Rachel Zoe a Damnation, Gucci Has a New CEO
♦ Rachel Zoe is "a pox on humanity—exploiting an aesthetic of dissipation, invading our collective consciousness and spraying it with dummy dust," says Ginia Bellafante in the Times, who clearly needs to get in touch with her feelings more. [NYT]
♦ So what are luxury brands supposed to do now that their rich customers are distinctly fewer in number? Market themselves like religions, according to brand strategist Lucian James. [JC Report]
♦ The CEO and president of Gucci, Mark Lee, is stepping down, and will be replaced by Bottega Veneta's Patrizio di Marco. [WWD]
♦ Agent Provocateur's new film, featuring Daisy Lowe and Peaches Geldof and set in a Gothic mansion, allows viewers to choose from options like "Follow That Virgin?" [The Pipeline]
♦ Chanel Iman's poor little avatar is exhausted and husky. [style file]
♦ Designers are eager to create more diversity on the runway and in ad campaigns, was the message from last week's "Race On the Runway" discussion at the Bryant Park Hotel. [WWD]