What Paris is buzzing about this fashion week

Will John Galliano take his final bow at Dior? Is Stefano Pilati really there to stay at Yves Saint Laurent? And what is Carine Roitfeld up to now that her final cover for French
Vogue is out? It looks as if the stars will realign this Paris fashion week.

There was plenty of speculation regarding whether Stefano Pilati might be leaving his post as YSL's head designer after it was reported that the likes of Hedi Slimane, Raf Simons or Olivier Theyskens had been considered as possible replacements, but the fashion house has officially denied these rumors. Pilati is scheduled to present his creations on March 7, and is not in an enviable position with hawk-eyed editors and buyers likely to assess his every seam for YSL.

But he might get lucky, because attention has almost fully shifted from him to fellow designer John Galliano over the past days, who has been accused of making antisemitic remarks about a couple he met in Paris bar La Perle. Galliano has been suspended by Dior while he appeared in court this week to face his accusers. No official statement has been released to date as to whether or not his final collection for the house will be presented on March 4, but a video that surfaced on The Sun's website - showing him declaring his love for Hitler - could be the final nail in his coffin. Purple's Olivier Zahm might be the only one who loves John Galliano right now. Apart from, apparently, Vogue Italia.

Carine Roitfeld will certainly have an easier time of making a fresh start. After leaving her duties as French Vogue's editor-in-chief to the magazine's former fashion director Emmanuelle Alt, she has been reportedly planning everything from collaborating once more with longtime friend Tom Ford to designing for YSL with Slimane. Both are highly unlikely after the past weeks' developments - so might there be some truth in the reports suggesting she will start the French edition of Harper's Bazaar? Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, some news developments are sure to take shape during Paris fashion week: Christophe Lemaire will present his first collection for Hermès after Jean Paul Gaultier left last season (Felipe Oliveira Baptista has taken Lemaire's post at Lacoste), an event that is as eagerly anticipated by fashion fans as Lady Gaga's 'little monsters' await the singer's new song that will be unleashed during Thierry Mugler's show. (Gaga is the new musical director for the fashion house, while her personal stylist Nicola Formichetti is Mugler's new creative director.)

If you can't get tickets to the shows, there will still be some treats to enjoy in Paris, such as Diane von Furstenberg's vintage pop-up concept store at her flagship Paris boutique on 4, rue d'Alger (open March 1-9), or shopping at Michael Kors's biggest store to date, opening during fashion week at 279, rue Saint Honoré. You can also go see a selection of the works of Dior's jewelry designer, Victoire de Castellane, at the Gagosian Gallery on 4, rue Ponthieu, March 3-26.