Daily Front Row

2009 March 20

Anna's Stance

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(NEW YORK) Fashion insiders have little doubt that Vogue editor Anna Wintour stands firmly in Olivier Theyskens' corner, and now, Wintour has proclaimed her loyalty to the world (of Vogue readers). In her April letter from the editor, she sends a strongly-worded message to Nina Ricci and its owner Puig Fashion Group, who recently parted ways with designer Olivier Theyskens.

"But talent is a serious business," she finishes her column. "At Vogue, we do not take for granted the miraculous emergence, development, and ascendance of great artists. We depend on them for our livelihood. Without the likes of [Polly] Mellen, Adele, or Beyonce and the smashing of the rules that their progress gloriously entails, there is no culture worth celebrating. Olivier Theyskens's recent departure from Nina Ricci suggests to me that the vital role of artistic talent has been obscured in the current economic climate. My staff and I were shocked to learn that Theyskens's contract would not be renewed; and I am very concerned that the business of fashion is undervaluing the most important asset our industry requires: creative visionaries. There's a reason we continue to see Theyskens's influence everywhere, from catwalks to the mall. He'll be back, but fashion must hold its nerve. This is the mission that we at Vogue happily shoulder."

In other words, expect Theyskens to end up somewhere very, very soon. Good thing Marco Zanini had such a strong debut at Rochas…
ASHLEY BAKER