FRI 21 NOV: Madonna new icon for Louis Vuitton After Uma Thurman, Scarlett Johansson and Jennifer Lopez, Madonna signs on to be the new face of Louis Vuitton. In the midst of her world-tour, the indefatigable 50-year-old singer will star in Vuitton's summer 09 campaign. Photographer Steven Meisel, responsible for Madonna's infamous coffee-table book Sex, will shoot the new campaign, so the rumours go, in a French brasserie in LA.

THU 20 NOV: Guy Peelaert dies The cult Belgian illustrator, most famous for his book ‘Rock Dreams' and the album cover Diamond Dogs he did for Bowie, both in 1974, passed away in Paris on Monday at the age of 74.

WED 19 NOV: It’s Beaujolais Nouveau Time! What began as a local tradition in the bars and bistros of the Beaujolais region has since spread (with the help of some clever marketing) across the globe. At one hour past midnight tomorrow (the 3rd Thursday in November) over a million cases of the young ‘quaffable' drop will race out of the region by train, plane, and the occasional hot-air balloon. This year a specially chartered helicopter is even scheduled to arrive in Las Vegas with several cases of the stuff, against the backdrop of a specially lit-up Vegas Eiffel Tower. But don't worry, there'll be plenty of opportunities to get joyeux in Parisian bars and bistros, too.

WED 19 NOV: Jane Birkin to design for Lutz&Patmos Following guest designers including Julianne Moore, Kirsten Dunst, Liv Tyler and Sofia Coppola, the luxury US cashmere company Lutz&Patmos has invited their unofficial muse Jane Birkin to design a few pieces for summer 2009.

WED 19 NOV: Jean Paul Gautier launches a children’s clothing line The enfant terrible of French fashion has signed on with Zannier (Kenzo, Little Marc Jacobs, Oxbow...) to produce his first ready-to-wear collection for kids. The line will comprise 120 pieces for boys and girls aged 2-14. Keep an eye out for these stylin' tykes next Winter.