BLACK ON BLACK: Scottish designer Graeme Black was the guest of honor at a luncheon hosted by Neiman Marcus' John Martens last Wednesday, an intimate affair during which the designer narrated looks from his fall collection, and shared a few anecdotes — but not too many — about his gigs with John Galliano, Zandra Rhodes, Giorgio Armani and Ferragamo. "My first day working for Galliano, he had me paint the walls. The next day I was cutting chiffon," he said. "I've paid my dues." The London-based designer said he's striving to maintain the handcrafted details and luxe materials in his collection and keep it special and small — for now. "I think showing in an intimate setting in London is still right for me," said Black, who showed his Scot-inspired fall collection in a fireplace store on Pimlico Road. For spring 2009, Black is returning to Scotland for inspiration — this time from the beach. "A lot of people don't realize there are beaches there, they think I'm joking. But I actually went on holiday and got a tan."

HOMELY FASHION: There was a time when Milan's Salone del Mobile furniture fair provided Italian fashion designers an opportunity to celebrate design and, on occasion, try their hand at different creative media. Now their interest has developed into a business, and Italy's chamber of fashion is getting involved. The Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana is to coordinate a series of events during the fair next week to promote the home lines produced above all by Italian fashion houses and to showcase "the continual synergies and exchanges between fashion and design...both in terms of creativity and quality of production," according to CNMI president Mario Boselli. Dubbed "Milano Moda Design," the initiative will include home designs by Versace, Bottega Veneta, Fendi and Vivienne Westwood, among others, as well as textiles, special events and installations from April 15 to 21.

NOT SO QUIET: Continuing its yearlong 50th anniversary celebration, Hush Puppies launched a Guest Designer Series last Wednesday. The casual footwear label has tapped celebrity stylists Phillip Bloch and Rachel Fanconi for the men's and women's collections, respectively. "All the inspiration came from the company's archives," said Fanconi of the women's pieces. "There's a bit of me in there, but the mix of textures and the colors you see were very strong in '58." The series will be promoted globally through special packaging and imagery at points of sale in Hush Puppies stores, department stores and specialty shops beginning in August.