• Lady Gaga, in a show of uncharacteristic sartorial restraint, wore a chiffon-and-human-hair Holly Russell dress that more or less covered her legs to an awards show. She thanked her publicist. [WWD]

• Marc Jacobs loves people wearing his clothes. Even knock-offs: "Even when I see a copy, something that's inspired by something I've done, it's a rewarding feeling." [TeenVogue]
• Richard Nicoll is the new women's wear designer of Cerutti. [WWD]
• At a party celebrating a champagne's ascension to the menu at the Lowell Hotel — verily, some people will show up to the opening of an envelope in this town — a woman told a story about a fashion designer who never let a little thing like a death in the family interfere with his duties as a host. "Once I was in Rome for a dinner at Valentino's villa in honor of Jacqueline Kennedy. Sadly, his father had died upstairs earlier in the day. Valentino, always a gentleman, did not wish to upset his guests, so he didn't announce the death until the next day. Jackie had a wonderful time." [P6]
• Coach is suing Target for allegedly selling knock-offs of its handbags. A federal judge dismissed Coach's last infringement suit against the retail giant. [WWD]
• What recession? Domenico Dolce just bought two Manhattan penthouses for $29 million. [NYPost]
• Some 30 outfits belonging to Audrey Hepburn will be auctioned, along with the actress's letters, in London this December. Naturally, there's heaps of Givenchy. [Telegraph]
• Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Museum is auctioning off nearly 8,000 garments and accessories from its costume collection, following the decision to merge its fashion with the Met's. Items from as far back as the 17th Century, as well as modern looks by designers like Bonnie Cashin and Halston, will be deaccessioned as a cost-cutting measure. [NYPost]
• Rosie O'Donnell would like everyone to know that despite her starring role in Nora Ephron's Love, Loss, And What I Wore — a play which contains a joke about wearing Eileen Fisher being tantamount to announcing, "I give up" — she really loves the brand. "When we did the first reading of the play, I said to Nora, ‘I'm really objecting to the Eileen Fisher comment being that I just purchased every single thing she makes and threw out everything else I own. Literally, my entire wardrobe is only Eileen Fisher…that and sweat suits." [WWD]
• Last week in Los Angeles, David Beckham launched something called the David Beckham by J. Bond Collection for Adidas's Originals by Originals line. "It's my style. I wanted to create something that everybody could wear whether it be going to practice, or the gym in the morning, or going for a coffee or going out to dinner at night," explained the soccer star. Coffee or dinner! How versatile. [People]
• Tory Burch loved being on Gossip Girl. "I have never acted before, so I was a little nervous about messing up my line. Blake made me laugh and put me at ease though, and the crew was so gracious." [People]
• Is it proper to call Lindsay Lohan a "client" of the Ungaro boutique when no indication is given that she is paying for the $150,000 worth of clothing she snapped up there in just one trip? Mounir Moufarrige, the guy who hired Lohan to "revive" Ungaro on the justification that "it could work," says: "What do you want, for her to be naked? I'm just so glad she likes Ungaro." [WWD]
• After the new artistic advisor's first Ungaro show in Paris, she may be the only one. Moufarrige went on to say, "I'll tell you one thing on the level: I'm crazy." The collection — which was styled with sparkly love-heart pasties — was so bad that front-row photographer Greg Kessler asked guests to pose as Lohan by hiding their heads in their hands. [NYTimes]
• The after-party, to which the actress arrived late, was no better. Possibly because Ungaro designer Estrella Archs spent her time reading the reviews. Either the stunt will work, said owner Asim Abdullah, or "we go down in a blaze of glory. Or unglory." [WSJ]
• Reviews that rated the show thusly: "An embarrassment." [WWD]
• And: "The Emanuel Ungaro show on Sunday may go down in history as the final gasp of celebrity madness." That line's from a little story, entitled "Hearts But No Soul," by a woman who goes by Suzy Menkes. [IHT]
• Lohan, for her part, says working for Ungaro is "pretty much a fairytale." [People]
• As part of its ongoing "Go Forth" ad campaign, Levi's is launching some kind of online game to build its brand image. Its advertising agency invented the odiously named Grayson Ozias IV, a 19th Century home recording artist around whom the game revolves. Tediously, there is a "corporate responsibility" phase of gameplay, in which players will vote on which charity will receive Ozias' $100,000 "fortune." [AW]
• Levi's would like to point out that 75 years ago, it pioneered the marketing of jeans to women. Not that Levi's, or notoriously non-environmentally friendly denim production in general, is any particular friend to the predominantly female, and overwhelmingly non-union, garment workforce it relies upon. [Feministing]
• Stella McCartney — a woman who was once hired for an unlikely position (head designer at Chloé) by Mounir Moufarrige, though that is neither here nor there — thinks long and hard about the environmental impact of her garment dyes. And she sure seems pretty smart and likable in this interview. [Guardian]
• Meanwhile, McCartney's latest replacement at Chloé, Hannah MacGibbon, says of contemporary fashion, "Everything's so hard at the moment. I don't feel like wearing that at all, even though it's nice to look at. It's completely lacking that sentiment that draws you in — the emotion of it….There's a lack of romanticism in the air. There's a real need for that softness."
• If you just can't wait to see Alexander McQueen's spring show when it's broadcast live from Paris on Showstudio tomorrow, check out the teaser greatest-hits clip that's already running. [Showstudio]
• According to one survey of Japanese retailers being bandied about at Paris fashion week, Alexander Wang has the "hottest" brand right now. Whatever that means. [WWD]
• Is it still news that Kate Moss continues to "design" collections for Topshop? Yes, because it's moderately cute? No, because it's hilariously overpriced? Maybe, because it might inspire a productive trip to the Salvation Army? In any case, Kate Moss continues to "design" collections for Topshop. [Refinery29]
• Latest datum in the Evidence That Martin Margiela Is No Longer With Maison Martin Margiela file: the fact that Maison Martin Margiela has signed on to do something as douche-bourgeois lifestyle-brand-y as "redecorating a suite at Les Sources de Caudalie "vinotherapy" spa near Bordeaux, which is feting its 10th anniversary this year." [WWD]
• Israeli Sports Illustrated model — and current Israeli Defense Force draftee — Esti Ginzberg has added to criticism of fellow model — and compulsory service avoider — Bar Refaeli. After a general called Refaeli a draft-dodger for avoiding Israel's standard 2-year service by taking advantage of rules regarding soldiers' marital status (Refaeli briefly married a family friend), Ginzberg, who started her service in July, told the press, "enlisting is a duty, not a choice. There are a million things I don't feel like doing, but I do them because I have to. Military service is part of the things I believe in, the values I was raised on." Around a quarter of young Israelis find ways to make themselves ineligible for IDF service; Refaeli says she totally really absolutely wanted to do hers, but "celebrities have other needs." Ginzberg is putting in her two years at an IDF reception base, where among other things, she tells new recruits that enlisting is important. Naturally, the media's playing this one as a catwalk catfight. [Independent]
• There's a rumor going around that Milan fashion week might become Rome fashion week. [WWD]
• Betsey Johnson, of all people, is being honored this fall by the National Arts Club. We cannot wait to see how that particular hot-pink whirlwind of hair extensions takes to the club's stodgy Gramercy Park headquarters. [WWD]

Editor in chief Gary Belsky says the issue, which hits stands in October, would be "tastefully done," with strategically placed equipment, like the nude photos of Winter X Games athletes the mag published in 2004 (example above).

While it makes perfect sense to celebrate the bodies of athletes — for power, strength, flexibility and talent, with maybe a hint of titillation — it does seem odd that a sports magazine would have to "take it off" to sell more issues or garner attention. But while ESPN has a respectable 2.1 million circulation Sports Illustrated — home of the naked chicks who are not athletes — boasts a 3.2 million issue circulation.

But Belsky tells USA Today he's not about to go cheesecake: This is going to be about sports. And sports is about bodies." And he claims the Body issue is not really competing against the Swimsuit Issue: "We'll be completely relevant to sports fans. They're relevant to swimsuit fans. And body-painting fans."

Skin Game: 'ESPN' Takes On 'SI' By Posing Athletes In The Nude [USA Today]

Sports Illustrated group editor Terry McDonell says this photo was selected for the cover because Refaeli's hair, swimsuit, and visible freckles make this photo "natural," according to Yahoo News. He adds, "Her body is amazing and she looks intelligent." Israeli-born Refaeli, who (until now) was best known as Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend, said she had a special feeling about this particular shot too. "This is the one I felt the most comfortable with," said Refaeli, "I liked that the top of the suit was on."

Her miniscule bikini top is technically on, though it seems like any slight movement on her part could change that. But what of the bottom? Was there really so much fabric that it needed to be rolled down so the world can see the extent of her bikini wax?

The "removing the bikini bottoms" shot is nothing new for the Swimsuit Edition. Tyra Banks was the first Swimsuit Edition model to put the pose on the cover in 1997.

And just last year Marisa Miller looped her thumb under the string of her bikini, suggesting that though topless, she longed to be wearing even less.

Throughout the new magazine, bikini bottoms are being yanked down or are almost non-existent to start with, according to Back in Skinny Jeans. As evidenced by this galllery of previous covers, the magazine has been looking more and more like Playboy over the years. McDonell explains the cover is just a reflection of the "athleticism and sexiness of the culture" at the time. The "athleticism" in the new issue is mostly supplied by Indy Car driver and GoDaddy spokeswoman Danica Patrick who once again is featured half naked in a bikini, this time draped over the hood of a car.

We actually prefer the "sexiness" supplied by the culture of 70s. In 1970, supermodel Cheryl Tiegs was cold and refused to remove her long-sleeved top or sunglasses when the photographer asked her to take them off. The cover below is evidence that the Swimsuit Edition and our idea of sexiness has changed a lot over the years.

We'll have our Anonymous Model, Tatiana, weigh in on this tomorrow.

[Images via SI Vault Covers.]

SI Cover Girl Refaeli Nudges Her Swimsuit South [Yahoo]
Is The 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Too Risque or Not? [Back In Skinny Jeans]

That's the out-and-out porniest shot I found in SI. It doesn't appear to be on the website. Still...tame, right? Or is that just conditioning?

Ah, Lilo.

This is Formula 1 driver Danica Patrick. I just stuck her in because I was fucking impressed that someone who wears one of those suits to work would bother to have such a flawless body. I mean, I understand — laxatives, Master Cleanse, photoshop — still. She tells the magazine she drives commando and that she'd never pose nude. Is there a difference?

I found this in SI, too. Thanks for reminding me I'm straight, guys!

Remember the big brouhaha over the Newbery Medal-winning, "scrotum"-plugging children's book The Higher Power of Lucky? Well there's a new controversy among suddenly publicity-hungry American librarians, but this one's over boobalicious Beyonce Knowles.

Consumerist is reporting that U.S. libraries do not have copies of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue because publisher Time Inc. decided it was inappropriate to send the magazine to "institutions". And American librarians aren't happy about it. Says one librarian from the University of Dallas: "It should be up to the institution to decide whether or not they choose to make the issue available to patrons. The publisher should send the issues we've paid for. If we throw them in the bin, that's our prerogative."

We wonder what The Higher Power of Lucky author Susan Patron has to say about all this.

Sports Illustrated Refuses To Send Swimsuit Issue To Libraries [Consumerist]
Sports Illustrated Withholds Swimsuit Issue From Libraries, Schools [Library Journal]

Not content to let Beyonce Knowles battle it out with Jennifer Hudson over which-powerful-black-woman-has-the-best-magazine-cover wars, Tyra Banks is using the release of the new Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue to trumpet her own appearance on the magazine's cover...10 years (and 21 pounds) ago.

We never thought we'd say this but: poor Beyonce. She's already got Jennifer's guaranteed-Oscar statuette pointed threateningly at her rear, and now Tyra and her tub of Vaseline are swooping in via a sneak attack from the front.

Sounds like things are getting diirrrrty.

[People.com]

This just in: Toys in Babeland to offer eco-friendly sex kit in April. Sorry, dirty hippies: it probably still won't get you laid.

Beyonce to appear on cover of new Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Take that, Jennifer.

Finally: Explanation as to why Padma Lakshmi, Tinsley Mortimer and Gwyneth Paltrow are successful.