The Karl Lagerfeld Teddy Bear: High Priced, Not Too Cuddly

Sadie — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:30:00 EDT

W on toy maker Steiff's limited edition, $1,500 Lagerfeld bear. "Naturally it looks just like him, from the impenetrable black sunglasses and high shirt collar to the skinny lacquered jeans. But, plush alpaca head aside, is the resemblance more than skin-deep? 'Bears are very nice, as long as you are nice to them,' mused Lagerfeld, as self-aware as he is iconic." [W]
If you or someone you know is interested in (cough) modeling for American Apparel, they're having an open call. Dov Charney takes this sort of thing seriously; chances are you'll get to meet him one-on-one! [American Apparel]
Petite gymnast Shawn Johnson loves her high heels. "But true to her coach’s orders, she’s stayed off them in the lead-up to the Olympics. With the competition behind her, she wore a pair of 3-inch silver peep-toes to Thursday’s event, occasionally flicking them off when she got tired. 'It’s actually the first time I’ve worn heels in, like, five months, so it feels a little weird,' she laughed. 'But I love heels. They make me feel a little more confident.'” [WWD]

WILL ZUMA NESTA ROCK ROSSDALE PREVENT GWEN STEFANI FROM ATTENDING FASHION WEEK?! For both their sakes, we're kind of hoping "yes." [ElleUK]
Rachel Zoe talks vaguely about the films that inspire her; it's unclear whether she's actually watched them. Of Love Story, "when she thinks of the film, Ms. Zoe has "visions of wide leg pants and vests and blouses," she says." [WSJ]
Agyness Deyn hops agency; now at Women. [Fashionista]
Tim Gunn, what hath thou wrought? British woman crafts dress from phone book. [The Sun]
Stylist Philip Bloch beats Rachel Zoe to the reality TV punch: '“Glam God With Vivica A. Fox,” in which Bloch judges aspiring stylists who compete for a $100,000 prize and a contract with Jed Root Inc., premiered Thursday night on VH1, well ahead of Zoe’s show, which begins airing on Bravo Sept. 8.' He's also getting into Recessionista fashion - yes, he said it! [WWD]
Ann Taylor: profits down, but still better than expected. [NYT]
"Yummie Tummy" shakes up fashion week with "pole-dancing extravaganza." [Page Six]
Despite heading to jail for money laundering, "King of Bling" "Jacob the Jeweler" launches new ad campaign. "The ads with Natalia Vodianova were shot by Fabien Baron. Denise Scala, director of marketing, said the media buy has increased by 200 percent from the jeweler's last campaign with Helena Christensen, and this time will include Vogue, GQ, Architectural Digest, The Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, The Economist and Forbes." [WWD]
One group of incredibly extravagant luxury-cosmetics junkies is single-handedly buoying the Japanese market: "Although their numbers are small, the women, dubbed the "winners group" by media, have boosted the sales of expensive creams, despite tough times in the world's second-biggest economy that have slowed down sales of more modest potions." [Reuters]
Designer Adama Kai brings high fashion to her native Sierra Leone. '"Maybe I have more opportunities as a designer over there, but I'm making a bigger statement over here," said Kai. "In the same way that Ralph Lauren stands for America, Chanel for France, and Versace for Italy, I want Aschobi to stand for African fashion," she said.' [Reuters]
Hype or no hype, sales are still down at The Gap - although cost-cutting helps profits. [Reuters]
Unswayed by...well, anything, apparently, fashion promotes the fur vest for fall. [Style.com]
Aeropostale optimistic for Q2. [Crains]
CVS to get into high-end "prestige beauty" with new boutiques. "The first concept store is slated to open by year’s end in a major East Coast city" is all they will say... [WWD]
Movado collabs with Alvin Ailey Dance Company for the second year in a row. Only this one's an anniversary watch. "The back features Alvin Ailey's 50th Anniversary logo. While the watch retails for $795, 10 percent of proceeds will go to Alvin Ailey Dance Theater for the month of December." [Fashion Week Daily]
Issey Miyake is really behind a Japanese 2016 Olympics. "Not only has Miyake lent three knitted dresses from his A-POC collection - in the Olympic hues of green, yellow and red - to be displayed in the bid committee showroom, he has also created exclusive Pleats Please scarves and neckties for members of the committee to wear." [VogueUK]

It's (Another) Boy For Gwen & Gavin

Dodai — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EDT

Gwen Stefani gave birth yesterday! The baby boy, Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale, weighed 8 1/2 lbs. Yes, "Nesta" was Bob Marley's middle name. Gwen and Gavin's other kid, Kingston, is named after a town in Jamaica. See the trend? [People]
Newly pregnant: Melanie "Sporty Spice" Chisholm. The dad is maybe probably property developer Thomas Starr, whom Mel has been seeing for six years. [The Sun]
Makeup mogul Bobbi Brown has been named as a New Jersey delegate for the Democratic convention to support Barack Obama. She's done Michelle's makeup! She'll be giving delegates goody bags in Denver. [NY Mag]
Teri Hatcher's former uncle through marriage, Richard Hayes Stone, had been serving a 14-year jail sentence for child molestation when he died Tuesday of colon cancer. Hatcher helped put Stone behind bars after she heard of a teen suicide involving a girl who knew Stone; Teri also revealed she'd been molested by Stone as a child as well. [Perez Hilton]
Michael Phelps was seen making out with Aussie swimmer Stephanie Rice. They "swapped spit" at a party and then posed together for Speedo, "laughing and groping" each other. Olympic heat! [Page Six]
No one wants to see Katie Holmes on Broadway. [MSNBC]

Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, 61, is still torn between his wife, 53, and his Russian lover, 20, whom he calls a "slut." He's currently battling booze in rehab. [The Sun]
Despite the unexpected deaths of three patients and the rape of a teenage girl, Dr. Drew insists that Aurora Las Encinas is "an excellent hospital." As for the deaths and the rape, he says, "My heart is broken about these cases." While Drew Pinsky is the co-medical director of the chemical dependency program, he says of Las Encinas: "It's not my hospital." [LA Times]
The Gossip Girl girls wearing My Fair Lady costumes. [Just Jared]
Rihanna is number one on the charts, keeping American Idol alum David Archuleta from taking the top spot. [Reuters]
Haha, this story is ridiculous: "Presumably Rihanna hoped that donning a wacky pair of boots would divert attention away from her latest romantic outing with lover Chris Brown." [The Sun]
50 Cent has met with officials regarding the fire that destroyed the house his baby mama and son were living in. The case is under investigation; what do you think they will find? [Perez Hilton]
Jay-Z's new track, "Jockin' Jay-Z," has lyrics about Noel Gallagher: "That bloke from Oasis said I couldn’t play guitar/ Someone shoulda told him I’m a muthafucking rock star/ Today is gonna be the day that I’m gonna throw it back to you/ I’m living life as a rocker…" So current! [The Sun]
Casting scoops on fall TV shows: Blythe Danner will guest star on Medium; there are two new peeps on Lost; James Cromwell is joining My Own Worst Enemy, that Christian Slater thriller. [EW]
So you know how Courtenay Semel, Lindsay Lohan's former "roommate" and Tila Tequila's girlfriend, went to jail in Vegas on Wednesday? She was trying to get into a club with a passport and a California I.D., one of which was not in her name. She was detained by security and ended up hitting a guard on the back of the head. She can pay a fine or go in front of a judge. She should probably just shell out the cash. [Yahoo News, via E!]
Sharon Osbourne has been approached to publish a work of fiction loosely based on her dealings with reality TV contests. A source says: "She wants it to be a Jackie Collins-inspired romp, something shocking, saucy and witty - and a chick lit hit." [Mirror]
Peaches Geldof's first week of married life involved seeing her husband's band play a gig. [Mirror]
A lady thought that Lily Tomlin was cutting down trees on her property and called the cops but it turned out she was wrong and Lily Tomlin was having trees cut on her own damn property and the lady was just an alarmist. [LA Times]
A dig at Amy Winehouse won funniest joke of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Here is comedian Zoe Lyons' joke: "I can't believe Amy Winehouse self-harms. She's so irritating she must be able to find someone to do it for her." [The Star]
Prepare yourself: Paris Hilton is coming out with something called The Bandit, which is "he first interchangeable hair extension headband." Act accordingly. [E!]
Holy crap, this Jean-Claude Van Damme mockumentary sounds kind of awesome: JCVD plays himself in the midst of a hostage situation in his native Belgium. [Reuters]
Pete Doherty has a new girlfriend. She's 18 and her name is Matilda. She says: "My mum made me attend alcohol counseling because I started drinking so much. Pete drinks a LOT and I feel like I have to keep up, but it's hard." [Mirror]
Headline of the day: "Did Jackie Kennedy's Jealous Lover Order The Assassination Of Her Beloved Brother-In-Law Bobby?" [Daily Mail]
Gary Glitter update: He's on his way to the UK, where he'll be met by police and placed on the sex offenders' register. [Guardian]
The California Supreme Court has refused to take up the case in a bitter legal dispute between the three surviving members of The Doors. This is the end. Beautiful friend. This is the end. [AP]
"I've kissed just three people in my life, other than stuff I've done for TV or movies. I grew up with the mindset that after work you go to dinner and watch a movie. I don't want to go to a club and not wear panties." —20-year-old Blake Lively, star of Gossip Girl. [Independent]

Jezebel: zuma nesta rock rossdale

The Karl Lagerfeld Teddy Bear: High Priced, Not Too Cuddly

It's (Another) Boy For Gwen & Gavin