Industry News – May 17th, 2016

Curated fashion industry news links for Tuesday, May 17th, 2016…

JONATHAN SAUNDERS JOINS DIANE VON FURSTENBERG AS CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER – Vogue
“Diane von Furstenberg announced this morning that she’s hired the Scottish designer Jonathan Saunders as her company’s first-ever chief creative officer. “Jonathan’s extraordinary passion for colors and prints, his effortless designs, and his desire to make women feel beautiful make him the perfect creative force to lead DVF into the future,” Von Furstenberg said via release. “I could not have found a cooler, more intelligent designer and I cannot wait to watch him shine as our chief creative officer.”

GORDMANS GRABS BON TON OPS EXEC – RetailingToday
“Gordmans Stores, the Omaha-based apparel and home décor retailer said Michael Ricart assumed the role of senior vice president of stores effective May 9. Ricart joined Gordmans from Bon-Ton Stores where he had served as senior vice president of stores since 2012. He joined Bon-Ton in 1999 as a regional vice president of stores and held roles of increasing responsibility during a 16 year tenure. Prior to Bon-Ton, Ricart held multiple positions in buying and store operations at Macy’s.”

A NEW FASHION MUSEUM TO SPRING UP IN FLORENCE – Forbes
“Following in the footsteps of London, New York, Paris and many other cities throughout the world, Italy, in particular the city of Florence, one of Italy’s cradles of high fashion and home to a thriving manufacturing district, will finally have its own veritable fashion museum. In fact, it is as a result of this void, as highlighted by Eike Schmidt, the newly appointed director of the Uffizi Gallery (the most visited Italian museum with 1 million 971 thousand visitors in 2015), to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that a new triennial program of contemporary fashion exhibitions was founded in Florence involving the transformation of the Costume Gallery in Palazzo Pitti into a proper fashion museum.”

GUCCI’S NEWEST MENSWEAR COLLECTION IS ABSOLUTELY BONKERS IN THE BEST WAY – GQ
“If you’re not a fashion die-hard who’s already well-acquainted with the man behind Gucci’s latest renaissance, then it’s time to become very familiar. His name is Alessandro Michele and he’s coming for your closet. The designer’s to-date collections for the storied Italian brand have already spawned a slew of must-have items regular guys and the rich and famous are gladly emptying their wallets for: kangaroo fur-lined slippers, colorfully embroidered jeans, animal intarsia sweaters. That’s the type of menswear that’s unordinary, to say the least—or used to be. Because it’s undeniable that Michele’s swervy point of view has had a massive influence on the fashion world and how people want to dress. Particularly for style-minded men, his genderless approach to clothes encourages experimentation with silhouettes and fabrics wholly uncommon in traditional menswear.”

CHANEL IMAN SHOT AN AMAZING FASHION TRIBUTE TO PRINCE – WhoWhatWear
“The fashion industry joined fans worldwide in mourning Prince’s passing last month. The legendary performer’s impact was far-reaching, so it should come as no surprise that thoughtful tributes would starting pouring in. One of our favorites so far: Chanel Iman’s new shoot for Harper’s Bazaar Serbia.”