Daily Front Row

2010 April 19

To Ungaro or Not to Ungaro?

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Giles Deacon
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(NEW YORK) So Giles Deacon was spotted lunching with Ungaro owner Asim Abdullah and his management team on Friday at Le Relais Plaza in Paris. But is Deacon the man for the job? And should he even take it? Discuss!
EMILY GYBEN AND EMILY POPP

WHY HE SHOULD TAKE IT:

1. He’s an indie designer, and indie designers generally need money. Alex Wang aside, who's raking in copious amounts of cash these days? At least he has has feathers in his cap, including Best New Designer at the British Fashion Awards in 2004, British Fashion Designer of the Year in 2006 and the French ANDAM Fashion Award’s Grand Prix in 2009.

2. He’s not excessively green. At 40, Deacon makes Esteban Cortazar and Lindsay Logan look like embryos, and that’s probably a good thing. Deacon can tow the line between fresh and experienced, breathing new life into the brand while still bringing decades of knowledge to the job. Not to mention he knows what he's in for.

3. He understands the importance of being "directional." And he won't use pasties in the process.

4. He used to date Katie Grand. And they're still friends! And she still styles for him! Imagine the wonders these two could work.

5. He knows profits, baby. Deacon has worked on a number of extracurricular projects to rake in the cash, including Converse and a jewelry collection with Evoke.

AND WHY HE SHOULDN’T:

1. Ungaro is a mess.

2. In addition to his eponymous line, Giles has held top posts everywhere from Jean-Charles de Castelbajac to Bottega Veneta to Tom Ford. Add in Ungaro, and that’s one truly schizophrenic CV. Sure, you could argue that he’s got range—but we’re worried that all these different directions could water down the Giles we know and love.

3. Ungaro is a mess.

4. Ungaro might sell. Abdullah aims to make the company sustainable and profitable by 2011…which is just around the bend. If not? Attention, private equity!

5. Two words: Remember Esteban. Nobody deserves such an ordeal!