Inès de la Fressange, the original Karl Lagerfeld Chanel muse, will be taking to the runways today for her good friend Jean Paul Gaultier. The still svelte and elegant mother of two (and current collaborator at Roger Vivier) is defying questions of model longevity at 52. Kate Moss, you’re officially challenged. [Grazia]

The rumor mills continue to churn for Nina Ricci designer Olivier Theyskens. The latest replacement gossip catapults Louis Vuitton designer Peter Copping to the top spot. [Vogue UK]

The Vionnet revival might have gone kaput, but the original dresses are still worth fighting over, and on international levels. UK Culture Minister, Barbara Follett, stepped in to prevent 11 Vionnet dresses from being shipped out of the country, citing important aesthetic importance. Still no word out on whether Obama will select a US Culture Minister to shore up domestic aesthetic treasures. Things that are good-looking? We’re all about it. [ELLE]

The expensive, intricate handiwork and austerity of couture is intimidating enough. Poor Alexandra Tomlinson took it especially hard–to the runway that is– in a spill into the front row of the Chanel Spring 2009 Couture show. Thankfully, there were kind and well-endowed (as in endowment) front-rowers around to help her up. [NYMag]