shall we help our good friend Francois-Henri Pinault in his hard assignment choosing the new artistic directors, for YSL - Gucci ?
I, personally, would love to see Alber Elbaz back at YSL. I thought his work there was absolutely incredible and totally in line with the sophisticated, strict chic of Yves himself.
Yeah,YSL is part of Gucci. Actually,there was alot of controversy between Tom and Yves' partner Eric Berge(sp?)just as they acquired the label. I can't remember the details but apparently Tom didn't live up to his end of the bargain. Anyway,it does mean for both labels,thankfully.
But isn't V&R rumoured to be taking over realms at Celine? [/b][/quote]
Gucci's Choice for Designer Needs Sketches, and Charisma
By CATHY HORYN
Published: November 6, 2003
.....
Among the names most frequently mentioned by fashion insiders are Alexander McQueen, a British designer whose company is part of Gucci Group; MarcJacobs, an American who works for Louis Vuitton and his own label; Hedi
Those are the obvious candidates. There are also lesser-known possible choices, like Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, the young designers behind Proenza Schouler, whom Mr. Ford has made a point of getting to know; Stefano Pilati, who is Mr. Ford's chief associate designerat Saint Laurent
; and John Ray, who executes the men's wear collection at Gucci.
It is unlikely that P.P.R. will name a successor before the next round of runway shows in February and March, when Mr. Ford will present his last collections. Having a replacement in the wings could kill the consumer excitement that Gucci is counting on for Mr. Ford's exit.
Yesterday, Mr. Rodriguez and Mr. Costa said they had not been contacted by anyone from Pinault Printemps-Redoute. "It's all speculation, really," Mr. Costa said. Nor had Mr. McCollough and his business partner. "I would hate to take over Gucci," Mr. McCollough offered. "It's so Tom Ford." Mr. McQueen and Mr. Ghesquiere, who are stars in their own right - yet hardly household names - did not return calls seeking comment.
While all of these choices are talented, none appears to be a clear candidate to succeed Mr. Ford at either Gucci or Saint Laurent.
Mr. Ford is an original - not so much for his dressmaking skills but for his ability to recognize a decade ago that those skills matterless in the increasingly global fashion business than marketing and personal relations. He has the interest and ability to speak to investors, as well as celebrities. He can take Gucci's advertisements to the outermost limits of taste. Yet, there can be no doubt that he knows how to make things that sell.
"Fifty percent of what makes a designer successful is his relationships with other people," Oscar de la Renta said yesterday, pointing out a weakness among many of the possible candidates for Mr. Ford's job.
.....
Aside from the fact Berge suggested him, I think V&R (and Hedi, but I picked V&R ) can dig in the YSL archives while still re-inventing the house - which Ford failed to do. 
