DIOR AND DEPP: Johnny Depp was the person of the hour — several, in reality — as guests on the Dior dinner anticipated the star’s arrival.

Depp, the star of the opening night film “Jeanne du Barry,” had been late to his own press conference earlier within the day, and kept the pace with a past-11 p.m. arrival on the JW Marriott rooftop’s Club Albane for the dinner.

Depp, whose return to Cannes is being hailed as a comeback after his years of legal woes, will be staying on at Dior for one more stint because the Sauvage spokesperson. The brand has continued to support him throughout.

“They’ve never pushed me to be another person when shooting campaigns — it’s authentic, real, an inclusion of my very own style and I value that immensely,” he told WWD. The desert-themed campaigns have all the time had a rock ‘n’ roll edge.

“A novel balance between edge and elegance,” added Depp of the Sauvage campaigns’ style. The actor was sporting a pinstriped suit and hat. “I made this myself,” he joked of his tailored look, before coming clean. “No, probably not.”

Juror Paul Dano arrived in a sleek black tux, but wouldn’t — or couldn’t — take questions. “I don’t think I can,” he said.

The jurors could be mum all week, as jury president Ruben Östlund opened the festival with a joke from the stage that there can be no “long conversations” with the general public until after the festival. Dano kept it short and sweet.

Karlie Kloss arrived earlier within the afternoon, and hinted that she was prepping for a serious red carpet. She promised an epic look, and didn’t disappoint, wearing a gold Grecian gown by Dior on the premiere of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” — RHONDA RICHFORD

CHOPARD COUTURE: After dressing the necks of probably the most famous women in its jewels, Chopard is launching a couture line of gowns, minis and jumpsuits ready for the red carpet.

Chopard copresident and artistic director Caroline Scheufele is the mastermind behind the road, which can consist of fifty looks. The corporate will stage a runway show through the Cannes Film Festival.

Dubbed “Caroline’s Couture,” the gathering is designed in silhouettes that are supposed to complement jewelry.

Scheufele spearheaded the event of the gathering, working with a team of couturiers, and pieces are supposed to coordinate and work together over time.

“I desired to create a set for ladies who, like me, want to decorate in a way that’s fully aligned with who they’re today,” said Scheufele. “Women in love with beauty — meaning true beauty, the sort that never goes out of fashion. Pure elegance. Clothes that might be cherished over time, worn in a wide range of circumstances and in countless ways, without ever losing their value or relevance.”

Scheufele said that she used the principles of bijou — collectible, meant to last a lifetime and passed on to the subsequent generation — as inspiration for her couture launch.

“A wardrobe like a jewellery collection, which period makes increasingly precious because they’re accompanied by slices of life and carry with them experiences, memories and memorable moments. It is that this approach to jewelry that I desired to transpose to clothing.”

The gathering was also designed with sustainability in mind. Scheufele went for traditional shapes that can last multiple season, and the staple pieces shall be available on order for multiple season.

As a part of the home’s social and environmental commitments, the road is embroidered on the Kalhath Institute in India, a nonprofit educational center dedicated to the preservation of craft of hand embroidery.

“The Kalhath Institute works to strengthen the talents of the artisans, to pass on this exceptional expertise inside India and to place in place framework conditions enabling the craftspeople to earn fair wages — and these are precisely the type of steps we’ve got been taking for several years at Chopard,” said Scheufele about working with the institute.

The corporate says it’s taking a stance against the concept of fast fashion with this collection, which is a difficulty at the luxurious level as well.

“While the very principles of the style industry require the production of garments systemically doomed to programmed obsolescence, as a result of the rhythm of the collections presented 4 to 10 times a 12 months by the style houses, Caroline Scheufele adopts the identical technique as for jewelry,” the corporate said in a press release.

Fabrics were sourced form Swiss manufacturer Jakob Schlaepfer, particularly chiffon, taffeta, duchess satin, silks and lace. Jacquards were sourced from Italian supplier Gentili Mosconi. Beading was sourced from Japan, and applied within the Indian workshops.

The premiere collection will make its debut on Tuesday in Cannes. — R.R.

NEW DEAL: Riccardo Tisci has signed with United Talent Agency.

“UTA is thrilled to partner with Tisci as he continues to shape the creative industry together with his unique vision and artistry,” notes the worldwide talent agency, based in Beverly Hills.

The Italian clothier, known for his gothic creations, has had a profession spanning greater than 20 years. He first made waves as creative director for French house Givenchy in 2005, designing for each women’s and men’s. He went on to succeed Christopher Bailey at Burberry in 2018; his tenure on the British brand lasted through September 2022, with Daniel Lee taking on the role.

Amongst his endeavors, Tisci has continuously collaborated with Nike. He’s designed sneakers for the American sportswear company throughout his profession.

In all places he’s gone, Tisci has brought star power with him. He has collected a protracted list of celebrity fans through the years — Hollywood stars, athletes, artists and musicians, from Marina Abramović to Madonna.

In December, Tisci unveiled a design under his namesake label — a custom gown worn by Ghanaian-British actor-filmmaker Michaela Coel to the London premiere of “Black Panther: Wakanda Perpetually.” It marked the primary time in 17 years that he had shown a design under the brand.

Tisci studied in Italy on the Design Istituto d’Arte Applicata in Cantù, then graduated from London’s Central Saint Martins in 1999.

Founded in 1991, UTA represents artists and professionals across the entertainment industry. The agency’s roster includes Chris Pratt, Timothée Chalamet, Kevin Hart, Bad Bunny and Lizzo. — RYMA CHIKHOUNE

PERFORMING IN PUMA: Olivia Amato has turn out to be well-known for the one-shoulder sports bras she leads classes in for her devoted followers on Peloton.

So it’s not surprising that Puma included that sort of sports bra as a part of the primary apparel collection it created for Amato.

Although the trainer has been an envoy for the brand since late 2021, that is her first signature collection.

The Puma x Olivia Amato collection, which is designed to be worn on the gym or on the road, features a varsity jacket, an oversize vintage-inspired bomber with contrasting sleeves, a cropped running top and running tight — and after all, sports bras — that are emblazoned together with her initials in addition to Puma’s well-known jumping cougar logo.

“Creating my first collection with Puma was an incredible experience and a dream come true,” said Amato. “We desired to mix the weather of elevated performance wear with street style in order that you would wear any of the pieces from a workout to your day-to-day.”

Amato, who has greater than 400,000 followers on Instagram, joins fellow Peloton instructor Alex Toussaint, whose Game Speed Ahead collection of coaching and streetwear launched last month.

The Puma x Olivia Amato collection will retail for $40 to $85 and shall be available on the Puma website in addition to at its Recent York City flagship starting Monday.

This will not be Amato’s only tie to fashion. The teacher and influencer is married to Daniel Waldron, cofounder of the boys’s bespoke suit company Alexander Nash. — JEAN E. PALMIERI

CLUB MODA: To kick off the summer season, Moda Operandi is releasing its latest Club Moda capsule of warm-weather ready-to-wear, swimwear and accessories from a variety of 24 established and emerging designers on Friday.

Coming off of the brand’s November 2022 party-minded holiday capsule, Club Moda Summer was designed to exude the concept of “Recent England prep with a fashion twist,” through 70 exclusive styles, the corporate said. For the capsule, the Moda Operandi team worked closely with each brand to design into the aesthetic and deliver wardrobing that caters to summer activities equivalent to garden parties, evening clam bakes, beach days and pickle-ball and tennis outings.

“It’s our job as merchants to pick designers in a way that each one of the ultimate pieces will stand out on their very own, while also complementing each other when viewing the capsule as a complete,” Moda Operandi chief merchandising officer April Hennig told WWD.

The range, priced $140 to $2,995, includes exclusive looks from Carolina Herrera, Brandon Maxwell, Jil Sander, Tove, Rosie Assoulin, Sergio Hudson, High Sport, House of Aama, Staud, Éterne, Siedrés, Yaitte, The Frankie Shop and more. Club Moda Summer introduces “new-to-Moda” brands HommeGirls and Recreational Habits; an extra assortment of curated, nonexclusive beauty and residential goods may also be featured inside the edit.

Citing key pieces, Hennig noted Brandon Maxwell’s cabana striped shirtdress as “a tackle classic preppy stripes for evening, pulling inspiration from the colourful sails and cabanas of Nantucket, a favourite summer destination of the designer”; High Sport’s aran beach sweater as “a piece of knit artistry, perfect for throwing over a cotton dress because the sun sets,” and Sergio Hudson’s pleated skirt suit as “an elevated and cheeky nod to court sports, with a ’90s vibe that feels perfect for the moment.”

As well as, Moda Operandi is debuting exclusive, limited-edition merch for the capsule’s social media launch. The gifting package, which incorporates pickleball rackets (in collaboration with Recess), hats, beach towels and sweatshirts, was sent to a gaggle of 100 designers, celebrities, influencers and taste-makers and shall be available to buy, in limited quantities, on the brand’s website.

“Following our Club Moda event in November where our venue was swathed in neon smiley faces on every part from hand sanitizer to bandaids to the bartender’s T-shirts, everyone was asking in the event that they could purchase pieces featuring the emblem, brilliantly designed by our creative director, Daniel Koch, and team.…At first glance, it appears to be a standard logo, but on a better look, those classic elements have been replaced with a cheeky margarita glass and waves,” Hennig said.

To accompany the digital shopping launch, Moda Operandi tapped photographer Blair Getz Mezibov to photograph the editorial campaign and director of photography Ricardo Fernandes to capture the accompanying video. Each works feature The l’On Club in Mount Pleasand, South Carolina, as Club Moda Summer’s backdrop. — EMILY MERCER

SUN & CELINE: Luxury French brand Celine is taking on space on the bottom floor at Harrods for its summer Plein Soleil capsule collection until June 14, with a large window exhibition display and an in-store pop-up.

The gathering is inspired by the French Riviera and Saint-Germain-des-Prés, each places dear to the brand’s creative director Hedi Slimane.

“Celine is synonymous with understated elegance, and we’re honored to host the brand for his or her inaugural London pop-up, a rare and sought-after experience by Hedi Slimane,” said Josie Gardner, head of accessories at Harrods.

The pop-up shall be followed by the launch of Celine’s Haute Parfumerie within the Harrods beauty hall later this 12 months.

The capsule features Celine monogrammed deck chairs, hammock, picket fans and a small racket set with a harness.

Slimane staged the brand’s spring 2023 show in Saint-Tropez, which was revealed online in November, greater than six weeks after the conclusion of Paris Fashion Week.

The designer settled in Ramatuelle, within the gulf of Saint-Tropez, when he arrived at Celine in 2018.

Slimane has previously shot movies for his collections in Nice and Monaco, a part of the French Riviera trifecta.

Last 12 months, Harrods was back within the black for the 12 months ending Jan. 29, in response to figures released on Firms House. The posh retail department store reported a profit of 41.7 million kilos after tax, in comparison with the 57.3 million pound loss within the prior 12 months as a result of COVID-19 and Brexit.

Sales surged by 35.5 percent to 581.9 million kilos despite the shop being closed for 10 weeks between January and April 2021. Nonetheless, the benefit of lockdown returned Harrod’s core customers and international visitors, especially from the Middle East.

The corporate’s transactional revenue within the period was 1.56 billion kilos, up 42.6 percent in comparison with the previous period’s 1.09 billion kilos.

The London store made a pretax profit of 51 million kilos after losing 68 million kilos a 12 months earlier; concurrently the shop has lost greater than 400 employees, bringing it to a complete of three,511 employees. 

“2021 saw the business begin an encouraging recovery despite the continued, although moderating, impact of the pandemic. Our performance was greatly impacted by our Knightsbridge store being closed for 10 weeks through the third lockdown, international travel remaining subdued, and the suspension of the VAT Retail Export Scheme,” said Tim Parker, chief financial officer at Harrods.

“We also continued to take a position in our physical and digital offering through the pandemic, showcasing our confidence within the outlook for the business. Trade performance toward the tip of the 12 months was particularly encouraging, highlighting the strength of our long-standing customer and brand relationships in addition to the continued resilience of the luxurious market,” he added. — HIKMAT MOHAMMED

BIG OPPORTUNITY: Celine Lefebvre shall be joining Yoox Net-a-porter as general manager for the Middle East starting Tuesday.

She’s the founding father of the consultancy firm Nomad Lux, which offers global strategy and business development in retail, luxury, beauty and fashion sectors in Australia, Recent Zealand and internationally.

Her clients include Korean cosmetic brands Cosrx, Banila Co, Clio, Medi-Peel, Neogen, D’Alba, in addition to Aesop.

“The Middle East is a dynamic, high-growth region, and there’s an excellent opportunity for us to proceed to evolve and refine our service and product offer to a neighborhood clientele. We’re excited to welcome Celine to the business,” said Alison Loehnis, ad interim chief executive officer of Yoox Net-a-porter.

“She is an achieved leader and, together with her wealth of international experience and deep understanding of the luxurious customer, she is well placed to drive forward our business strategy and impressive growth plans,” she added.

Lefebvre shall be accountable for optimizing customer experience, deepening localization and honing curated services and product offers for local customers.

During Net-a-porter’s fall 2023 seasonal trends presentation in London, market director Libby Page laid bare the retailer’s priorities.

Page said the team at Net has “one most important objective: engage our EICs. These extremely vital customers — VIPs should you prefer — are our highest spending customers. They’re loyal, and so they love fashion. And while they only make up 3 percent of our customer base, they account for over 40 percent of our sales.”

“We plan to continue to grow by ensuring that these customers invest more of their wardrobe, and by ensuring any latest customers we attract make really considered purchases. EICs are also set to be probably the most robust consumer group over the approaching years. Ensuring we keep them excited and satisfied with every aspect of our brand has never been more vital,” Page added. — H.M.