• Rumor has it that Jessica Biel's gonna be designing bags for squeeze Justin Timberlake's William Rast line. "Sources say she has already started sketching designs for a limited edition collection. Isn't it a coincidence how much hidden design talent there is in Hollywood? [Daily Express]
• "In times of uncertainty, I think the wrap dress becomes an even more important friend. It's flattering. And wrapping is a reassuring thing." Why yes, it is, Diane Von Furstenberg! [Newsweek]
• Naomi Campbell is doing a duet and music video with Indian star Ashkay Kumar - in Hindi. [VogueUK]
• Apparently Manolo Blahnik can take or leave Sex And The City. He's never seen it! [New York Post]

• Karl Lagerfeld unveiled the Christmas windows of Paris store Printemps, which feature "a fantasy troupe of articulated puppets named Coco frolicking in a garden of golden flowers." [WWD]
• "Each puppet is stylishly attired in a modern, almost space age take on the classic quilted Chanel suit and every puppet has Mademoiselle Chanel's iconic blunt fringed bob." [ElleUK]
• Speaking of moddles named Coco: "Not so long ago, Rocha was just your average Irish-dancing, nature-loving Canadian teenager." [WWD]
• "The first order of business for the new president will no doubt be to get America to hitch up its pants and give the economy a kick-start. It will be interesting to see if he can also get America to hitch up its pants, period." [NY Times]
• Breaking! "This week has seen Agyness Deyn on a fashion rollercoaster channelling a different trend or decade every day." [ElleUK]
• Cosmetics company Carol's Daughter will help address the severe shortage of celeb fragrances with "My Life by Mary J Blige." [WWD]
• Following K-Mart's example, Sears brings back layaway. Which, sadly, requires far too much foresight for the average holiday shopper.[AdAge]
• L'Oreal announces winners for the 11th annual L’Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science. [WWD]
• Oscar de la Renta's house is really nice. [Style.com]
• Jennifer Vendetti may be the one to discover the rest of us! "The New York casting director is known in the industry for her rare eye for finding the imperfect, but captivating, beauty in everyday people." [W]
• Check it: Hayden Hartnett's line for Target. Dig the umbrella. [Racked]
• Rachel Bilson's "style obsessions" apparently include Kobo candles, her own line. [Cosmopolitan]
• These "just douche it" ads are intended/likely to piss off Nike. [AdRants]
• Fashion darlings Rodarte win Swiss textile award. [WWD]
• Feminists, Catholics aren't thrilled about Boston College's Victoria's Secret collaboration. [UPI]
• Newsweek discovers that redefining our fashion priorities, recessionista-style, could be a good thing. [Newsweek]
• Modelinia, the new all-moddles-all-the-time site, is gearing up. [Fashionista]
• More on Helmut Lang's bizarre collaboration with Absolut, which is allegedly about "experiencing art" in new ways. Drunk? [BlackBook]
• New book on secret rebel Geoffrey Beene. "On the outside, the bespectacled, bow-tied Southerner appeared uptight and WASPy, but he was an enthusiastic early adapter of cheap chic (launching his lower-priced Beene Bag sportswear collection in 1971) and the promise of the Internet." We do like our contradictions! [Los Angeles Times]
• Kohl's and Nordstrom pessimistically cut their outlooks. [Reuters]
• Ouch, and Abercrombie's really hurting. [The Street]
• Get me Demarchelier! The legendary lensman started small: "I was 17 and living in Le Havre when my stepfather offered me a camera. I got hooked instantly. I learned the art of photography working in a small shop there, taking passport and wedding photos." [WSJ]
• Jay McCarroll hates the spotlight. Kinda. "But I guess the more I stand there and the more someone notices and writes, then I can have a beach house...I’m going to get to drinking now, okay?" [Observer]
• Apparently the hemline index is still relevant in Morocco! [Global Voices]

[Los Angeles, November 4. Image via x17]

[Los Angeles, October 9. Image via Flynet]

[Beverly Hills, September 24. Image via INFDaily.]

(Click on any image to begin gallery)

[Los Feliz, September 10. Image via INF]

• Minnie Driver squeezed out a 9 lb. 12 oz. baby boy on Friday in L.A. Her new son's name is Henry Story Driver. In an interview a few months ago, Minnie said she wanted to give birth naturally. "I'm totally the crunchy, Mother Earth-type, and I'm not looking for any type of intervention," she said. "So I'm afraid." Nine pounds? Sounds like that fear was warranted. [Us Magazine]
• Is Uma Thurman knocked up? Apparently she bought a bunch of dresses two sizes larger than she usually does. [Rush & Molloy]
• Jennifer Lopez will serve as a guest judge on the season finale of Project Runway. Yay? Last season it was Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham, it's tough to live up to that. [Us Magazine]
• BREAKING: Posh may have cut off all of her hair OMG. [NY Mag]
• Did Jennifer Aniston run into Brad Pitt at the Toronto Film Festival? Despite attempts by both of their camps to keep them far apart? And did they have dinner together? [Daily Mail]

• Lil' Wayne had a bag at the Fashion Rocks event but refused to let a security guard search it, hmm. Not like you have a history with drugs or guns or anything! [Page Six]
• Ugh. Howard Stern is auctioning off some girl's virginity on his radio show. The young lady plans to use the cash for her college tuition. Book deal to follow? [Rush & Molloy]
• Joey and Pacey together again! Josh Jackson surprised Katie Holmes with flowers at a rehearsal for her Broadway show. [Daily Mail]
• Barbra Streisand will sing for Barack Obama at a Hollywood fund-raiser on September 16. The $2,500-per-person reception has Dreamworks partners Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen as its co-hosts. Oh, and Barbra is not happy about the McCain/Palin ticket. She wrote on her blog: "We are not that stupid. I believe John McCain chose Gov. Palin because he truly believes that women who supported Hillary — an experienced, brilliant, life-long public servant — would vote for him because his vice president has two X chromosomes. McCain's selection of Gov. Palin is a transparent and irresponsible decision all in the name of trying to win this election." [Variety]
• Whitney Port was seen shooting her pilot — a spinoff of The Hills called The City — in New York's Meatpacking District. [TVGasm]
• Um, "footage" of the The Verne Troyer sex tape is available for purchase online, in case you're interested. [Yahoo News]
• Ashton Kutcher: Currently the assistant football coach at private LA prep school Harvard-Westlake. No, really. [Page Six]
• Headline of the day: "Now Heather Mills writes a novel: Surprise, surprise... it's about a model who weds a rock star." [Daily Mail]
• Sex And The City sequel? In London? [The Sun]
• Robert DeNiro has quit his role on Mel Gibson's flick, Edge Of Darkness. Apparently a scene of Bobby D hitting a golf ball out of a sand trap took 20 takes and Bobby was arguing with the director. In any case, they're going to shoot other scenes until they replace him. Not that you can replace Robert DeNiro. [ONTD]
• Eric Benet was asked to comment about David Duchovny's sex addiction, since Benet famously cheated on Halle Berry due to his own sex addiction. Benet said: "I hope he finds peace and help and whatever he's dealing with. Sex addiction is a real thing, you know. In retrospect, it's not what I would label my situation." So how would he label his cheating? "Making some stupid-ass, stupid-ass mistakes," he said. Word. [NY Mag]
• Hugh Laurie is bald. Sorry. [ONTD]
• Michael Jackson's underwear is for sale. Sorry. [Page Six]
• Ellen DeGeneres, the face of CoverGirl makeup? [Page Six]
• Lindsay Lohan had a seamstress come to her hotel room and take in four dresses, which cost her $500. [Page Six]
• JK Rowling has won her legal battle! She did not want the Harry Potter Lexicon, an encyclopedia of terms from the world of Harry Potter to be published, because it appropriated her creative work. A judge agreed. [BBC News]
• Leonardo DiCaprio on the torture scene with Russell Crowe in the political thriller Body Of Lies, shot in a former Moroccan jail: "We did that (scene) in the middle of some medieval torture tomb. There was some kind of horrific dust in the air. I got sick for two or three days afterward because of the intense energy it took." [News.com.au]
• Ghostbusters 3 news: The script is being developed. Bill Murray is willing to be involved. The old Ghostbusters would appear in the film in some mentor capacity… No word on the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. [Gothamist]
• Friends think Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson are expecting a boy. [People]
• Gael Garcia Bernal and his ladyfriend, Argentinean actress Dolores Fonzi, are expecting a boy. [People]
• One of the dudes from Color Me Badd was arrested on charges of of domestic abuse and assault and battery after allegedly punching his girlfriend in the nose and threatening to kill her. Dude, what happened to "I wanna sex you up"? [TMZ]
• Rachel Bilson hosted a bachelorette party in Vegas for her bff who's getting married. Booze, cake, dancing, poolside lounging. [E!]
• Here's a video in which Julianne Moore discusses dying her hair and donning a fat suit for the new movie Blindness. Anybody read that book? [EW]
• Manager Benny Medina may be losing Mariah Carey as a client because she heard he was chasing Jennifer Lopez. Medina has also lost both Tyra and Usher this year. [Page SIx]
• Holly Madison and Hugh Hefner: On the rocks? And! Is Holly dating Criss Angel? [Perez Hilton]
• E! says Brody Jenner is dating Playboy Playmate Jayde Nicole, but there's no link.
• Fiddy Cent was in court yesterday, and was awarded visitation rights with his son: Every other weekend. [Perez Hilton]
• Are Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams house hunting? [Perez Hilton]
• Will Catherine Zeta-Jones be in film version of Dr. Who? [The Sun]
• Remember Disturbia? The movie that looked like a Rear Window knock off? Steven Spielberg is being sued for ripping off the plot. [Reuters]
• Oasis is teaming up with the Arts Council and NME to encourage aspiring young musicians to pick up instruments. It would be an awesome idea… if kids cared about Oasis. [Guardian]
• South Park might get banned in Moscow for "offending the dignity of Christians and Muslims alike." [E!]
• Israel is cracking down on music with rock, rap or reggae influences. New haredi rabbinical rulings dictate that certain types of music will not be allowed in wedding halls nor eligible for rabbinical approval. Mordechai Bloi, a member of Israel's Guardians of Sanctity and Education, says: "Michael Jackson-style music has no place in our community … We might be able to adopt Bach or Beethoven, music with class, but not goyishe African music and beats." [StereoHyped]
• Tina Turner is freaking awesome. Watch this video. She turns 70 soon. How does she do it? She says: "I just have energy. I've never done drugs — a little wine, champagne on off days. I was born with this." She also says, "I think I'll probably live to be 100." [ET]
• Prince Harry dropped £5,000 on booze in TWO HOURS. [Mirror]
• Greg Kinnear is a protective dad who keeps his daughters (4 and 2) isolated from pop culture. "They don't watch a lot of TV," he says. "I just want to allow that innocence to drag out a little bit further." [People]
• "I ran 10 miles this morning and 18 miles on Thursday, and every day my mileage is going up and up — so I don't even think about the wedding. I'm thinking about that November marathon!" — Beth Ostrosy, Howard Stern's fiancée. [Yahoo News]
• "I regret calling my wife 'huge' on Conan O'Brien. I meant to say that there are specific areas of my wife that are larger than normal and growing every day. All other portions of my wife are quite petite. I apologize to her and will be coming home with flowers." — Jerry O'Connell. [People]

• Holy underminer, Batman! Whitney Port on her clothing line: "I'm developing a clothing line. It won't be like Lauren's stuff, which I loved. Mine will be a little more high-end." [Radar]
• "Fashion Victims: The Catty Catalogue of Stylish Casualties From A to Z" by Michael Roberts, fashion director of Vanity Fair, sounds like it will be fascinating to the fashionistas he skewers and completely stultifying to everyone else. "Roberts has written a poem for each letter of the alphabet, for instance P for "photographer": "Why am I so fabulous? What makes me truly great? What would life be without me? It's hard to contemplate . . . No billboards straddling city streets with body parts gigantic/Nor me with glass in premiere class crisscrossing the Atlantic." The accompanying illustration is a caricature of Mario Testino. " Sounds like a gas. [NY Post]
• Early estimates place the price of Cindy McCain's RNC outfit at $300,000. Well, in fairness $280,000 goes towards her three-karat diamond earrings. [US News]

• We love how thoughtfully celebrities consider the challenges of starting a small business! Jamie-Lynn Sigler on her new jewelry line: “We just started beading these gold bracelets with all different types of gold one day and started playing with different charms, and we thought, Hey, let’s do it,” [NY Mag]
• Word on the street is that Cole Mahr, the dude who wore a dress in the Marc Jacobs print ads, will be doing it again on the runway. Does this bode well for Isis?! [Fashionista]
• Lancome adds Dominican model Arlenis Sosa to its "stable." Says Lancome's prez, “Arlenis possesses beauty, intelligence, charm and compassion...All of our brand ambassadors share these attributes, so we knew she would be a wonderful addition. We are very proud to welcome her to the Lancôme family.” [WWD]
• You'll be relieved to know that Fashion Week is civic-minded. A fashion week press release tells us, "In the spirit of the election season and theme at this year’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, unique, fashion inspired election slogan pins will be given out in small quantities each day. Fashionistas can vote for their favorite slogan at www.votembfashionweek.com."
• "Furrier to the stars" Dennis Basso owes the IRS. "The baritone-voiced minkmeister is singing the blues now that the feds have imposed a $200,000 lien on his swanky Central Park West apartment, according to public records." Basso says it's all a misunderstanding because his "accountant's mother had a heart attack." [NY Post]
• ANTM judge and "top fashion photographer" Nigel Barker and his wife are having a baby girl. "We found out it’s going to be a little girl," Barker, 36, told Us Thursday at the Saks Fifth Avenue Ruby Slippers Collection party in NYC. "We’re going to look at her, and when we see her, we’re going to come up with a name." They already have a 2-year-old son. [US Weekly]
• Men's Heath EIC and titanic douche David Zinczenko is psyched about the new Women's Health. Quoth he, "We've pulled into the passing lane, and we're poised to surpass a lot of women's magazines now. We can see Glamour just up ahead. There are a lot of opportunities for Women's Health because of the size of the market." [WWD]
• We wouldn't normally think much of the fact that AOL is relaunching its style and beauty site, StyleList.com, except that they've tapped Carmindy as their beauty expert, and we love What Not to Wear. [WWD]
• A Saks Fifth Avenue employee has been charged with $680K in theft. [NY Post]
• Wait, has Rachel Bilson been on any worst-dressed lists? “I think it’s cool to be on the worst-dressed list,” she says. “If people aren’t accepting, that’s OK. Bring it on, I don’t care!” [People]
• Fern Mallis basically runs Fashion Week. Here's why she's psyched: "First of all, September shows always feel like school is starting. This particular season there's different kind of buzz in the air, especially with the elections. We are all wondering how the outcome will affect our industry, especially with two first ladies who wear clothes particularly well." [Huffington Post]
• Behold fall's least flattering fashion trend: the pegged trouser. "They usually have two front pleats at the waistband that are designed to add volume in the hip area, then balloon out in the thigh before tapering in again at the ankle. They can also be cropped on the ankle and high-waisted. Admittedly, they sound alarm bells for most of us - extra volume around the thighs is always a hard sell." Thanks a lot, YSL! [The Guardian]
• Speaking of the 90s: LA Gear is back, baby! In what The Cut describes as the requisite "in Saved by the Bell shapes and neon colors." [The Cut]
• Italian designer Mila Schon has died at 92. [Reuters]
• Kate Betts, Joel Stein and Isaac Mizrahi will all be blogging fashion week for Style & Design. Says Betts, "I wanted to offer readers the same kind of inside, up-to-the-minute, offbeat look at fashion week as opposed to straightforward reviews...Joel and Isaac, I hope, will add a lot of humor." [WWD]
• Model Lily Cole is leaving modeling to pursue acting, was inspired by Heath Ledger. But more to the point, she's starting Cambridge, where she'll be studying history! Says the 20-year-old, "modelling can get a little lonely sometimes, especially when you are travelling on your own. That's what I'm looking forward to about going to university to meet lots of new people." [Telegraph]
• Not profiting by Lily Cole's example, former internet phenom/partygirl and wannabe-Lezark Cory Kennedy has been signed to One Model Management. [Fashionista]
• Domino really understands the needs of its readers; they've done the important work of making a "fashion week survival guide." "The survival guide includes recommendations from designers, editors and fashion insiders, including Francisco Costa, Bloomingdale's fashion director Stephanie Solomon, Simon Doonan, Anya Hindmarch, Vera Wang, Lela Rose and Peter Som. Musings include recommendations on what to do for an hour in between shows — Humberto Leon, from Opening Ceremony, suggested Wu Lim Qi Gong Master Massage." [WWD]
• Raise your hand if you want the new KISS Vans! Wait...no one? "To celebrate that fateful day in 1978 when all four members of the band released solo albums, the skatewear brand (and main sponsor of the Warped Tour) is releasing the Vans x Kiss Sk8-Hi commemorative T-shirt and shoe pack sometime in the "late fall" of this year." [AdAge]
• As previously reported, designer Heather Thomson has tapped New York's pool of exotic dancing talent for her upcoming lingerie show. "She held a competition of dancers who perform gymnastics-like routines on brass poles at some of Manhattan's poshest strip clubs and picked eight to model her Yummie Tummie Shapewear." [Reuters]
• The Rag&Bone designers are refreshingly enthusiastic! "We are big fans of Radiohead. Actually, seeing them perform at Glastonbury head-to-toe in Rag & Bone would be pretty magic." [Fashion Week Daily]
• In addition to a ludicrous rock-themed fashion mag and a fashion-themed rock concert, Fashion Rocks sponsors a charity auction. "Among the items up for auction: A leather jacket autographed by Keith Urban and seats at Kimora Lee Simmons and Diane Von Furstenberg's coveted runway shows." [People]
• We love Daphne Guinness largely because of her connection to the Mitfords, but on any terms her upcoming shoot for Vogue Italia sounds rad! [Fashionista]

[Los Angeles, August 28. Image via x17]

[Hollywood, August 25. Image via X17.]

[Los Angeles, August 12. Image via INFDaily.]

[Los Angeles, August 10. Image via Bauer-Griffin]

[Los Angeles, August 6. Image via INFDaily]

[Los Angeles, July 30. Image via Bauer Griffin]

[Los Angeles, July 23. Image via Bauer-Griffin]

• Clearly, LiLo has found her calling: purveyor of last year's trends! The former-redhead's leggings have sold out at Intuition boutique in L.A. and the waiting list grows longer by the day. [Yahoo]
• Kill me right now. Agyness Deyn, "currently the most in-demand model on the planet, wowed 45,000 ecstatic fans when she sang with New York band Five O'Clock Heroes at the T4 On The Beach party. Agyness looked in her element as she took the stage and launched into Who, her recent single with the rockers." [This Is London]
• Serenity-challenged Naomi Campbell falls out with with yet another agency, this time IMG model management. 'It is being smoothed over as a creative difference but there was a disagreement,’ says a source. [This Is London]
• In a more boring breakup, Daisy Lowe also splits from IMG ; says the agency, "She's a beautiful girl and we wish her well." [Fashionista]

• So, Rachel Bilson's line for DKNY hits in September. Early reports? "At first glance, the line is edgy with Bilson’s relaxed style showing through in each of the pieces." It's all black and white, with one yellow thing. [Sassybella]
• Article on Roberto Cavalli you MUST READ. Here's a sample: "He loves his blue-and-yellow macaw, which is quietly minding its own business on a large gold birdstand in the dining room. 'I love you I love you I love you!' Cavalli shrieks ecstatically, as the bird squawks. He brings his face up close and tries to kiss it. The parrot swipes its beak perilously close to Cavalli's nose." Oh, he's also going to start producing wine. [The Guardian]
• According to, um, Perez Hilton, one of Miley Cyrus' backup dancers was "spotted" wearing a tank from the Perez Hilton for Hot Topic line. [Perez Hilton]
• YSL art collection expected to fetch up to 250 million pounds. [Times of London]
• Gucci names new marketing and communications director. [WWD]
• Designer Paul Smith gives a whole interview on "how to look dapper." Then kinda ruins/makes the whole thing by saying, "When it comes down to it, I have absolutely no problem with the way anyone dresses at all. Who the hell cares? Being 'well dressed' is as much about a person's behaviour, manners and posture as it is about what they're wearing." Hey, you're the one working in fashion, pal. [Telegraph]
• Tyson Beckford declares the "age of the supermodel" to be over. He also counts himself as one of them. [Daily Express]
• Ad sales way down for crucial September-issue fashion magazines. [WWD]
• In the world of designer sunglasses, getting a preview of these Proenza Schouler shades qualifies as a big deal. [New York Magazine]
• Wal-Mart's back-to-school collection very likely the least glamorous fashion show ever. [Reuters]
• Sign of things to come: "thrifty chic" is all the rage with the teen set. [Los Angeles Times]
• Which makes it kind of hard to understand how "Gossip Girl is saving retail." Cause chic Blair and Serena might be, but thrifty? [The Street]
• Frumpy old Avon apparently wants to go glam. Instead, they've gone random, hiring Reese Witherspoon, Lauren Conrad and Patrick Dempsey as celeb mugs. [Business Week]
• Vogue novelty intern Sean Avery is now hanging around at Marie Claire, for some reason. "Avery, who stayed a few hours, was in plaid shorts and carrying a huge garment bag stuffed with clothing from The Row, the Olsen twins' line." [Page Six]
• Defying market chill, Zara launches accessories line. [The Independent]
• Meanwhile, Italian thesp Jo Champa has been made something called a "celebrity contributing editor" (I'm guessing their deadlines are flexible) for Vogue Italia. Who exactly is she? Well, as her editor Franca Sozzani says, 'to define Champa is "impossible . . . I only know she is unique."' Which we are now saying about everything. [Page Six]
• Nike's attempt to dominate the Beijing games is apparently totally out of control. [The Independent]
• Alessandra Gucci has inherited her family's "passion for leather goods," named a bag after herself. [WWD]<
  li>"In a move that makes him the emperor of designer cool, Renzo Rosso, the owner of Diesel and of hip young denim brands, has taken a controlling stake in Viktor & Rolf, the label of the Dutch duo Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren." [IHT]
• Anna Wintour is sorta-kinda going to be a step-grandmother; her onetime-stepson's wife is expecting, as is her longtime beau's daughter. Got that? [Page Six]
• Berlin, which the Times refers to rather snidely as "an aspiring fashion hub and perennial economic also-ran" hosts its own fashion week. The German capital is trying to boost its fashion rep, although its street style, as any hipster can tell you, is already ace. '“You’d never see people here taking a look straight from the runway,” said Hadnet Tesfai, a host for German MTV, who also writes about fashion for Bild, a daily newspaper. “But when it comes to design, when it comes to style, on the streets and people being creative, that’s where Berlin comes first.”' [New York Times]
• The German press, however, contends that some designers did not comply with the health minister's rules that all models be over 16 and at least a size 2 - preferring, it would seem, to adhere to the grand tradition of sickly children. [Fashionista]
• Citing the rise of childhood obesity in England, British school-uniform makers are extending the sizes to include women's size 18 (about a 14, U.S.) It is refrred to tactfully as the "generous fit" range, which certainly has a nicer ring to it than "husky." The Telegraph's headline, "Dress Size 18 for Obese Schoolgirls" is somewhat less sensitive. [Telegraph]
• Looks like West Coast department store chain Mervyn's might be another casualty of the economy. [Wall Street Journal]
• Great. 61% of lipsticks tested were found to contain lead. [Sydney Morning Herald
• Hong Kong luxury retailer Lane Crawford makes a push for main-land prestige with major Chinese star power. [WWD]
• Knockoff designer duds seized, confiscated, sent to poverty-stricken folks 'overseas.' Those had better be some good fakes. [The Star]
• Seems redundant, but Juicy Couture has launched its first sleep line, the somewhat causy-sounding "Choose Sleep by Juicy Intimate Apparel," [WWD]
• Confusingly-named British model Ben Grimes is launching a fashion line. The capsule collection will be "made up of silk dresses, cropped jackets, shorts and separates, with what the girls describe as a Seventies influence and a focus on the the search for the perfect dress." [ElleUK]
• Want to smell like Karl Lagerfeld looks? No? Well, if you did, now you could, with one of his trio of "Kapsule" fragrances. They're unisex - sorry, "genderless." [New York Magazine]

[Los Angeles, July 20. Image via Bauer-Griffin]

• Vogue is launching a reality TV show. Okay, online, but still. "The show, called Model.Live, tracks three models as they navigate casting calls, catwalks and airports for fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan and Paris" reports the Wall Street Journal. The three protagonists are described variously as "kooky", "polished and sophisticated," and "the sweet, new kid." All, presumably, are children and have BMIs in the single digits. For all their excitement about this brave new venture, apparently Vogue has concerns about exposing the seamier side of fashion: "controversial behavior like smoking or drinking." I'm guessing they'll be thrilled if that's as "controversial" as the behavior gets. [WSJ]
• Rachel Zoe is launching a perfume, along with her reality series. “This scent will really reflect her personal style and hopefully finally brand her" says a source. Eau de Raisin, anyone? [Fashion Week Daily]
• La Zoe is also rumored to be O-U-T out as creative consultant at Halston. [ElleUK]

• Rad Sri Lankan rapper MIA is launching a streetwear line, video to promote it. Actually makes more sense than most, as she started as an artist. [BlackBook]
• Rachel Bilson is the face of...um, her own line. Edie Rose for DKNY Jeans. [WWD]
• YSL's famously amazing modern art collection to hit the block at Christie's Paris. It's said to be worth about 600 million and is known to contain Picassos, Warhols and Mondrians.[WWD]
• Speaking of auctions! If you're in New York today and need some curlers, stop by Christie's, where they're auctioning off James Brown's personal effects, including curlers, a dome hair dryer and a lame jumpsuit! [The Independent]
• Define yourself via another arbitrary fashion quiz! (Which, secretly, we love.) Personally, seems "tartan" is my trend for Fall '08! [Guardian]
• So, this juvenile prison in Japan has set prisoners to designing and making accessories. The, um, line includes "cotton aprons, tote bags and pouches controversially emblazoned with the character for ‘jail’" and has become all the rage amongst fashionistas; all products have sold out from the prison's site, and are on backorder. [Daily Express]
• Coldplay wears the same outfit at every gig. The end. [The Sun]
• French Wrangler launches some vaguely Rousseau-inspired ad campaign designed to "encourage who and what we fundamentally are, by putting all that is pure, natural and instinctive back into Man." In reality, this translates to what AdFreak describes accurately as "a minute’s worth of glassy-eyed hippies stumbling around the woods." [AdFreak]
• Anticpated rough second half forces retailers to get creative. [WWD]
• In a case of unfortunate timing, Nike has pulled their re-released retro "Air Stab" sneaker after a rash of violent knife crime sin London. [Telegraph]
• Kidada Jones, aka daughter-of-Quincy, sister-of-Rashida, works in product development for Disney. Here is what she says about her Tinkerbell tat: “She’s sassy, loyal, stubborn and impulsive. She makes no apologies.” [W]
• Yeah, yeah, we know: hemlines predict the economy. [New York Times]
• If the dollar weren't as weak as a new kitten, ShopStyleUK would be an awesome way to source small British designers. [fabsugar]
• Lipstick Queen Poppy King on the Joker's lipstick choices: Jack Nicholson was "the power woman's Joker. He way overdoes the lip liner—very eighties." And the latest iteration? "Heath is the post-post-feminist's Joker. He is so deconstructionist with his red lipstick, it almost comes right back around to the Renaissance!" [Style.com]
• As Fashion Week Daily puts it, "We love anything cause-y, especially when it’s denim. " Um, I guess we agree, but now just want to distance ourselves from that quote. The caus-y denim in question? Aristocrat denim's new line, in which colored thread indicates a cause: "Ovarian Cancer Research Fund is teal, UNITY is yellow, Young Survival Coalition is pink, Love Heals is red and Earth Day Network is green. The jeans are sold at Scoop and 25% of each sale will go to the charity." Cause-y indeed! [Fashion Week Daily]
• A few lucky 20-year-olds get to shake in their boots when Anna Wintour gives the Vogue interns their annual pep talk. Says the memo all the kids receive, "The presentation will start promptly at 9:00am. I recommend that everyone is seated in the auditorium by 8:45am in case Anna begins a few minutes early. If the door is closed when you arrive, do not enter because you will have to walk in front of Anna while she is presenting." [New York Magazine]
• Kimora Lee Simmons on current affairs: "In this economy, the way that things are going right now, I really demand that all my divas young and old look fabulous. And I don't want them to spend their last dime doing it." [Style.com]

The Good:
Sometimes I wish you could see "Bad" first (I know that would screw with the whole title reference) so that you could appreciate what a breath of fresh air Joy Bryant's divine ensemble is after some of this evening's fashions.

I'm sure Eva Amurri would far rather I didn't describe her as Susan Sarandon's daughter. All in good time, my dear. And your dress is lovely.

Digging Monet Mazur's use of belt.

Ditto Michelle Trachtenberg's groovy clutch.

Not my favorite look on Rachel Bilson, but I do think she's one of the few who could pull this off.

The Bad:
There is a certain horrible perfection to Rachel Zoe in this Return to the Valley of the Dolls hideosity.

You think Gretchen Mol's doing okay. And then you hit the shoes.

You can probably guess, but this pan refers to the center of the sandwich, one Melissa Gellman Weiss.

Tara Subkoff: Qhat is your motivation?!

The Ugly:
I understand that E.V. Day is an artist and therefore above the laws of normal aesthetic standards. This is why she gets her own category.

[Images via Getty.]

[New York, June 17. Image via Splash.]

• Rachel Bilson on her upcoming fashion line: "I just had my first sewing lesson," she says. "My skirt came out 10 times too big, and it's sort of a mess, but I did learn how to use a sewing machine. So I'm on my way." [W Magazine]
• Having discovered the most effective form of teen sloganeering, Kmart launches faux-cute abstinence sweatpants. [Shakespeare's Sister]
• Flip-flops no longer bad for feet, fat-busting. [The Sun]
• Roberto Cavalli names Princess Beatrice as new muse. Perez Hilton is flummoxed! [Perez Hilton]

• Ray-Ban tarts up the Wayfarer. [AdWeek]
• Nine West founders gift UPenn $50 million towards biochemical research center which, disappointingly, has no shoe reference in its name. [CNN]
• Again, why not? USA Today gives 'makeovers' to all the characters in The Office. "Jim may be the office crush, but like a lot of Gen Y, he seems to reach for those slouchy chinos." [USA Today]
• The US Synchronized Swim Team looks Esther Williams fierce! [Radar]
• Feel humbled: Kate Moss has designed a tee shirt for charity. Fine: Chari-tee. [Daily Mail]
• Victoria Beckham: "I’ve got a long way to go before I could win a CFDA of my own.” [Elle UK]
• Consumers hate cropped suits. [New York Post]
• "In the photoshoot Linda Evangelista did for Vogue Italia, she epitomized a true aristocratic style. Of carefree mood, she posed in fur jackets, jersey, silk dresses, and tweed suits, accessorized with hats, gloves, and little dogs. Its refined interiors and vintage chic make this editorial tres nostalgic." [Zimbio]
• Retailers fall back on flagships. [WWD]
• Dooney and Bourke triumphs over Louis Vuitton - like a really rich, WASPy David versus a really rich, French Goliath! [WWD]

The Good
This ain't rocket science people, it's Rachel Bilson. Can't remember when I've seen her look bad.
Emma Roberts looks stunning. I can't resist Paxil in the shape of a dress either.
I'm not sure who Francesca Gregorini is, but she's working a Jo-from-The-Facts-Of-Life look here. Jo Polniaczek is a fashion icon for the advanced, just so you know.
This just in: Michelle Trachtenberg might be my new Hollywood crush.
Please don't argue with me. I told you, I love Ione Skye's 90s babysitter ensemble. And look at her smile: She's perfect!
Just yesterday when Malin Akerman graced this page; she's obviously keeping up the good work.


The Bad:
Ann Getty looks a little blah, but she's so rich that by the time this is posted I might not ever be able to eat lunch in this town again.
Dear Carrie Whitman: Black stockings with a mini-skirt and calf-length boots don't work anymore. It's a little 5 minutes ago.com.


The Ugly
Nicolette Sheridan looks like a MILF-cougar-Hollywood B-movie pornstar. Wait, is that so bad?

[Images viaGetty]

[Los Angeles, May 28. Image via Splash.]

The Good:

Felicity Huffman keeps it simple and showcases toned shoulders.

Gabrielle Union's little summer dress is pretty cute. She should take her hands out of her pockets, though.

Love the color and drape of Joy Bryant's dress. Beachy keen!

Love the color of Becki Newton's dress, too! Just one piece can look so chic.

Sanaa Lathan, golden girl. She looks so great in this dress I'm willing to forgive the borderline shoes.

Rachel Bilson's jacket and skirt seem sophisticated, but I'm torn on the shoes. They're sort of cool and new and different and they're sort of horrifying. I like the rest so much I'm erring on the side of Good.

The Bad:

Maria Cross: Meh. The shoes are too heavy, in my opinion. A thin-strap sandal for a more bare look might be better.

Yeah, I don't know, Mena Suvari. Part of me likes the Pat Benatar thing she's got going, the other part of me winces, because how long can we do '80s?

Amy Smart is a lovely lady, but this dress is bad. The neckline is bad, the belt is bad and I think the fabric is bad.

Is Elizabeth Banks wearing a wardrobe castoff from Sophia Coppola's Virgin Suicides?

Zoe Saldana's hemline is a gynecologist's dream.

Nicky Hiton looks awkward, like an overgrown baby doll.

I think Lost alum Maggie Grace looks pretty but the satin shorts are killing me. They're super cute if you're playing the role of Miss Adelaide is Guys And Dolls, but otherwise, no.

I like Kelly Rutherford's blouse. I like Kelly Rutherford's skirt. I love Kelly Rutherford's shoes. I do not like them all together. Maybe if the blouse wasn't quite so buttoned up and the skirt were longer? I don't know.

The Ugly:

Sophia Bush is gorgeous; this weird zippered apron dress and chunky brown shoes are not.

Oh, Whitney Port. So many trends, so little time.

[Images via FilmMagic.]

[Los Angeles, May 12. Image via Bauer-Griffin]

[Los Angeles, May 8. Image via INFDaily.com.]

• Frances Bean Cobain is rumored to be the next face of Chanel. That's hot. And also crazy. Oh, Karl. [Vogue UK]
  
• Louis Vuitton has postponed indefinitely its "China Run" car rally, which was originally scheduled to take place in late May with a route from Chengdu and Kunming. Reason? Um, it's not exactly cool to be supporting China's blatant disregard for human rights right now and France is all pissed re: the Olympics etc etc. [WWD, sub req'd]
  
• Also, Yohji Yamamoto wants to teach China about Peace and improve relations though the country and his native Japan through his new Yohji Yamamoto Fund For Peace. This will mainly involve fashion shows. Of course. [WWD, sub req'd]
  
• Also China's on the warning list for counterfeiting shit. Oh, China. [WWD, sub req'd]
  
• Tommy Hilfiger, ambiguously racist? Says the designer, "[W]e feel that with our European-influenced approach, the sophisticated and higher level of quality and fashion somehow reaches the type of people who represent the brand very well... Ten years ago it was positioned with a lot of red, white and blue and a lot of logos and you would look at these street kids wearing the clothes as billboards." [FT]

• Elle still hasn't confirmed that fashion director Nina Garcia was fired, but Nina's assistants, Jade Frampton and Malina Joseph, just got big promotions, with Frampton taking the title of market editor and Joseph that of bookings editor. Senior style editor Kate Lanphear has been promoted to style director and rumors abound that she might be up for the fashion director gig herself. Can someone tell us the difference between a style director and a fashion director? The real difference, that is? That's what we thought. [WWD, 4th item]
• Um, but these promotions seem to be a result of the fact that bookings editor Claudine Ingeniri and market editor Helane Crowell have left the magazine. Associate art director Florence Sicard has also left. [WWD, 4th item]
• Anna Wintour's new assistant is named Claiborne Swanson. She comes from the Swanson-as-in-chicken-breasts family. Also, she must be a masochist to have taken this job. [NYMag]
• Okay, so here's what the rumor mill is reporting regarding who will come with whom at next Monday's Costume Institute Gala, hosted by George Clooney, Julie Roberts, and Anna Wintour: Giorgio Armani with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Jennifer Lopez with Alberta Ferretti, Kate Bosworth with Chanel, and Eva Mendes, Rachel Bilson and Fergie with Calvin Klein. Mariah Carey, Renée Zellweger, Scarlett Johansson, Kate Moss, Mary J. Blige, Claire Danes, Mischa Barton, LeBron James, Valentino, Tom Ford, Domenico Dolce, Stefano Gabbana and Donatella Versace will all be there too. [WWD, 1st item]
• The Wall Street Journal names Proenza Schouler, Peter Som, Zac Posen, Rodarte, Derek Lam, 3.1 Phillip Lim and Tuleh as the seven young designers to watch because they're thisclose to breaking mainstream. Um, they already have. Way to be up on the times, WSJ. [WSJ]
• Deep thoughts with Entourage's Emmanuelle Chirqui, "Why not wear something fabulous and save the environment at the same time?" [WWD, 2nd item]
• Rami Kashou: You can buy it online! [Sassybella
• Glasses are hot, Lasik eye surgery be damned. [WSJ]
• Men: Wearing jewelry. [LATimes]
• High-heeled Crocs: Oh. God. [Crocs]

[On the set of "New York I Love You," April 16. Images via Splash.]

[West Hollywood, April 7. Image via Flynet]

• DKNY Jeans has announced a "partnership" with Rachel Bilson, who will be doing her own denim line for the brand. "Fans of 'The O.C.' really like DKNY Jeans, and I know they make great stuff, so I thought it could be good... I can't draw at all, so I won't be doing any sketches, but I am learning to sew," she says. [WWD, sub req'd]
  
• Good for designer Bradley Bayou for organizing a forum on the fashion industry and eating disorders. Bayou said fashion editors and the CFDA are at great fault for the growing number of young women developing eating disorders: "We have girls getting very sick because they can't beat the system and look like what's on the cover of the magazine...There are two ways to become a size zero: Starve yourself or take drugs. Or both. And yes, [models] all do it." [WWD, sub req'd]
  
• "She is a very modest woman." That's Fashion Fringe co-founder Colin McDowell on Donatella Versace. Um, sure. [Fashion Week Daily]

• Guess: Launching an eco-friendly capsule collection in April. [WWD, sub req'd]
• Make your own score for Miuccia Prada's trippy and twisted animated short "Trembling Blossoms" on Prada.com. [WWD, 1st item]
• Not gonna lie: I sorta want a Jean-Michel Basquiat Uniqlo t-shirt. [WWD, 2nd item]
• Alber Elbaz has started designing bridal for the House of Lanvin under the label Collection Blanche which — oh the irony — contains very few white dresses. [Vogue UK]
• The 2008 international fur and leather exhibition, Mifur, will be paying special homage to the late fashion designer Gianfranco Ferre, who loved him an animal pelt like it was nobody's business. [Fashion Week Daily]
• French Connection's profits are down 22% this year. FCUK! [Independent]
• Diddy vs. J.Lo: Battle of the fragrances! [BellaSugar]
• Henry Holland Easter eggs: Just what humanity needs. [Sassybella]
• What? Men do more shopping online than women? [WSJ]

• What the world needs today: a celebrity fashion "collaboration"! The latest is Rachel Bilson, with Brian Reyes, and the apparel in question is bridesmaids dresses, for her BFF's wedding to The O.C. and Gossip Girl creator Josh Schwartz. We hope she choses a style that is flattering on people who are not anti-food. [Fashionista]
  
• In a sad day in the history of the legendary House of Givenchy, Justin Timberlake has been tapped to front a yet-to-launch new fragrance of theirs. And in heaven, Hubert de Givenchy cries into the bosom of Audrey Hepburn. [WWD, sub req'd]
  
• Fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier, possibly off the deep end: "Love is everywhere. I look at you and I see love. Hearts are everywhere and love is everywhere. This is very good." Um, OK. [Fashion Week Daily]
  
• New York Times fashion critic Cathy Horyn: Banned again! This time from D&G. The As I Lay Dying of the garmentverse, that one. [Fashion Week Daily]

• On the whole, the buyers in attendance at the Milan shows thought they, how to put this, sucked. [WWD, sub req'd]
• A dress worn by Kate Moss! Now on eBay! [Sassybella]
• Do you like McDreamy as the face of Versace Men? [Uh, is that a rhetorical question? -Moe] [Sassybella]
• French label Paul & Joe: Now designing Perrier cans. We last heard of them when they did a Target collection. [Sassybella]
• Karl Lagerfeld, never one to miss out on a moment of potential glory, is staging a shhhhhsecret Fendi fashion show during Paris fashion week. Even though, like, Fendi's an Italian label and just showed. [Vogue UK]
• English designer/Agyness Deyn BFF Henry Holland: Collaborating with Levi's on an eight-piece capsule collection. For those of you who care enough to know who Agyness Deyn's BFF is, we can only assume. [Catwalk Queen]
• Hugo Boss is launching a new fragrance, Boss Pure. Because nothing's really quite as pure as a whiff of oversold department store cologne. [WWD, sub req'd]

[Burbank, February 17. Image via Bauer-Griffin]

[Rome, Italy; February 6. Image via Bauer-Griffin]

[Los Angeles, January 22. Image via Bauer-Griffin]

[Los Angeles, January 17. Image via Bauer-Griffin]

[Los Feliz, November 20. Image via Flynet]