Fashion News: Is Hedi Slimane Saying Au Revoir To Dior?

Is menswear superstar Hedi Slimane ready to bolt from Dior Homme, the line created especially for him to design? Vogue.com UK & Women's Wear Daily report that contract talks have reached an impasse over money (what else?), creative control and a future Slimane women's collection. Is willowy, doe-eyed Slimane a prima donna, or a canny negotiator? We'll find out soon enough, especially if Dior finds itself with a Tom Ford situation.

Ginia Bellafante's gimlet-eyed essay in Sunday's Times on the portrayal of fashion journalists in "The Devil Wears Prada" is merciless:

"The Devil Wears Prada" is the first film to take a 21st-century view of fashion, moving beyond the myth of its practitioners as visionaries, revealing them instead as the exacting functionaries they are: those who live and dress and think according to the seasonal edicts of global conglomerates.

Ouch! We never read the book, but this movie can't open soon enough if only because the sight of Meryl Streep in full-on power bitch mode is a rare and delightful sight to behold.

Is Ralph Lauren making a deal with JC Penney? WWD reports that in his quest to conquer every possible retail channel, Lauren is mulling the prospect of creating an exclusive label for the store that poisoned Halston's career. Satan is sharpening his ice skates as we speak.

And for something completely different, check out our report on Saturday's Anti-Violence Project rally and march on Towleroad.