Jezebel: Rag Trade

The Plot Thickens: Gloria Steinem, Lynda Carter Endorse DVF Comic Book

Sadie Stein — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Deets on the Diane von Furstenberg comic book! "With 'Be the Wonder Woman You Can Be, Featuring the Adventures of Diva, Viva & Fifa,' the new comic book she authored, she doesn’t just turn herself into a bonafide superheroine, but offers inspiring tales about women and the life-empowering choices they face — all with illustrations by artist Konstantin Kakanias." Plus, it's got the stamp of approval from real life WW's Gloria Steinem and Lynda Carter. We're sure the 13-year-old boys are already lined up! [WWD]
Despite repeated evidence that she should never talk ever, Kate Moss is appearing on a new style TV show. [Fashionista]
Kate Winslet is not, repeat, not, playing Vivienne Westwood. [People]
In bad news for the environment and boring news for the rest of us, model Jessica Stam gets her pilot's license. Or talks about getting one. [Fashionista]

Heidi Klum obviously hates Kenley. "We don’t change their words. What they say is what they say. So she was the way you see her. She was laughing at people at times, she would talk back. And it is a very hard thing for these designers to be on the runway and show themselves to everyone, but this is what you sign up for. You have to take the criticism. And I don’t think she could handle that very well. But she is a good designer." [LA Times]
Gwyneth Paltrow sells hand-me-downs for charity. We're sure you can read all about it on her dumb blog. [ElleUK]
Santino Rice has a reality show in the works. We very much doubt it will be "bigger than Project Runway” but whatevs! [Fashion Week Daily]
This is cool: the Metropolitan Museum's entire costume institute collection is now online. [WWD]
Banana Republic forces the Paul Taylor Dance Company out of its longtime home. Hey, Paul Taylor, people shouldn't have to walk a full three blocks to buy chinos! Stop being so selfish! [NY Times]
Denim-distressing is a full-time job. [BoingBoing]
Mel B's underwear ad. It's her, in underwear. [The Mirror]
The consensus: Paris Fashion Week was the best of the bunch. But buyers are still cutting way back. [WWD]
IMG — which handles all the, um, real fashion weeks — is no longer repping LA's. [NY Post]
England's street-style program, The Clothes Show, bans super-skinny guys in oder to discourage "manorexia." (Interestingly, when my brother was in London, he was asked to appear on this. Presumably before this rule went into effect.) [Daily Mail]
"A model will now be assessed if he is too thin by looking at his body mass index, with any model below 19 being classed underweight.Those with 26 and 28 inch waists will also be classed as the male equivalent of a female size zero and will not be allowed to take part." Suck it, Charlie Stein! [Telegraph]
French It girl Lou Doillon is opening a store. She says vaguely, "We’ll have a mix of fashion, literature, modern and old, with more of an English than French influence, and not conventional." [ElleUK]
Anya Hindmarch has hit Target. [NY Post]
Reshuffling at obscurely grossly-named Aquascutum. [VogueUK]

American Apparel Exports American Porn, English History

Sadie Stein — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Should American Apparel be exporting its porntastic aesthetic? Ask Dov! "Magna Carta 1215! They anticipated that international merchants should be able to come to Great Britain and sell their goods. I think it's section 43 or 42, you can look it up on Google." [IHT]
Patricia Field finally admits what we've always suspected about styling: it's bullshit. "It's easy, it pays well and you don't have to worry about inventory [as you do when running a store]. For me, it was like a windfall, because in retail you have to work very long hours and often don't make much money. But [with styling] they're paying you all this money to put clothes on a few people. I was like, wow!" [Guardian]
What would a Monday be without Lagerfeld? "I'm suffering from an overdose of myself...At a certain point, you ask yourself, am I a puppet or not?" [Canadian Press]
Kate Winslet's definitely playing Vivienne Westwood. [Fashionista]

Natalia Vodianova's launching a lingerie line. [Sassybella]
So is Molly Sims. [New York Magazine]
Alessandra Facchinetti — who learned about her Valentino firing through the media, mind you — says, 'fuck diplomacy': "I am very embittered...I thank Valentino (group) for appreciating my 'creative contribution' and my 'refined talent'. It's a shame that they have not been adequately used." [Reuters]
Her replacements say they'll, um, do a good job too. [WWD]
The Aussie government has proposed a fashion "Code of Conduct" that would require magazines "to feature normal-sized models and disclose the use of digitally enhanced photos." We were never allowed to toss around the term "normal" growing up in my house, but sounds good! [News.com.au]
The provenance of Sarah Palin's shoes generates controversy. [BlackBook]
Hey, wanna be like Kate Moss? Yeah, neither do we. Here's a book about it for those who don't have the energy for coke or Pete Doherty. [The Sun]
Ferragamo's new villa takes the pulse of the times. Oh, wait. "The numbers involved in the project – by spring 2010 it will include 20 villas, 26 “hotel” suites, a Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course, spa, two restaurants, winery and stud – are clearly not for the credit-crunched." [FT]
What to wear to weddings number 2, 3, 4...you get the picture. [Washington Post]
The vitamin gift bag at Louis Vuitton sounds like crap to us, but celebs were into it! [WWD]
Young Indian girls like sexu clothes, too! [Hindustan Times]
Cardigans are back. Were they gone? [LA Times]
Hard times: People are cutting back on plastic surgery. Zing! [CNN]
Maybe that's why makeup sales are up! [BrandWeek]
In some kind of Johnny Cash tribute-cum-intimidation tactic, sports fans are urging "blackouts" in which everybody um, wears black clothes in the stands. [NY Times ]
Yes, we're sure all this 3-D imaging looks awesome. But it's no substitute for the actual humiliation of trying on swimsuits! [Business Week]<
li>Helen Mirren to win some "Most Stylish Woman" award we've never heard of. Brava! [Mirror]
Model dons tiny corset; walks; faints. People are surprised. [The Sun]
Alexander McQueen goes all Donnie Darko in a freaky bunny suit. [New York Magazine]

Halle Berry Heroically Addresses Shortage Of Celebrity Perfumes

Sadie Stein — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Addressing the alarming shortage of celebrity fragrances, Halle Berry, who is releasing her own, proclaims: "It’s a real, true expression of who I am — I was involved in all aspects of making it." [WWD]
Oh, those wags at PETA! In another devastating jab at their fur-sporting nemeses, the animal rights wits have produced "Trollsen Twins" masks for us to wear on Halloween! "To complete the "Hairy Kate" and "Trashley" look, PETA recommends Starbucks, cigarettes and boho chic gear." [MollyGood]
Hey! Wanna go to the Viktor & Rolf show? It's online! (No, you still can't afford anything.) [NY Mag]
Kaiser Karl is coming to America! Specifically, Vermont. Quoth Lagerfeld, “I love it. It’s very much Emily Dickinson." [WWD]
Leighton Meester "does her part to end domestic violence" by walking in a celebrity fashion show. [People]

Irina Lazareanu, the Barbra of modeling, says she's really retiring this time. [Style.com]
Yup, Alessandra Facchinetti's out at Valentino. [WWD]
We're starting to feel bad for Lauren Conrad's clothing line . [Perez Hilton]
And if LC and Heidi are too high-profile for you, perhaps you want to patronize a smaller designer, why, here's Audrina's denim line! [Perez Hilton]
Anna Wintour: the Rasputin of the fashion world. [NY Mag]
The CEO of Coach went all Joyce Carol Oates on us and just wrote a book about wrestling. [MediaBistro]
Are we the only ones who think of Electra from Gypsy when we hear about all these high-tech "intelligent" clothes? This new jacket has a solar panel. Hey, you gotta have a gimmick! [Reuters]
Possibly because of her complete blankness, Kate Moss is the most popular artist's muse of our age. [Independent]
Kate also really likes that solid gold statue of herself. [VogueUK]
She also doesn't wear underpants. And her hairdresser takes total credit for her style. [GraziaDaily]
Rich people discover second-hand clothes. [LA Times]
Uniqlo is up, at least. [WWD]
New beauty director at Nylon, late of ElleGirl. [Fashionista]
Vanessa Paradis on Johnny Depp: "Maybe I'm a good girlfriend because I'm his girlfriend. I'm not sure I'd be a good girlfriend to anyone else." Yeah, we're guessing we could go good for Sparrow, too. [ElleUK]

Bruno Crashes Paris Fashion Week!

Sadie Stein — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Apparently emboldened by last week's success in Milan, Bruno — aka Sacha Baron Cohen — crashed Stella McCartney today. "With his red thong clearly visible above his jeans, the comedian — who was virtually unrecognisable in a flamboyant leather gilet, with his slicked-down hair dyed blonde and brown — sucked Tampax, clapped along to the music and generally disgruntled the front row by continually pushing aside those sitting in front of him for a better look at the models." He then delivered a "lone standing ovation." [VogueUK]
In total radness: DVF to design a comic book in connection with her Wonder Woman-inspired collection. Really hoping she has to make the rounds of the comics conventions. [Fashionista]
Chloe Sevigny gets into menswear. Well, Gallo will wear it. [Nylon]

Andre Benjamin's clothing line is for the modern fop. "To create a persona for his fashion line, Mr. Benjamin combined his surname with that of Bill Bixby. The character is a world traveler whose wardrobe includes things like a $995 cotton corduroy blazer, a $350 felted waistcoat and a $95 newsboy cap." [NY Times]
Whoever wears that will surely be the intended demographic for "J. Crew's first book." "Written by Max Blagg and illustrated by Hugo Guinness, What a Man Should Know is a collection of 50 (very) whimsical tips for the modern male. So what should you know? Chess, wine, and figure-drawing." [Men.Style]
Some people claimed Heidi stole the Project Runway premise — aka the same setup every single competition reality show has ever had ever. A judge, not surprisingly, dismissed it. [wwltv]
Michelle Obama sports H&M on the campaign trail. [BlackBook]
Lagerfeld video. Nuff said. [NY Mag]
Scary Spice Mel B wants a Project Runway-style reality show. Get in line, kid. [E]
Rather than going bargain basement, Target courts recessionistas. [Business Week]
More on Miss Sixty's woes. [BBC]
Sorta It-Girl Cory Kennedy to replace Kinda It-Girl Daisy Lowe as the face of Docs. [Fashionista]
Levi's tries way, way too hard: "The San Francisco company has launched a new viral effort it hopes will attract young men to pass along videos of customized "beasts" emerging from the button-fly of Levi's jeans. At Unbuttonyourbeast.com, visitors can choose from nine different animated characters with names like Trout Troutman, Paul the Pincher and Sock Nasty, then customize the beast's message by calling a toll-free number. The effort, unsurprisingly, is geared to young men just out of college." The emails are titled, "Do you dare to unbutton my beast?" [AdWeek]
India eases the way for the burgeoning luxury market. [IHT]
Guy Ritchie's first hit since hooking up with Madge: a Nike ad gets big on YouTube. [Telegraph]
Naomi Campbell's gonna walk for Hermes; everybody flips out. [Fashion Week Daily]
I wish these celebs would stop calling their mix tapes "albums." Anyhoo, Heatherette designer Richie Rich's, "Celebutante," is about to drop. [Fashionista]
"If there were a gold medal for marathon modeling, Shalom Harlow would surely win it for the Viktor & Rolf fashion film that will begin today on the Dutch duo’s Web site. 'It was like the fashion Olympics,' said Rolf Snoeren, who, with Viktor Horsting, reenacted a high-tech version of 'Funny Face' to showcase their spring collection. 'It was 14 hours a day on high heels, but she was a champion.'” [WWD]
80's power shoulders are big (sorry) on the Paris runways. [WSJ]
That gold statue of Kate Moss was just unveiled. [Mirror]
UGGS are like cockroaches: all that will be left after a nuclear holocaust. While everything else is foundering, UGGs is way up! [WSJ]
The Lauren Conrad line forlorn and unbought. [Page Six]
Bossy new bikini has "decorative beads" that change color when UV rays grow dangerously high. [Telegraph]
Screw Jimmy Choos. Cheap shoes make more sense for actual walking. [Daily News]
"Margherita Missoni, meanwhile, has experienced some teasing for wearing vintage sparkling Harper’s Bazaar frames — due to an eye problem. 'Suzy Menkes says it’s my Sarah Palin look,' she laughed. 'It is definitely not inspired by her.'" [WWD]

Sofia Coppola To Design For Vuitton (We're Sure She's Earned It)

Sadie Stein — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Sofia Coppola for some reason to design shoes and bags for Louis Vuitton. "It is understood the products will be sold worldwide and launched in Japan." Will she distract us from the crappy-looking shoes with a cool soundtrack? [WWD]
Kate Moss: The Movie. Maybe. [Graziavia The Cut]
Usher launches lingerie line. “Comfort and intimacy is very important.” [Just Jared]
"Alessandra Ambrosio's 4 pound Maltese named Buddha got out and is lost. He is tie dyed blue and green and is lost please help in anyway possible. She loves her dog so much and there is a large reward if someone returns him." [Perez Hilton]

Vivienne Westwood's recession tips: "In these hard times, dress up," with towel capes and safety pin jewelry! [Daily Mail]
No wonder her retrospective attracted 40,000 visitors. [The Star]
In their futile attempt to sabotage the fur-lovin' Armani, PETA approaches fames bunny-boiler Glenn Close. [E]
Post Jovovich-Hawk, Milla thinks big. “Now I’m here in Paris meeting with bigger houses about doing designing for them...Unfortunately, Carmen’s not working with me anymore–she’s taking pictures–but I am definitely going to keep designing.” [FashionWeekDaily]
Um...what? Naomi Campbell on air travel: "I think after 9/11 you can't say anything anymore on a plane. I've flown British Airways for years, since I was a child...The stewardesses will tell you that I would get on a plane, put on the blanket and go to sleep. I'll never fly that airline again, but nothing's really lost. I did get my luggage. I was reunited with my YSL, and everything was cool." [Stereohyped]
Lily Cole's French Playboy cover is out. [Fashionologie]
If it's not broke: Dior reups Galliano's contract. [WWD]
Wal-Mart bans cotton from Uzbekistan in an effort to end child labor there. [NY Times]
Model bad-girl Alice Dellal kinda grosses out some people. 'Another fashion journalist, who also wanted to remain anonymous - because to be heard slagging off the fashionistas' favourite is hardly the done thing - told me that she found it all "baffling. She looks like she needs a good scrub. It's as if she's walked out of a 1990s Nirvana video".' [Telegraph]
More on H&M's trials. [NY Times]
Tennis ace Rafael Nadal to be spokesman for Lanvin fragrances. Cause sweaty athletes is exactly who I want to smell like! [WWD]
New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre and racing icon Dale Earnhardt Jr. for Wrangler makes somewhat more sense. [AdWeek ]
Karl Lagerfeld and Tom Ford's mutual admiration interview. Given the players, disappointingly un-absurd. "For me, American fashion and the look of American elegance with an updated image is Tom. There may be others, but I don't wear those." [Time]
Jay-Z's Rocawear sued for trademark infringement. [The Cut]
Whether Target likes it or not, Anya Hindmarch is selling her cheapo line on her own site four days early. [Fashionista]
Miss Sixty stores bite it. [Times of London]
Wait, what? Gemma Ward decides she's going to be an actor, promptly nets Australian Oscar-like nom. [WWD]
British women's breast size a whole cup larger than a generation ago; breast enlargement surgery likely culprit. [Telegraph]

Rachel Zoe's Not Really One For Political Guerrilla Theatre

Sadie Stein — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Would Rachel Zoe support Code Pink? Here's her response: "I’m embarking on a big initiative this year for ovarian cancer—that’s next. But if I lived in the ’70s, I would have been right in John Lennon’s bed with him and Yoko. God, I wish he were alive." We'll take that as a...maybe? [BlackBook]
Anand Jon: Rapist, or simply a creep? [Radar]
Despite rumors, Pixie Geldof isn't designing for New Look. She's modeling for them! [ElleUK]
Finnish designer Ivana Helsinki based her knits line for Topshop on "the champagne state of drunkenness." Sign us up! [VogueUK]

H&M feels the pinch. Don't we all. [WWD]
Is Alessandra Facchinetti getting the pink slip at Valentino? [Fashion Week Daily]
At the end of the day, fashion's a business. Albeit a ridiculous one. [Independent]
Which is why Lanvin might be selling a stake to a Qatar investor. [IHT]
Posh's new boots: ugly, of course, but are they equally uncomfortable?! [Guardian]
Apparently Paris fashion week is sucking far less than did New York's. [Fashionista]
This new hand-held scanner can tell if a garment's a fake -so you don't have to send your clothes to a lab, like you were doing before! [IHT]
Foot Locker's buying skateboard apparel maker CCS. It's currently owned by Delia's. [WSJ]
Model Sarah Murdoch says "In fashion ... there is an unhealthy body image for young women." No shit. [News.com.au]
Balenciaga show apparently bites. [NYT]

Designer/Director Tom Ford Can't Move His Freakin' Face

Sadie Stein — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Tom Ford has spoken: eyebrow wiggling is now a sign of displeasure. "I haven't had any plastic surgery — despite what people think, this is my nose...I have had Restylane and Botox, but I don't think of that as plastic surgery any more. It's true I can't really frown, but I can move my eyebrows, so..." [Guardian]
Well, at least Manolo Blahnik is less ridiculous! Oh, wait. "Manolo Blahnik tumbles into the room wearing an extremely dapper royal-purple suit, purple and yellow knitted tie, orange suede shoes and black circular glasses à la Le Corbusier. He stretches out his hand, and when I shake it he squeaks in pain, shaking, then retracting it." [Independent]
Jean-Paul Gaultier, maybe? “'I did a revue with my teddy bear at home...I pretended he had breasts. The first cone bra I did was for my teddy bear, not for Madonna. I had a strawberry box for the stage, and I put a lot of feathers on my teddy bear for the headdress. I used feathers from my cleaning brush for the finale.'” [NYT]
Come. on, Zac Posen, redeem your industry: "Puppies, babies and plastic surgery are the new fashion. That's where fashion's going." [Big Think]

It's official: Project Runway saved from a fate worse than death, aka Lifetime Television for Women. [NY Mag]
"Ironically, runways in the nation that brought us an all-black Vogue were not only less diverse than New York's but disappointingly white." [Shophound]
The sale of YSL's art collection — which includes Picassos, a Matisse, a Leger and a Mondrian — is expected by auctioneers to bring in 440 billion dollars. [Breitbart]
The Stylista contestants revealed! One of them is named Cologne. [NY Mag]
This Lancome lip gloss and this Marc Jacobs shirt kind of look alike. [Glam Chic]
The Queen's preferred dressmaker on the verge of collapse! Experts suggest it, um, failed to move with the times. [Telegraph]
In a weird coincidence, the designer of Diana's wedding dress is going under, too. [Daily Mail]
The Sergio Rossi-Puma sneaker heel is the stuff nightmares are made of. [Fashionista]
Kate Moss apparently "snogs the face off" some Vivienne Westwood cohort. [Mirror]
The Eastpak allegedly "reinvented" by Raf Simons. That's what they said about cafeteria food. [LA Times]
Shoes are apparently a better investment than stocks. Although not, presumably, if you walk in them. Cue Carrie Bradshaw reference. [Business Sheet]
"On Monday, men's magazine GQ India hits the newsstands, following in the footsteps of other male-only publications such as Men's Health, Maxim, and FHM, and experts are saying this is further proof that Indian men are embracing more global fashions." Pictured: an Indian guy in what appears to be a gold leather Harlequin outfit and bow-tie. [Reuters]
Burberry Children's to bring overpriced (adorable) mini duffel coats to U.S. market. [WWD]
Lenny Kravitz barred from Ric Owens show; sneaks in anyway. [Style.com]
"Over the last year, Mr. Margiela, known as fashion’s “Invisible Man” because he never gives interviews and has rarely been photographed, has told colleagues that he wants to stop designing and that he has begun a search for his successor at the house." So...how will anyone know? [NY Times]
Speculation rampant that Plum Sykes querying Guardian style column. Okay, not really. [Guardian]
We can't really wrap our heads around the new Pat Field for venerable frump-purveyor Marks and Sparks line, so will probably stick to weeping. [The Sun]
Fashion feels the credit crunch. [WWD]
Gareth Pugh brings back the Elizabethan ruff. [ElleUK]

Sacha Baron Cohen Crashes "Prada" Fashion Show

Sadie Stein — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Sacha Baron Cohen's fashionisto alter ego, the fey Austrian Bruno, stormed the catwalk in layers of schmatte during Agatha Ruiz de la Prada's runway show, setting off a security panic. Ultimately they had to call the police; all this will obvs end up in the upcoming Bruno movie. [Perez Hilton]
Responding to the extreme shortage of celeb fashion lines, Rihanna confirms that she's launching one: “I can’t say when it will be released, but it’s definitely going to happen.” [WWD]
Naomi Campbell loses her shit at D&G. [WWD]
Model Lily Cole gives us conservation advice in the intro to eco tome Green is the New Black: “I would encourage sewing together your own stuff, and keeping that stuff even as it falls apart (a good look, I really believe). I would also encourage a change in attitude… what’s a good sweater without a hole?... Please remember, or at least consider, that holes are beautiful, too!” [Nylon]

The words "complete creative control" should give Adidas pause; they've given it to Jeremy Scott for his new line. [WWD]
Responding to the needs of a rapidly aging population, Japanese adult diaper designers hold a "fashion show." [CBS]
Tommy Hilfiger and Peggy Noonan apparently didn't really hit it off. [BlackBook]
Apparently, in addition to being hideous and ludicrous, the Comme des Garcons for for H&M line is really expensive. [Fashionista]
With usually dependable Russian and Asian buyers in abeyance, Milan's designers are in a panic. [FT]
Well, some of them. "In the current climate, at the end of a long week, there's something reassuring about designers who are unashamedly getting on with business as usual. Credit crunch? What credit crunch?" [ElleUK]
At least Cavalli takes the pulse of the times: "In possibly the most inexplicable collection so far, transparent pastel Wedgwood print chiffon milkmaid dresses were followed by Marie Antoinette peony-posied minis complete with thigh-grazing bustle, which were followed by black Studio 54 jersey slithers, which were followed by neon yellow and chartreuse graphic balloon dresses, which were followed by see-through long white lace governess dresses with little black bows at the neck and pigeon-tail lace tiers at the back, which were followed by marabou-trimmed gold scripted chiffon pyjamas." [FT]
With peeps cutting back on dry-cleaning, wash and wear fashion is big business. [Reuters]
In a triumph of frugality, people drop a bundle at Hermes sample sale. [NY Times]
Balenciaga's casting male models, which means either menswear or drag, and can we just say we're over drag? Can these designers at least pretend they're designing for women's bodies?! [Fashionista]
Re-usable shopping bags aren't really all that green. Wah-wah. [WSJ]
Typically generous British journalism: "The encouraging truth is that Twiggy does not look nearly as young in the flesh as she does in most of the photographs in her new book about how to look fabulous over 40. She has, I am heartened to observe when we meet in a London hotel, a slight tummy, jowly bits and a light craquelure of wrinkles." [Telegraph]
The much-reviled lifestyle guru Gwyneth Paltrow's new Tod's commercial: "The full length commercial, which was modeled after "La Dolce Vita" and featured Gwynnie being chased by papparazzi, losing her bag and having it returned to her by a charming reporter...There were lots of close-ups of the bag, of course. Loving, glorious close-ups." [Washington Post]
Rebellious Belgian designers want to be business iconoclasts, too. [WSJ]
The unrest at Pucci as loud as its patterns! [NY Mag]
Manolo Blahnik turns on the heel! "It's much more difficult to be beautiful and walk femininely in flats...Bardot in France did it and Audrey Hepburn in America. They looked fantastic and walked like tigers, beautiful and graceful, but you can walk like a beach bum in them - then they don't look so good." [VogueUK]
Why don't we get awesome free stuff with American fashion mags? [Fashionista]
Michael Kors opens first Euro boutique. [Fashion Week Daily]

Tim Gunn Is Totally Normal: "I Wear Jeans & T-Shirts All The Time"

Sadie Stein — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Everyone's favorite human being, Tim Gunn, likes Dunkin' Donuts (Grace Mirabella turned him onto it.) And he can't afford to buy an apartment in New York, either! (Stars! They're just like us!) [Time Out New York]
Simon Doonan, the woman's champion, bemoans that there's "a lot of conformity, a lot of blonde hair ... I often wonder if feminism was just a dream. I can't believe how women feel so scrutinised, and they're still so self-critical - I thought they would have let go of that now but they haven't. There's a very masochistic thing with women now that I didn't used to see. My girl friends in the punk era weren't like that at all." [Guardian]
How's the fashion set responding to the economic crisis? "Everyone's freaking out. Everyone." [WSJ]
AOL pulls the plug on Glass-House dwellers Joan and Melissa Rivers' Emmy coverage because of repeated humorous references to the Third Reich, corpulence. [P6]

Prada denies it's trolling for an investor in Dubai; says it's still going public. The economy says otherwise! [WWD]
Tom Ford's bringing in the whole Mad Men design team to work on his directorial debut. Which we would totally do, if you changed "directorial debut" to "our apartment." [E!]
Not shockingly, Woody Harrelson is a big advocate for hemp. [Guardian]
Of her unisex clown-in-the-asylum collection for H&M, Rei Kawakubo declares, “The collection is constructed around Comme des Garçons’ style. Rather than aiming to make clothes that no one has ever seen before, it is very much Comme des Garçons to its roots. My priority has always been creativity, which was not the least bit compromised with this collection. That was the last thing H&M wanted us to do. Otherwise they wouldn’t have asked us.” [BlackBook]
Munichers at Oktoberfest are furious - furious! - at the poor quality of cheap, Chinese-made lederhosen. [Business Week]
Hoping to avoid a similar fate, Scottish kiltmakers hold a summit to protect their industry. [UPI]
Our greatest minds have come up with Kix by Katie, "a stick-on, lightweight, supportive strip which is applied to the inside back hemline of pants. This useful innovative invention adds just a bit of extra weight to your pants, making them hang down nicely." Thus is eliminated the heel-wedgie, the apparent bane of many a high-heeled dame. [InventorSpot]
Nike's in trouble. [WSJ]
PETA harasses Armani customers because he went back on his word about not using fur. No one makes a fool of PETA! They do that themselves! [Daily Express]
Gillian Anderson, for one, is furious with him. [FirstPost]
He responds by releasing a chocolate. "Available at Armani/Dolci stores this week through the end of October, the dark chocolate praline sweets are enclosed in a thin coating of white chocolate, conjuring “a tiny ethereal ghost,” the company said." [WWD]
We apparently don't feel nearly self-conscious enough about our rapidly-aging hands. [NYT]
Did Anthropolgie rip off their whimsical wall design? [Slog]
British film on Hijab fashion rubs some the wrong way. [Muslim Media Watch]
Aw, no one wants Elton John's really expensive brooch! A casualty of the economy? [The Star]
Some Milan designers apparently in deep economic denial, all about "optimism!" [VogueUK]

Tiny Titans Mary Kate & Ashley Are Going To The Dogs

Sadie Stein — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Mini moguls Mary Kate and Ashley are dipping their tiny feet into the world of fashionable footwear. They're teaming up with Steve Madden to add a shoe line to their Elizabeth and James label. [ElleUK]
Weirdly, model Twiggy's husband calls her Twiggy too. [Daily Express]
Moddles fall all over the runway on Prada's slippery runway. Try not to enjoy it. [NY Times]
Following in the steps of such sex symbols as Gorbachev and the Berlin Wall, Sean Connery goes before Annie Leibovitz's lens for Louis Vuitton. [WWD]
Just saying, if I were running for office, known ass Andre Leon Tally is kind of the last person I'd want carrying a tote with my name all over it, even if it was a DVF original. [Concrete Loop]

Diesel launches the Diesel car. Doesn't require diesel though. [ElleUK]
As they say, the rich get richer: cosmetics mogul Laura Mercier sells pad for numerous millions. [Observer]
Marc Jacobs turns London's black cabs into a "dasiy chain." "In promotion for his floral fragrance Daisy, Jacobs will be adorning black cabs in London with the flower, as well as outfitting the cabs’ interiors with faux daisy fields." One can only assume long-suffering cabbies were not consulted. [BlackBook]
Remember Bag, Borrow or Steal, which got plugged in the SATC movie when Jennifer Hudson borrowed her fug purses from them? Yeah, here's more about that. [The Street]
Heidi Klum is very gracious about J.Lo's obvious lying to get out of Project Runway finale. [The Cut via a href="http://www.accesshollywood.com/heidi-klum-on-jlo-missing-runway-finale-she-is-fantastic-i-believe-her_article_11364">Access Hollywood]
Calvin Klein on fashion's realities: "It's a tough business. It's one that you really have to work at — if you're a very small business, or it's very large. It requires a full commitment. There is no easy way to do this," [Yahoo]
Prada wants in on the pre-fab millionaire's playground that is Dubai. [IHT]
David Bowie loans Ziggy Stardust outfit to a pop exhibition. What does he do with it the rest of the time? [Daily Express]
Despite her involvement with the Freddy Prinze, Jr. vehicle Head Over Heels, Shalom Harlow will be the star of Viktor and Rolf's virtual fashion show. [WWD]
To make up for flagging sales, luxury retailers focus on their outlet stores. Which are hopefully less depressing as a result. Looking at you, Saks outlet at Woodbury Commons! [Business Week]
Le sigh. Editrice spawn Julia Restoin-Roitfeld to front British chain Accessorize. [WWD]

Tom Ford: Designer, Provocateur, Film Director

Sadie Stein — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Following his stint as guest editor of Vanity Fair, jack of all trades Tom Ford makes his directorial debut with an adaptation of Isherwood's 1964 novel A Single Man, which will apparently star Colin Firth as said man. Julianne Moore and Jamie Bell are somehow involved. [E]
Speaking of auteurs, Kate Moss sells a "painting" at auction. "Painted in 2005-2006, it is a self-portrait in lipstick marked with her own lip prints and stains of her former boyfriend Pete Doherty's blood." [Telegraph]
She used to be a "short, flat-chested, bandy-legged schoolgirl." Weren't they all? [Daily Mail]
Unlike other awkward schoolgirls, a museum in Paris is doing a retrospective on her life and style.[WWD]

Andre Benjamin is a huge anglophile, vegetarian. [Guardian]
J. Crew rips off Gossip Girl aesthetic. They wish they were a parent's worst nightmare. [Deep Glamour]
For those who enjoy smelling like the dead, House of Creed premieres a new Jackie O. scent, "Love in Black," described as a "violet-Oriental." [Style.com]
Yay! Everybody loves Issac's line for Liz Claiborne! [Reuters]
Elton John is finally auctioning that really expensive brooch. "It is designed in the form of the letter J and includes multiple old brilliant cut and baguette cut diamonds. It also features five oval cut sapphires and a bombe cluster of circular-cut sapphires." [Telegraph]
Calvin Klein names new CEO. [WSJ]
Madrid Fashion Week KO'd by Milan. [WWD]
Marc Jacobs' boyfriend shows up somewhere without Marc Jacobs. [Observer]
Like everyone else in fashion, Burberry inexplicably "optimistic." [Reuters]
After a stab at going high-end, Nike leaves the elite swimwear market. [AP]
The Gap acquired women's sporswear brand Athleta. [FT]
Spanish chain Mango hits Iraq. No, not in the violent sense! [W]
Suits you can clean in the shower! Hey, that's already how we "iron..." [Reuters]
Another fashion week, another delightful Andre Leon Tally blooper! Having lost his luggage en route to Milan, the Vogue editor at XXL "had to wear the same Juicy Couture shorts and gray Ralph Lauren polo shirt to D&G this morning that he wore on the plane." [Fashionologie]

Heidi Montag Will Marry Spencer In A Style Of Her Own Design

Sadie Stein — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EDT

"Designer" Heidi Montag to design own dress for "wedding" to "fiance" Spencer Pratt. How much cleavage will she show? [Just Jared]
Further evidence that Project Runway's going down the tubes: LiLo's gonna guest-judge on Lifetime. [NY Mag]
Dolce & Gabbana make bff Naomi "Siddhartha" Campbell their official muse. [Mail on Sunday]
WTF? Why is Juliette Lewis walking in Milan? Granted, for a label called "Miss Bikini Luxe." [WWD]
Cavalli, watch your back: Paris Hilton's latest line has hit Milan. Apparently it featured "baby pink, dog print T-shirts and sequins." [Daily Mail]

Milan shows open with a plus-size line! We love Italy. [Telegraph]
Even though they just bought a huge stake in Narciso Rodriguez, like, yesterday, now Liz Claiborne hates them and they're apparently parting ways. Short version. [WWD]
OMG! Simon Doonan's memoirs about growing up stylish in a dysfunctional family are being turned into a BBC series! [Independent]
Looks like fast fashion is over. [IHT]
Project Runway finalist Jillian is Team Leanne FTW. [NY Mag]
Model Jodie Kidd rebounds after that unfortunate drug sting. "She's in love too, with mature student Thomas George, which perhaps accounts for the glow currently illuminating those famous features." [Daily Mail]
European shoemakers rebel against EU duties. [Reuters]
Australia calls for "urgent development of a new national sizing standard." Maybe they have Banana Republic over there, too? [Sydney Morning Herald]
Agyness in V: "The stunning set of black and white shots, that appear to take an almost anti-fashion stance, portray a topless Agyness in nothing more than a string of pearls, classic black underwear and a nude leotard." "Anti-fashion" meaning, "anti-clothes"...? [Daily Mail]
Five years after the trend, Juicy Couture finally introduces a plus-size line. [The Budget Fashionista]
Frustrated by frumpy Capitol Hill looks and gaping blouses, a lobbyist turns to fashion. [NPR]
We've expressed our distaste for NY Times fashion writer Cathy Horyn before. Here she is on Milan: "Andre Leon Talley and Michael Roberts wanted to show me their outfits as soon as I’d said hello to Roberto Rimondi and Tommaso Aquilano. Andre and Michael each flashed open his overcoat to show they were wearing matching gray sweat shorts and a sort of grayish polo shirt. Andre’s luggage (I can’t imagine how many pieces that means) hadn’t arrived and he demanded fashion solidarity from Michael." [NY Times]
We have expressed our love for the absurd Roberto Cavallli. Here he is on his recession-era fashion line: "The story of a trip that started in the colonial day and has yet to be finished." [FT]
Nestle unveils a "beauty drink." Quik-flavored?! [Cosmetic News]
Even in tough economic climes, luxury "pioneers" must embrace risky markets. [IHT]
MAC suggests makeup looks for Palin, Michelle, Cindy. Um, thx? [Beauty Snob]
Mohammed Al Fayed's daughter Jasmine is a hot young designer at Harrods. But doesn't her dad own the store? [Independent]
Italy finally embraces online sales. [IHT]
Metrosexuals have evolved into creepy fashionistos. Allegedly. [Daily Mail]
So I guess someone will buy model Jamie Strachan's men's jewelry line. [VogueUK]

The Olsen Fashion Aesthetic: Twin-Sets No More?

Sadie Stein — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:30:00 EDT

Rumor has it that the mini moguls' "lifestyle differences" are tearing their fashion collabs asunder. “Ashley really wants to be a respected businesswoman and be taken seriously...MK does too, but she hasn’t been willing to give up her lifestyle and act like an adult for their job.” Result? MK is being "distanced" from the business end. [LA Times]
Gossip Girls Blake Lively, Leighton Meester and Michelle Trachtenberg have all "designed" Stuart Weitzman heels for charity. "Blake's candy-themed kicks (no doubt courting comparisons like "sweet" and "confectious") are going for the highest of the three at $300 - Leighton's in the middle and Michelle's on the right." [Fashionista]
A petulant Oscar de la Renta is skipping the Metropolitan Opera's opening night for the first time in 20 years. He "was none too happy to learn that Renée Fleming’s onstage frocks for the affair were designed by Karl Lagerfeld, John Galliano and Christian Lacroix." Um, is his ticket going begging? Sounds better than fashion week! [WWD]
Markets rebound a tad; retailers still panicky. [WWD]

Uh oh. Amidst the recent financial turmoil, Prada has called off its widely-reported plan to go public this year, "making it the global financial turmoil's most high-profile fashion victim." [WSJ, WWD]
The "Obama Effect" has done wonders for designer Thakoon, whose rose-colored frock Michelle sported on nom night. "I saw her on TV and I couldn't even look, I was so embarrassed from being excited,'"quoth he. [LA Times]
Norwegian designer Peter Dundas joins venerable print-meisters Pucci as creative director. [IHT]
Rumor — no, it really might just be a rumor — has it that Marc Jacobs is opening a store in Manhattan's East Village. Which, even if true, doesn't seem like that big a deal. [Fashionista]
Thes auction Naomi "Siddhartha" Campbell organized for the White Ribbon Foundation was a big hit. "London’s big spenders outbid each other for looks donated by designers including Alexander McQueen, Zac Posen and Christopher Kane." [WWD]
"Last year, Giorgio Armani told Time that PETA had persuaded him to drop fur from his designs, but his fall line includes fur coats for babies, floral-printed fur coats, fur-hemmed skirts and fur-trimmed jackets." PETA's pissed. So now they're going to go back to the always-effective plan A: harassing and heckling! [P6]
Gap is opening in Mexico, stealthily: it'll be opening "stores within stores" in an established department store chain. [WSJ]
A graphic designer named "Salvor" has teamed up with Rogan to lauch a capsule collection which, one assumes, will have a one-word name. [Fashionista]
Fans of both clothes and Sonic Youth — read, anyone — must be thrilled about Kim Gordon's new line, Mirror/Dash. Even if, so far, it's just one jacket. [BlackBook]
The New Yorker's panel talk on "The Future of Fashion": snooze or revelation? [Fashionista]
"A Japanese designer and furrier, Chie Imai, has called her autumn 2008 collection of fur-trimmed capes and boleros Eco Harmony." The fabric is, indeed, recycled. The fur? The animals in question might take exception to the "harmony." PETA certainly would. [Independent]
Sears is introducing these 3-D virtual dressing rooms that will allow you to "try" things on from home. If you thought store mirrors were dishonest...! [Reuters]
Betsey Johnson loves being a grandma, fresh fish. [Fashion Informer]
Fashion Fringe winner: "Go By A Secret Path, aka designer Eun Jeong Hong, yesterday earned herself a rather nice end of week treat in the shape of £100,000, as well as continuous support from the Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden team to kick start her professional design career." [VogueUK]
Abercrombie and Fitch pioneers "scent ambience services" in its stores. Why am I having visions of the poppy field in the Wizard of Oz? [Breitbart]
Wyndam Hotel employees will go green whether they like it or not, sporting "uniforms made with polyester fibers spun from plastic beverage bottles." All we can say is, whoever made that virtuous decision better be wearing Coke couture, too. [BrandWeek]
A few royals hit Fashion Week, but paps mostly had to settle for Kate Middleton's little sister. [WWD]
Pamela Anderson escorted by "a man in a white mask" at Vivienne Westwood show. [ElleUK]

Lindsay Lohan: Fashion Executive

Sadie Stein — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EDT

After years of establishing her reliability and commitment to quality, LiLo has gone all weirdly entrepreneurial on us! She's launched her own brand development company. "With Lohan serving as the public face and a source of ideas, Beverly Hills-based Stay Gold LLC is developing merchandise under the label 6126." The merch so far is "leggings." They're developing self-tanner. One can only assume really ratty wigs are on the drawing board. [WWD]
Now that the industry is getting more diverse, Naomi Campbell's work here is done. “This time they [designers and editors] have stepped it up. I feel positive. That means that I can go soon.” Okay, Siddhartha, you do that. [Times of London]
The guy who designed Sarah Palin's rimless specs is, in fact, voting for Change. [CNN]
Which is kinda harsh, really, since his sales have quadrupled since the conventions! [NYDN]

Apparently Nicole Farhi's moddles all sported Obama buttons on the runway "instead of brooches". Never mind that they're all probably under 18 and Russian! [Style.com]
This is like Fashion mad libs! Rodarte and Lexus are making a scented candle. Yes. [MediaBistro]
This new geriatric Sartorialist is like my dream come to life. No, really. 'Advanced Style' "documents street style and fashion of the mature and wizened. Our aim is to take photos of elders with a unique sense of personal style that has developed with age." [NY Mag]
Have you heard?! Apparently nothing still comes between Brooke Shields and her Calvins! Certainly not carbs. [People]
"Carolyn Rafaelian is just a small-business-owning single mom with three kids to raise, but the bigwigs at Juicy Couture don't care." They've apparently ripped off this bangle which she sells to Henri Bendel and Saks. Twirling their mustaches, one assumes. [New York Post]
Even if the girls are too thin, the clothes are great on the new 90210. Wait, why am I saying that like it's an unusual conflict? [Variety]
Michael Vollbracht swoops in to claim Bill Blass's society-ladies-of-a-certain-age clientele: The collection "was delightfully old-fashioned and completely oblivious to the financial meltdown happening somewhere downtown." [NY Times]
The life of a "body part model" is a busy one. [Mirror]
Apparently Viktor and Rolf require chocolates at all their awesome shows. Take off the last part, and they have a lot in common with us. [Dazed Digital]
Well, fuck. Topshop NYC's not opening until the Spring. [FT]
For those gals with a season pass on the SATC tour bus, good news: "Select pieces from Patricia Field's Destination Style New York collection can be pre-ordered online before her limited-run HSN line premieres on September 23 for five nights." [Extra]

"Fashion Designer" Avril Lavigne Makes Things Complicated, Hideous

Sadie Stein — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Avril Lavigne's Abbey Dawn clothing line premieres. It's like a five-year-old Scottish pirate designing for Hot Topic. [World Of Wonder]
"Insiders tell Page Six [Sarah] Palin has a secretive circle of stylists who dress her for events...One source familiar with Palin's primping posse told us, 'They do not want the American public to know that Palin is using stylists or that she is paying for expensive clothes this early on in the campaign.'" [Page Six]
Barbie will be showing on the Fall runways. A miniature runway?!?! [Fashion Week Daily]
In addition to the systematic extinction of pants, LiLo would like to devote her energies to bag design. "Maybe a collaboration. The ultimate would be to do a purse for Chanel. They're so classic and they last forever and it'd be a really cool thing to have my name on," she says. [NY Mag]

Even though like every store in the world is in trouble, etailing booms. We blame PayPal. It's like pretend money! [WWD]
Zappo's is apparently as fixated on employee satisfaction as customer happiness: When the company takes on new hires, it gives them intensive training. "Then, about one week in, Zappos makes what it calls 'The Offer,' telling newbies, 'If you quit today, we will pay you for the amount of time you have worked, plus a $2,000 bonus.'" [Business Week ]
It's a goal: a Serbian tailor wants to make the world's biggest trousers. 100 guys will fit in them, although I guess that means, like, inside the pockets. [Reuters ]
Elle MacPherson has been taken to task for letting her young son (helmeted) ride on the handlebars of her bike in London (caught by paps, obvs.) She has not been taken to task for naming him Aurelius Cy. [Telegraph]
Slumping Gucci names new CEO. [WSJ]
Although they say it's so the old one could "pursue other interests." [Reuters]
Dorian Ho pioneers home-grown Chinese couture. [Reuters]
Shocked by the cheap unisex uniforms female prisoners are forced to wear, Stockholm design students have created a new uniform for Swedish inmates. "As an added bonus...the new clothing is designed to expand easily when women gain weight. Many inmates were ampthetamine users on the outside and put on pounds quickly off the drug." [UPI]
A Tommy Hilfiger exec cops to stealing $19 million. [WWD]
Natalia Vodianova’s French Shalimar ad is just as steamy as that Eva Mendes CK one, possibly NSFW. [NY Mag]
British designer Giles Deacon's fashion week muse? Pac-Man, obvs. [Reuters]
Christopher Kane's? Planet of the Apes. [Fashionologie]
Emma "Hermione Granger" Watson does her first Vogue shoot! "I was terrified of ripping, getting mud (as we shot outdoors), cake, a prop, or anything on the dresses!" [NY Mag]
The brand that made Katie Holmes's mom jeans, Prps, is emboldened to expand stateside. No, really, it's okay. [NYDN]
Thank God. Shu Uemura brings the fake lash bar to Australia. [SMH]
All the "Fashion Capitals" hammer out some kind of weird fashion week scheduling treaty. One hopes, at Versailles. [Reuters]
Possibly at the cost of London's "ethical fashion" component. [The Guardian]
Can't really work up much interest in stylist Philip Bloch's "feud" with some Glam God contestant. [Page Six]

Confirmed: Ellen DeGeneres To Glam Up For CoverGirl

Sadie Stein — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Remember when Ellen came out and everyone was like, "yeah, we know, but thanks"? Her confirmation that she's the new Cover Girl is kinda like that. [People]
Our unreasonable dislike of fame whore/hockey player/Vogue intern/fashionisto Sean Avery grows apace. He is now involved with a Bravo reality show. [NY Mag]
Hey, remember how YA author Lauren Conrad's designing the gowns for the "trophy girls" at next Sunday's Emmy Awards? "'I did green because green [is the] theme for the Emmys this year,' said Conrad, who also mentions using a diamond brooch, signifying the Emmy's 60th anniversary, to accessorize the gown." [FabSugar]
Model Erin Wasson: "The people with the best style for me are the people that are the poorest. Like, when I go down to Venice beach and I see the homeless, like, I'm like, 'Oh my God, they're pulling out, like, crazy looks and they, like, pulled shit out of like garbage cans." Indeed, moddle. Indeed. [Nylon TV via Fashionista]

The Dow crisis is — surprise, surprise! — disastrous for retail stocks, too. [WWD]
Apparently spoiled for models by having a bunch of dolls wear their creations earlier this year, Viktor & Rolf decide not to do a runway show. Speculation is they'll do something weird instead. [Style.com]
Yup, it's all virtual. [VogueUK]
Kate Moss was afraid the thief who broke into her car took this two hundred thousand pound diamond ring. But he didn't. He just took a chocolate bar. [The Mirror]
The verdict is in: rompers and jumpsuits will once again be big for spring. [WWD]
Also, sequins. [Fashionista]
Weirdly, Gordon Brown hosts fashion week party. [ElleUK]
Neighborhoodies is having personalities ("one blogger, writer, artist, or all-around cool person a week") do designs for them. Nerve's Erin Bradley kicks it off with a Dr. Ruth tee. [Neighborhoodies]
Kicked to the curb by Liz Claiborne, designer Sigrid Olsen turns to art. [WSJ]
Viv Westwood launches that album she compiled, reveals she's collaborating with robot rockers Queens of the Stone Age. Oh, and apparently she's nice, but we'd heard that.[The Mirror]
Buyers (and us bloggers!) underwhelmed by NYC Fashion Week. [WWD]
But! No fewer than five Top Model contestants spotted on the NYC runway. [NY Mag]
Aww! Luella Bartley had pink and white meringue pigs at her pre-show breakfast! We'll assume no more sinister or insulting implication.[WWD]
"Veronica Webb turned frosty at the Us Weekly 25 Most Stylish New Yorkers party at Hudson Terrace Friday night when she ran into Gretta Monahan - who replaced her as co-host on Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. A source said, 'They sat right next to each other but Veronica wouldn't even look at her. She's furious she was replaced on the show.'" [Page Six]

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

Sadie Stein — 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]