Must Read: Anne Hathaway Covers 'Vanity Fair,' Jen Atkin, Mary Phillips and Justine Marjan Launch Talent Management Agency
These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Monday.
Anne Hathaway covers Vanity Fair
For the April 2024 cover of Vanity Fair, photographed by Norman Jean Roy and styled by Deborah Afshani, Anne Hathaway wears a Chanel jacket, belt and gloves and Bulgari jewelry. She spoke to Julie Miller about handling the anxieties of fame, her best advice for others in the limelight and her experience with being mocked online: "A lot of people wouldn't give me roles because they were so concerned about how toxic my identity had become online." Hathaway continued, "Humiliation is such a rough thing to go through. The key is to not let it close you down. You have to stay bold, and it can be hard because you're like, 'If I stay safe, if I hug the middle, if I don't draw too much attention to myself, it won't hurt.'" {Vanity Fair/paywalled}
Jen Atkin, Mary Phillips and Justine Marjan launch talent management agency
The all-star glam team of Jen Atkin, Mary Phillips and Justine Marjan are launching Highlight Artists — a new talent management company set to showcase an extensive roster of hair and makeup artists. "We've put our flag in the ground as celebrity hairstylists and makeup artists, and I've always found mentoring and teaching craft, bedside manner and professionalism to be so rewarding for me," Atkin told WWD. Marjan said that the goal of the new venture is to create "a community where we're all supporting each other, mentoring the younger stylists that are newer to the field, and giving them opportunities." Highlight Artists already represents the likes of Kathleen Riley (Sofia Richie's hairstylist), Diane Buzzetta (one of Hailey Bieber's makeup artists) and more. {WWD}
How a fashion company's value is measured today
After a record low 118 acquisitions in the fashion industry globally in 2023 (thanks to a lack of interested buyers and investors), it no longer makes sense for fashion companies to be evaluated by their sales. "It's the absolute worst time to sell right now," said Elsa Berry, founder of Vendôme Global Partners, a fashion M&A advisory firm. "It's impossible to say where the buyers are...And you're not going to get a top price unless you are an exceptional brand." Bill Detwiler, managing partner at Fernbrook Capital Management, says profits are the best way to measure a fashion company's value today: "Two years of the pandemic followed by the last 18 months of a reset in the global economy has changed a lot of the calculus of how we start getting liquidity in our portfolio." {Business of Fashion/paywalled}
Has the fashion industry canceled canceling?
About 13 years after going on an antisemitic tirade in Paris, John Galliano is being re-celebrated in the fashion industry for his work at Maison Margiela and has seemingly been forgiven for his hate-crime conviction. For The New York Times, Vanessa Friedman cites Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) as a more recent example of a cancellation's quick turnaround. After going on his own antisemitic rants in 2022 and doubling down on them last February, the rapper and designer is once again sitting front row at Paris Fashion Week and starring in lookbook campaigns. "We may be experiencing a degree of outrage fatigue," said Susan Scafidi, the founder of the Fashion Law Institute at Fordham University. "At the end of the day, consumers make fashion choices while looking in the mirror, not at the designer behind it. It can be hard to turn away from a flattering look to uphold an invisible principle." {The New York Times}
Cecilie Bahnsen introduces made-to-order
The Copenhagen-baed label Cecilie Bahnsen is introducing made-to-order into its business model, spanning the categories of runway, bridal and archive. Beginning Monday, customers can choose from a curated collection of made-to-order runway and bridal looks to purchase on CecilieBahnsen.com, including styles from the brand's Spring 2024 and Fall 2023 runways. The archive category will allow customers to "own archival silhouettes, crafted from leftover fabrics too precious to be discarded," according to a press release. The release also explains the new venture as "an opportunity that allows for creating slower, honoring the traditions of couture and upholding a dedication to craftsmanship." {Fashionista inbox}
Khy announces first retail partnership with Selfridges
Kylie Jenner's clothing brand Khy is expanding from its direct-to-consumer model with the announcement of its first retail partnership with Selfridges — a United Kingdom-based retailer. A curated capsule of the brand's bestselling items from its first three collections will be available at all Selfridges locations and at Selfridges.com for two weeks, starting Monday. {Fashionista inbox}
Homepage image: Norman Jean Roy/Vanity Fair
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