THE WEEK IN FASHION: NOVEMBER 5th-9th

Posted by Bethan Holt, Fashion Junior at Large

Drama is never far around the corner in the world of fashion and this week has been no different, with  plenty of glamour, rumour and quite frankly jaw dropping development. here's all you need to know...

The week's biggest story has been the news that Nicolas Ghesquière is to leave Balenciaga, effective from November 30th. Thus the rumour mill, which had been given a little respite in recent months following the appointment of Raf Simons at Dior and Hedi Slimane at Saint Laurent, cranked up to full speed once more. Many, including Simon Chilvers at The Guardian, have expressed their desire to see Ghesquière take over from Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel as when the time comes. However, Lagerfeld himself has now put in his two pennies' worth, saying that it would be a good idea for Ghesquière to launch his own label, perhaps with the backing of LVMH. Meanwhile, a host of names have been suggested as possible replacements for Ghesquière, among them Christopher Kane, Joseph Altuzarra and Alexander Wang. This trio are already well on their way to establishing strong labels of their own and so may not want to abandon that mission for the Balenciaga job. Lesser known names in the mix include Kostas Murkidis, Boucha Jarrar and Ghesquière's current first assistant Natacha Ramsay. Of course, there is still the ongoing mystery surrounding Diego Della Valle's choice of designer to head up the revival of Schiaparelli, now scheduled for next year. LFW's very own Erdem is one of the favourites for that role. Never a dull moment.

A rather Chanel-ish look from from Nicolas Ghesquiere's
final Balenciaga collection (catwalking.com)

It's been a big week for Rihanna. She accidentally leaked, via Instagram, a series of images of her and Kate Moss in a raunchtastic photo shoot for V magazine's March 2013 issue. Not that anyone's complaining...

Rihanna and Kate Moss by Mario Testino #1

Rihanna and Kate Moss by Mario Testino #2

The night before that little incident, RiRi took to the stage at the world famous annual Victoria's Secret Show in New York where she performed alongside the world's most in-demand top models, including Miranda Kerr, Doutzen Kroes and Alessandra Ambrosio. It was a big night for the Brits as well as Jourdan Dunn and Cara Delevingne joined the line-up. The show lived up to its extravagant reputation, with a bra costing $2.5 million making it down the catwalk. The lingerie giant also donated $1 million to the Hurricane Sandy relief effort.

The "Angels" backstage (dailymail.co.uk)

Cara Delevingne makes her Victoria's Secret debut (dailymail.co.uk)

Doutzen Kroes accompanies Rihanna down the catwalk (us magazine.com)

Finally, the wait is over. Admit it, you've been counting the days. Kardashian Kollection has hit the UK and is now for sale at good old Dorothy Perkins. Now we can *finally* get the Kim/ Khloe/ Kourtney look but what to choose? Something leopard print? Something fringed? Something lacy? I"ve a funny feeling the girls who have officially given the humble, mid-alphabet letter "K" a whole new lease of life might advise "All of it, all at once". Shop the Kollection here.

Get the Kardashian look (image via guardian.co.uk)

In other high street collection news, Debenhams is to revive the iconic label Ossie Clark, whose brilliantly printed (by Celia Birtwell), frilled, full-length gowns came to symbolise the romantic mood of  the 60s and 70s.  The jury's out on whether Debenhams can really do justice to Ossie's legacy. Look out for re-worked versions of original designs as well as new interpretations. Something tells me there'll never be anything quite like an Clark/ Birtwell original.

Pattie Boyd and Twiggy wearing Ossie Clark in Vogue, 1969 (via http://herwayofpraying.tumblr.com)

She's not the first and she won't be the last but Sienna Miller is the latest celebrity to be captured nude in the final stages of preganacy. She was painted by Jonathan Yeo who will exhibit the work at his upcoming I've Got You (Under My Skin) show in Berlin. Naturally, Miller looks incredible. 

Sienna Miller by Jonathan Yeo

So, it turns out that Lana del Rey won't be the new face of Versace after last week's apparent clues that this would be songstress's next move. However, it seems that MIA could be in the line to work with the super glamorous Italian label, in what capacity is not yet clear apart from the fact that the singer otherwise known as Maya Arulpragasam has files on her computer containing "Versace outlines". Watch this space...

MIA works Versace (guardian.co.uk)

Finally, a treat awaits us. Chanel model Gaspard Ulliel has been chosen to play Yves Saint Laurent in a new biopic of the designer's life. Fashion history and eye candy, bring it on. Happy Weekend!

Bonjour Gaspard! (wwd.com)