By dint of his talent, the loyalty he inspires, and his enviable sell-through rates, Azzedine Alaïa has earned an unusual degree of autonomy within the somewhat hidebound confines of the fashion industry. He shows when he wants and when he is ready — not when there's a fashion week on the schedule. He does the same…

• In concert with her MAC Viva Glam campaign, Lady Gaga is encouraging Little Monsters to contribute profile photos to be incorporated into "the most beautiful thing she's ever worn." The cause is great, but this sounds potentially ominous. [Viva Glam]
• • Along with other businesses, Tokyo's many fashion companies started…

French Vogue editor-in-chief Carine Roitfeld's shock announcement that she's leaving the magazine has spurred one juicy rumor: that she was fired. As the story goes, luxury brands were threatening to pull their advertising, and so Roitfeld was pushed out.

• Jean-Paul Gaultier, on Lady Gaga: "I think she's talented and very inpolitically incorrect, which I love. But I also think that she read up on Madonna's life and learnt it like the Bible." [Telegraph]

• Crystal Renn is either too big or too small, say some folks who evidently take an interest in other people's weight. "She is not trying to lose weight at all," says Gary Dakin, her agent. "She fluctuates." [People]

• Eva Mendes wore a Snuggie at a party for Flaunt magazine. [P6]
• According to one study, the luxury sector is projected to grow everywhere in the world this year, with the exception of Japan. [Independent]

• Eva Longoria's perfume ad is a total Photoshop of Horrors. "I have always been somewhat allergic to all perfumes," admitted the actress. The scent was produced with the Falic Group, the company that recently shuttered Christian Lacroix. Priorities. [WWD]

Last night, Sadie and I hiked through Manhattan in unseasonable wind and rain to attend Fashion's Night Out. As the stores opened to the boozehound hordes, we had many experiences that were challenging and puzzling. And some that were fun.

• Victoria Beckham reportedly owns 100 Birkins, with a $2 million value. Although Posh's penchant for the carryalls isn't in question, we do nonetheless note this story has two pictures of her holding Kellys. [Daily Mail]

• Eva Mendes, along with male model Jamie Dornan, are confirmed as the fall faces of Calvin Klein Jeans and Calvin Klein Underwear. Steven Klein shot the campaigns. [WWD]

• File under matches made in heaven: Karl Lagerfeld has designed couture costumes for England's National Ballet. [Telegraph]

• "It's not up to him to give her lessons; Michelle Obama is of her time; Oscar de la Renta is no longer," scoffed designer Azzedine Alaïa. Ooh, breaking: Oscar is on the View now. [WWD]

• Behold actress Rene Russo, doing moderately fetishistic things with designer Brian Atwood's shoes and a hunky model, for a limited-release book, which sounds suspiciously like a fancy lookbook. [NY Mag]

• Luke Wilson is "designing" a line of golf products and accessories for Puma. Ah, the insatiable American hunger for the consumption of stuff and celebrity! Or the perception of the insatiability, or whatever. [WWD, sub req'd]
  
• Speaking of! Rod Stewart is launching a clothing line. [Guardian]
  
• Donna Karan is doing…

• "Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington would go to big designers and say: 'If you don't want Naomi to be in your show, then I don't want to be in it'...Women of colour are not a trend...That's the bottom line." — Naomi Campbell, still fighting for the cause of models of color. [Vogue UK]
  
• Speaking of women of color:…

• Anne Hathaway: Possible next face of Lancome, a brand already endorsed by "such luminaries as" Kate Winslet and Clive Owen. Wait, Clive Owen? Why can't they splash him all over our perfume advertisements? [WWD, 1st item]
  
• And in other face-of-campaign news, Jennifer Connelly will be fronting Balenciaga for spring and…

• Enfant terrible Marc Jacobs stuck his tongue out at fashion critic/mortal enemy Suzy Menkes after his Louis Vuitton show. [Washington Post]
  
• And yeah, did we need to report that he started his show late? We probably didn't need to tell you that. [WWD, 4th item]
  
• Here's a sentence we never thought we would write:…

• The Spice Girls are reuniting, and Donatella Versace may be dressing them for the reunion tour. G-d works in mysterious ways, and Jennie may have just forgiven Him for the Holocaust... [AHN.com]
  
• Prada sells Azzedine Alaia back to Azzedine Alaia. Which would sound all heartwarming and benevolent, if only it weren't a…