Alessandro Dell'Acqua Replaces Marco Zanini at Rochas: After much speculation, it was announced after the Rochas Spring/Summer 2014 show on Wednesday that Alessandro Dell'Acqua would be taking the reigns at Rochas. Dell'Acqua, who currently runs his own line, No. 21, will debut his first collection for the French brand next season. Although there has been no official confirmation to date, Zanini is speculated to be moving on to head the revival of the house of Schiaparelli. [Fashionista]
M.I.A. to Launch Versace Collaboration: Recording artist M.I.A. let it slip at the Balenciaga show Thursday that she has a collaboration with Versace being released in two weeks. Although details have yet to be released, it is believed that M.I.A's project will be for Versace's Versus line, which has been looking" to invite a range of designers and other creative types to interpret the brand." Past designers for Versus include Christopher Kane and J.W. Anderson. [WWD]
LVMH Takes a Stake in J.W. Anderson: It's been a big week for young Irish designer J.W. Anderson. Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton announced their minority stake in the designer's brand, and also named him Creative Director of LVMH-owned Spanish brand Loewe. Anderson began his company in 2008 and told The New York Times he believes LVMH is the right partner to help grow his brand. Although LVMH did not disclose the financials involved in the investment, The Times called it "a major injection of funding." As Creative Director of Loewe, Anderson said he plans to build a management infrastructure so he can completely focus on designing. His first collection will be shown in at least a year and Anderson hopes to combine his Irish Catholic heritage with the artistic heritage of Spain as inspiration for the brand's new direction. [The New York Times]
Kate Moss Auction Reaches $2.4 Million: The Kate Moss collection auction at Christies in London on Wednesday is already estimated to have reached $2.4 million in sales. The collection included 59 impressions of the model, mostly photographs, as well as paintings, sculptures, and drawings. The highest bid reached $176,400 for a life-sized sculpture of Moss called A Model Model by Allen Jones.The most impressive sale was a British Vogue October 2008 fashion story shot by Mario Testino entitled Hope and Glory, in which Moss is leaning against a green wall and lifting her skirt, revealing bronzed limbs and a pair of black opaque underwear. Christie's estimated it to sell for somewhere between $16,000 and $24,000, but the piece sold for almost double at $41,700. [Vogue UK]