Is Rumer Willis A New Style Icon?

Sadie — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Elle UK is, for some reason, all agog over the 20-year-old celeb spawn, who they say has had some kind of chic makeover since turning 20. "It's official. We have a new style crush here at ELLE in the shape of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis' daughter Rumer." Well, to each her own, we say! [ElleUK]
Rihanna models a look from Kanye West's new "Pastelle" clothing line. It kind of looks like she's wearing her dad's sweatshirt. [The Life Files]
Designer John Varvatos (recently known for taking over punk emporium CBGB in New York and turning it into a high-end boutique) has a new baby girl: Thea. [P6]
Remember that community garden Forever21's destroying in L.A.? It gets worse: "It's the former site of the South Central Farm - "where low-income, indigenous/immigrant Latino farmers grew food in the midst of a toxic industrial area for 14 years." Wait, Forever21's not an ethical company? But it's so cheap! [Feministe]

Simon Doonan does his part for the economy with the new Barney's Catalog, which is centered around a narrative called "Emma's Dilemma." As Emma, model Coco Rocha is torn between two men and various luxury goods. '"The theme is, 'Oh just buy both,'" said Doonan, adding that even though the economy is fragile, the catalogue's message is right for these times. "Embedded in there is permission to be a little self-indulgent. It's a bit of glamorous self-indulgence." [WWD]
Speaking of Cocos, the new Lifetime miniseries about Coco Chanel blows. "Shirley McLaine plays the "older" Chanel to Barbara Bobulova's younger incarnation, with the two apparently bearing "no resemblance to one another other than they both like a well-cut suit". [VogueUK]
Narciso Rodriguez on the recession: “The economy is such that it’s a tough moment for everyone. We are happy we haven’t decreased the business in any way, but the company usually grows like 20 percent every year, and that hasn’t happened. We are trudging through this Bush mess and looking forward to the next steps.” They're also looking forward to a new fragrance. [WWD]
Nautica, not an official Olympic sponsor, scores best product placement of the Beijing games: on Misty May-Treanor's forehead. [NYP]
With back-to-school sales continuing to disappoint, retailers entice the young, predator-style, over the internet. Take Kohl's, who's selling a new line on Stardoll.com, "a virtual community for teens and tweens where kids can fork over "Stardollars" — purchased online at a nominal sum — to buy apparel for their online characters." It seems like, implicitly, retailers are hoping kids to a little clandestine shopping behind their penny-pinching parents' backs...[WSJ]
Those "detox foot pads" that soak up all your toxins herbally and turn black overnight? Apparently they're frauds. [NPR]
Foundering chain Steve and Barry's creditors probe a suspect $5 million loan. [WSJ]
Gap pursues scorched earth policy, firing almost all its Euro designers. "The global chain will axe its European fashion design team from September, and is moving its advertising team to its US headquarters. It will, however, retain an in-house design team working on store design, visual merchandising and in-store events." [MediaBistro]
Fendi makes hideous $575 patent hightop. Looks kind of like a 19th century work boot, only not a all utilitarian. [The Life Files]
You know times are tough when even Target 's profits are down. [WWD]
A California woman designs modest "halal" swimwear that covers the body. '"I understand most people are accustomed to not seeing a lot of clothing on the beach or in the water," Sabet said. "We don't want to look like freaks or stick out like sore thumbs for being so covered up on the beach, but I wanted to help make water activity accessible to Muslim women."' [UPI]
Nearly "1,000 bra makers protested outside the German embassy in Bangkok on Tuesday in a labor dispute stemming from the vexed issue of whether Thais have the right not to stand up in honor of King Bhumibol Adulyadej." Basically, a union leader was sacked for wearing a politically-charged tee asserting her right to remain seated during the anthem, which is played before movies. It's an issue because the king has been traditionally been perceived as a semi-divinity and this view is meeting with increasing resistence. The bra company then fired her to avoid making waves; hence the protest. [Reuters]
Mini courts the "creative class of New York" with its rooftop Fashion Week happening, '"curated" by
Jefferson Hack, along with a performance by MGMT. ' [WWD]
Model Gemma Ward "officially retiring" to pursue acting. [Sassybella]
Vena Cava/Via Spiga (try saying that one five times fast) collaborate on capsule collection that could well be rad. [WWD]

Clash Of The Titans: A Kate-Agyness Feud?

Sadie — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:30:00 EDT

KATE MOSS VERSUS AGYNESS DEYN! "'Kate can't stand her. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that Agy is her nemesis...It's not about Agy's personality, but what she represents. She's younger, fresher, everyone loves her and she's got everything ahead of her. Now she's singing with a band, something Kate has wanted to do for years. Kate's 34 now and she realises her days as a model are numbered. Everyone's calling Agy the new Kate Moss - and that hurts.'" [Daily Mail]
Is the panty party over already? The University of Minnesota seeks to 'distance' itself from Victoria's Secret college line. [US News]
Taylor "Little J" Momsen, the 14-year-old Gossip Girlie, has signed on to model with IMG. [People]
Which makes sense, as apparently this WWD model is a GG regular... [Fashionista]
...in stories like this one, about the changing streetwear market! [WWD]

Brooklyn band (and Wesleyan alumni) MGMT inspire Gucci show! [Nylon]
Diesel co-brands with Roskilde music fest. [WWD]
"Britain's most beautiful disabled women are to be given the chance to become a top model in a ground-breaking BBC television series." Just...read the story. [Telegraph"]
After fashion sabbatical, Christian Thomas Roth relaunches line. [WWD]
Class-action suit against Louis Vuitton for dubious, ridiculous merchandising at the Brooklyn Museum. [Time]
Recession breathes down Nike's neck. (Skinny part of the swoosh, methinks.) [Reuters]
Fendi unveils 3" wedges. For men. [The Times]
Australian designer Wayne Cooper charged with domestic abuse. [SMH]
Katharine Hamnett gets on the organic denim bandwagon. [WWD]
Sinister, hair-baring "super-v-neck" worst trend of summer. [BlackBook]
Radar terms it "the douchebag neck" [Radar]
Shockingly, novelty-Vogue-intern Sean Avery's experience was not typical. [New York Magazine]
Amazon acquires fabric.com. [TechCrunch]
The suggestion is that the model in the new Chanel campaign looks kinda like a contorted Barbie. [PhotoshopDisasters]
Tony Soprano's wardrobe bags for $187,750 Wounded Warriors charity; 'hit' costume the biggest seller, obvi. [MSNBC]
The politics of button-placement: a thorny issue! [New York Times]
Sweatshops? Jennifer Love Hewitt's for 'em, personally. Or so claim some college kids. [Reason.com]
In the wake of the groundbreaking Italian Vogue July issue, rumors are swirling that Lanvin will feature an "all-ethnic" lineup. Can't be behind a trend! [Fashionista]
Other trends? Stars and stripes, apparently. No wonder Tommy's up! [New York Times]
Founder of Tom's Shoes is apparently a madman. [Style.com]
Penney's scales back. [Financial Times]

Jezebel: mgmt

Is Rumer Willis A New Style Icon?

Clash Of The Titans: A Kate-Agyness Feud?