Weekend Fashion News Alert: Hedi Slimane Leaves Saint Laurent, Beyonce’s Athleisure Brand, Chinese Firm Acquires French Fashion Houses, and Janice Dickinson’s Illness

Beyonce has also jumped into the althleisure wear market. On Thursday, the pop star launched Ivy Park, a 200-piece active wear collection, i a joint venture with British businessman Sir Philip Green, who owns the Topshop fashion chain.

The ‘Beehive” also released a video where she is dancing and singing wearing “Ivy Park” in a park in Houston she played in as a child. “When I have to conquer those things, I still go back to that park. Before I hit the stage, I go back to that park. When it was time for me to give birth, I went back to that park. The park became a state of mind. The park became my strength,” explained Beyonce in a recent fashionmag.com article.

Beyonce with her athlesisure wear clothing line is in good company. In 2013 Kate Hudson founded Fabletics that recently moved to brick and mortar stores. And in 2015 Carrie Underwood launched a collection of athleisure garments, Calia by Carrie Underwood, in collaboration with Dick’s Sporting Goods retail stores.

Heave ho, Hedi

It has been confirmed. Hedi Slimane has officially left Saint Laurent!!

For months, rumors have circulated in fashion circles that Slimane would before the end of the year. On Friday, the Keurig Group announced that the esteemed fashion house would be getting a new creative director, Anthony Vaccarello.

The Keurig Group, which owns many European luxury houses, was fed up with some of the demands of Slimane, and when both parties could not reach compromises on Slimane’s new contract, both parties decided to part ways. Vaccarello’s, 32, style is very similar to Slimane. Vaccarello has a penchant for a rock n’ roll aesthetic, a sexy pared down look and clothes that border on androgynous. Prior to his Saint Laurent appointment, Vaccarello had has own line and served as artistic director of Versus, Versace’s clothing line aimed at young adults.

The Chinese have it

The Chinese textile company, Shangdong Ruyi has signed a deal where they will acquire controlling interest in three French fashion houses.  The fashion group, Sandro, Maje and Claudie Pierlot (SMCP), is valued at an estimated 1.3 billion euros.

“My sister, Judith Milgrom, and I are delighted to embark on the next phase in the journey of our company alongside Shandong Ruyi Group. Judith and I reaffirm our full commitment to the business and remain focused on our goal: continuing to build the highly desirable brands Sandro, Maje and Claudie Pierlot and further extending their reach. Shandong Ruyi Group, as business with strong values, shares this long-term vision and ambition, and is the right partner for us,” said Evelyne Chetrite, founder and managing director of SMCP.

Under the current agreement, Shangdong Ruyi will keep the current creative and design teams. “By taking on board the expertise of SMCP, a group well-rooted with strong Parisian heritage, we would combine their merits with our existing strength in Asia, in particular China, in order to take both companies forward. Not only are we very excited to be forming a promising partnership with leaders at SMCP and KKR, but we also look forward to supporting SMCP in achieving its long-term objective of becoming a global leader in accessible luxury,” explained Shandong Chairman, Yafu Qiu, in a recent fashionunited.com article.

Dickinson’s dilemma

Supermodel Janice Dickinson revealed that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The 61-year old Dickinson announced her diagnosis in a recent dailymail.co,uk video.

“It’s still quite shocking. You know, I’ve had plastic surgery and I’ve had breast implants and I’ve always been very vocal of what I’ve done, because I tell the truth about everything. As I am right now,” detailed Dickinson.

Dickinson was informed by her doctor two weeks ago that she had early-stage breast cancer. “I’m going to get through this. You betcha, kiddo,” she said. “And I’ll be just fine. This is not a pity party. I’m Janice Dickinson. I’m going to stick around for a long, long time.”

—William S. Gooch