Anyone who follows fashion closely has probably heard that the queen of French Vogue Carine Roitfeld and her fashionbots have been banned from the house of Balenciaga by Nicholas Ghesquiere. Speculation has it that the designer and editor had a falling out over advertising. However others speculate the editor borrowed a sample jacket from the Balenciaga showroom and took it to Max Mara (a brand that she consults for) and then a very similar jacket was made by Max Mara. Others are speculating that Ghesquiere over reacted to some critiques Roitfeld shared imposing a ban on her and her staffers.

When I read about all the hoopla my first reaction was, how and why can Balenciaga do this? Don't they know that they are shooting themselves in the foot, I mean it's French Vogue. Yes, there is still American Vogue, but to fashion industry people French Vogue carries a very different kind of status for a designer. I'm wondering if it's an attempt by Ghesquiere to have more control on how his designs are represented in editorial spreads and banning French Vogue is his way sending a message to editors at large that I control my artistry not you. Talk about Go Big or Go Home!

Veneita Scott, uber stylist of some of fashions most memorable editorials and creative director at Marc Jacobs did an interview with Ponystep about the struggle for creative control between fashion designers and editors in fashion today. Supporting my theory that Nicholas may be trying to set a precedent.

When Ms. Roitfeld was approached about the subject matter, she politely answered by stating:

“We’re blacklisted,” Roitfeld said with a shrug at Nina Ricci later in the day. “It’s too bad, it’s a beautiful house and it’s French. I hope that it’s not forever.”

I did a little digging and found this is type of ban is not the first of it's kind. There are some fashion critics who have been banned from fashion houses for what designers claim are unnecessarily, non constructive reviews. Below you'll find a list of banned editors.

Fashion Black List:

• Cathryn Horyn of the New York Times: Banned from Giorigio Armani, Helmut Lang, Dolce & Gabbana and Carolina Herrera
• Hadley Freeman of the Guardian in London: Banned "For Life" from Jean Paul Gaultier
• Suzy Menkes of The International Herald Tribune: Banned from some houses as was here predecessor
• And Now Carine Roitfeld of French Vogue: Balenciaga

Horyn wrote an eye opening in depth article regarding her former blacklisting from Giorgio Armani and summed it up best by saying fashion can be a little high school and egocentric. I couldn't agree more!

Do you think Balenciaga is taking a risk by banning French Vogue or will the house do just fine with or without the magazines exposure?