All Hail, Bernard Arnault: Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of French luxury goods company LVMH, has been rewarded by the British monarchy. According to WWD, Prince Charles awarded Arnault the title of “Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire” in an intimate ceremony at his London residence earlier this week. Arnault’s new U.K. title enables him to put the initials KBE after his name. [WWD]
Speculation About Pope’s Shoes: Residents of Novara, a town in northern Italy where the papal shoemaker Adriano Stefanelli runs his shop, reportedly can’t stop talking about Pope Francis’s footwear. LVMH-owned website NOWNESS sent photographer Toby Glanville to the city to find out more about the newly ordained pope’s shoes, and he reported that rumors were heavily circulating. According to the cobbler, Francis is likely to opt for a more muted color than Benedict’s signature red: “The new papacy is all about humility, so Stefanelli said they are most likely to be black,” Glanville said. [NOWNESS]
Backlash from the Middleton Effect: Most fashion brands are attuned to the Kate Middleton effect, but what happens when a little-known label falls victim to the retail phenomenon? The Telegraph reports that British label Issa struggled to meet demand for the midnight-blue wrap dress that the Duchess wore for her engagement to Prince William. In a recent interview with The Times, Camila Al-Fayed, the daughter of former Harrods owner Mohammad Al-Fayed and a stakeholder in the brand, said that “demand was so huge that the business couldn’t cope. If Kate wears a Zara dress, these huge companies have the backing to follow through. Issa was basically run by interns, students and [founder and designer] Daniella [Helayal]. There was no business model.” [Telegraph]
DVF’s Ski Accident: Diane von Furstenberg is currently mending her wounds after a ski accident on recent trip to Aspen, Colorado. “I had a bad fall at the end of a day of skiing in Aspen,” the designer told WWD in an e-mail. “I broke my shoulder in three places. No surgery required. I am resting and mending in my house in L.A.” Furstenberg suffered another ski-related injury in early 2011, when she broke her nose after colliding with another skier on the mountain. Still, she remains positive: “Sometimes the universe gives you signs…“stay still” is the message I got from my ski fall and broken shoulder!” she tweeted. [WWD]
