THE WEEK IN FASHION: JULY 15th-19th

Posted by Bethan Holt, Junior Fashion Editor at Large

Fashion news is back from its summer holiday and eager to be back delivering all the fashion happenings before the weekend. here's everything you need to know this week...

First, two big business departures from key e-tailers. Sarah Curran announced that she would be parting ways with My-Wardrobe, the site which she founded 2006. Curran had increasingly taken a back seat in recent years, leaving the day-to-day running of the company to Global CEO David Worby and Fashion Director Camilla Borgonovo. Curran told Vogue, "I wanted a new challenge - I'm not one to coast along, and my decision to leave coincided with some reshuffling and changes in top-tier management and new investment - it just felt like the right time". In slightly more mysterious circumstances, Kate Bostock has left ASOS after just 7 months as Director of Product and Trading. In the aftermath of the announcement, ASOS CEO Nick Robertson explained that 'culturally we are very different'. Bostock's departure doesn't seem to have upset investors though; the ASOS share price remains unchanged.

Kate Moss with Lila Grace a.k.a Andy in Devil Wears Prada (image via Vogue.com)

The best anecdote of the week emerged from Allure's interview with Kate Moss. The supermodel, who has also just launched a range of phone accessories with Carphone Warehouse, revealed that one of her daughter's favourite games is playing at Devil Wears Prada. Moss tells how “She puts a little outfit on and picks up the phone: ‘Hello, Miranda Priestly’s office. Can you hold? Patrick Demarchelier on the line!’… I died when I heard her do it. So funny." Obviously, this is far more ironic than any old 10 year-old acting out her favourite film scene given that Lila-Grace has probably holidayed with Demarchelier and had dinner with Priestly's alter ego, Anna Wintour.

Katie Grand's insight into what it's like to work with Miuccia Prada is really fascinating. Highlights include Grand's own description of the rails of Miu Miu and Prada which she owns, not to mention the 'maybe 1,000 pairs of Prada shoes' which she has to her name. The article celebrates Miuccia Prada's modelling debut in the latest issue of LOVE, to celebrate the magazine's 5th anniversary.

Miuccia Prada in the 5th anniversary edition of LOVE (via guardian.co.uk)

Tributes have poured in for David Collins, the interior designer who created fabulous spaces both in London and around the world. The man responsible for Claridge's Bar, The Wolseley, McQueen boutiques and Bergdorf Goodman in New York passed away this week after a short battle with a particularly virulent form of skin cancer. Patrick Grant, the E.Tautz designer, described Collins as 'always great for a giggle at parties' while Gordon Ramsay called him 'a gentleman who really understood how to create a restaurant. He put us all on the map'. Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman commented 'His work merged luxury, glamour and heritage in an inimitable fashion and his company was always of the first and most enjoyable order.' The Evening Standard have charted Collins' life and achievements beautifully here.

David Collins with his good friend Madonna (via standard.co.uk)

I love fashion maths. Fashionista has done some fascinating sums and worked out that Gucci scored a massive 111 front covers with their SS13 collection, making the bright ruffles the hit items of the season. Of course, advertising has a lot to do with this but Gucci do seem to do particularly well when it comes to covers. More telling perhaps is second position Christian Dior with 97 cover appearances for Raf Simons' second collection. It's a steep increase for the brand and perhaps a sign of a renewed feeling of relevance since Simons' arrival.

Naomi Watts in Gucci on the cover of Vogue Australia (via vogue.com.au)

Who'd have thought it possible, but Suzy Menkes constructed a rather convincing argument for a new Italian fashion mood following the arrival of the new Pope Francis. She wrote that "Looking at the discreet, sober, even chaste outfits put forward by the new designers, you have to ask this question: Has the humility and abstention demonstrated by Francis since he became pope in March influenced the fashion message coming out of Italy?" Certainly there's a marked difference between the perceived extravagance and love of showiness associated with Francis's predecessor, Benedict, and the piety of Francis's messages. But surely Italian fashion, with the likes of Gucci, Versace and Dolce and Gabbana among its number, can't stay chaste for long?

Pope Francis, fashion icon? (image via thecommentor.com)

TWO THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND:

1. Dye your hair grey

According to Rihanna, 'Grey is the new black!'. She made her maxim true by getting extensions in a pewter hue. if you needed any further proof that grey could be a fabulous new hair colour option, then check out the latest issue of Vogue in which the magazine's Fashion Feaures Director, Sarah Harris, spends a week cavorting in at Cannes in Cavalli, each looked topped off by her famously silver mane.

Vogue's Sarah Harris in Cavalli (via vogue.co.uk)

2. Get down to the Burlington Arcade

It may have a rep for being the home of many super traditional brands, but Sophia Webster is shaking things up down at the Burlington Arcade with a fun new pop-up shop which is in situ for six weeks. Given how kitschly fun her LFW presentations are, it's a great opportunity to get a bricks and mortar experience of her fast-rising brand.

Sophia Webster at LFW (via graziadaily.co.uk)