Why Him: Because 2007 was all about Marc as he managed to keep us interested with his runway domination, skills in the gym, fascinating blog entries, mini-feuds, and one incredible furry costume. Jacobs began the year in February with a remarkable, critically lauded Fall ‘07 presentation that paid homage to poignant, dramatic presentations of years past. By March he entered a rehab facility in Arizona only to come out stronger, fitter, and more eloquent than ever. Over the summer, Jacobs managed to tighten his physique, become magically involved in the MySpace universe, befriend internet celebrity Perez Hilton, accept an award in Georgia, and rekindle his relationship with boyfriend Jason Preston. In September, he was ready to delight on the runway and be tardy by some standards. His memorable, spectacular backwards show in New York started two-and-a-half hours late and elicited some of the most varied reviews in history, including an unbridled rant from usual supporter Suzy Menkes. In Paris, the Louis Vuitton show featured a record amount of paparazzi flashbulbs and a parade of masked supermodels. Jacobs returned to New York, colored his hair, accepted an ACE award for his accessory achievements, recovered from a minor surgery and appeared at his holiday party in spectacular fashion, wearing the biggest and most extravagant Camel Toe costume in the room and the world. “It’s been a crazy year,” he told Chic Report. “But I feel like my team and I are on a definite creative high and I’m definitely in a great place right now.”

Our favorite moment: The parade of whimsical nurses inspired by Richard Prince on Louis Vuitton’s runway. “Richard Prince has done a great series of paintings that were all inspired by these nurse romance novel book covers and so we took the idea from that and created those nurses and the bags they were carrying,” Jacobs told Chic Report. “We took the colors, all inspired by Richard, and we mixed, we cross-referenced, we appropriated, we played, we twisted, we tried to do him proud. I love his work, I love him as a person, and we had a great collaboration!”

What’s next: A new and bizarre start time to his signature show in New York (Friday, February 8 at 7 p.m.) and tons of other 2008 adventures!

© Patrick McMullan

Issa designer Daniella Issa Helayel stopped by New York via London quickly before the holidays began and Chic Report got all the plans for the holidays, her future Christmas wishes, and what’s in her suitcase.

I will be at the Chiva-Som spa in Thailand, and for the last four years I’ve spent Christmas in China or Thailand, because I’m always in Asia looking at our fabrics for the Autumn/Winter collection to be printed and samples to be made as I keep changing things until the last minute.

Lately I spend the time between Christmas and New Year’s to detox and meditate…I love the massages I’ll get at Chiva-Som and it is the ultimate pampering experience. Basically I like to swim and to be in the sun and to relax. I’m going with two or three friends this year and I’m sure it will be wonderful.

I loved Christmas when I was a kid, and I think Christmas is only fun when you have lots of children around. I cannot wait to have my own children so I will want to celebrate Christmas again!

I’m packing my favorite style of Issa dress right now–the cape dress! The sequin cape dress will be for evening and the cotton version I’ll wear over my bikini during the day. On holiday, I can’t live without my Havaianas, my gold espadrilles that I bought in Ibiza, my Louboutins and my Corto bags!

Why him: In the year in which the fashion industry breathlessly fell in love with artists like Tom Sachs, Terence Koh, and Ryan McGinley, Hirst reigned supreme. The mystifying Brit basically certified his prowess with every significant important mortal on this Earth by becoming the world’s richest and most appealing living artist. In September, he dipped his feet into our waters by collaborating on the Levi’s Warhol Factory X collection. Hirst showered his signature crystal skulls on black denim, sending dozens of looks down the runway–including spin art jeans!–and failed to show at his own unveiling. During the very same week however, he partied at the Prada store in New York, while the rest of fashion’s elite set admired his significant color-dot painting at the Gramercy Park Hotel. And though Hirst just lost a bid to buy one of the largest truffles in history (it sold for $330,000) we hear he’s in search of other spectacular materials to work with.

Our favorite moment: This year, Hirst sold his For the Love of God, a life-size cast of a human skull covered in 8,601 diamonds boasting a whopping 1,106.18 carats for $100 million in cash. An unnamed investment group purchased the artwork. Hirst financed the project himself, which was estimated to cost between 10 and 15 million.

Why him: A man of his stature needs no explanation. In addition to the fact that we met him and think he’s just as sweet as he is great, Valentino’s designs have been charming women for over 45 years and in 2007, the designer announced his retirement from fashion. Even other designers can’t help but marvel at his creations. Donatella Versace and Giorgio Armani sat front row at his 45th Anniversary show, and Versace remarked, “When I see Valentino’s clothes, I’m glad to be a woman.”

Our favorite moments: In June, Valentino turned Rome red for his 45th anniversary celebration. Anybody who was anybody jetted to Italy to join in the grandiose festivities where Valentino introduced his Rome to the world. Over 1,000 guests attended his Haute Couture Collection, where the designer sent 61 magnificent looks down the runway. This November, Christie’s hosted the launch of his tome Una grande storia italiana: Valentino Garavani. Valentino was all smiles as he reflected on the images from his career. “Each one has a story that makes me laugh,” he said. Fans were more than happy to shell out $4,000 for the limited-edition version and Mr. Valentino was delighted to sign them.

What’s next: Don’t expect Mr. Valentino to spend his days in St. Tropez. The designer extraordinaire will be working on his archives and retrospective, perhaps bringing it to Asia. The future of his eponymous design house is now in the creative hands of Alessandra Facchinetti. And as the designer himself told The Daily, “People tell me ‘Mr. Valentino, fashion without you is very sad!’”

© Billy Farrell/Patrick McMullan

Woody Allen speaking about the meaning of the word “muse” at yesterday’s Cinema Society screening:

“Muse…a muse is your creative inspiration. It’s always a term that’s overused with me. All of a sudden it became that Scarlett Johansson was my new muse. She was never my muse! She’s a wonderful, wonderful person and friend. She’s a great actress and a fabulous, fabulous woman but she’s not my muse, she’s someone that I think is great.”

Why him: The fashion industry’s equivalent to George Clooney, François-Henri Pinault is handsome, charming, and has a serious, no-holds-barred attitude and eye for both fashion (he’s CEO of PPR, parent of Gucci Group) and females–in particular fiancée Salma Hayek, whom he recently had a baby girl named Valentina with. He’s as swift on the dance floor as he is in acquiring global companies like Puma, no easy feat.

Our favorite moments: There have been many, all of which involve Hayek, whether it was escorting her to his father’s gala during the Venice Film Festival (in Gucci and Boucheron jewels) or up the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in May (when Balenciaga sponsored the Poiret exhibit). Then there’s of course the 10-page Portfolio profile of him this past September, where he managed to keep Hayek’s name all but out of the article in order to ensure her privacy.

What’s next: Look for Pinault to be in New York during Fashion Week in February when his fashion giant Gucci opens its largest store in the world on Fifth Avenue. Madonna’s signed on to host along with Frida Giannini, and the philanthropically minded extravaganza calls for a lavish sit-down dinner with more than a dozen celebrities confirmed to co-chair. Who knows, Pinault might even get down on the dance floor.

When a Roitfeld’s involved, it’s never a run-of-the-mill affair. Carine Roitfeld jetted to New York over the weekend to celebrate her son Vladimir’s 23rd birthday. Hosting a dinner at her favorite Manhattan restaurant, Indochine, the intimate family gathering drew daughter Julia Restoin Roitfeld and close friends Lily Donaldson (Vladimir’s squeeze) and Stavros Niarchos.

Directly across from the Roitfeld clan, however, was the entire Elle fashion department, who had decamped to the restaurant for a Joe Zee-hosted dinner following the magazine’s office party at Socialista. The dinner’s purpose twofold, as it was also fashion news director Anne Slowey’s assistant, Liz Andrien’s, birthday. After the Elle team of Slowey, Paul Ritter, Nina Garcia, Kate Lanphear, Joe Berean, Whitney Vargas, Alexa Brazilian, and photo director Brett Ramey engaged in a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday,” the French Vogue team gave them a run for their money with their version of the tune.

And in a nod to their fierce personas, Carine and Nina, clad in Givenchy and Fendi, respectively, gave each other playful winks as they engaged in a friendly face-off over who was best dressed.

© Anders Krusberg/The Martha Stewart Show

It has been a busy week for Isaac Mizrahi. On Saturday he narrated Peter and The Wolf to children at The Guggenheim, then on Monday night he lugged water for charity. Tuesday morning Mizrahi woke up bright and early to make a gingerbread cookie cake live on The Martha Stewart Show. The duo gabbed about the merits of regifting, airbrushing, and white pepper. The designer didn’t disappoint, leaving the audience laughing in enjoyment at his attempts to properly cut and ice the doors and windows on his cookie. “What if I want a big, wide, sort of wheelchair-access door?,” asked Mizrahi of his dough. “Is that proportionate? I hate to be needy but I want to know.” To which Stewart retorted, “Well, that’s not a very nice shape,” much to the audience’s amusement. Her advice: “It’s like designing, and you’re such a good designer.” Mizrahi admired the finished product so much he had to have a taste.

House of Mai owner and designer Suzan Azuma showed off her new designs from Spring/Summer ‘08 in cashmere Wednesday and Chic Report stopped by to languish in the softness of the garments and get all the details from the owner.

On her ideal customer: My ideal customer would be women from 18-80! The wonderful number eight means forever, ageless and seasonless, timeless. She builds the chicness in herself. I think cashmere is a wonderful medium to express that. First of all, you’re working with one of the best fine quality yarns in the world, like silk or very fine Egyptian cotton. Cashmere has that luxe feel that makes you think you’re doing the right thing.

On just why Mai works: My job is to make sure it feels right, fits right, and provides the colors that people wouldn’t think of. I think I’ve been very successful because of the colors. If I brought black, grey, and brown, people wouldn’t have noticed what I’m doing. People think cashmere should be something you wear to special occasions only, but I want people to wear cashmere every day and to be in love with it. The best way to get them hooked is to allow them to express themselves through color because color is what makes them chic on their own. They find one that goes well with their skin or their eyes; it’s an expression and that’s why we have 50 different colors because that sells.

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Sans her partner in crime, Whitney Port spent her Friday afternoon celebrating being happy, as the new face of Clinique’s Happy fragrance. The kids of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America got their chance to ice skate in Wollman Rink with Miss Port, after which she headed to Bloomingdale’s in an orange Tracy Feith dress to meet with fans and take pictures for their own personalized Happy bottles. Chic Report got a few details on the skating experience and how she missed shopping in Paris.

On ice skating with the kids: It was really fun and the kids were so cute. They were so excited to meet me. They were really funny–as out of control as third graders can be, they were out of control. I would not let my third grader watch the show!

On her involvement with the brand: I think the brand is all about being real and being who you are, and being happy doing it. I think today was all about putting smiles on people’s faces. I like to spray Happy on before I go to bed at night, because I like my sheets to smell like it.

On her style since The Hills: I think my style has changed since I’ve gotten older. I don’t think it’s changed because of The Hills, but I think it has become more sophisticated. In California and in L.A., it’s easy to wear a T-shirt and jeans, so I try to stay away from that.

On Parisian fashion: I didn’t even get to shop in Paris! We didn’t have time to do anything besides see the Eiffel Tower! I mean Paris is the mecca of fashion so I would have loved to have seen what was in the stores there, but I couldn’t.

On style inspirations: I always love the style of the Olsen twins because I think they have great style and I love how Mischa Barton dresses. Anna Wintour is obviously as great as it gets in fashion–what she says goes. I try to look within myself for fashion choices, what I feel comfortable in.