Lagerfeld Is Shockingly Vain; Angelina's Stylist Spills Secrets

TatianaTheAnonymousModel — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:30:00 EDT

In a stunning revelation that will surprise no-one, Karl Lagerfeld's ex-assistant says the Kaiser is "an unbelievable narcissist." Who "needs an eternity to get ready in the morning." [Blackbook]

Hilary Swank on the tough reality of Cannes: "I'm starving and the music's so loud I can't hear a thing." [WWD]
In a plan expected to be announced today at City Hall, New York city boutiques will throw a party to kick off the next fashion week, on September 10. Anna Wintour and Mayor Michael Bloomberg are behind the idea; stores will stay open till midnight running promotions and designers will be in attendance. Fashion Week is traditionally an industry event focused on buyers and editors. Maybe this could be a good way to capitalize on an opportunity to target the actual public, and retail? [Cityroom]
Ending a long search, Halston has chosen London designer Marios Schwab as its new creative director. The label had been rudderless since the departure of Marco Zanini in early 2008. [WWD]
Some contend that Michelle Obama's purported magical effect on clothing sales is a media construct. J. Crew's CEO, for example, believes that while the First Lady has given the company vast free publicity by favoring its cardigans, she has not necessarily driven sales. This is a view backed up by JP Morgan's research report on the company. Several J. Crew items the first lady has worn are even on clearance. (Of course, it's entirely possible that many of the younger, less-established designers Michelle Obama has favored would have a different experience to report. Jason Wu and Thakoon have to be feeling her patronage in their sales.) [The Big Money]
That doesn't stop the fashion world from going giddy over Mrs. Obama. [WWD]
French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld: "Fashion is not about clothes, it is about a look." [Guardian]
Anna Wintour's 60 Minutes segment was watched by 10.2 million on television, and drew an unknown number of online viewers. [Folio]
Tim Gunn just got a new apartment — "Most of the apartment is aubergine. It's like living in a bruise." In between repainting, he's traveling to promote the new season of Project Runway, and pick designers for the next. He also recommends you read Adam's Navel by Michael Sims. [Blogging Project Runway]
Carolina Herrera, who is often glimpsed in a crisp, white shirt, gets hers at the Gap. Sort of — designer friend Patrick Robinson sends her them by the dozen, and she gets them monogramamed. But if you, mere pleb lacking designer friends, want to buy them off the rack, they cost $44. [Style.com]
Manhattan might be getting a Nordstrom Rack. [WWD]
Angelina Jolie's stylist seems surprisingly grounded, for a woman whose most recent splurge was an $1,100 Gucci dress. (Which she is thinking of returning, since she saw a similar style at H&M.) [LA Times]
The New York Times' Cintra Wilson cast her critical-shopping eye on Derek Lam. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with Mr. Lam's desire to create ruling-class finery; it's lovely, top-shelf stuff, and he should make no bones about the fact that his creations are not warm, fun, affordable or sensuous," writes Wilson. "They are formal, uptight gift wraps — silk boxes in which women may demurely present themselves, with politesse, deference and flawless snobbery, to a world of rich and powerful men." [NY Times]
First-quarter earnings for Philips-Van Heusen, parent company of Calvin Klein and Van Heusen, among other brands, sank by 47% on last year's numbers. Sales declined by almost 11% during the period. [Crain's]
Key words for this Marks & Spencer commercial, starring Twiggy: "value" nostalgia recession "quality" penny pennies prices trust penny. [Guardian]
Current Marks & Spencer print model Marie Helvin is 56, and and pretty fantastic. "Please shoot me if I'm doing this in my 80s," she tells the Times of London. "Anyway, one day I won't be able to...I've had an amazing life, done lots of fantastic things. I never wanted children, so that's not an issue." She's also open about having had an abortion. [Times of London]

MIA's New Clothing Line Will Take Your Mon-Ay

Sadie — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EDT

"Think of the brightest shades of neon you've ever seen. Sparkles galore. Sequinned aerobics pants with scrunchy socks. Lions and tigers wearing vintage early '90s Cross Colors ensembles." In other words, exactly what you hoped MIA's clothing would look like. [NY Observer]
Sex addict David Duchovny dropped as the sullen face of Johnston & Murphy. [PDNPulse]
Model Maggie Rizer is "penning" a memoir, Model Behavior, which apparently hasn't already been used as the title for like ten model memoirs. [Fashionista]
In the grand tradition of hubristic villains, alleged designer/raper Anand Jon apparently kept a prosecutor-friendly journal "in which he noted some of his encounters with the girls and women, abbreviating the explicit sexual acts." [Breitbart]
Model Lynn Kohlmann dies at 62. [WWD]

"Emily" sends the following query to the Ford models message board: "Hi Im Emily I weight 112 pounds and i wanna get to about 90 pounds for my personal benifits" Thank god, there are a ton of girls ready to support her in achieving this goal; their thinspiration follows. [Ford Models]
Speaking of which! Following New York's example, London Fashion Week abandons the idea of health checks for models. [News.co.au]
Also following our lead, British dress sizes rise with the obesity rates. Not the models'. [Telegraph]
Fashion designer Gregory Poe dies at 51. [UPI]
In addition to having one of the hottest small labels at Fashion Week, Rodarte brains Kate and Laura Mulleavy seem to also have an amazing sibling relationship. Trying to decide whether our liking can overcome our jealousy. [Independent]
The new Lord&Taylor owners pour in a ton of money and cross their fingers. [Portfolio]
Bullied down to only four days by New York, the smaller, traditionally more experimental London Fashion Week fights for a foothold. [Breitbart]
Levi's teams with MTV. Le sigh. [NY Times]
In case you were wondering, 70s model Marie Helvin is at her sexual peak. [Mirror]
If you shopped at the Fast Fashion succubus that is Forever21 recently, you may be at risk: they just issued a warning about a security breach. [Breitbart]
In addition to allegedly striking out with women at various parties, swimmer Ryan Lochte was a major presence at Fashion Week's tents. Quoth the aspiring designer: "I’m really into fashion, and I’m trying to slowly get out of swimming." [Oh No They Didn't]
As if Sephora wasn't already overwhelming enough, denim co Rock & Republic is debuting a cosmetics line. [LA Times]
"The traditional apparel for men in Saudi Arabia is a long white garment called a thobe. Recently a number of designers have been transforming the look of the thobe by adding colour — even designing an iPod-friendly iThobe." [Global Voices]
Yes we're just making it worse: the Agyness Deyn cheat sheet. [Radar]
Model Erin O'Connor sells her wardrobe for charity. Which would be great if anyone could ft into her clothes. [Guardian]
Weirdly, luxury goods sell better in English. [NY Times]
We really think she should rep a PR designer, but Heidi Klum will be wearing Armani to the Emmys. [NY Post]
In a match made in obscurity heaven, Aeropostale teams up with the band Plain White Tees. [Business Week]
It just wouldn't be fashion week without an absurd Vigue editor at XXL Andre Leon Talley yarn! "Talley was early for the Stephen Burroughs fashion show on Friday and sitting in the vestibule of the designer's West 38th Street showroom when a man opened a bottle of Piper-Heidsieck champagne and it sprayed all over Talley. The drenched fashionista screamed, "Look what you've done! I've got to wear these clothes all day!" And when the clumsy sprayer tried to towel him off, Talley yelled, "Get your hands off me!"" [P6]

Jezebel: marie helvin

Lagerfeld Is Shockingly Vain; Angelina's Stylist Spills Secrets

MIA's New Clothing Line Will Take Your Mon-Ay