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French Actress and Singer Charlotte Gainsbourg and Nicolas Ghesquière, Creative Director of Balenciaga

LONDON, July 28/FAVFINDS/ -- Coty Prestige, a division of Coty Inc., and the house of Balenciaga announced today that they have signed an agreement with actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg to be the face of their new fragrance.

Charlotte Gainsbourg is an accomplished actress recently named best actress at the Cannes Film Festival for her leading role in Lars von Trier's "Antichrist".

She is the daughter of Jane Birkin, the famous English singer and actress, and Serge Gainsbourg, an iconic French singer and songwriter.

As a singer, she has released two albums and is currently working on her third studio album. "My friendship with Nicolas Ghesquière, has become so strong over the years that our mutual admiration is such that I was secretly hoping to be the face of Nicolas's first fragrance for Balenciaga.

This new step in our collaboration thrills me and today, I have the feeling that the house of Balenciaga has become my second home," said Charlotte Gainsbourg, Balenciaga's muse and face of the Fall 2008 advertising campaign.

Nicolas Ghesquière, Creative Director of Balenciaga, declared "It was very important for me to have Charlotte Gainsbourg personify my first Balenciaga fragrance. Her unique sense of style, her graceful and intense talent have always been very inspirational for me. This fruitful and longstanding relationship Charlotte has with myself and the house of Balenciaga gives all its meaning to this project" .

Catherine Walsh, Senior Vice President Marketing American Licenses Coty Prestige said, "Charlotte Gainsbourg, besides her close collaboration and friendship with Nicolas Ghesquière, truly embodies the unique Parisian chic of this new fragrance." Charlotte Gainsbourg will be the worldwide face of the new Balenciaga fragrance which will launch worldwide starting February 2010.

Founded by Cristobal Balenciaga in 1918, Balenciaga has become, under the creative direction of Nicolas Ghesquière, a very influential player of the fashion scene. In 2001, Gucci Group, in partnership with Nicolas Ghesquière, acquired Balenciaga, and the brand is recreating the influence and respect that the house commanded in its former heydays.

Balenciaga today creates women's and men's ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories that are sold worldwide and is enjoying a very strong growth in all categories.