On Paris Catwalks, Emotion Recollected in Tranquility (IHT)
"The post-power woman — purposeful but never aggressive — dug to the depths of women's desires at Céline on Sunday. You could tell that the designer Phoebe Philo had put much of herself in the spring/summer 2012 collection because she was shaking with emotion backstage. 'Strength and womanhood, effortless and beautiful,' Ms. Philo said to sum up a collection that took her forward from her previous style, but only as a streamlined car purring ahead on the same route."

Mall Kids Take Paris (NY Times)
"Only in the spontaneous, high-energy environment of Opening Ceremony, the retail temple dedicated to of-this-moment street style that started on Howard Street in New York nearly a decade ago, does it make any kind of sense that a pair of self-proclaimed mall kids from the suburbs of Los Angeles would wind up at the design helm of a Parisian fashion house."

Hermès says buying power of luxury clients unchanged (Reuters)
"French luxury goods maker Hermès sees no sign yet of affluent buyers tightening their purse strings in spite of a somber global economic outlook… Hermès, known for its 10,000-euro Kelly handbags, joins the chorus of luxury brands such as Dior, Louis Vuitton and Lanvin that said recently trading remained buoyant even if consumer confidence was down."

Fung Brands buys Belgian bags (FT)
"Fung Brands Limited, the private luxury investment arm of Fung Capital Europe, has bought Delvaux, the Belgium equivalent of Hermes. This follows Fung Brands April purchase of Robert Clergerie, the famous French shoe maker that had almost faded from view."

Mario Testino at 30 Years (NY Times)
"In 30 years of fashion photography, he has captured in images the hectic glamour of beach life in Rio de Janeiro or the disciplined enthusiasm of the Horse Guards for the royal wedding last April. For that historic occasion, he was not only behind the lens to create an iconic image of a cuddly "Wills and Kate" before the event, but was also highlighted on camera at Westminster Abbey for his fame as a household name."