Sometimes it seems like the department-store chain JCPenney is simply gathering evidence for a business-school study in crisis management.

Nicolas Ghesquière Breaks His Silence: Former Balenciaga creative director Nicolas Ghesquière is finally addressing why he left his post at the helm of the storied brand. In an interview with System magazine, Ghesquière reveals that his departure was primarily caused by creative differences between himself and the label's management. "It all became so dehumanised," Ghesquière said. "Everything became an asset for the brand, trying to make it ever more corporate – it was all about branding. I don’t have anything against that; actually, the thing that I’m most proud of is that Balenciaga has become a big financial entity and will continue to exist. But I began to feel as though I was being sucked dry, like they wanted to steal my identity while trying to homogenise things. It just wasn’t fulfilling anymore." Ghesquière also hinted that other designers in similar situations may soon jump ship as well: “What’s interesting is how my split from Balenciaga has encouraged people to get in touch with me, and they’ve said, ‘Me too, I’m in the same situation. I want to leave too.’” [Business of Fashion]

Alber Elbaz Backs Hedi Slimane: Many of fashion's biggest players have voiced their frustration with Hedi Slimane’s new creative direction at Saint Laurent, but at the British Vogue festival this past weekend, Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz had the final word: “Hedi is a very, very, very talented designer,” Elbaz said in conversation with Browns's CEO Simon Burstein, according to The Cut. “It's not that I say that because I know him, but I know his work, and both of us worked at Saint Laurent at the same time. I think he's a very, very talented guy, and we just have to give him time to really build a story.” [The Cut]

If the State Department proved one thing when releasing a list of gifts that federal employees received from foreign administrations in 2011, it’s that high-ranking politicians command an impressive amount of swag—even if they don’t actually get to keep it.

According to a federal registry document issued by the State Department on Friday, President Obama and his family got thousands of dollars worth of gifts from foreign dignitaries. The document, which details all gifts received by United States officials in 2011, is clear to point out that while officials don't get the swag for themselves, the U.S. Government had to accept the items through official procedure because “non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government.”

On Sunday evening, news broke that John Galliano would teach a 3-day master-class series at Parsons, The New School for Design. It appeared to be another layer in the designer’s mounting comeback, one which he’s been working towards since shortly after a 2011 video of his anti-Semitic remarks had him fired from the helm of Dior. There was an overall positivity surrounding the Parsons news. But judging from a petition filed on Change.org, not everyone is happy about Galliano’s latest achievement.

The author of the petition is anonymous, so it’s uncertain if it was written by a member of the Parsons student body. Regardless, its author felt compelled to speak on students’ behalf. “Hiring someone who has made such horrific comments shows that the school values Galliano over their entire Jewish community,” the petition reads. “It shows they value him over their students’ respect, peace of mind, and heritage. It is disgraceful to hire someone who has made such inhumane comments.”

Rick Owens’s Not-So-Cozy Home: WSJ. Magazine got a sneak peek inside the Parisian living quarters of dark fashion design star, designer Rick Owens, and the rooms are expectedly haunting. The rustic space, which formerly served as the headquarters of the French Socialist Party, is furnished with a taxidermic monkey and minimalist furniture designed by Owens himself, including Alchemist chairs, a pine plywood bed, and a concrete sink. [WSJ]

Ryan Lochte’s Faux Perfume: Ryan Lochte is breaking into the beauty market--on the Internet at least. In a new sketch for comedy website Funny or Die, the Olympic swimmer "promotes" a fake perfume called “Pool Water,” which allows those who wear it to smell just like he does in the pool. Lochte even hints at a “special ingredient” in the product, referencing his confession to Ryan Seacrest that he urinates in pools. “They don’t call it eau de toilette for nothing,” he says with a wink. [Funny or Die]

The Return of Mom Jeans: Mom jeans are back, according to Fashionista’s recent shopping trip to TopShop. It’s there that one of the site’s writers discovered that the store is stocking a new pair of high-waisted, loose-fitting, tapered jeans called the ‘MOM.’ [Fashionista]

Victoria Beckham In Vogue Talks?: Victoria Beckham is reportedly in talks to land her first solo US Vogue cover. Sources tell UK tabloid The Daily Star “Posh is in talks about an upcoming cover and a feature where she’ll talk about leaving Los Angeles, David’s move to Paris, and her new daughter. It’s a big deal, and she wants it. Editor in chief Anna Wintour enjoys making people work for it.” This would not be Beckham’s first Vogue cover appearance. She appeared alongside her Spice Girls band mates on the front of publication’s January 1998 issue. [Daily Star]

Kate Middleton bowed to the inevitable last night, wearing a maternity dress in public for the first time.

Still, at somewhere between six and seven months pregnant, she can hardly be accused of not holding out as long as possible.

The last place you’d expect Anna Wintour to hire from? The Democratic National Committee. On Wednesday Vogue announced Hildy Kuryk, the DNC’s former finance director, as its new director of communications, a job that also includes the responsibility of acting as Wintour’s personal spokesperson.

News of Kuryk’s hire follows weeks of speculation that Wintour would pick her new communications head from within the political arena. While it’s unclear how Wintour and Kuryk met, it’s a safe bet that the two worked together during one, if not both, of President Obama’s election campaigns, in which Wintour was an active supporter.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s goofily named e-commerce website and blog, Goop, recently featured bikinis for girls 4 to 8 years old. Paltrow collaborated with designer Melissa Odabash to design a mini-version of Odabash’s adult swimwear. It’s a simple navy two-piece with ruffles on the top and bottom. The British charity Kidscape, whose mission is to prevent bullying and child sexual abuse, took one look at the dour blonde child model donning the Odabash bikini on Goop and cried outrage.