Must Read: Rhuigi Villaseñor to Depart Bally, Skims Opens Summer Pop-Up

These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Tuesday.

Rhuigi Villaseñor to depart Bally
Rhuigi Villaseñor and Bally are parting ways, a decision made only a year and a half after Villaseñor was named creative director of the Swiss brand. Under Villaseñor’s vision, Bally’s visibility increased due to its return to the runway and he helped rejuvenate the heritage label with a modern touch. “My experience at Bally has been an incredible honor,” Villaseñor told WWD. “I wish the brand nothing but the best in all its future endeavors and look forward to enjoying its next creative chapter.” Bally’s design studio will continue creating upcoming collections until a new creative director is named. {WWD/paywalled}

Skims opens summer pop-up
Skims opened a New York City summer pop-up shop Tuesday, an immersive shopping experience with fan-favorite essentials such as Skims Swim, Cotton Fleece Sets and Fits Everbody panty packs. Located at Rockefeller Center, the space was designed by Willo Perron of Perron-Roettinger, featuring a diving board water feature and elements inspired by the summer season. This is Skims’ first-ever retail activation in NYC following its pop-up in Los Angeles; it will remain open through May 29. {Fashionista inbox}

Is fashion helping the film industry?
The growing focus on blockbuster franchises and streaming services has inadvertently restricted financing for independent films — but fashion’s growing involvement in film may be the unexpected lifeline. Recently, Saint Laurent launched Saint Laurent Productions, the first full-on film production banner operated by a fashion house. Fashion and film have long ties; however, the industry is looking beyond product placement and is investing in content and authentic storytelling. “Even if it’s Pedro Almodóvar or Alfonso Cuarón, who are incredible directors, they don’t have property that is a franchise. They just want to tell a really good story. So they’re going to be looking to other industries where they are really pushing forward with investing in content,” Amy Baker, cofounder and chief executive officer of Winston Baker, told WWD. {WWD/paywalled}

Inside Chloë Sevigny’s “sale of the century” 
On Sunday, the fashion lovers of New York assembled together for the “sale of the century” — the selling of pieces from the closets of Chloë Sevigny, Lynn Yaeger, Sally Singer and Mickey Boardman. While doors opened at noon, the line began as early as 6:00 a.m. Inside, the space was curated for each corner to highlight the racks of each seller, with prices ranging from $50 for a shredded-hem dress to $1,000 for a brocade Balenciaga mini dress. When asked why this sale attracted a massive crowd, vintage collector Gabriel Held told Rachel Tashjian of The Washington Post, “Every generation since [her own] has been inspired by [Sevigny]. Everybody’s here with the same hope to get a piece of history.” {The Washington Post/paywalled}

Robin Givhan on the state of fashion criticism 
Journalist Robin Givhan spoke to Interview giving a lesson on the current state of fashion criticism. Givhan gives insight into the misconceived idea that criticism means having an opinion, her desire for more general interest publications to cover fashion, the impact of paid advertised content and why she stepped away from her fashion beat. When asked what advice she has for young writers interested in fashion criticism, Givhan said, “I always say to them that it just takes time. That you just have to write […] Confidence and authority comes from knowledge and experience. The more that you learn about the industry, the more context you have, the more you can write with confidence and the more you can write with authority.” {Interview Magazine}

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Source: Fashionista.com