BLACK BALLOON AND OTHER FASHION NEWS

The Black Balloon trailer


"The Black Balloon" has just been selected for the "Generation 14 Plus" youth competition of the 58th Berlin International Film Festival, which runs Feb. 7 to 17.Gemma Ward costars with an Australian cast that includes Toni Collette and two newcomers, Rhys Wakefield and Luke Ford, in a story about autism — a subject close to director Elissa Down, who has two autistic brothers.
Australian film critic Lynden Barber, who saw a preview and described Ward's performance as "surprisingly impressive" in "one of the strongest Australian films of the last few years."


LOT29 LOOKS TO LUXURY
Jaslene Gonzalez won season eight's "America's Next Top Model," Lot29 executives knew they had their next face.They seem to have chosen correctly. Gonzalez did so well for the brand last season, the company asked her back to endorse the product for spring.
Really, the brand sells like that? honest question, who wears Lot29?


ARNAULT PAID IN CASH!
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton concluded its controversial acquisition of Les Echos, France's leading financial newspaper, on Monday, according to a statement released by the luxury giant. Purchased from Britain's Pearson plc for 240 million euros in cash, or $345 million at current exchange rates, the deal also includes the newspaper's Web site, as well as Groupe Les Echos SA's monthly business magazine Enjeux and other financial information services. Over the weekend, France's Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde highlighted certain conditions of the sale, which include LVMH's relinquishment of the competing French business daily La Tribune and its Web site. A statement released by LVMH on Monday confirmed it had signed an agreement to sell La Tribune to Alain Weill, owner of NextRadioTV. Arnault's proposed purchase of Les Echos stirred intense opposition from its journalists, who charged his ownership of the paper would threaten its editorial independence. LVMH's other media holdings include the Investir financial weekly, the monthly Connaissance des Arts art magazine and the Radio Classique music station


Mmmmm DELICIOUS
Sophisticated New York diners may have learned to love a dish of tripe or calf brains, but soon they'll be able to challenge their palates with more daring Gallic creations. Head-to-Toe Pork, anyone? That dish, made with pig parts from ears to feet, is one of the offerings on the menu at Bar Boulud, which opens in early January. A partnership between Daniel Boulud¹ and high-end Paris charcutier² Gilles Vérot, the wine bar will also feature beef tongue terrines, rabbit rillettes and various andouillettes and sausages, alongside a large selection of Burgundy wines.
*would love to try it just to say one had rabbit rillettes(whatever that is)

¹-Daniel Boulud's recipes are fahmazing
²- The French word for a person who prepares charcuterie(brand of cooking devoted to prepared meat products from pork)