact in North America, but also around the globe,” said Oebel.

Most recently, Picciano was head of public relations, celebrity and influence for Saks. During her tenure, she created holiday partnerships between the company and former First Lady Michelle Obama and the Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance program as well as a collaboration with Elton John AIDS Foundation. Earlier, she held PR roles at Town & Country and Marie Claire, and was manager, PR, social media and special events at Bergdorf Goodman.

“I’m proud to join the passionate team at Vestiaire Collective whose mission not only aims to bring the best in pre-loved fashion to consumers around the world, but also creates a positive environmental impact for us all. I look forward to contributing to the team’s ongoing success and taking the company’s vision to new heights.”

Vestiaire Collective was founded in 2009 with offices in London; Berlin; New York; Singapore; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and Hong Kong. The company is a B Corp. and is active in more than 80 countries worldwide. — LISA LOCKWOOD