LOVED UP: "We may suck, but if we do it's performance art," snarled Courtney Love during a private concert — her first in Europe in seven years — at Givenchy Wednesday night. Emmanuelle Seigner, who's off to New York on Monday to shoot Eagle's spring campaign, watched on with her hubby, Roman Polanski. The director said he's about to start casting for his next film, "Pompeii," which will be shot in Spain. Rock fan Hedi Slimane even slipped backstage to grab a private moment with the singer after the show. She re-emerged, true to form, with lipstick slathered all over her mouth. Earlier, Love said of her new group, "I went to the U.K. and got myself a new band." And while she may be a veteran songstress, the band members range between the ages of 19 and 24 years. "I mention Fleetwood Mac and they never heard of it," she said.

NEWS BLASS: Since Michael Vollbracht hung up his sketchbooks and pins at Bill Blass in May, there's been speculation about who could be the next designer to take a stab at reviving the venerable Seventh Avenue house. Blass executives are said to have looked at a slew of younger talents, including Bryan Bradley, Martin Grant, Phillip Lim, Thakoon Panichgul and Zac Posen, but some believe Peter Som has emerged as the favorite. The deal between the house and the designer is said to be almost finalized, though it could still fall through. Som did not return a phone call seeking comment on Thursday. Vollbracht resigned from the house in late May after four years at the creative helm. Before him, Steven Slowick and Lars Nilsson each had short stints at Blass. The company was sold to NexCen Brands Inc. in December.

OLD IS NEW: Nothing is trash in the world of Martin Margiela. No idea what to do with last Christmas' old tinsel? Well, Margiela has the imagination to turn it into a "fur" coat. Old rings? When attached they make up a dress. And vintage fur can be cut up and incorporated as patchwork in a pullover. Those were among the quirkiest of the six looks the Belgian designer, whose Ahouse is now owned by Diesel's Renzo Rosso, showed in a presentation of his so-called "artisanal" line.