Independent-minded designer Isabel Toledo was widely known in fashion before Michelle Obama wore one of her ensembles on inauguration day, but it was probably the latter event that made Toledo enough of a "name" to warrant a collection for Payless.

• Naomi Campbell, Iman, and Liya Kebede grace the cover of Essence's 40th anniversary September issue. [Fashion Bomb Daily]
• Two retail bigwigs got into a wee fight about how much of Martha Stewart's products they each sell. [P6]

• The inquest into Alexander McQueen's death has revealed that before he hanged himself, the designer took a lethal quantity of cocaine, as well as tranquilizers and sleeping pills. He also slit his wrists. He left a note, which read:

• Pictures of a 15-year-old Angelina Jolie modeling for photographer Harry Langdon will be auctioned in California on Friday. [Vogue UK]
• Karl Lagerfeld dressed Simone Veil in Chanel for her induction into the Académie Française. [WWD]